Local Government TV

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Small Business Pitted Against Residents in Bethlehem Zoning Dispute

When you think of Elias Farmers Market, located at 3131 Linden Street, the thought that comes to most people's minds is fresh produce at reasonable prices. But instead of tossing salad, four different lawyers tossed legal terms like "use variance," "dimensional variance," and different legal precedents during oral arguments in Northampton County Court last week. They were arguing about Elias' proposed expansion, previously approved by Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board in August.

Beneath all this legal parlance, Judge Edward Smith is being asked to weigh a busy produce market's desire to operate more efficiently and safely against Bethlehem homeowners concerned about the impact of a business in their backyard. Can they peacefully co-exist? Judge Smith, during the course of lengthy oral arguments, suggested several times that neighbors and Elias sit down and talk to each other. "It seems neighbors and owners have different views of what is going on," remarked Judge Smith.

Bethlehem residents Al Bernotas, Walter Ward and Guishu Fang have appealed the Bethlehem ZHB expansion approval. They, along with other expansion opponents, occupied two rows of the courtroom. On the opposite side sat several members of Bethlehem's beleaguered Zoning Hearing Board, including Chairman Gus Loupos, along with several members of the Elias family.

Ms. Fang, whose bedroom is located next to this produce market's dumpsters, previously told zoners she is awakened each morning by the alluring aroma of decaying produce. She is also disturbed by the fumes and dust of delivery trucks, and is concerned conditions will only worsen if Elias expands operations.

Pat Ward, Walter's wife, told The Bethlehem Press that this expansion is really being sought so that Elias can build a distribution center, pointing to its jump from 12 to 25 feet and three loading docks instead of just one. "They want a distribution center, and that's not allowed in a residential neighborhood. They should go up the road for that," she said, referring to the industrial park. Elias does market Middle Eastern pastries online, both to the Lehigh Valley and other U.S. regions.

Attorney David Backenstoe, speaking on behalf of these vocal expansion opponents, stressed the "horrific impact" that would be caused by a proposed 25' high building, nearly twice its current height. He also insisted this expansion would actually increase the size of the business by 200%, well beyond the 50% currently permitted. Instead of using one loading dock, there will be three. He also told Judge Smith that the two outbuildings used as a basis for computing the proposed expansion were never really used as part of the produce business. One had been rented out to a landscaper and the other had burned down.

Attorney Chris Spadoni, there at the direction of City Council, stressed this is in the "most restricted residential zoning" in Bethlehem. He argued that neither City Council nor neighbors received adequate notice of the zoning hearing, and complained that Elias actually wants to expand its business 300%.

ZHB Solicitor Mickey Thompson argued that numerous neighbors were given the chance to make their concerns known during a three hour hearing, but because they had no representation at that time, they tended to ask irrelevant questions about lottery ticket sales or whether Elias sells meat. Thompson's remarks infuriated expansion opponents, who began scribbling notes to their attorney and signaling a tipstaff.

Thompson also argued that Elias has no desire to increase the size of his business, but wants this expansion only to make the area safer. When questioned by Judge Smith about the ZHB's duty to analyze the impact of this expansion on the neighborhood, Thompson noted that they did impose conditions limiting when trash could be removed and insisting on less debris.

Attorney Joseph Piperato, representing Elias, insisted all they want to do is come out of the 40's and 50's, and that the expansion will help create a safe and efficient environment. He explained products must currently be unloaded by hand. He denies any desire to sell more products. Conceding that the market is located in a residential neighborhood, Piperato noted it is "on the fringe" and located next to Linden Street, a busy state road. He described what was occurring as part of the natural expansion that happens in business. Judge Smith stated a natural expansion is a mule path that becomes a dirt road and later, a larger road for more traffic.

"This is the same," said Piperato.

"Is it?" asked Judge Smith.

After the hearing, expansion opponents disputed a claim in the Elias brief, prepared by Attorney Piperato, that "the loading dock is so unsafe that it is not used by [Elias]." Bethlehem resident Yong Hao countered that with a video, shot the day before the hearing, showing the loading dock in operation. That video has been posted to Youtube.

The Elias' are currently out of the country, but Najwa Azar, speaking for the family, disputed many of the claims raised at last week's hearing. She denied any intention to turn the market into a distribution center. "We are not planning on storing stuff for our Allentown store," she said, adding, "We have talked to our neighbors many times. We invite them to walk inside our store and see how we work every day."

