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[SocialTransparency]

http://sandysprings.lps2.com/SecHistory-20143.113118_Community.html

This would be a very good angle to bring this zoning issue in front of a larger public audience. 

[SocialTransparency]

I have contacted the editor of the Sandy Springs Reporter. I provided him with the link to the recent meeting videos and other fact based information. Here is my letter to the editor of the Sandy Springs Reporter.


 "Greeting

On 3/24/09 a community zoning meeting was held @ Sandy Springs city hall. This meeting was in reference to the Church of Scientology,s application for a zoning variance on the property located @ 5395 Roswell Rd.

This building was in the past , the offices for Harry Norman realtors. The property is now owned by the Church of Scientology of Georgia Inc.

This is the zoning app.

REZONING PETITION

APPLICATION# RZ09-001/CV09-001         PROPERTY ADDRESS  5395 Roswell Road

PETITIONER: Church of Scientology.

CURRENT Zoning: O-I Conditional

REQUEST: To rezone the subject property from O-I ( Office Industrial) Conditional TO O-I to maintain the existing structure AND TO ALLOW FOR A CHURCH , WITH CONCURRENT VARIANCES.


During this community zoning information meeting @ Sandy Springs city hall, the Church of Scientology was represented by attorney Woodson Galloway.

Several local citizens attended this open forum meeting. I was one of those individuals in attendance. I video taped the entire meeting. I do not reside within the city of Sandy Springs, but do a considerable amount of business within the city.

Here is the link to that video in its entirety.


http://www.youtube.com/GovTransparency


This is a developing story that may be of interest to the greater Sandy Springs community. Thank you for your time. If you need anymore information, please feel free to contact me.

Cordially, blah blah blah

404-blah blah blah

00000000000000.com

[mefree]

Latest coverage by Sandy Springs Reporter:
http://sandysprings.lps2.com/Articles-c-2009-08-20-166371.113118_Council_defers_Scientology_decision.html

Council defers Scientology decision
by Amy Wenk

August 21, 2009
Click here to view the new conditions:
http://sandysprings.lps2.com/pageimages/CSConditions.pdf

Concerned residents who filled Sandy Springs City Council chambers Tuesday, Aug. 18 to hear the fate of the Church of Scientology, which wants to relocate from Dunwoody to Sandy Springs, will have to wait.

The Council was scheduled to vote on the church's rezoning application that if approved would allow religious use of property the congregation purchased in 2005 at the intersection of Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive.

But discussion on the application was short-lived. The city's staff recommended a 60-day deferral to give planners and City Council time to review a new set of conditions for the change of use from office to church.

The application will go before the city's Planning Commission for the third time Sept. 17, and the council is scheduled to take a final vote Oct. 20.

The church's attorney Woody Galloway said the new conditions arose from an Aug. 5 meeting but were not finalized until Aug. 17 or 18.

Opposing residents who attended the Aug. 18 meeting had no knowledge of the revisions but supported deferring the case.

"I have not seen them, so I have no comment until I see them," said Jane Kelley, zoning chair for the High Point Civic Association. "I believe the Council just got them prior to this meeting, so none of the opposition has seen the new conditions."

Throughout the zoning process, many citizens have advocated the city deny the rezoning request all together. Twelve homeowners' associations or civic organizations have rallied in opposition, and the city has received more than 400 signatures on petitions. Major contentions are inadequate parking and increase in vehicular traffic.

"What we have done is propose some conditions designed to address the opposition's concerns [and] the staff's concerns," Galloway said. "So that is what we have tried to do, address those by imposing limitations on the church beyond what the zoning would require."

Changes include maximum occupancy numbers imposed by the church as an attempt to justify increasing the square footage of the four-level structure from 32,000 to 46,000 square feet, while reducing parking from 111 to 81 spaces.

That increase in space has been part of the Church of Scientology's proposal since the application was introduced in March. As part of a planned $3 million renovation of the interior of the building, the church asked to enclose the 30-car underground parking deck to add more than 10,000 square feet for a sanctuary, additional office space and classrooms.

But city's Planning Commission July 16 voted to approve the application only if no increase in square footage occurred. Staff analyzed each use of the building, like classroom and office space, and calculated a need for 148 parking spaces.

Now the church hopes restricting the total occupancy to a maximum of 283 persons will assuage concerns. Galloway said the occupancy maximum was calculated based on Sandy Springs' parking code for churches, which requires one space for every 3.5 people.

However, the conditions state occupancy for the building may be increased during the hours of 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday if proof is given of a valid off-site parking lease for parking spaces located within 300 feet of the property.

