Charles’ Letter Lays Foundation for Vote on Building

No fan of modern architects, whom he has accused of ruining London’s skyline, Prince Charles apparently used his royal clout to block a nine-story apartment building planned near his Kensington Palace residence. “The building seems to us to be an overdevelopment of the site,” said a letter on Buckingham Palace stationery to the planning committee for the borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Shortly after receiving the letter, the committee voted to withhold permission for the 45-apartment structure that was to be built by Regalian Property Ltd. Committee chairman Simon Orr-Ewing said the panel might have withheld permission regardless of the prince’s opinion, because the new building was “too tall” and the architecture “insensitive.” But the letter from the palace “added some sway--I certainly can’t deny that,” he added.

--Hardly an ordinary child of Hollywood, Dall Forsythe, son of “Dynasty” star John Forsythe and actress Parker McCormick, has become New York’s budget director. Forsythe, 45, joined the administration of Gov. Mario M. Cuomo as deputy budget director in January, 1986, and became director of Cuomo’s Office of Management and Productivity in September. He had previously worked at Shearson Lehman Bros. as a senior vice president for investment banking and has a doctorate in political science from Columbia University. As the governor’s chief fiscal adviser, he will be paid $92,059.

--A nurseryman kept waiting an hour by his eye doctor figured his time was worth money and sent the doctor a bill for $90. Then, when a flabbergasted Dr. G. Richard Cohen of Lake Worth, Fla., didn’t pay the bill, William Ennis sent him several warning notices and finally filed suit. Cohen, further flummoxed at Ennis’ tenacity, finally agreed to a settlement: that Ennis drop the matter if the doctor made a $90 donation to the Lion’s Club, which raises money for eye care for the indigent. But Cohen said he made the settlement only to avoid going to trial. “This could cause havoc if people could sue just because they have to wait,” Cohen said. “Next, they’ll be suing if they wait in line at Sears.”