After a lengthy discussion and vote regarding Sage Parkway, Meyer presented their new plan to the Village.
Or, as I should say, their plans. Yes, Meyer presented three very convoluted plans to the Village Board. It was understood that the Village Board was to vote on one of those plans. But that did not happen.
Meyer presented plans A, B and C. However, in the course of the discussion, Meyer explained that they want plan A, which involves the use of a dredger and either plan B or C, which involves the hours of use.
It was convoluted and confusing. The Village Board was unsure exactly what they were voting for. But for three Trustees and the Mayor, that didn't matter at all. They want to get Meyer back in before the next Village Board election, that is very clear.
Meyer assured the Village Board that this new plan would be quieter. Meyer spokesperson Randi Willie even took some sound samples from a quarry in Wisconsin using some sort of sound-capturing device. However, having worked extensively with microphones and video (I have a video production business), it seemed very clear to me that the equipment was not used correctly nor was there any indication of where the microphone was placed or what type of microphone was attached to the device in the first place. I can tell you this, I will not trust any sound measuring done by a Meyer employee sitting in a boat holding a device in his hand.
Nonetheless, many residents spoke out against granting Meyer a waiver. As I mentioned in my comments, Meyer seemed to be just throwing plans at the board hoping to have one stick and this is the reason why we have a "cooling off" period to begin with. I also spoke about the fact that many Fox Trails residents received a notice in the mail from the Village and Meyer announcing the ZPA hearing Meyer's petition on October 13. I stated that this "looks bad" because a meeting has been scheduled for something that has not even been voted on as of yet. Even though the letter was signed by the village of Cary, many Trustees did not know of this letter.
Others spoke about their objection to the dredger; a few people spoke about how Fox Trails residents at an earlier meeting were blamed for living in Fox Trails in the first place.
It was deja vu, really. Many of the same arguments were being made over and over again back in 2008.
The most objectionable part of the meeting came when Trustee Chapman decided to arrogantly and condescendingly chastise Fox Trails residents for speaking out at the meeting.
"I don't know what you want," he stated, even though several residents stood up and said not to grant Meyer the waiver. But he went on and on. He even claimed to have gone door to door in Fox Trails.He didn't come to my door, that's for sure. He didn't come to the door of my neighbors. So, I am not exactly sure who in Fox Trails he spoke to or when he actually went "door to door."
He went on to praise Meyer and then to say this:
"If you guys have problems with the dust and stuff--absolutely, there's a gravel pit back there. And I get it."
It was almost as if he was telling us to just deal with it. Let me say this, I am glad that there is a Village Board election coming up in April. (To hear Chapman's comment, click here)
So the vote came and as usual it was Trustees Cossler, Covelli and Kraus who really seemed to listen to the concerns of the residents, who didn't seem to like the fact that Meyer was being given another chance. They voted no.
Trustees Chapman, Dudek and McAlpine voted yes. The tie breaking vote came from Mayor Kownick.
So on October 13, Meyer will present their petition to the ZPA. And then it will be back to the Village Board sometime quickly after that.
After we know what exactly Meyer will be presenting, we will be putting together a protest petition to this new ordinance. We have to wait, however, until after the Zoning Board meeting. Several of us will then walk the neighborhood, gather signatures.
More to come.
