Cedar Square Update — Thank You

Thank you to everyone who signed the petition, attended Wednesday’s German Village Commission meeting, submitted comments, or otherwise helped make our concerns about Cedar Square heard.

Unfortunately, the Commission voted 3–2 to grant conceptual approval to the Cedar Square development. Five commissioners were present. Commissioner Ned Thiell, who had consistently raised concerns about the proposal, was absent on a long-planned absence.

At the beginning of the hearing, the Commission was advised that, based on a determination by the City Attorney’s Office, three affirmative votes were sufficient for approval with five commissioners present. This differed from the four-vote requirement contained in the Commission’s bylaws.

While I am disappointed with the outcome, I am extremely appreciative of the extraordinary community response. More than 800 people signed the petition in just over two weeks, and many of you took the additional step of attending a very long meeting to make your presence and concerns known.

The hearing raised several important questions about how the German Village Guidelines are being interpreted and applied—particularly regarding height, mass, scale, compatibility, and the potential influence of this decision on future development.

I am reviewing the meeting and the Commission’s discussion carefully and will provide a more detailed update in the coming days.

Thank you again for your involvement and your commitment to German Village.