tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post6105531947827957497..comments2023-04-25T22:37:27.911-04:00Comments on Karen Johns - Life in Phoenixville: Marc Reber - Candidate for Phoenixville Borough Council - Middle WardKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057911658878963451noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post-10759833549833782272009-10-28T22:19:43.156-04:002009-10-28T22:19:43.156-04:00karleb,
Every piece of legal documentation was pr...karleb,<br /><br />Every piece of legal documentation was provided to each and every member of council before they voted on this action in July 08.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post-46199387119351264422009-10-28T22:18:41.269-04:002009-10-28T22:18:41.269-04:00The key here is that Marc should knopw that the zo...The key here is that Marc should knopw that the zoning was changed from HIST to DCOMM in July 08 as his response indcates otherwise.<br /><br />It is critical those voted in are aware of what exactly their constituants have been up to in voting pattern.<br /><br />The parcel should not be DCOMM. It does matter as the intent to remain preserved, is clear and therefore all zoning changes should be voided for that parcel.<br />The council acted hastily and totally disregarded warnings from the planning commission recommendation by 7-0 vote. Again, see or post July 08 minutesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post-55313459549568262512009-10-28T08:58:20.135-04:002009-10-28T08:58:20.135-04:00@ Anonymous, October 27, 2009 11:05:00 PM EDT
The...@ Anonymous, October 27, 2009 11:05:00 PM EDT<br /><br />The zoning change occurred before the Holy Ghost project was public. If you believe there was something fishy there, then I think who you support for Council is pretty much asked and answered.<br /><br />The status of the most recent court ruling on ownership, I understand, is confusing. But from what I do understand, though, the case will be read to indicate the St. Nicholas Brotherhood owns the land, in which case this project is dead in the water.<br /><br />Thus should this matter drag itself to Council again, I imagine any Council person not already encumbered by previous questionable decisions will be in a much better position to evaluate the situation with fresh and unbiased eyes.<br /><br />As Marc said, "an applicant" having "clear and unencumbered rights to the land in question" is THE primary consideration.karlubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863558552495781819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post-41191372857365369222009-10-27T23:05:30.160-04:002009-10-27T23:05:30.160-04:00Dear Marc,
The zoning was changed on this parcel...Dear Marc,<br /> The zoning was changed on this parcel prior to the conditional use hearing, and after the courts ruled the land was not owned by the Holy Ghost Church or it's officers of Holy Ghost who signed agreement of sale.<br /> The zoning was not DCOMM until Father Evans made his first address to the council and planning see April 08 and thereafter minutes. The zoning was changed before conditional use and behind the scenes work on this project before it came before council. IE date of drawings, surveys etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post-53088668924333806452009-10-27T01:21:41.868-04:002009-10-27T01:21:41.868-04:00I apologize for my delay in response. It has been ...I apologize for my delay in response. It has been a busy last few days.<br /><br />Unlike Reeves Park, which is municipally held land, with guidelines regarding the use of that land, the Holy Ghost land is not owned by a municipal entity. I am not currently aware of any <i>public</i> guideline that stipulates land should not be sold. As I have not seen all documents regarding this, please feel free to point me toward any material that may state otherwise. However, it is also correct, in turn, to <i>not</i> establish zoning when an applicant does not have clear and unencumbered rights to the land in question. The recent hearing before council made this a requirement of the project, established by a court of law, before any zoning change could be considered. I believe this was the correct choice.<br /><br />Regarding HUD projects more generally, while I believe affordable housing should be a part of the development mix in Phoenixville, it should not dominate. It is important for people to be able to find a place to live, but in order for the Borough to maintain services levels for the people who already live here it is important for new projects contribute as much to Phoenixville's taxation base as they consume in services. I believe a Council member's first duty is to attend to the people already living in his or her Ward, and have these considerations in mind as well.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06252068893024611005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post-20204309885087886522009-10-24T23:14:52.877-04:002009-10-24T23:14:52.877-04:00Mr Reber,
A hot topic for 20 months has been the ...Mr Reber,<br /><br />A hot topic for 20 months has been the HUD Housing at Starr and Bridge Streets. The project was pushed through many phases with metings out of the sunshine resulting in zoning changes and applications filed on land in ownership dispute. This project had many conflicts of interest with planning/applicant and church politics. With that being said, as a council person, would you consider endorsing the zoning for that parcel, back to historic with the significant legal results that clearly stated, to council, the land should not be sold legally?<br /><br />How do you feel about another HUD project in the downtown gateway into the revitalized district?<br /><br />Would you be willing to listen and read the facts without being swayed by Father Evans?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post-39385668293915417462009-10-21T12:23:15.390-04:002009-10-21T12:23:15.390-04:00This election is going to have a huge impact on wh...This election is going to have a huge impact on where the borough is headed in the next few years.<br /><br />It's time to do a clean sweep of council and seat one that recognizes constituents' concerns.<br /><br />That includes listening and showing fiduciary responsibility.<br /><br />Middle ward voters need to get to the polls and support Marc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post-40104442547115885372009-10-20T22:56:15.053-04:002009-10-20T22:56:15.053-04:00Mark possesses many qualities that I believe are m...Mark possesses many qualities that I believe are missing on the current Council--especially from our current middle ward representatives. The most prominent of which is his ability to listen. Over the past several weeks I've had the pleasure of engaging Mark and have asked him some challenging questions and expressed some serious concerns. What impressed me in our dialogue was that he didn't merely respond to my concerns and questions, but cared enough about me as a resident of the borough to ask me questions.<br /><br />Why's that a big deal? <br /><br />Mark is a listener, and askes questions to capture the full scope of--at least in my experience--of an individual's concerns. <br /><br />This is a refresing approach to leadership, and I look forward to his furture role on Borough Council.Joe Rooneyhttp://www.phoenixvillefocus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888510041198780859.post-5742914071954498992009-10-20T13:45:34.150-04:002009-10-20T13:45:34.150-04:00I am one of the friends he mentions that lives in ...I am one of the friends he mentions that lives in Phoenixville.<br /><br />It was a wonderful and pleasant news when he told us he was interested in serving on Council.<br /><br />He has the community-mindedness, smarts, time, and interest necessary to excel in the position. Most importantly, I think, is he is only interested in serving his neighbors.<br /><br />There is not one iota of self-interest involved. Previously he had served the community purely through his charity work. From Council, I know, he will bring the same ethic to bear.karlubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863558552495781819noreply@blogger.com