Community Corner

Fenton Ice Rink Debate Reaches Radio Airwaves

Bob Campbell and John Jones stick to their beliefs in Andover Woods dispute.

The faceoff between neighbors about a skating rink has continued with both neighbors sticking to their beliefs.

The conversation even made its way onto 97.1 The Ticket, Detroit sports talk radio, on Wednesday afternoon.

People were calling the Karsh and Anderson show around noon Wednesday and ice rink owner John Jones heard people getting his name wrong. He said he called in and explained who he was.

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“I was on for two or three minutes just explaining the situation and how much I invest in the rink,” Jones said.

His Andover Woods neighbor Bob Campbell is sticking to his guns as well, saying the Homeowner’s Association violated rules in approving the rink and that the rink violates the association’s aesthetics ordinance. He also says that the rink violates a city ordinance.

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“It’s not the rink I’m opposed to,” Campbell said. “It’s the location. I wouldn’t have an issue if it were in a backyard."

Jones said the rink is on his corner lot in an area neighborhood children often gather to play football and baseball during the spring and summer.  He said the aesthetics ordinance is subjective. Campbell said the ice rink is a “structure” and therefore violates a city ordinance about structures abutting a corner street. Jones and city officials have said they don’t recognize the rink  as a structure.

“If seen up close, it’s like a shallow above ground pool,” claims Campbell. “It’s a land use issue. That’s my point. We don’t need to regulate rinks. The ordinance is already there.”

Campbell said the rink was twice ruled against and officials requested it be taken down, before it was finally approved. Michael Piancentini, who was the Homeowner’s Association president at the time, said after Campbell’s initial complaint, a letter was sent to Jones notifying him of the complaint, asking him to comply.

Piacentini said that is standard procedure with all complaints. Residents then have a chance to appeal that complaint, Piacentinin said. Jones said he appealed and Piacentini said the case was arbitrated and an agreement was reached between all parties to keep the rink. Campbell said an agreement was not reached. He said he also had problem that Jones no longer lives at the property, but leases it to friends.

After the Homeowner Association's ruling, Jones later asked the city for a temporary land use permit for the rink, something Campbell said is only valid for a limited time, up to seven days or 60 days for specific instances. City officials said at Monday's city council meeting that the debate is a neighborhood issue and not a city issue.

Both neighbors say they are trying to set a good example.

“I’m trying to make an impact on children’s lives that they’ll remember forever,” Jones said. “They can play and make lifelong friends.”

Campbell said he’s never been against children having a place to skate or youth activities.

“It’s also important to teach children about doing things the right way and go by the established rules,” he said.


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