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Garden Room Owner Aims to Bolster Support before Village Considers Rezone Proposal

The village won't consider a proposal to have a Shorewood house rezoned — to make way for it to be razed and a parking lot constructed — until late October. Meanwhile, residents who oppose the project say a petition campaign continues.

owner Deb Kern said she is taking some time to bolster support and address the concerns of neighborhood residents before she goes in front of the village for approval of a rezoning request, in hopes of razing a Shorewood home and constructing a "green" customer parking lot.

"I'll be meeting with residents to hear their concerns on the project," she said.

aimed at having the home at 3940 N. Frederick Ave. rezoned and razed, Kern said she removed her request from an Aug. 27 Plan Commission meeting. She didn't remove the request from a Sept. 25 agenda, but it will finally reach the commission for consideration on Oct. 23.

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Meanwhile, Frederick Avenue resident Sue Witas said the campaign to disrupt the proposal via a petition drive is still ongoing — they will continue to go door-to-door on weekends. The campaign was in full swing in the week leading up to an Aug. 27 meeting; it's lost a little of its vigor with the delay, but that will pick up as the meeting draws closer.

The community group wouldn't disclose how many petition signatures it has collected thus far.

"There's a general consensus against the project," Witas said.

Until the Plan Commission convenes in late October, Kern will continue to circulate her own petitions and encourage those patronizing her Shorewood garden and antique shop — which houses a greenhouse and — to phone the village manager's office and Village Hall and voice their support for the project.

Kern said she will meet with the police chief to inquire about any problems they have seen in the parking lot next to the house Kern is requesting be rezoned.

michael aita September 8, 2012 at 12:09 pm
who wants to be next to a parking lot??
what does a parking lot do for the value of nearby houses? why is the tax on garden room so low compared to others? razing houses for parking lots is a very bad idea
Bob McBride September 8, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Would you rather they move somewhere else and leave that odd piece of property vacant? Or are they supposed to stay there and try to get by with inadequate parking? What's the solution?
Kate Jacobson September 8, 2012 at 12:30 pm
There is plenty of parking immediately across the street from the proposed site in the library/village hall lot. It would utterly destroy the character of that residential block.
Anaba would do better to clean up their kitchen. Five friends and I had tea there several months ago. There was black hair in 3 of the dishes comprising the tea trays. And a young woman with black hair tied back with a scrunchy bopping and shaking her head to dance music in the serving area...
Bob McBride September 8, 2012 at 01:10 pm
If that's the case then it would be interesting to hear why that's not workable for her. Most business owners don't make a habit of spending money needlessly for things that are available to them at no cost.
And did you complain to the owner at the time about the hair?
Bonnie Pedraza September 8, 2012 at 08:56 pm
Why would anyone want to live next to a parking lot, especially one that was created by tearing down a perfectly good house next door to yours? I frequently drive past Garden Room and haven't noticed a parking issue.
Kate Jacobson September 8, 2012 at 09:36 pm
@Bob McBride
a. There is no reason to buy and raze the house in question. 4 hours free parking is available in the library/village hall lot all day (she was complaining that on school days there's less free parking on Capitol). Existing free parking in greater quantity than that afforded by a cleared lot already exists. Unless her motive is to have a pay lot. b. The first time we complained, the server told us that they had a new outside supplier for the pastry shells who must have caused the problem, i.e., they added their own filling without visually inspecting the shells. On finding the second and third dishes with hairs in them, we asked to see the manager. A "supervisor" gave us a discount on our bill. A day or two later the owner called the woman who'd made the reservation, offering all of us free tea. She then polled us and none of us wanted to return. This was not a first visit for our group, it was the third time. The food's pretty good, but the service is erratic (understaffed for the number of guests). There seems no compelling reason to return.
Jenny Heyden September 13, 2012 at 03:34 pm
I would like to see them rent a few of the drycleaner spaces, and add a valet to park cars during busy seasons. They might get a nod for nice customer service that way. I am not sure money's an issue with the owner - she may be able to afford to do whatever she'd like. I know as a taxpayer in Shorewood it's nice having that home on the property tax rolls. Just some thoughts.

