Developer responds to criticism

DOVER — Developer Bruce Pedersen contends he is being treated unfairly by neighbors, the city and the local media in his quest for an after-the-fact conditional use permit for a luxury retreat.

Pedersen said he has been responsive to neighbors opposed to the commercial use of his 8,300-square-foot home by scaling back the proposal and inviting them to discuss their concerns.

“Their response was, ‘Let’s hire a lawyer and do war drums.’ Nobody wants to talk about it,” Pedersen said.

Pedersen’s permit request goes before the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission at 6 p.m. tonight in Dover City Hall. The final decision on a permit for Talus Rock Retreat rests with the City Council.

Neighbors, who have so far declined to comment publicly on matter, maintain events and gatherings at Talus Rock have disrupted the serenity of their rural neighborhood and are urging the city to deny the permit.

Pedersen said the project is being tarred with a broad brush over a single wedding event where things got too loud. He said he apologized to his neighbors and that such an occurrence is the exception, not the rule at Talus Rock.

“There’s no continued compromise of quality of life,” he said.

The city contends the home has been operated as a commercial use without permission. Pedersen said his application spurred a zoning moratorium so the city could draft code to deal with the request.

Pedersen said the his request was poised to be heard last August, but it was called off because of inadequate public notice. Then the moratorium was imposed.

“There’s a due process that I’m entitled to,” he said.