"The idea is it does limit the church, but it is something they are willing to do to address the concerns raised by the community," Galloway said.

Other new conditions include restricting the largest assembly area to 1,300 square feet and requiring the church submit detailed peak occupancy rates each Jan. 31.

[ethercat]

Thank you very much for that, Free.  I have a response to it, but will have to wait till tomorrow to make the post. 

[ethercat]

I think someone may be doing some heavy ethics time for choosing this building. 

Gallowfail's Alternate Conditions:

RZ09·001/CV09-003 CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY

ALTERNATE CONDITIONS

APPROVAL CONDITIONAL of the rezoning from O-I (Office and Institutional District) conditional to O-I (Office and Institutional District). Where these conditions conflict with the stipulations and offerings contained in the Letter of Intent, these conditions shall supersede unless specifically stipulated by the Mayor and City Council.

1. To the owner’s agreement to restrict the use of the subject property as follows:

a. The largest assembly area within the building shall not exceed 1,300 square feet.

The assembly area was already planned to be 1218 square feet, unless another plan has been submitted that I don't have, so that is no concession at all.

b. Except for a maximum of 4 special events per year, the total occupancy for the building shall be limited to a maximum of 283 persons based on a required parking ratio of one (1) space per every 3.5 persons within the building. Said 283 person occupancy shall be conditioned upon the continuation in full force and effect, in favor of the Property, of that certain Easement Agreement 1, dated May 25, 1988, recorded May 31, 1988 in Deed Book 11571, page 276 official deed records of Fulton County, Georgia by and among the United States Parcel Service and Glenridge Square, Ltd.  Any special events which shall exceed the maximum 283 person occupancy, or the building’s occupancy as adjusted below, shall be permitted through the City of Sandy Springs Special Event Process to ensure adequate traffic management and parking is provided.

Ok, so this is saying they agree to limit the number of people in the building to 283 except for 4 times a year, and that on those 4 times a year, they will get a permit from Sandy Springs for a Special Event, which is, I believe, the same permit we will need to protest there.

I know their New Year's event will be one of them, anyone want to hazard a guess what the other 3 will be?

IMO, 283 people is not adequate limitation for the building, considering that people in Atlanta do not usually carpool anyway, and we have not observed the scientologists carpooling any of the times we have been at the org on N. Shallowford.  Most arrive one to a car, and in addition to that, their driving seems to leave something to be desired, considering the number of people who screech their tires as they leave when they see us.

Seems they are counting on the easement agreement with the Post Office.  Is the United States Parcel Service the same as the United States Postal Service?

Galloway is also requesting the city staff to ease up on the 3 spaces per 1000 square feet parking ratio that was decided at the last Planning Commission meeting, but he's doing it in roundabout numbers, which makes it like comparing apples to oranges to see that.

c. The occupancy for the building may be increased during the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday by providing proof of a valid off-site parking lease for parking spaces located within 300 feet of the property. In addition, off-site parking may be provided between 300 feet and 5 miles of the property subject to approval of a transportation plan by the Director of the Department of Community Development. Occupancy for these hours may be increased based on a ratio of 2.5 persons of additional occupancy for every one (1) off-site parking space provided. Proof of valid off-site parking lease(s) shall be provided to the Director of the Department of Community Development prior to exceeding the maximum occupancy and by  January 31st of each year thereafter. To be considered valid, the off-site parking lease shall have a minimum thirty (30) day cancellation notice and require that notice of cancellation be provided to the Director of the Department of Community Development. Failure to  maintain a current valid lease shall suspend any right to exceed the maximum 283 person occupancy until a new off-site parking lease is provided to the Director of the Department of Community Development meeting the conditions stated herein.

Off-site parking within 300 feet of the property?  Let's just see how much 300 feet from the property encompasses:



or between 300 feet and 5 miles if approved.  This would mean the Director of the Department of Community Development would get the same "religious bigotry" accusations that Sandy Springs has already gotten in meetings, if they didn't rubber stamp the "transportation plan."  Want to go through that 4 times a year?

And NO, scientology, the residents DO NOT WANT you in there till 11 PM having your parties.  What happened to holding the events off-site like Galloway promised before?

d. On or before January 31st of each year, or within 30 days of receiving a request from the Director of the Department of Community Development, the Chtuch [sic - lulz] shall provide to the Director of the Department of Community Development: (1) a report, signed  under oath by an authorized Church official, detailing peak occupancy of the building by month for the preceding year, or such other period as designated by the Director of Community Development, and (2) an affirmation that the Parking Easement remains in in force and effect.