Ms. Azwar acknowledged they do continue to use the loading dock. "It is unsafe. But we use it. We have no choice," she admitted. She explained that the loading dock is located at the end of an incline, where water pools and ices up in the winter, making conditions unsafe. Five workers are required to unload one truck, holding skids "so nothing slides on us." Even with water pumps, there is always an accumulation. "We want to enclose and cover the ramp so that neighbors do not see or hear us," she noted. She added that the extra loading docks are there in case two trucks arrive at the same time.

"We are trying our best to make this building look presentable and clean. We can't do much until we improve operations," concluded Ms. Azwar.

Not all neighbors oppose this expansion. Next door neighbor Kathy Capuano, who resides at 3139 Linden Street, supports the Elias expansion. "They are nice people trying to do a good thing. I don't understand how so many neighbors can be against this. It's a shame," she stated.

Ms. Capuano worked at the market under previous previous owners and confirmed that the loading dock was unsafe even then. "What they are trying to do would only be an improvement," added Ms. Capuano.

Ironically, the Farmers Market seeking expansion is actually much smaller than it was in 1929. That's when Ms. Capuano's grand-father, John Jamon, bought an 18 acre orchard that sold apples, cherries, peaches, plums, and pears that were locally grown. His market, called Jamon Orchards, was sold to the Pichel family after his death in 1978. In 2006, the Elias family took title, minus the orchard. Many of the homes surrounding the market were originally part of that orchard.

Judge Smith gave parties a week to supplement their briefs, after which he will weigh the competing claims of a business against residents.

32 comments:

  1. Bernie,

    Does this matter then eventually go back before Bethlehem's zoning board or can this matter be worked out at the Common's Plea level?

    Peace, ~~Alex

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is no longer at a stage where it can be settled. Judge Smith can affirm, reverse, or remand. He seemed to be leaning towards a remand, but the record may take him in a different direction.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the part about "tossing salads", no wonder you are interested in this issue.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bernie writes: "Ms. Fang, whose bedroom is located next to this produce market's dumpsters, previously told zoners she is awakened each morning by the alluring aroma of decaying produce. She is also disturbed by the fumes and dust of delivery trucks, and is concerned conditions will only worsen if Elias expands operations."

    Bernie,
    We can believe what she is saying here as we lived in downtown Allentown and noise and garbage are part of daily living, but we knew it when we decided to live there. We made a conscious choice. Who came first, Mrs. Fang or the market? That's the real issue. Buyer beware is the
    house-buying mantra. Didn't Mrs. Fang know the market was there when she bought her home?
    After all, her development is newer than the market's operational history. No?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bernie,
    What exactly does remand mean?

    ReplyDelete
  6. tear down the homes and replace with an orchard!

    ReplyDelete
  7. A "remand" occurs when a court sends something back for additional findings.

    ReplyDelete
  8. When Mrs. Fang bought her house the market had a modest amount of traffic, and it was what it was, no large garbage dumpsters out in the open, no diesel trucks idling in the middle of the night and parked there overnight, no litter all over the place (Mr. Ramon Pichel used to pick up litter everyday), no shopping carts left around the lot overnight. And when Elias bought the market, it was a nonconforming use, with legal restrictions as to its size. They knew what they were buying. Buyer beware. And the Elias family does not talk with neighbors about how to be good neighbors, as Mrs. Azar said, as quoted by Bernie. Let them have a warehouse in their own neighborhood. There are many enforcement issues with Elias Farmers Market. That has not yet been tackled by the neighbors, but it will be. One battle at a time. Right now the expansion is the straw that broke the camel's back, got the neighbors hackles up and caused them to fight back. The Elias family has a successful busines, and certainly it will continue to be successful, without the look of a factory in the residential neighborhood. They do have the right to expand their business, just not physically. The neighborhood has a right to live in peace and harmony.

    ReplyDelete
  9. the outcome on this won't be easy. my gut says he probably remands on a very specific questions which will lead the zhb to add conditions to their approval. It is located across the street from strip mall central. this small business isn't the problem: it's the rest of the sprawl that has chewed up previously great farm land.

