The compromise appears to accomplish what seemed impossible a week ago - make all sides in this long-standing neighborhood dispute happy.
The fencing stipulation was the brainchild of Board of Review Chairman Douglas McKinnon. Its passage avoids a Superior Court battle over proposed changes at Blackstone Place, located at 727 East Ave.
"It's good for both sides," said Blackstone Place owner Jane Koppelman. "If this makes everyone happy, then that's great."
Neighbors, who have long complained about everything from litter to open fences at Blackstone Place, will no longer be able to see the back of her building, said Koppelman. She told The Breeze Tuesday she plans to erect as high a fence as is allowed under city statutes, but she guaranteed it will be at least six feet tall.
The Board of Review approved the following requests for changes at the Blackstone Place, which houses six restaurants:
• An enclosed container for cooking oil will be allowed to move behind the building.
• An enclosed recycling bin also be allowed to shift from the side of the building to the rear, a few doors down from the first.
• Loading hours for delivery trucks be extended from the current hours of 8 a.m.-2 p.m. to 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. New Saturday hours will be 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Restaurant owners had argued during a lengthy approval process that they and their employees were facing daily obstacles as they tried to do business.
They were concerned over safety, convenience, and cleanliness, among other issues.
