Can't wait to see how this turns out and what legal action could potentially be initiated.

Though, I would have to say that having car doors opening/closing/slamming shut right outside ones window w/ people who have no connection/empathy for the residents is a bit different than what's happening across the street and I don't believe the library is open late into the evening. Is Anaba open late/later into the evening?

What about the noise of snowplows coming through from outisde ones window in the early morning hours or throughout the night/s during a heavy snowstorm.

Ms. McCanse, is your bedroom window potentially outside a very busy parking lot?

Though, as the article states, Ms. Kern has sunk quite a bit of $$ into this property. I remember when it was a car repair garage and what a grease pit and eyesore it was.
If Ms Kern did pick up and relocate, would she be able to recoup her costs?

City Market on the next block doesn't have any off street parking or the ability for customers to utilize a parking lot close like Anaba's customers do for the library and they do quite the business or did when I stopped in a few times.

Then again, Dan Katz has already been granted permission for his commercial property next door to tear down a house and create a parking lot which he did and which benefits him financially.

Good luck.

There's one glaring omission in this entire debate: what actual PROOF is there that the decrease in business at Anaba is due to parking? How does she know that it's not because, in this economy, people simply don't have the expendable income to shop at her higher-end store? Has she done any market research studies? Presumably there was a time when she did really well (well enough to expand). I can't imagine the parking situation was any better back then. The idea of tearing down a perfectly good house to put up a parking lot without difinitive proof that lack of parking is the problem is specious. This whole thing just doesn't pass the smell test with me.

As you stated in your letter - there is a huge parking lot right across the street. Let them use that. As I have stated before, I am up and down Capitol drive at all hours of the day and there are always parking spots available. I have lived in Shorewood for more than 20 years and have paid over $135,000 in taxes, doesn't sound quite as good when you say quarter of a million though. She has 25 employees? What are they all doing? The few times I have been in there I have been totally ignored. Good for Ms Kern for all of her contributions, I am sure most other Shorewood businesses have done the same so I don't think anything she has done is quite as laudable as you make it seem. Ms Kern has also been shifty in some of her practices, especially when she initially opened the Garden Room. Those in the horticulture business know all about it. Also your figures of 36,000 + that come to the garden room. In 10 years that averages 9 a day. I sincerely hope the village votes this down.

Isn't there already a parking lot right next to the house she wants to tear down? Does Anaba Tea Room really need that many more parking spaces?
On the other side of the argument, the house she wants to tear down is kind of homely-looking with it's white aluminum siding and blocky hedges. I can also see how a rain garden would be more environmentally beneficial than another dark-shingled roof. Hopefully she'll opt for something other than black asphalt (concrete? bricks?) for the parking lot if she gets her way. Shorewood is being covered in asphalt and it's horrible and NOT more cost-effective in the long run.

Perhaps it is not the most attractive home on the block but I am sure it could be well loved by a family.
I find it hard to believe her business is suffering due to lack of parking. If her business is so unique people will get there if they want to. There is seriously no lack of parking there at all. If a family moved in there with taxes around 5 - 6 thousand a year that would bring in 60,000 in ten years as well as possible children in the school system and potential customers to other shops. I guess Ms kerns can do whatever she wants to though and it sounds like she will whether we like it or not but let's try to keep the facts in perspective. I don't think her business alone is what is keeping Shorewood alive.

@India; well said. Clearly it has come for people to gather once again; to allow this to move forward; and for us all to be integral to the success of all.

No one wants to see the Garden Room or any of our Village businesses not succeed, but really this is a case of a lack of imagination at finding creative alternatives to parking challenges that don't require razing perfectly intact prewar homes that can serve as affordable housing for a family to help bring up school district enrollments (several were offered at the plan commission meeting: move parking to west side of Frederick, diagonal parking in the municipal lot, handicap spot in front of shop). I think Trustee Mike Maher said it best when he explained some of the history here, that the Village has long discussed these zoning issues, and that the consensus has been that the guiding principle should be to keep the businesses facing the main corridors and not have them intrude into the neighborhoods, whether that is Edgewood or Frederick or Maryland, or Downer (should every business without dedicated parking petition for residential lot parking solution?). The other issue that has been overlooked is that the parking challenge is parking that is in the immediate vicinity (less than 1/2 block). The reality is that there is ALWAYS parking within 1-2 blocks when you go into the residential areas. Mequon shoppers that come to Shorewood may not get that, but that's the beauty of our walkable village, and the job of the Garden Room to educate its customers (if the Third Ward & Brady St that have LESS parking, can succeed, I am sure The Garden Room can too.)

