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16 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Ms. Jessica Otey spoke in opposition to the project. She said she thinks a smaller hotel can <br />be built on the site. She said 60 feet high would be acceptable, but not 80 feet. Ms. Otey said <br />she is not opposed to density, and recognizes that the University needs accommodations, but she <br />said that there is not a community benefit for a taller hotel and that financial viability is not a <br />sufficient reason to approve. <br />Mr. Andrew Grimshaw shared his concerns about the height of the proposed hotel. He said <br />that 80 feet is too tall. Mr. Grimshaw added that the area is already heavily congested with traffic <br />and he questions the community benefit. <br /> Ms. Vestea Gordon said the proposed hotel is too big and that there will be no benefit to the <br />neighborhood. [She ceded the remainder of her time to Ms. Serena Thomas.] Ms. Thomas reads <br />a letter on behalf of city resident Ms. Bitsy Waters who opposes the increased height and density. <br /> <br />Ms. Anna Askounis, a member of the Lewis Mountain Neighborhood Association Board of Directors, said she is opposed to the Special Use Permit. She said the Association is concerned <br />about the height, the traffic and the aesthetics. She doesn't want a repeat of the building heights <br />on West Main Street. <br /> <br />Mr. Peter Gray said the proposed Special Use Permit is not in the public interest. He said he believes it will have a significant negative impact in the entrance corridor. <br /> <br />Mr. Bill Rockwell spoke as co-chair of the Lewis Mountain Neighborhood Association. He <br />expressed the Association's concerns about the project and asked Council to deny the request. He <br />said it would be out of scale and out of context in the corridor. <br />Ms. Julia Jones said she applauded the owner in his efforts to rebuild the hotel but asked <br />Council to deny the Special Use Permit. Ms. Jones said a by-right building can be built or the <br />property sold to another developer. <br /> Mr. Scott Ruffner spoke in favor of the Special Use Permit. He said he believes the <br />additional height of the hotel is in keeping with the context of the nearby buildings and parking <br />garages. <br /> <br />Mr. Rory Stolzenberg spoke in favor of the project. He said more hotel rooms would be a positive development. He asked if we can allow buildings to tower over the 10th and Page <br />neighborhood on West Main, why can't we do it here? <br /> <br />Mr. John Elliott spoke in opposition to the hotel project. He said this type of architecture is <br />cheapening the character of the community, and that Charlottesville is becoming Anyplace U.S.A. <br /> <br />Having no further speakers, Mayor Walker closed the public hearing. <br /> <br />Ms. Galvin asked Ms. Newmyer about the building setbacks and if the cafe is in the public Right of Way.