HPPC/Planning and Zoning Meeting a No-Go
Not that I’m calling this a surprise, but Highland Park Presbyterian Church — which just withdrew its rezoning application — is now off the books for a meeting tomorrow with University Park’s planning and zoning commission.
We’ll have details in Friday’s issue of Park Cities People.
Off the agenda for tomorrow, but this thing is far from over. Stay tuned for more contorted schemes to get their way. You’d think a church that has created so much ill will in it’s own neighborhood would get the message. Unfortunately, HPPC is now trying to skirt the rules and hatch a plan that avoids city guidelines and process. The latest concept is an unprecedented patchwork of paved alley’s, circular driveways and repurposed city streets. They make it sound like the city is OK with the idea, which is just not true. It’s a mess. I guess that’s why they call it “organized religion”.
If all they want is parking, why don’t they sell the block worth $15-16 million and build an underground parking lot? I can’t believe that a church that can raise $8-10 million a year cannot afford to do this, even if it takes a few years to get the money. It’s the best long-term solution to the church’s parking concerns, the neighbors’ aesthetic and property value concerns and the city’s concerns about physical integrity and tax support.
I also believe that their latest scheme is a clandestine attempt to rezone that block for future expansion. I just wish someone over there would be honest about that. It’s shameful that they started this whole nightmare talking about their need for parking for their “mobility-challenged seniors.” Dishonest, misleading, manipulative and ultimately, damaging to HPPC.
HPPC’s leadership needs to wake up.
Sunday Christians…