Public’s Views on Proposed Complex May be Taken by Phone

Fearing that a City Council hearing on a proposal to build shops and a movie theater on South Lake Avenue will draw an overflow crowd, the city is investigating whether to take some testimony on the plan by telephone.

Mayor Chris Holden came up with the idea, saying that such testimony would be conveyed to council members before they make a decision on the project. The project, which calls for a seven-screen movie theater, boutique stores and a parking structure near the Macy’s department store, is opposed by many neighbors and preservationists, but has won support from business leaders.

A Planning Commission hearing on the project late last year was canceled by fire officials after an overflow crowd turned out for a meeting at a school auditorium. Eventually, the hearing was held at a hotel with several hundred residents in attendance.

City public information officer Ann Erdman said she and other city staff members are trying to establish a system that could handle the calls. The city attorney’s office is also reviewing potential legal problems with such a process, Erdman said. However, she said, no decision has been made on the phone testimony plan.

The council will discuss Holden’s proposal at its meeting Monday. The project will be the lone item on the council’s March 2 agenda, but officials note that the capacity of council chamber is only 98.