Committee Rubber Stamps PP Expansion
Posted by Eric Scheidler on Friday, October 16th, 2009
UPDATE below.
Last night the Planning and Development Committee rubber-stamped Planned Parenthood's expansion of their parking lot. Unless a member of the City Council appeals this decision, it will pass by consent at the next City Council meeting, October 27.
This result, though disappointing, was not a surprise. We've grown used to seeing City of Aurora officials avoid confronting Planned Parenthood's misdeeds. But I was impressed to see that at least some of our objections had made it through to the aldermen on the committee.
Chairman Mike Saville began the meeting by acknowledging that most of the audience was probably interested in the last agenda item, so turned to it first. When Saville began to ask questions of zoning administrator Ed Sieben, it was clear that our calls and e-mails had made an impact.
Another, less encouraging sign that our efforts had been felt was the heavy police presence. No fewer than five uniformed officers were stationed at the back of the fifth floor meeting room when we arrived.
Chairman calls citizens "misinformed"
Saville asked about the size of the parking spaces. In out zoning case, we allege that the spaces are too narrow by a foot—9 feet versus 10 feet. Sieben stated that lots of spaces in this and similar zoning districts were approved at 9 feet.
Then Abby Schuler asked a similar question about the setback for the spaces—the amount of space provided for backing out—which we also allege does not comply with the Aurora Zoning Ordinance (AZO). She received a similar answer from Sieben: this size of space has been approved before.
Mike Saville then mentioned the calls and e-mails they'd been getting about these matters and remarked that these messages "while well intentioned" were "misinformed."
Aurora Zoning Ordinance not consulted
But at no point did the Committee or Ed Sieben actually turn to the AZO to see what it says. Our lawsuit does not allege anything about parking elsewhere in the City. If the City has misapplied the AZO all over town, it means nothing. Two wrongs don't make a right.
As attorney Peter Breen pointed out in a letter to all twelve aldermen on the City Council, the correct zoning has never been applied to this property, even in the "investigation" upon which Mayor Weisner based his decision to grant Planned Parenthood an occupancy permit.
Planned Parenthood lies about pro-lifers unchallenged
The Committee did not address our other major concern about Planned Parenthood's petition: their claim that they need these spaces for "security."
So Planned Parenthood's lies about the pro-life community continue to go unchallenged by City officials, a circumstance that is particularly troubling in light of the ongoing effort to reach a Settlement Agreement with the City over pro-lifers' civil rights, and effort premised on our peacefulness and lawfulness.
What's next in our fight against Planned Parenthood's expansion in Aurora? Over the next several days, I'll be working with Peter Breen and other experts to answer that question—so stay tuned!
Update: Alderman Rick Lawrence stepped up and appealed the Planning and Development Committee's decision that means the issue goes before the full City Council for a vote on October 27.
Please consider coming out for that meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall (map). Call 630-844-3615 to sign up to speak for three minutes on why Planned Parenthood's request should be denied. Talking points and more information available here.
Eric,
I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to vehemently disagree with you. I counted six (6) uniformed police officers in the back of the room, not five (5). And after the agenda item about PP's parking was over, it went down to one (1).
I can only assume that they thought that the PP contractor doing the parking space work might get violent. Don't know.
God Bless,
Roger
October 16th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
re the other locations where set backs and space between cars were not enforced. Where are they? What are the particulars WHY they were not enforced? WHY is the law on the books if it is not enforced? Were there exceptions on the other locations and what were they? If "it was done before" is the rule, then what good is the law. What if that policy were enforced regarding other laws? Challenge PP about reasons for security. Specific examples, details, details, details. Can they site specific examples where prolifers created any reason when there was a question of safety?
October 19th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Misinformed? If Alderman Saville thinks we pro-lifers are misinformed, what about the aldermen themselves? It is they who were told by Planned Parenthood that the extra parking was needed due to constant harassment from pro-lifers. Apparently this was accepted as fact because they went ahead and granted the request based upon the misinformation they were given.
Hundreds of Aurorans showed up at city council meetings two years ago, having to do ultimately with misinformation the aldermen received about a medical office building being built on the far east side. Once again, it was Planned Parenthood behind the misinformation. But at that time, as now, our pleas fell upon deaf ears, though perhaps we did manage to pierce some of the misinformation the community had been fed by a compliant media that favored Planned Parenthood.
Even Federal Judge Charles Norgle saw through the misinformation Planned Parenthood employed in feigning ignorance about the ultimate tenant of the building. Judge Norgle called the "Gemini" ruse an "obfuscation," a form of misinformation. And when in the same court hearings Planned Parenthood tried to assert it was essential to the women of Aurora that the clinic open immediately, Judge Norgle again refused to buy into the misinformation they were spewing.
Please, Alderman Saville, we are well aware of misinformation regarding Planned Parenthood here in Aurora. Why can't you see it as well?
October 21st, 2009 at 5:20 pm
This is the letter I sent to Weisner and the Aurora City Council. I added the last paragraph. The first three are the ones provided by Eric in the form at this URL: http://fvfapp.org/email.php
I am writing to urge you to reject Planned Parenthood's request to expand their parking lot, which will be on the agenda at the October 27 City Council meeting.
Planned Parenthood claims they need these parking spaces for security reasons, but the pro-life presence outside their facility has been peaceful.
And with a zoning case against Planned Parenthood moving through state court, no further construction should be allowed at this location.
Finally, Planned Parenthood and the actions of Mayor Weisner and the City Council of Aurora need to follow the rule of law, as defined in the zoning ordinances of the City of Aurora. It is your duty as mayor and as city councilmen to uphold the rule of law, according to the oath you swore to when you took office.
Respectfully yours,
October 26th, 2009 at 5:57 pm