SPicy is a bit fired up today - but it has little to do with the backyard fireworks display from last night.  

Tonight SPicy's favorite city council will hear an appeal made by Lunds to reconsider a decision that would deny Noodles and Company the opportunity to open a location on Grand Avenue. 

Over the holiday - and between cookouts, SPicy spent some time reviewing the testimony from the Summit Hill Association, the group leading the effort keep Grand "Noodles-free." SPicy does need to look for a new hobby.

It was very compelling and raised a few questions to ponder. How long it will take Maureen Flahaven to start talking about ducks again...without referring to anything on the menu?

What's more amazing than the food at Noodles or the willingness of any business trying to expand in Saint Paul is the simple fact that Noodles & Company has done exactly what city codes and ordinances are designed to accomplish.  

Certain land uses are excluded from different zoning districts, others are permitted.  A business, in this case Noodles & Company - has developed a plan that will meet the City's ordinance.

Noodles made changes to its business operations to fit the requirements of the local community.  The community and city have said - do it this way.  Noodles has complied.  Company officials presented a plan that is inconsistent with what is required. 

Noodles will be adding some padded chairs at tables, in this, and other Twin Cities locations.  SPicy thinks that this is a great feature, and wonders if this will be accomplished by using "Pad-Ties" to existing chairs.

Developers, builders and homeowners are asked to adjust their site plans on a regular basis to make sure the city code is met.  Noodles has done this - yet for some reason it's not the end of the story.  

SPicy's one regret is a lack of a law license.  One only needs to look up Clear Channel and the staggering amount of money spent by Saint Paul to continually defend a series of bad decisions to see how far the financial noodle here could stretch.  Should the council cave to SHA, an already thin city coffer could find a new hole - in the form of a judges decision.

The hearing is at 5:30 today.

SPicy will not be able to attend - someone please time the SHA presentation and report to SPicy how long it takes to hear about "ducks".  Spicy is guessing that the discussion will not turn fowl.

Sorry to mess up your presentation on the facts of the case Ms. Flahaven.

Quack, Quack, Quack.