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Steve ® June 10, 2013 at 03:55 pm
So? What was used and what harm does it cause? Although ironic this may provide more good thanRead More harm. What is written on the application sign?
Cricket June 11, 2013 at 01:31 pm
The bluff and other areas need to be planted with things that will snuff out the weeds. They areRead More harmful to animals and possibly birds, of which there are many at atwater. Obviously not many animals but there are squirrels and rabbits and other native mammals. Not to mention the kids at the play area. Most adult humans can handle an occasional wiff of a pesticide but not children or animals. I have held several pesticide licenses in my day so I have had much course work on this. I am surprised the village has done this but I know restoration is about to begin - again - on the bluff and perhaps they are trying to rid the bluff of all the weeds. It is a shame that the 15+ kids they hire every year can't be up there weeding instead. I don't know what else they could be doing as the village has reduced the amount of annual flower beds that need to be maintained.
PaulRevere June 10, 2013 at 12:40 pm
The liberal minded Patch had it going their way for some time. Then, the contrary opinions became aRead More "voice to be heard". So, like all liberal media, just shut down the "free speech". Speech that educates the people is a NO-NO in the world of "public education". Have no fear, other avenues to educate the public is on the way.
CowDung June 10, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Given the amount of liberal propaganda that is posted around here, one does have to wonder if PatchRead More intended to make it more difficult to reply to comments (and set the record straight)...
Mike Stevens June 14, 2013 at 07:20 am
Wow, PaulRevere, AKA the hardest working person in America, who only takes 1 day per month off andRead More who believes all evil is related to public schooling, has time to not only comment on St. Louis area Patch sites, but on Milwaukee area sites as well? Paul, perhaps you should go back to school to check your grammar--other avenues to educate the public ARE on the way, not IS on the way. Oh, you must be too busy working 20 hours a day (but finding tons of time to comment on several Patch sites) to check grammar
Walker celebrates after defeating the liberal unionista blue fisters
Steve ® June 6, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Sure Keith. I am sure every time you use the term Tea Bagger it is not vulgar. The symbol for yourRead More failed recall movement was a Blue Fist. No one wants to be ruled by a fist and I don't see how that is vulgar when your own logo was a blue fist. Try again.
Keith Schmitz June 6, 2013 at 01:03 pm
Are you assuming we're stupid Steve? Don't. BTW -- you called yourselves Tea Baggers. We're onlyRead More using the term you selected. What a great PR roll-up for this group of Neanderthals. You're problem with that any fister reference is usually the speaker feels it is where his head should be.
Greg June 6, 2013 at 01:10 pm
OHHHHHHHHHHHHH, that is why their fists are blue, OUCH!
Bob McBride June 6, 2013 at 09:04 am
I think if you look at most of the sites still running the older version, you'll see the sameRead More messages of impending doom we got just before the change...
Bob McBride June 6, 2013 at 09:15 am
I got the name wrong, it was "Bellmore", not Belmont. It was part of rollout of what atRead More the time was being referred to as "Patch 2.0" in the press. It was rolled out to five towns in the Long Island, NY area in September of last year. I'm going to attempt to post a link to an article:: http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/189296/aols-redesigned-patch-websites-make-a-play-for-neighborhood-groups/
CowDung June 6, 2013 at 09:30 am
"I think if you look at most of the sites still running the older version, you'll see the sameRead More messages of impending doom we got just before the change... " | I think that's true, Bob. I poked around at a number of Patch sites around the country and the 'Welcome to the New Patch' articles were full of the same complaints we are seeing here. | This Patch redesign seems to be the 'New Coke' of websites...
Greg June 4, 2013 at 03:38 pm
Starting at ONLY $70,000.00 Time to cash in your aluminum cans.