<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Dear Paul:<BR>
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I will check my notes when I have more time but I think that this is the location from which the CVCA Land Use Committee received several complaints from residents about the size, color, illumination, etc of the sign over a period of several months. Some of the complaints were very passionate. We advised the complaining residents to call 311 to complain. I believe that zoning enforcement must have issued a citation because the awning had been installed without the proper permits and may not have conformed to code requirements. I was not aware that the owner had to remove the sign until receiving your email.<BR>
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I believe that this is also the location about which so many residents expressed concern as to the change in ownership, whether the new owner was changing the use and what that would mean to the neighborhood. Because we were able to check with Zoning to confirm that the new owner did not intend to change the use, we were able to allay many concerns from the residents. One resident contacted the owner and I told that resident to invite the new owner to our next committee meeting. At no time during the change in ownership did the new owner contact the CVCA to introduce himself to the community or to reach out for input.<BR>
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Perhaps we should have done more to reach out to the business owner and warn him about the complaints or to advise him of what the community required before he installed the illegal awning. But we are dependent on the availability of volunteers many of whom devote long hours to the committee work. We barely have time to keep up with resident complaints and do not have as much time as we would like to be proactive. But actually, It is the business of the owner and the awning company hired, to apply for the proper permits, to follow the local laws, and to reach out to the residents for input before he or she installs such a sign as would any good neighbor who plans on making an improvement that would have a major impact on the esthetics of the surrounding blocks.<BR>
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If anyone would like to join the CVCA Land Use Committee for the purpose of making sure that the business owners know and follow the local laws before they break them and cost themselves money unnecessarily, and to let business owners know that the community appreciates their bringing business into the neighborhood provided that they follow all laws that exist for the protection of the community, we would love to have someone be the watchdog for those issues. Just let me know. We are always looking to do a better job.<BR>
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Having to obey reasonable laws, which exist to protect residents, should never be viewed as a legitimate complaint or a valid reason for leaving the community. And, communication is a two way street. Please encourage the owner to contact me so that we can begin to work together for the benefit of his business and the community.<BR>
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Sharon Guida, CVCA Land Use Committee<BR>
410-467-4409<BR>
www.charlesvillage.net<BR>
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n a message dated 12/16/2011 1:39:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, oldhousehistory@aol.com writes: <BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Many of you know that the former convenience store on 27th between Guilford and Calvert Street that had been run by Ms Sue was sold over the summer and completely gutted and renovated, inside and out. <BR>
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The fellows that opened the new store are great! Its clean, well stocked with myriad needs, deli meats, eggs, and everything you need in the middle of a recipe. They also take requests to stock your any need. It opened under the name Jalines.<BR>
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They installed a huge canopy that kept you dry while coming and going, and while it might not have been for everyone, it had the name and tag lines of the store to advertise its presence. I’m guessing it cost more than $5,000. Imagine our surprise last week when we saw them painting over the sign, and removing any and all exterior signage. The owners told us somebody complained – not one house faces 27th Street – and they had to remove everything. They were visibly upset, and now are threatening to leave the neighborhood. Who would cause such a fuss? <BR>
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Paul K. Williams<BR>
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Kelsey &Associates, Inc.<BR>
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<A HREF="http://washingtonhistory.com/">WashingtonHistory.com</A><BR>
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