I am writing to express my extreme disappointment in the lack of public involvement in the Northgate General Development Plan Advisory Council process. I was unable to attend the May meetings of the Advisory Committee. However I heard from some who did attend that they felt the plan was a "done deal" and public comment was useless.

I did attend the Oct. 8 and 27 meetings. The Oct. 8 meeting was dominated by the Simon Properties and consultants presentation and questions from the Advisory Committee. There was only about 15 minutes at the end of the meeting for public comment. By then, several of the public had left the meeting. My impression from the Oct. 8 meeting was the Oct. 22 meeting was for the Advisory Committee only.

The public had no opportunity to comment at the Oct. 27 meeting. The meeting was an exchange between Simon Properties and consultants and the Advisory Committee. The meeting ran until 10:45 p.m. In addition, the Oct. 15 announcement of the final public meeting listed the date as Oct. 26. The error was not corrected until Oct. 22. The correction did not reach my mail box until Oct. 26.

The meetings I attended and discussions with people attending the May meetings left me with the impression that this was not a useful public involvement process, but a sham public placation process. Not only did the public have little opportunity for input, but it was clear to me that Simon Properties and consultants were not interested in collaborating with community members to implement many of the intentions of the Northgate Comprehensive Plan. This type of process disenfranchises and angers the public. It could eventually lead to a backlash that may cost the City in many ways.

- ROBERT VREELAND,

Meadowbrook