    ReplyDelete
  10. My gut tells me that a remand to the ZHB for additional conditions means an appeal to Commonwealth Court. The ZHB in this city ignores the law, sitting in their little King Tut positions, and allowing carpetbaggers to deface neighborhoods.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am a close neighbor of the market. While the building of a warehouse would be disturbing, the rest of the complaints against the market are an exagerration. I drive and/or walk by there several times a day and I don't notice anything offensive. Maybe I should be more observant or maybe the complainers should be less so. The neighborhood has several homeowners who cannot seem to contain their garbage, dogs, grass and weeds. A few of the properties look like junk yards. That is more bothersome to me than Elias Market.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am a close neighbor as well and IT IS OFFENSIVE. How can you compare giant trash bins and enormous idling trucks and the stench that goes with them to one or two homes in a neighborhood that don't have perfectly manicured lawns? It wasn't like this when we moved in and the prior owners (Pitchel - sic?) were operating it. I have no problem with people operating successful businesses, but there's something to be said for reasonableness too. You don't see Scholl doing this, do you?

    ReplyDelete
  13. The reason why Mrs. Kathy Capuano supporting the Elias expansion is not because the owner of Elias are nice people, It is because Elias have promised to close the Linden street entrance next to her house as part of the plan and the new warehouse will block the view of market from her house when it expand onto other neighbor’s property. She is only neighbor actually will benefit from the expansion. She does not care about other neighbor’s suffering.

    ReplyDelete
  14. “Ms. Azwar said, "We have talked to our neighbors many times. We invite them to walk inside our store and see how we work every day."
    Comments: Really, did she? did any of you get invited for the tour?

    “Ms. Azwar acknowledged they do continue to use the loading dock. "It is unsafe. But we use it. We have no choice," she admitted.”

    Comments: Sure, now they finally admitted, why not in the zoning hearing and in their attorney’s legal briefs to the court? Why now? It is because they got caught in the lie.

    “She explained that the loading dock is located at the end of an incline, where water pools and ices up in the winter, making conditions unsafe”.
    Comments: Elias owned the market for last 4 years, why they never make any improvement to the current loading dock if there is any issue? Of course they want wait to build a bigger loading dock and move it to the neighbors backyard.

    "We want to enclose and cover the ramp so that neighbors do not see or hear us," she noted. She added that the extra loading docks are there in case two trucks arrive at the same time.
    Comments: The lies just continue here, Elias will never cover any ramp outside the loading dock where delivery trucks and tractor trailers will be parking. This is just a big lie and it has fooled all the zoning board members and neighbors for a while. Actually the ramp she was referring to is an interior ramp for their forklifts inside the new warehouse.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I shared the same concern as Ms. Fang's. Elias's current operation at current size and location already caused a lot of issues for the neighborhood - trash littering, tractor trailer traffic and noise etc. Elias should try to rebuild what they have and to improve the current condition such as restore the fire damaged buildings and renovate the current loading dock. No neighbors will oppose it if they choose do that. Expansion beyond what they have should not be an option. The market already expanded many times (illegally sometime) in the past. And they should not try to expand excessively onto neighbor's property. It is just not right. You do not want destroy other people's life just because you want make a few more bucks.

    Also I thought the members of zoning hearing board of city of Bethlehem are suppose to follow the existing law and make a fair and balanced decision for zoning issue since they are paid by the tax payers. Are they?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Bernie said:

    "Ironically, the Farmers Market seeking expansion is actually much smaller than it was in 1929. That's when Ms. Capuano's grand-father, John Jamon, bought an 18 acre orchard that sold apples, cherries, peaches, plums, and pears that were locally grown."

    Bernie, that is a misleading sentence. No one knows, or at least no one has come forward with, the definitive size of the "roadside stand" that was in existence in 1930. There never was a "farmers market" at the site. A "farmers market" being a market where many farmers bring their produce. There was a "roadside stand" on the Jaman property. That is the issue. What was the size of the "roadside stand" in 1970? It was about 4200 square feet, plus or minus a few. Now they want a "roadside stand" to be over 19,000 square feet. Crazy. Ruins a residential neighborhood. Please do not compare an 18 acre farm, with a 4200 square foot "roadside stand." But, thanks for your coverage on this issue.

