What's Happened So Far?

January 12, 2009    Rezoning the property from RS-12 (Residential-Single Family) to CD-RM-5 (Conditional District-Residential Multi Family) is on the agenda of the Zoning Commission for the meeting on this date. 

December 2, 2008    Beverly Simpson contacted several residents proposing the development of condominiums instead of the event center.  Consensus of the residents is that this is an appropriate use of the property that would not negatively impact the character or value of the neighborhood. 

September 16, 2008    Attorney for the developer appears before the City Council and withdraws the application for rezoning.  Numerous residents were in attendance.  Video linked from here. 

September 9, 2008    A group of neighbors met with the developer and her attorney to see details of the proposed development.  While more attractive than the Moose Lodge, it was clear that the event center will still bring with it noise, traffic, and neighborhood disruption, and negatively impact property values. 

September 3, 2008    Issue is covered on Fox 8 news.  Video posted here.

August 31, 2008    Writeup with photos of other parts of New Garden Road on Triadwatch.

August 30, 2008    The FriendsOfNewGarden blog goes online, offering a place to share comments on this rezoning proposal. 

August 29, 2008    Comments posted on EdCone.com and GreensboroPolitics.com about our fight.  Ed Cone suggests we establish a blog for people to post comments on the issue.  220 residents from over 130 households go on the record opposing the rezoning. 

August 28, 2008    A group of residents met with Mike Barber and received support for our position.  He advised us to have as many people as possible contact the City Council members by EMail, and attend the council meeting on September 16. 

August 6, 2008   http:/www.FriendsOfNewGarden.org goes live to inform and coordinate actions of New Garden area residents. 

August 4, 2008     The continuance is granted by the City Council (video).  Attorneys for the developer ask for an additional continuance to September 2.  Residents in attendance object to having the meeting the day after the Labor Day holiday.  The City Council is sympathetic to the burden shifting schedules put on the residents.  Agreement is reached on a continuance to Sept 16. 

July 31, 2008     Residents receive word that the developer is going to ask at the Aug 4 meeting for a continuance to August 19.  The neighborhood organizers inform residents that the matter probably won't be discussed at that meeting, and that they should save their time for the important meeting to come. 

July 14-August 4     New Garden area residents collect signatures of neighbors opposed to the rezoning and the event center. The response has been 98% against. 

July 14, 2008    In spite of a Zoning Staff Report and Plan Amendment Evaluation that cited numerous reasons that this should not be done, the Zoning Commission voted 5-3 in favor of the rezoning (video) which, since it was short of the 6 votes necessary for outright approval, referred it to the City Council.  It was scheduled for the August 4 meeting.

June 9, 2008     Matter before the Zoning Commission meeting is continued to July 14. (minutes - p10) (video)

May 31, 2008     Residents within 600 ft of the property at 1807 & 1809 New Garden Road received notice of a hearing before the Zoning Commission on June 9 to consider rezoning the property from residential-Single Family (RS-12) to Conditional Distritrict - Limited Business (CD-LB) to accomodate an "...events center which typically would host receptions, weddings, parties and the like."

Next Event

September 16, 2008 5:30pm
Hearing before the Greensboro City Council. 
Melvin Municipal Office Building
300 W. Washington Blvd.
(map)