What does "under oath" mean to scientologists who make a habit of lying when it suits their needs, as evidenced by the insistence that the building would only be for members, only to have Bob Adams point out that the 1st floor would be display areas for the public to come in and see what scientology is about (in other words, for the public to come in and be recruited)?

e. No ovenight stays.

Considering that the building isn't zoned or being zoned for residential (or hotel), this is no concession.  Overnight stays would be prohibited by law whether or not they used this as a condition.  Of course, the law wouldn't stop them from housing Sea Org or poorly paid staff members, will this condition stop them?

Lying, a Scientology Practice

f. To prohibit any drug, alcohol, substance abuse, chemical dependence, and/or criminal rehabilitation programs.

Well, at least there's that.  I have the same comments about this that I had above, about overnight stays.

2. To the owner’s agreement to abide by the following:

a. To the site plan received by the Department of Community Development dated May 5, 2009. Said site plan is conceptual only and must meet or exceed the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and these conditions prior to the approval of a Land Disturbance Permit. Unless otherwise noted herein, compliance with all conditions shall be in place prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

b. The Church of Scientology shall provide a letter, approved by the governing authority of the Church of Scientology and signed by an authorized officer of the Church, acknowledging that because of the unique build out of the Church at 5395 Roswell Road, and the fact that the number of parking spaces dedicated to the building’s use is limited to 81 spaces: 1) the value and/or the ability to resell the building may be substantially affected by this rezoning; and 2) that use of the building for general offce, another church, or other purposes inconsistent with terms and requirements of this zoning action, shall require rezoning with such rezoning to include but not be limited to the demonstration of compliance with parking requirements for the proposed use.

c. Within 30 days of approval of the rezoning and variance requests to allow the Church’s use at 43,246 square feet with 81 parking spaces, the Church of Scientology agrees to file a protective covenant in favor of the City of Sandy Springs, Georgia, which shall be
placed on the deed records of Fulton County, Georgia, that upon sale of the property, any future purchaser acknowledges:

So they have saved it till close to the end to mention that these conditions are contingent on the enclosure of the basement parking being approved, and 30 (or is that 25 spaces, as found in the real estate ad listed here: http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,313.msg1981.html#msg1981 ?).  This is still only 2 spaces per 1000 square feet - not enough.

And they are still determined to render the building either useless, or very expensive to make useful again, for anyone in the future who would buy this building.  Not to mention all the construction noise when the enclosure, and in the future, the reopening, of the basement occurs. 

This attitude of demanding they get what they want right now, and the future and anyone else be damned is typical of the proven behavior of scientologists and their founder, L. Ron Hubbard.  They don't care about Sandy Springs and what is best for the city and its citizens, they don't care if the building is worthless in the future, and they don't care that they aren't wanted in Sandy Springs - they just want what they want, right now.  They made a mistake buying this building, and it will be the problem of Sandy Springs and the future owners of the building if they are allowed to move in, and even more so, if they are allowed to enclose the basement.

The way the building looks after 4 years of not being used is only a hint of what is to come if they are allowed to use the building - the building will sustain more wear and tear once it's in use than it would sitting empty.

Mr. Galloway is attempting to offer little in exchange for getting everything they have wanted all along.  Where is the compromise in this?  I don't see any!

i. That the building has been designed, constructed and previously used as a general office building and the terms of the proposed use by the Church of Scientology, specifically the reduced parking ratios, cause the property to be out of conformity with the required parking ratios for general office under the City of Sandy Springs Zoning Ordinance;

ii. That the future purchaser does not have any vested right to utilize the parking ratio approved for the Church of Scientology by the City of Sandy Springs' zoning action, and upon change of use, shall, in addition to all other City of Sandy Springs, Georgia zoning requirements then existing, be required to demonstrate compliance with the then existing parking requirements for purchaser’s proposed use or obtain a variance, rezoning, or other approval of its proposed parking ratio as required by the City of Sandy Springs, Georgia; and

iii. Failure to demonstrate compliance with the then existing parking requirements may require demolition and reconstruction of all or a portion of the lower enclosed area of the building and construction of the area for use as parking prior to the occupancy and use of the property.

