So how does this work, the project has changed dramatically since the Landmarks Commission saw it, but the proposal hasn’t come back, so will the Council do the Landmarks Commission work on the Council floor? It’s one of the most commonly asked questions I’ve heard about the Edgewater.
Seems to me that the Landmark’s Commission should be looking at the new revisions to see if the changes can meet the Certificate of Appropriateness. Otherwise, the council will have to do that work on the council floor or refer it back. If they are going to refer it back, they should do it soon, instead of waiting until the last minute.
However, there is another way this could be done. The developer can request it. MGO 33.19(5)(b)5. says
Should the commission fail to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness due to the failure of the proposal to conform to the above guidelines, the applicant may appeal such decision to the Common Council. In addition, if the commission fails to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness, the commission shall, at the request of the applicant, cooperate and work with the applicant in an attempt to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness within the guidelines of this ordinance. (Am. by Ord. 11,648, 8-20 & 8-26-96; ORD-08-00109, 10-7-08)
And the question is, why haven’t they?
Are they hoping this issue just gets swept up in the last minute approvals of the council?
The Daily Reporter reports on the Landmark’s Commission meeting that I missed where this was briefly discussed. And gets more information from individuals. But note, Sarah Carpenter says that they have no intention of going back to Landmarks, because no one told them to.
Michael May, the City Attorney seems to be giving Hammes unsolicited legal advice that it is advisable. But he claims that no one has requested a legal opinion on it. Which is odd because according to commissioners, staff told them that Kitty Noonan was looking into it. Do they need a formal request for the opinion?
On a funnier/sad note, and a bit of an aside, check out how HUGE the capitol is in this photo.
This seems really messed up. The project has changed dramatically, it needs to go back and see if the changes are now visually compatible and if the Certificate of Approriateness has been met. It’s a dramatically changed project with the driveway moved and the building pushed back – its possible they would approve it or the votes would be closer – why not try to get this issue resolved?
