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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes October 24, 2016 Page 8 They are sad they are being kicked out but God can do a lot. She stated only God can touch the 1 heart of Traci Tomas and she should show compassion to them. 2 3 Resident of St. Anthony and Edison High School student, she lives in Lowry Grove and it is hard 4 because they did not know this was coming. They recently lost her dad and he is in Mexico. She 5 stated it is hard for her mom to find a new house. 6 7 Resident of St. Anthony, Lot H20, Lowry Grove, stated what is going on has affected the 8 residents in different ways and impacted her personally. At school, they are taking oral rhetoric. 9 She is talking about poverty and high class for her paper. She noted not everyone has the same 10 privileges and a good business person doesn’t cause a problem and not offer a solution. She 11 believed that the solutions offered were not realistic solutions as no one can buy a house for 12 $4,000. She stated she had hopes to attend nearby college, they paid their rent, and they wanted 13 the best. She noted there used to be community picnics where residents would get to know each 14 other and grow as a community but this has stopped and become a poor community. She stated 15 Traci Tomas said this had been planned for ten years but no one knew about it. Now, no 16 maintenance was being done to the park, they don’t know what to do, they don’t want to leave, 17 and they can’t leave. 18 19 Mr. Ned Moore, Development Director for Assembly for Civil Rights, stated they have helped 20 with the campaign to save Lowry Grove. He believed simply to listen to the stories being told 21 tonight is not enough and it is not acceptable to say you are powerless. He felt the Planning 22 Commission does have power over the development and that this deal was illegal. Mr. Moore 23 stated the judge has not ruled yet and encouraged the City to wait until the judge decides. He 24 noted currently the developer is under investigation by the Department of Housing and Urban 25 Development. They are the first ones harmed and last ones to benefit. He believed this is 26 immoral, this is not development, this is demolition, and the amounts being offered are unfair 27 compared to the amounts the developer will make. Mr. Moore stated this conflicts with St. 28 Anthony’s Mission and these residents deserve equal representation. He noted the Lowry Grove 29 residents were not invited to the neighborhood meeting. Mr. Moore referenced the 30 Comprehensive Plan and stated none of the Lowry Grove residents can afford to live in the new 31 development. He believed this does not follow the City’s plan and asked that all requests be 32 denied until the HUD investigation is complete and the court makes its decision. 33 34 A St. Anthony resident asked the Commission to listen to the residents, noting low income 35 residents are moving, their homes are being damaged, and they were told they had to pay $800 36 for the welding. He stated other neighbors do not want the high buildings as their view will be 37 diminished and this issue is very serious. 38 39 Mr. Michael Mergins, attorney for The Village, LLC, stated to correct the record they are NOT 40 under investigation by HUD. They have been in communications with Mr. John Meek to address 41 any complaints at the earliest opportunity, no complaint has been filed so they cannot respond, 42 the Federal Fair Housing Act has not been violated, and there has been no discrimination. He 43 stated The Village has not violated State Statute. The sale is 100% legal. Mr. Mergins stated 44 there are special statutes that address mobile homes and one way is the provision of the Trust 45 Fund. They are entitled to compensation that no other renters get. Mr. Mergins stated The 46 8