3. To the owner’s agreement to provide the following site development standards:

a. Renovation and build-out of the building shall be subject to plan review by the Department of Community Development to ensure, within the reasonable discretion of the Director of Community Development, that the build out shall minimize structural modifications of the building which would prevent or significantly increase the cost of restoration of the basement for fixture parking use.

b. Sidewalks will be required at time of building permit, subject to the approval of the Public Works Department.

c. The owner/developer shall dedicate forty-five (45) feet of right-of-way from centerline of Glenidge Drive along the entire property frontage or ten and one-half (10.5) feet from back of curb, whichever is greater, to the City of Sandy Springs.

d. The owner/developer shall dedicate fifty-five (55) feet of right-of-way from centerline of Roswell Road along the entire property frontage or ten and one-half (10.5) feet from back of curb, whichever is greater, to the City of Sandy Springs.

e. Reserve for the City of Sandy Springs along the necessary property frontage of the following roadways, prior to the approval of a Land Disturbance permit, sufficient land as necessary to provide for compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. All building setback lines shall be measured from the dedication but at no time shall a building be allowed inside the area of reservation. All required landscape strips and buffers shall straddle the reservation line so that the reservation line bisects the required landscape strip or buffer. At a minimum, 10 feet of the required landscape strip or buffer shall be located outside the area of reservation. All required tree plantings per Article 4.23 shall be placed within the portion of the landscape strip or buffer that lies outside the area of reservation.

Fifty-five (55) feet from centerline of Glenridge Drive

f. To allow parking within the required minimum front yard setback (CV09-003).

g. To allow the existing sign to encroach into the right-of-way (CV09-003 ).

h. To reduce the twenty (20) foot side setbacks to five (5) feet (CV09-003).

Gag, I can't go any further with this tonight.  Maybe tomorrow.  What a bunch of hogwash. 

Thank you, http://www.free-ocr.com/ for the "text from PDF" converter.  Not perfect, but good enough.

[SocialTransparency]

 It will be of great comfort when ,via multiple Open records act requests, all of this information is made public. Hopefully long before the SS sept planning meeting. To leave the local citizens in the dark until a day or two before the next planning comm meeting on this issue is both unfair and very unprofessional. I am sure the media will be very interested in how this whole issue has evolved.

 A request for ALL public records related to this zoning issue ,from march of this year to the present is of paramount importance.

[SocialTransparency]

 I further feel , that full copies of these public records on this zoning issue should be sitting on the table @ the entry way into city council chambers as a hand out to all concerned citizens attending the next 2 meetings. How is the local citizen able to be up to speed and aware of what is going on with this matter, if their SS government officials do not provide the citizenry services and benefits paid for via their local taxes?

 It is a sad day, when only lawyers are privy to information that which in fact is your constitutional right to freely and easily have access too!

[Stutroup]

RZ09·001/CV09-003 CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY

ALTERNATE CONDITIONS

APPROVAL CONDITIONAL of the rezoning from O-I (Office and Institutional District) conditional to O-I (Office and Institutional District). Where these conditions conflict with the stipulations and offerings contained in the Letter of Intent, these conditions shall supersede unless specifically stipulated by the Mayor and City Council.

So don't zone it as a church.  I will accept that under some very easy conditions: CoS drops its tax exempt status, stops claiming to be a religion, stops mention of scripture (in exchange for policy), and any other religious connotation or inuendo.

I know their New Year's event will be one of them, anyone want to hazard a guess what the other 3 will be?

I'd like to start the pool with Hubbard's birthday.

Is the United States Parcel Service the same as the United States Postal Service?

Tired lawyer is tired, cofusing USPS with UPS.

Galloway is also requesting the city staff to ease up on the 3 spaces per 1000 square feet parking ratio that was decided at the last Planning Commission meeting, but he's doing it in roundabout numbers, which makes it like comparing apples to oranges to see that.

I sometimes wonder if Galloway has been spending time in Alabama trailer parks, and wants to use their 3:2 parkin ratio.

What does "under oath" mean to scientologists who make a habit of lying when it suits their needs, as evidenced by the insistence that the building would only be for members, only to have Bob Adams point out that the 1st floor would be display areas for the public to come in and see what scientology is about (in other words, for the public to come in and be recruited)?

You mean this?

"THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. You can write that down in your book in great big letters. The only way you can control anybody is to lie to them." - L. Ron Hubbard, "Off the Time Track," lecture of June 1952, excerpted in JOURNAL OF SCIENTOLOGY issue 18-G, reprinted in TECHNICAL VOLUMES OF DIANETICS & SCIENTOLOGY, vol. 1, p. 418

[ethercat]

So don't zone it as a church.  I will accept that under some very easy conditions: CoS drops its tax exempt status, stops claiming to be a religion, stops mention of scripture (in exchange for policy), and any other religious connotation or inuendo.