    ReplyDelete
  17. You're most welcome. It is, to some extent, a misleading statement. The real question is the size of the structure, not the property. But I was amazed to lear that when this was originally established as a road side stand in '29, it was surrounded by 18 acres of orchard. Have you stopped to think how beautiful that must have been!

    ReplyDelete
  18. According to Bernie:

    "ZHB Solicitor Mickey Thompson argued that numerous neighbors were given the chance to make their concerns known during a three hour hearing, but because they had no representation at that time, they tended to ask irrelevant questions about lottery ticket sales or whether Elias sells meat."

    ZHB Solicitor Mickey Thompson appears to suffer from dementia, or at least a lack of memory. The comments he made about neighbors asking about lottery tickets or whether Elias sells meat never happened. Read the transcript. He makes up all kinds of crap when he speaks. That is what infuriates the neighbors about Mickey. The ZHB seems to love him, but his ass should be bounced as ZHB Solicitor. He gives them poor advice, ergo, the ZHB makes poor decisions, and that is why City Council took the ZHB to Court.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Quote from the blog:

    "The Elias' (Joseph and Naziha) are currently out of the country.."

    They go out of the country every year for a month or two. Business must be tough. Obviously they need more money, so, why don't they build a warehouse behind Elias Farmers Market and distribute imported products to locations around the U.S. What the heck, the Bethlehem ZHB is so dense that they would never catch on. And once Elias starts this, try to stop them. The ZHB gets smoked all the time - nothing new here.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Resident's getting screwed by the Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board. Imagine that! There is no way this should have been expanded, or approved as expanded. The Judge can not cop out of this and call for settlement. He needs to do his job and decide. These residents bought knowing there was a quaint Farmers type market. The market is a non conforming use. So, by law, it needs to remain. However, it should not be expanded nor the use increased in intensity. There is no hardship for Pete's sake. All the owner needs to do is invest in cleaning up his property and continue to run his nice quaint market. Period. This should have been stopped at the ZHB level and never have gotten to a costly court decision. Hopefully, the Judge will do the right thing.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Some of you may be remembered this, after ZHB Solicitor Mickey Thompson learned from Elias's Attorney Joseph Piperato about neighbor's video showing the Elias loading dock is being used it exposed the lie that he and Mr. Piperator have claimed for Elias, he and Joseph Piperato changed their technique in the court room #5 – not to argue in the court in order to just let their legal briefs with all the false statements to deceive the judge. Of cause the court did not let him get away with that, so the argument was continued. This is just an example of the guy who has no integrity and courage to face the truth.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Bernie read the article in the currnet BP about 1431 Easton Rd

    ReplyDelete
  23. 1431 Easton Road? Wow! I'll have to check that out. That's where I grew up.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Never let the truth get in the way: Here are the conditions placed upon the Elias Market:

    1. The Applicant shall cause to provide buffering and landscaping on the western portion of the subject premises.

    2. There shall be no change of the present hours of operation with the use of the premises.

    3. There shall be no additional retail space with the proposed expansion of the building.

    4. There shall be no further expansions of the warehouse in the future.

    5. There shall be no trash pick- up before 8:00 a.m. on any day of the week.

    Finally, with regard to the neighbors not receiving notice, it is amazing that the Board received a letter the day of the hearing from Jay Leeson saying that he discussed the matter with the neighbors and he was against the application (without reviewing the proposal, mind you).

    Finally, did anyone read Al Bernotas' 7 page letter that he delivered to City Council regarding Elias Market where he opines that the sale of "lottery tickets" or products other than "farm produce, meats and dairy products" require additional zoning approval? My guess is no.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I wonder if any of the neighbors objected to the comments made by Solicitor Spadoni to Judge Smith that the Board did not let any of the neighbors testify during the Hearing?

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm taking no sides in this dispute and just want to ensure all views are heard.

    My recollection is that Spadoni stated neighbors did not receive adequate notice.

