I stand corrected on the date. Fixed it. It's June 7.

As to the Mayor's "hissy fit" that occurred during the TDK discussion, if you can call it that. It's a separate story, no doubt. But my pen couldn't keep up with all that fur flying and I had to get the recording from City Hall, which I couldn't get 'til this afternoon.

I'll include a few observations about the audience "participation" which was by no means called for. For heaven's sake the high schoolers on the other side of the room had better decorum that some of their elders. I used to think PTC was a classy city, but every once in a while a group comes along that just ruins it.

I was embarrassed to have the high school kids see just how stupid adults can act.

Those who think kids are the problem have never sat through a city council meeting.

I have to give Judy-Ann credit for her composure. For a minute there I thought she was going to get up and "advise" the Mayor that what he was doing was inappropriate.

She would never do such a thing, but if wishing made it so.

... in the developers' playbook?

Just curious.

The oldest trick in the developer playbook is to beat the opposition and the government over the head about what could be done to a piece of property if they don't rezone it.

For example, if the current zoning is industrial and you want to have it rezoned for houses - then you say something like "If you don't approve my rezoning I'll put up metal buildings because that is what I am allowed to do under the current zoning.

Opposition gets confused and government folds up like a cheap suitcase more often than not.

Although I don't think that will happen with the rezoning at Rockaway since the developers don't actually own the property yet and the real owners are not confrontational.

I am so glad I am retired.

it was already rumored that something with "smoke stacks" could be built on the land. NOT!

While I'm at it, if the new and improved Rockaway road is in the floodplain and the creek is to the north, just how does one build a home improvement store in a floodplain? As per the 2002 rezoning request, "The Applicant has indicated his willingness to donate to the City at no cost 79.173 acres of the existing floodplain and 2.735 acres of right of way to accommodate the realignment of Rockaway Road."

If the home improvement store has to pay for flood insurance, it's going to be one very expensive store.

Come to think about it, is it ok to put underground fuel storage tanks in a floodplain?

Let's pray for rain! As it is now many homes in that area are built where the swamp was under water in 94.

I thought I made it clear that I was not talking about Rockaway in my answer to John- in fact I thought I excluded it. He simply asked what was the #1 play in the developer's playbook.

But to be even more clear - Plan #1 in developer's playbook is real - so is #2. I really think #2 is going on - that's the delay and let the opposition disperse one. I do not think that the #1 play - "threaten industrial" is in play this time.

I think it is a tactic to delay the vote until summer break is started.

Mr. Lindsey knows full well that the city will empty out the first few weeks of summer break. With little of no opposition to speak against it, the developer and Mayor have a better chance of sliding it through.

Let me guess? I don't know what the intended answer is, but I'm sure it has to do with money! Let's say: You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours, Ok?