Ever wonder why Toledo gets the reputation of being not friendly to businesses? Here's a recent example of miscommunication and now public statements being made that don't have a friendly "come on downtown" tone.
Last week it was reported that:
A new maritime-themed charter school opened yesterday in Toledo's Warehouse District, but just hours after children left for the day, city employees posted a sign forbidding the school to continue operating.
Tom Kroma, Toledo's director of neighborhoods, said the Maritime Academy of Toledo does not have a needed special-use permit to operate at 44 South St. Clair Street.
"They have made application, but that will not come before the Toledo Plan Commission until Oct. 17," Mr. Kroma said. "It's kind of odd that they would have been starting up there [before approval]."
Obviously there was some miscommunication that gave the school the impression they could open in that location.
Now today the Toledo Blade is reporting:
Toledo Plan Commission Director Stephen Herwat said his staff's recommendation will be to deny a special-use permit requested by the charter school.
"We don't believe that is the best use of that space," Mr. Herwat said.
Yes, let's repeat that last sentence just one more time....
"We don't believe that is the best use of that space,"
How does the Warehouse Association feel about this Charter School? After all you'd think their opinion would matter:
Kathy Steingraber, executive director of the Toledo Warehouse District Association, said all the tenants in the building and nearby business owners were thrilled to have the charter school move in.
"They see it as a wonderful thing and new customers," Ms. Steingraber said.
and:
Kathy Steingraber, executive director of the Toledo Warehouse District Association, said she hopes the commission will allow the school to come back to the neighborhood.
"I believe that there are so many misunderstandings about what is going on here," Ms. Steingraber said. "I don't think anyone fully realizes that this is a learning center with a minimum number of students."
Ms. Steingraber said the school intends to remain in the apartment until the hardware store at South St. Clair and Lafayette Street moves. The school would then move downstairs into that 3,200-square-foot space.
"We don't have a lot of people breaking down the door to lease space in downtown Toledo or in the warehouse district, so it makes no sense not to welcome them with open arms," Ms. Steingraber said.
I know, we are all supposed to be so anti-charter schools but I think it's a really cool concept and I thought we wanted more people downtown...not to mention have those who own property be able to earn rent...
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3 comments:
You get a cookie for that one...
:-)
The problem with the 'process' of such applications are the rules/plans/procedures that have to be followed.
The Plan Commission staff has to make recommendations to the commission members based upon zoning and land use plans. If the Warehouse District and the master plan for the downtown Toledo area call for retail, commercial or light industrial in those spaces, then the charter school would not be the 'best use for the space.'
Now, whether or not you'd decide that none of those other categories are INTERESTED in the space and that it's then better to allow a variance is another issue entirely - and one that the staff tends to leave up to the commission members - who are, btw, appointed by the Mayor.
Hopefully, staff has done their proper job in evaluating the use with all the various zoning and land use/master/overlay plans and made a legal recommendation. Hopefully, the commission members will properly consider such a recommendation - and then make the sensible decision.
Maggie, I agree there are rules and regulations as well as the master plan to consider. It also is the responsibility of the charter school to make sure everything is being done properly but for some reason after they had requested the variance they obviously believed it was okay to hold classes.
I also agree there is a reason why a master plan is created and also times when a variance can be asked for and granted.
My main issue with this is the statement as it was quoted in the Blade and the many times when the message seems to be "don't bother because we've already decided". That to me is not what a democracy is supposed to be about and I know that's something we also agree on.
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