    ReplyDelete
  27. 1. Regarding condition # 1 -- the Applicant shall cause to provide buffering and landscaping on the western portion of the subject premises.
    When you want build a 3 bays loading dock with new warehouse that is just 25-40 feet (proposed buffering) to the neighbor’s property, It will effectively make it just 50 to 80 feet away between the new loading dock to neighbor’s bedroom windows. The fume and noise from diesel engine’s running and forklift’ operation in addition to the rooftop utility will make no any landscaping can prevent the horrible effect to the people life. This promise is just like a con man use a piece of candy to fool a small child.
    2. Regarding condition # 3 -- that there shall be no additional retail space with the proposed expansion of the building.
    The area where the current loading dock is located (32 X 52 = 1664 feet) will immediately become their additional retail space once it is done because it is on the same level to the main market floor. Do you trust them?
    3. Regarding condition # 4 -- there shall be no further expansions of the warehouse in the future.
    This time Elias want s to expand from 150% to 200% than the current law allowed in an R-R District. In the future, should all the neighbors demolish their houses and give the land to Elias so that they can continue to expand?
    4. Regarding condition # 5. There shall be no trash pick- up before 8:00 a.m. on any day of the week.
    We are grateful that zoning board did the neighbors a favor, we thank them for that. However the trash pickup trucks still come before 8:00 am from time to time, the neighbors had to contact the Zoning officer Mr. John R Lezoche asking him to call the owners about that. The bottom line is that they should not come before 6:00 am to terrorize the neighborhood at the first place. The thunderous sound from hitting the dumpster in the air by the truck can cause people to have heart attack.

    Finally, regarding the zoning notice, the neighbors never said they did not receive any notice. What neighbors said was that they did not receive adequate notices. The zoning notice did not contain any Ordinance article numbers that Elias was appealing for. It was shocking to find that the notice for Elias was the only exception on the same sheet while others all contained such information. If that was an honest mistake by the zoning hearing board, please have the courage to admit and apologize to the neighbors and to the court. If this a deliberate acts, somebody is guilty of fraud.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Part One:

    As a resident of the neighborhood behind Elias Market, I have no problem with the Elias family expanding their business and improving it. In fact, I find it much improved after Jay Pichel sold it. It no longer smells of chlorine bleach trying to mask the scent of rotting meat, which was the result of the freezer and refrigeration cases malfunctioning, and even forcing the store to close a few times. I looked out the right window of my car one night while awaiting the light to change on Johnston and saw rats INSIDE the store running atop the cans stacked in front of the window. Many of my neighbors had daughters in high school with part time jobs at the store who advised me to never buy meats there, and inspect anything carefully which did not come in a sealed can or jar. A woman with disabilities who used a motorized wheelchair was frequently seen in the store with her two shelties, which were not trained guide dogs.

    One of the remarks made in the original complaint about the Elias expansion request was how the Elias Family does not care about their neighbors. I don't think the previous ownership particularly cared about the neighbors either since he never replaced antiquated, rusted equipment that posed health hazards. It was clear that the less Mr. Pichel Sr. had to do with the store, and the more he allowed his son to manage it, the

    ReplyDelete
  29. Part Two:

    But the one thing Mr. Pichel did do was display a large sign, visible above the exit doors, asking patrons to please use the Johnston Drive exit and entry to avoid accidents. I would say that 95% of the patrons obliged. Now that the sign is gone, the Linden Street access to the store is being used all the time. I have witnessed a couple of fender benders and many near misses resulting from drivers turning into the store from Linden while drivers were backing out of spaces in front of the store. I have almost been wish-boned by a driver headed north who whipped around an SUV turning into the store from Linden as I was turning onto Johnston. Luckily I was paying attention and hit my breaks before making the turn. At the very least, people turning left onto Linden from that access during afternoon rush hour have created gridlock at the intersection. Many people turn on their signals and don't turn into the store, but turn on their signals to indicate they are turning at the light. Then again, some people don't bother turning on their signals at all and I am sure the driver behind them sometimes has to go around them to avoid smashing into them.

    About 13 years ago, it was announced that the BASD would no longer provide bus service to middle and high school students. The people in my neighborhood were very angry, and the major reason was the danger crossing Linden posed. Now the intersection is far more dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians, not only because of the access, but also the increased use of cell phones over the years. I wonder how many accidents have been the result of people entering or exiting from the Linden access. I have personally seen the result of two collisions, one of which knocked out or electricity in the neighborhood for almost three hours.

    Yet most of the complaints I read by those who oppose the expansion seem to dwell more on the garbage and noise issues than potential loss of life. If the expansion means closing that access and perhaps saving lives in the process, I am all for it.

