In response to Ed Cone’s post on the Trader Joe’s situation, a couple of people evidently misread my earlier post. I’ll just take the high road and say people sometimes make mistakes.
I didn’t edit the post, and I did not provide any ‘anecdotal observations’ about yard signs for former Mayor Bill Knight or speculate how residents opposing the development voted for City Council. I merely pointed out that we now have a liberal NIMBY City Council, a reasonable description if indeed the proposed reopening of the White Street landfill was indeed the election’s driving issue.
I was in favor of reopening the landfill, and as far mixed-use development goes, I’m personally for it—-I’m lazy and I like my modern conveniences close by. But I hate the fact that mixed-use development has become a fad among city planners who haven’t really thought through the implications of having everyone and everything stacked on top of each other.
By the same token, I realize that having a Trader Joe’s in your backyard and a landfill in your backyard isn’t exactly the same thing. But that apparently doesn’t mean much to residents near Friendly and Hobbs Road who oppose the development. Trust me, I’ve watched enough rezoning meeting and I’ve seen citizens tells boards and councils how a seemingly innocent development would make their lives pure hell. I remember watching Lindley Park residents speaking out against a Dunkin Donuts on Holden Road and all I could think was hell yea I love having a Dunkin Donuts down the street.
All I’m saying is the City Council will most likely decide this case, and they’re in a very difficult position. Just like the previous conservative council, they could quickly gain the rep that they care more about one side of town than the other.