Hey, that's cool with me too!  I will drop my zoning opposition right now IF CoS gives up the 501c3 and the pretenses, for them and their front groups.

I know their New Year's event will be one of them, anyone want to hazard a guess what the other 3 will be?

I'd like to start the pool with Hubbard's birthday.

I'd say that's a good guess, considering Hubbard is like their god.

Tired lawyer is tired, cofusing USPS with UPS.

Any legal ramifications of naming the wrong entity, I wonder?

I sometimes wonder if Galloway has been spending time in Alabama trailer parks, and wants to use their 3:2 parkin ratio.

LOL!  Where'd you get those pictures of the scientologists' cars?

You mean this?

"THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. You can write that down in your book in great big letters. The only way you can control anybody is to lie to them." - L. Ron Hubbard, "Off the Time Track," lecture of June 1952, excerpted in JOURNAL OF SCIENTOLOGY issue 18-G, reprinted in TECHNICAL VOLUMES OF DIANETICS & SCIENTOLOGY, vol. 1, p. 418

Yup.  And this: http://askthescientologist.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-judges-and-prosecutors-need-to.html

Because of their "scripture", many Scientologists would perjure themselves, would destroy incriminating evidence, would manufacture evidence, would, in fact, do anything, including breaking the law, to protect their church. They would do so even when there is a chance that they would get caught.

along with

Having a Scientologist swear to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God" is of little value. To a Scientology True Believer, such an oath has very little power compared to the dictates of L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige.

It may be hard for a religious person to understand how little God means to a Scientologist. According to Hubbard, the "Supreme Being" is only one of eight equally important "dynamics" -- God is not more important than, for instance, Groups or Self. And, according to the new interpretation by Miscavige, it is the Church of Scientology that is most important by far. Yes, far more important than God or any other dynamic.

So any oath in court, to a Scientologist, does not have the power you might hope for. Do not expect any such oath to cause Scientology True Believers to actually tell the truth.

To be fair, some Scientologists probably would tell the truth, but they would be the minority. To the rest, the Church of Scientology is absolutely senior to anything else.

I will leave you, dear prosecutors and judges, with an opinion from L. Ron Hubbard on your justice system:

    Police and courts offer an open-armed opportunity to the vicious and corrupt to establish themselves in a position of safety while satisfying their strange appetites of perverted viciousness toward their fellow man.

    There is little thought of administering justice so that individuals can improve. There is every thought to punish and create misery.
    Introduction to Scientology Ethics by L. Ron Hubbard

[mefree]

http://sandysprings.lps2.com/Articles-c-2009-09-03-166512.113118_Opposition_still_strong_for_Scientologists.html

Opposition still strong for Scientologists
by Amy Wenk

September 17, 2009

The Church of Scientology has sparked a battle this year in Sandy Springs. Since March, hundreds of residents from 14 neighborhood or civic associations have adamantly opposed the church relocating from Dunwoody to the property it purchased in late 2005 at the intersection of Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive.

Those citizens have, month after month, meeting after meeting, grasped the podium to voice their concerns about traffic and parking. They have implored city boards and planning staff to deny the rezoning application that otherwise would permit the stately, brick building to become the Georgia Scientology headquarters. They have solicited neighbors for support and submitted more than 500 signatures on petitions to the city. And they have no plans to give up.

Residents remain steadfast in their opposition, while city officials waver in deciding the case.

The application was unexpectedly deferred by City Council for the second time Aug. 18 after the church submitted new conditions (view a copy at www. reporternewspapers.net).

"We came prepared to fight our case that night," said 10-year resident Robin Beechey who represents the 72 homeowners of Willow Glen Condominiums on Glenridge Drive. "There were a lot of people in that room that night who felt disappointed. They felt their journey had been somewhat wasted. They could have been warned in advance."

The application will go before the city's Planning Commission for the third time Sept. 17, and the council is scheduled to take a final vote Oct. 20.

Those opposed say having the Church of Scientology at 5395 Roswell Road would make an already-bad traffic situation worse for nearby neighborhoods.

"If you ask the average Sandy Springs person, the first thing that comes up is traffic," said 19-year resident Jane Kelley, zoning chair for the High Point Civic Association that represents 500 homeowners.

The intersection at Glenridge Drive is "so misconfigured that it is dangerous now," she said. "We're afraid if the zoning changes from offices only to something more intensive, it's really going to be bad. And there are no plans for improving that intersection."

This is just a portion of the article.