Okay, you're a few doors down from this project, right, Kathleen?
Yes, six doors west of 2000 Spring Garden.
And you are the author of a letter that you pieced together and we sent to the board last week, right?
That is correct. I'm one of 20 neighbors who wrote that letter expressing strong opposition.
Okay. And you personally saw to it that the people who are signatories of the letter agreed with the letter, right?
I did.
Briefly, because the board is pressed for time, can you tell the board why you're opposed and why you're here today?
Yes, I believe that 2000 Spring Garden represents an overbuild of the parcel.
18 out of 20 buildings on this block are significant in contributing historical structures built between 1875 and 86 with similar heights, setbacks, and lot coverages.
In contrast, 2000 Spring Garden covered 40% more lot depth than the block's historic footprint and
would significantly exceed the cross-lot height of its neighbors. The height and massing of the
building would have a decidedly adverse impact on access to light and air for near neighbors.
This is a major issue. 2000 Spring Garden includes decks and other structures that
are highly visible from 20th street and creating parking for three cars is unworkable and
inappropriate for the site in the block in closing i would like to bring up the current development
at 2026 28 spring garden street just down the block that is the only other assault to our
historic block and a precedent definitely not to be followed with an oversized l-shaped plan it
represents an overbuild of the site that cuts off light and air to neighbors objection we have
nothing to do with this other site you're absolutely right sustained kathleen anything
Kathleen, anything else you want to add?
else you want to add just to say that in the best interest of the neighbor
Just to say that in the best interest of the neighborhood, I hope that significant
variance is sought by 2000 Spring Garden will be denied.
Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony.
So there's just Lisa Hastings.
I have a couple of questions for this witness.
Thank you.
Ms. Harleman?
Did you participate in the historical commission process?
I did.
Did you attend the hearings?
I did.
Did you testify?
I did.
You're aware that the project changed dramatically as a result of the historical commission process and the input of you and your neighbors?
Objection? Relevance?
I thought we stipulated to this earlier that...
All right, finish Mr. Miller, please.
Go ahead, Captain.
I'm aware that changes were made as a result of the historical commission meetings.
How tall is your house?
It matches the cornice line of all the other houses on my block, and then it steps back.
So your house is 50 feet tall?
Yes, and I have no objection to that because I think matching the cornice line was part of what the, I mean, I have no objection to that.
Thank you.
I have to redirect because I think that's confusing the issue.
Kathleen, does your property have 50-foot height all the way back?
Absolutely not.
How does your height of your property match the proposal before the board?
It does not match.
It only matches at the cornice line.
Nothing further.
Thank you, ma'am.
Anyone else, Richard?
John Goodman, and then I don't think Lisa is with us.
So John Goodman is my final witness, assuming lease is not on.
Okay, Mr. Goodman, please identify yourself with a record, name and address.
Can everybody hear me?
Yes, please.
All right, Jonathan Goodman, last name G-O-O-D-M-A-N.
Your address?
2004 Spring Garden Street.
Thank you.
So we're in the firm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
uh john you're involved with the management of 2004 spring garden is that right that is correct
your father owns it that is correct well you manage it right yeah we both we both do but uh
lately i've been carrying more of the brunt work of it for sure tell the board uh so you're you're
you're next to molly gallagher you're two doors down from this correct that is correct and you've
seen the shadow study that shows the shadow studies from the prior hearings that shows an
impact on your property right yes tell the board why you're here and uh why you're opposed yeah so
you know the proposal is extra length and height for me you know substantially impacts um you know
we're in we're in the rental business right i'm opposed to this because several of our units
will be directly impacted they have whether it's a shared outdoor space from all six of the units
or three individual units that have their own private outdoor space, those command about 20 to
25 percent more than their oppositions on the front of the unit. Having sunlight go away will
directly affect that and negatively impact, you know, subsequent rental income. It's obviously a
very, very complicated and competitive rental market. So we just try to make sure that we're
positioned as best as possible. And this negatively affects us with no upside.
um that's all i have if there unless there's cross and lisa hastings does is here and says
she has her hand up but i'm done with the no further questions of mr goodman there but across
of course mr goodman your building's 50 feet tall too my my building is i don't the exact
specs in front of me but is um comparable with the with the with the rest of the block
including where it drops off at the corners line in the same depth.
So I'll just get ahead of some of those other questions.
Did you see the shadow study?
I did. I saw both shadow studies and both showed that there was impact.
