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PRESENTATION
Surprise at the sidewalk cafe application being called up
0:41:51
ยท
143 sec
The applicant team expresses surprise at their sidewalk cafe application being called up for review. They were unaware of any opposition or concerns prior to this point.
- No concerns were raised during the Community Board process
- The team had not been contacted by any community members expressing opposition
- The call-up came as a surprise, given the previous approvals and lack of communicated concerns
Max Bookman
0:41:51
We just heard, council member, your remarks, and we'd like to have a chance to address those in a few different ways.
0:41:59
First is, you know, this did this call up did come as a surprise to us.
0:42:03
Within the four corners of this application, you know, not only were we approved by the community board, but at no point in the process with the community board did were any of these concerns raised with us.
0:42:14
We were not made aware by the community board that anybody opposed our application.
0:42:20
No one had reached out to us from the broader community looking to tell us that they were opposed to our application.
0:42:26
And I'm I've been involved in a lot of community board applications over my time.
0:42:30
One of the other things we do is liquor licenses.
0:42:31
I I'm routinely in front of this community board on a monthly basis.
0:42:35
This is a sophisticated community board that has a sophisticated group of residents that it represents.
0:42:43
They know how to bring to our attention when there is opposition to an application, and we we got none of that here.
0:42:50
So it was surprising to us to hear that this matter had been called up.
0:42:54
Up until just now as we sit down here at the dais, we've only had, you know, vague ideas.
Kevin Riley
0:43:00
Bookman, don't wanna cut you off, but we only have ten minutes for you to present.
0:43:04
Yes.
0:43:04
And now you're at five already.
Max Bookman
0:43:06
Thank you.
0:43:06
Okay.
Kevin Riley
0:43:06
Alright.
0:43:06
So I didn't know if you were going into these slides as well too.
Max Bookman
0:43:10
They're they're they're but I wasn't gonna I wasn't gonna tick through them like the last Alright.
Kevin Riley
0:43:13
Thank you.
Max Bookman
0:43:13
Presentation.
0:43:14
But I appreciate that.
0:43:14
Thank you.
0:43:15
I'm about halfway through my remarks.
0:43:17
We've only had vague ideas until we've sat down here at the day as as to from very limited information regarding what specific opposition there is to our application.
0:43:28
And we've also only had vague ideas and we still only do as to who exactly it is who's putting forth this opposition, whether it's various sort of disparate community members, which is sometimes the case, or whether it's an organized group of residents, which is also sometimes the case.
0:43:45
Because of that, we've had no opportunity to sit down face to face with any of them, whoever they are, to to speak and directly hear from them about their issues concerning this application.
0:43:57
We're grateful for the opportunity to appear before you today, council member, and for the engagement we've had in with your office over the past week, which is basically what the chance that we've had to be involved here.
0:44:09
But, of course, we've had no opportunity to sit down face to face with you to discuss these concerns.