    The first I heard of the zoning variation request opposition was via e-mail. Two nearby neighbors who both built homes on busy streets were against the expansion, noting the increased traffic on Johnston. I doubt the Elias family has as much to do with the increase in traffic as the fact that the Lehigh Valley is simply growing. The third person who has issues purchased a home directly behind the market. I am sure the Fangs are lovely people, and certainly sympathize with them regarding the noise factor. Ms. Fang wrote a letter to Charlie Dent complaining that her job as a nurse anesthetist could put a patient's life in jeopardy if she is sleep deprived. I question the logic in her decision to purchase a home directly behind a busy market at all..even if it was not as busy when she first moved in. In fact, I was surprised to read the sale price of the home in the paper because I always thought it would be discounted due to the location. There had to be other homes available in more secluded areas where noise is not such a factor.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Part Three:

    Among the laundry list of complaints first brought out by those opposing the expansion was the fact that people were urinating in the parking lot after hours and repairing motorcycles in the parking lot. There were complaints of loud yelling long after dark. It seems to me the Health Department and the police should have been called to investigate the matter at the time of these events. To my knowledge, no complaints were made to the proper authorities. There was also mention of "illegal activities." This complaint was preceded by the words, "grapevine has it." Whenever I read something with is attributed to hearsay or rumor, I tend to wonder whether or not there is some underlying reason to bring this up.

    I certainly think Mr. Bernotas, Ms.Ward, and Ms. Feng have the undeniable right to express their opposing views and feel the zoning board is not dealing them a fair hand. I applaud Mr. Bernotas' stick-to-it attitude in this matter. Yet early on, I asked Mr. Bernotas if he had approached the Elias Family personally to talk about his concerns. I was told, "It is way past the talking stage." I took that as a "no" answer.

    Since there are two sides to every story, I did approach Gus Elias about the matter. He took me back to the loading dock. There were several people standing in mud trying to get the loading platform to work. I suspect the platform, like the meat freezer and the display cases from the Pichel days, was a relic from the days of milkmen and cigarette commercials on television. Our conversation had to be shouted above the din of metal scraping against metal and groaning gears. You could choke on the diesel fumes. A business owner has every right to improve conditions for his workers.

    I believe updated equipment would expedite things drastically. The result would be less trucks on the premises, and less idling of engines. I am positive it would reduce the noise factor. Yes, I have seen the video of the trucks backing in to the loading dock. What I didn't see was the unloading of the goods from that truck. However, I did see the footprints in the muck leading to the dumpster and other areas of the parking lot, leading me to conclude it was a well traversed area--probably from many trips to and from a truck. The rest of the ground outside these trials was practically dry.

    Another complaint concerned weeds and long glass in that area between the outbuildings. The expansion would get rid of that as well. A neighbor told me the plans for the expansion are "ugly" and not at all fitting for the area. I looked at the plans and, and yes, they are not fitting with the quaint hex signs and rustic red barn we fondly remember. But now, anything would be better than those burned out and shabby shacks currently on the property.

    As one poster on the "Ramblings" site put it, there was an awful lot of nit-picking on the original list of complaints. I agree, but one line from that original document stood out above all. It read, "Are we going to continue to let these people flaunt the law?" To my knowledge, improving your business so that it runs more efficiently for both customers and employees is not illegal in a free market society.

    BRW

    ReplyDelete
  31. I was asked to post the above, three-part, comment by a Bethlehem resident having trouble posting it herself.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I applaude the person who posted this comment. You are looking at things logically. I'm glad you took the time to talk with Gus Elias. I took the time to speak with him and was glad I did. It really gives you an honest perspective of what they need to do and why. Jay Pichel did not do the business that Elias does and therefore I don't think the loading dock was a big deal. The addition will not be an eyesore it will be pleasing to the eye. Ms. Fang should have thought long and hard about moving into a neighborhood at all with a job that requires sleep at all different times. A rural area would have been much better for her. There is always noise in a neighborhood and more noise if there is a business in your backyard. I bet if you talk to the Elias family about the sign it could be reposted. Traffic was worse when the access road was opened during the time the Pichel's owned the business. The traffic could get crazy with the tractor trailers going in and out of that road.

    ReplyDelete

You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.