If I really want to go to a shop be it Brady, Third Ward or even over on Oakland - I will park and walk. If I am too much of a hurry to deal with parking - I don't go. Unless someone is handicap and that is a great solution to dedicate a spot for that - otherwise walk! It's good for you! If you are with your elderly mom or aunt of cousin Sue on crutches, drop her off at the door and go park the car - problem solved.

"When Scott Walker slashed the rights of teachers, unions, women and schools, many of us rightfully picked up our clipboards and hit the political trail."

You mean Governor Walker and the majority of Wisconsin voters. I guess you still don't understand how you picking up your clipboards was an attack on the good people of Wisconsin by special interest unions. You lost, get over it!

I believe the business owner sees a need for parking. If she didn't, why spend all this money for a new lot? The community needs to place some value on its local businesses, it's not a gated community. If Garden Room and Anaba leave, I believe it would be hard for a new business to entertain taking over that space as there would already be a record of push back regarding parking. In short, it seems a small price to put a parking lot next to a parking lot, across from a parking lot, to keep what most view as a Shorewood business gem.

Let's add that Sendik's on Oakland w/ 5,500 sq ft and assessed @ $854,000 ($155.00 per sq foot) has how many spaces of parking to offer their customers and now the parking will be enclosed/protected from the elements? Oh, and they were also the recipients of $200,000 in grant monies (ie free & clear) from the village.

Why is Anaba's assessment so high compared to other properties?

Ok, this is for inquiring minds...All I can say is..stop the insanity!!

The Garden Room should have access to all the legal firepower available since the owner's father founded Generac ie "Generac Power Systems, one of the world's largest independent manufacturers of complete engine-driven generator systems. "

It will be interesting to see what, if any, of the plan commission members/trustees get weak kneed at the potential thought of doing business w/ someone who seemingly has so many resources/connections/influence.

Bring it on..This could get interesting or maybe not

I think it's wildly inappropriate to divert the discussion into the topic of Anaba's owner's personal wealth. At the public meeting, it was clear that people on both sides of the topic, or in the middle, wanted to conduct a civil conversation--even if some people's feelings had been hurt by the owner's way of going about purchasing the property and asking for the rezoning. It would be nice if anonymous posters would conduct civil conversations in these forums without resorting to gleeful lipsmacking over possible dramas.
Once again, I appreciate all my fellow Shorewoodians who have approached this topic in a thoughtful, respectful way reflective of our values here--and demonstrating to our kids what collaborative problem solving involves.

We'll see. Obviously, you seem to forget how Dan Katz got approval for his tearing down of an adjacent house to create a parking lot. You seem to forget about the millions and millions bestowed upon Barry Mandel w/ the public completely shut out of the entire process oh and Trustee Hanewall's architectural firm that he is employed at handling the design of the $32,000,000 development.

Money does talk along w/ the opportunities/power that come with it. So, even though it was more along the lines of the National Inquirer to bring into the mix the Generac connection, is a pretty powerful connection.

So, in the world you live in maybe everyone is equal and has an equal say/chance at things. Though, that's not reality. Just look at some of the kids who get busted for drugs/stealing/DUI's in the northshore and who's parents come forward with their lawyers to get them off/records cleared so they don't have a blemished record when applying to college/jobs.

Money talks and I'm just interested if it will in this instance as well.

I previously thought Dan Katz had the advantage in his situation because of his "resources/access to legal counsel.though he is an attorney himself" Now, w/ this bit of info and since the decision makers already opened the door/set some sort of precedent w/ tearing down another house, Anaba doesn't have to worry about having the $ to pursue a legal battle, if they choose and there is merit, which can be a deterrant for many others w/out resources.