Mr. Goodman, you would agree that the shadow cast by the 38-foot building
would be detrimental to your business also right objection i didn't hear that testimony
i rephrase the question my question is if you saw the shadow studies
and you think the shadow study excuse me if you think the shadow cast by the proposed
excuse me, if you think the shadow cast by the proposed development on my client's property
is detrimental to your business, is it your testimony that only the 50-foot shadow is
detrimental or the 38-foot shadow is detrimental as well? So, you know, for me, I'm not, there's
obviously various specifics on where that 50-foot continues. Based on the shadow studies from what
the plan is today it casts a significantly larger shadow that impacts from a larger shadow from a
perspective of actual length of shadow as well as time of that shadow i i don't have the studies in
front of me but i i do recall particularly at eight in the morning was the time that um there
was significant uh impact is that correct uh mr milner was that eight o'clock if i'm remembered
correctly thank you very much mr goodman you're welcome thank you uh lisa i'll be very brief
can you hear us can you hear me yes good evening please identify yourself for the records by your
name and and provide us with your address my name is lisa hastings h-a-s-t-i-n-g-s i reside at city
view condos at 2001 hamilton street we're in a firm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing
about the truth yes i do mr mrs hastings uh tell the board you're a member of city view
yes i am and was were you aware of any process where the towers uh considered this project
and rent to render an opinion on it were you part of that process no um no there was no
communication even with those of us who are the most active members in the association
the board is pressed for time so tell the board why you're here and why uh you you're opposed to
this project okay i'm mostly concerned about the negative impacts that this over large building
will have on my entire neighborhood especially 20th street there's been a lot of discussion
about the impacts on spring garden I understand that but the height and length of this building
is completely out of character with the neighborhood and it um it darkens a long
it darkens a long long portion of 20th street uh pretty much all day but especially in the
afternoon creating dreariness without even leaving space on the property for future greenery or
stormwater stuff and truthfully there's been a lot of discussion about well 38 feet will hurt
well a shorter 38 feet high development I don't think would have the same negative impact
on 20th street it would certainly be less overwhelming I also think that objection
objection lack of foundation well I think it's reasonable to suggest that 50 foot the 12 foot
difference would be the massing of it's going to have some even if nothing for the sunlight it's
going to have a visual yes the feeling this this building feels overwhelming also the um keeping it
in character with the neighborhood in spring garden the other houses in spring garden for
the most part have a backyard and a backyard would shorten this building but it would also
relieve the overwhelmingness of it, it would keep it consistent, and it would allow for some necessary
green and stormwater relief. I very much object to this current iteration.
the okay that's pretty much it I basically a right-sized building which could be built
you know without as billed by right that would be consistent with the spring garden historical
neighborhoods on all sides the top and the back and would you know would not adversely impact
Spring Garden or 20th Street I see 20th Street from like Bob from my my room and I go up and
down it all the time and this is like driving into a tunnel looking for that picture thank you thank
you thank you for your time I have no that's my last witness Mr. Chairman thank you Mr. Miller
yeah if I could just have a moment please I'm looking for the photo across the street
do you have anything to add
Mr. Bowen, do you have anything to add?
you have the councilman's
You have the councilman's letter and the RCO is also present.
Council president, excuse me.
Council president.
Can I share screen, please?
Ms. Hastings yes are you able to see the screen yes is that the building on the other side
of 20th street yes it is do you object to that building okay the building is already there
um do you object to it do i object to it i mean i objection to the to the yeah it's
it's built it exists i mean if you want to ask her if it wasn't built would she object to that
being a building put it being no excuse me i've had enough today would you object to a building
being erected in that i'm sorry i cannot object to a building that's already built okay miss
hastings does that does that building cover a hundred percent of the lot i do actually how
does she know do you see any portion of the lot at the ground at the first floor level it does
Right.
Thank you.
I'm sorry.
I have no more questions for this witness.
Mr. Bolin, are you trying to speak?
Because if you are, I can't hear you.
I was waiting to see if Rich was going to move everything into evidence.
Yeah, we can move our exhibits into evidence at this point, Mr. Chairman.
I do want to make a brief statement.
I know you're pressed for time, though.
I know you keep saying brief, but somehow your brief is totally different than my brief.
Chairman, you know, the applicant had long hearings.
I mean, I thought I was pretty brief.
I have had limited time.
I have not.
OK, come on.
Go ahead, Ryan.
Yeah, I'll move my evidence and rest as far as testimony.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
You? No other witnesses? No other witnesses?
I have one of the witnesses, Mr. Chairman.
I have one witness. I'd like to call. I'd like to call.
I have one document that I need to have Valeska Stonkey introduce.
Well, can I say it? I mean, yeah, sure.
It's a pretty good about late submittals.
Let's let's let's hear what he has to say.
yeah sure it's a it's it's a rendering of our building at 38 feet it just chops it at 38 feet
what's the purpose of it to show that all of the complaints
would exist with a by right development okay understood thank you i mean i'll just look i'll
jack because i'm going to see it for the first time right now i've been pretty good about letting
late exhibits come in this is as late as it gets she ready i also i'm here yeah i i this is rather
late and i'll stipulate look i'll stipulate a 38 will have some impact i understand that
if stipulated to that of several times yes but if ms stanky can can uh please be recognized she
can show the exhibit and i'm sorry chair but here i go again with the call of time for the people
who have been waiting yeah yeah this is getting out of control i think yeah i mean i don't know
about the rest of the board but we're going to actually continue this or no no we're not going
to continue this this is done we're going to we're going to vote it today anyone else
questions from the board no
planning commission no
good evening board peter bernard for the planning commission
this property is indicated for multi-family residential use in the city's comprehensive plan
while the proposed use complies with the comprehensive plan we feel that there is
while the proposed use complies with the comprehensive plan we feel that there is
no hardship to the height requested we would recommend that 38 feet in height or we would
recommend that it be 38 feet in height or match the existing abutting twin whichever is highest
accordingly we object to the granting of the variance. Thank you. MI 2020-000695
2000 Spring Garden Street my vote is no. My vote is no. My vote is no. My vote is no.
Thank you and I apologize for the stuttering earlier. This completes the two o'clock list.
we read off a list of continuances that were requested we're on the 330 list if anybody