|
August 9, 2004 MLPA Board Meeting Minutes
Back to minutes
and announcements archive
Board and committee members present: Norman McKay, Alan Perry, Mike Carew, Barbara Feinberg, Bill Ellis, Christine Hung, Shira Kash, Barry Berlin, Sue Drake, Charlotte Gillis, Karen Schaefer, Daniel Cherrix, Chip Bowden, Mitzi Rothman, Trav Carter & Sarah Nunn.
Approval of Minutes: A motion to approve the July 2004 minutes passed unanimously.
Presentations:
Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) Parking Proposal : Mary Pat Matheson, Executive Director
The Chihuly exhibit has attracted 300,000 visitors 25% of whom have used the ABG shuttle system and 75% of whom have parked in neighboring Ansley Park and elsewhere. ABG expects to double attendance over the next few years to more than 400,000 and proposes exchanging one acre of Piedmont Park (on the western side of Piedmont Park and adjacent to ABG) for the 3.3 forested acres of ABG’s Storza Woods property. The 800 car parking deck would be built into the hillside and screened with berms and 25 foot trees. ABG would raise funds for construction of the facility, but would share the parking spaces and parking fee proceeds equally with Piedmont Park Conservancy.
Piedmont Park Conservancy (PPC)
North Woods Reclamation Piedmont Park : Alan Perry, MLPA Vice President
PPC is working with the City of Atlanta and a representative advisory committee to increase usable parkland and improve access to the park. Alan (standing in for MLPA representative Mae Reich) reviewed two proposals. Alternative A incorporates the proposed ABG parking deck and additional 3.3 acres known as Storza Woods. Both Alternative A and B incorporate new pedestrian and vehicle entrances by the West and Halpern sites as well as mixed use proposals to develop play areas, a skateboard park, soccer fields and a bike trail.
Alan took a straw poll in response to North Woods proposals: Alternative A - 11 votes, Alternative B - 1 vote, “Alternative C” (we need a better plan) - 19 votes.
Friends of Piedmont Park (FFP) - Doug Abrahamson
FFP is opposed to the plan by the PPC and the ABG to build a multi-story, above ground parking deck in Piedmont Park. The parking deck is contrary to the Piedmont Park Master Plan and not in the best interest of the Park.
FFP supports improving access to the park by improved mass transit, better pedestrian and bicycle access, using offsite parking decks, better use of existing parking and a trolley system serving the perimeter of the Park. FFP supports incorporating the West Lumber site and the Halpern site into Piedmont Park.
After questions and discussion the board voted - 3 in favor of option A - the ABG proposal, 0 in favor of option B - the PPC proposal, 6 in favor of option C - the FFP proposal with 1 abstention.
The proposed plans will be circulated through the NPU system. There is a public tour of the North Woods property on Wednesday, September 18th at 4:30.
Committee reports:
Security/Public Safety : Mike Carew. The crime activity has been low to moderate. There are problems verifying records of members versus non-members due to absence of membership chair.
Parks : Charlotte Gillis & Karen Schaefer. Request for payment to Trees Atlanta for $3850 for planting of 77 trees in February. This payment is part of the parks budget.
Barbara Baggerman : Water Creek Watershed Alliance. Johnson/Taylor City Park got a $20,000 grant from the Blank Foundation for the upkeep and preservation of the park. The city will hold a meeting in August for neighborhood input.
Schools : Barbara Feinberg. Schools opened today. Morningside has 800 students and the gift wrap sale is in progress. The new buildings at Inman are open and the magazine sale is in progress. Grady construction continues, the portables are used for administration and the kids are in classrooms.
Traffic : Bill Ellis. Highland Area Transit Solutions met with MARTA on 7/22 to present survey results. MARTA committed to considering express service to Midtown station and extending service down Highland toward Inman Park. Scott Smith is MARTA’s new Government and Community Relations manager.
A resident requested an all-way stop at Middlesex and Hillpine and 24/7 permit parking on both sides of street throughout the neighborhood. Janet Kishbaugh, from Anne Fauver’s office, said the city has a block by block permit parking program that requires a petition signed by 70% of block residents. The permit program is currently being re-written. Norman suggested that the resident get involved with the Traffic committee and help follow-up on these issues.
South MLPA : Shira Kash. Five hundred parents are involved in the Parents Group representing 600-700 children. There will be a new board this September.
Treasurer : Christine Hung. Celebration of Summer reports a $489 profit.
Zoning : Trav Carter
The MLPA Zoning Committee had three applications for August:
1. 755 E. Morningside Drive, Jayson Dukes
Variance to reduce half-depth front yard setback from 17 1/2 required to 7.9 feet to allow for an addition to a CONVERTED SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE FROM AN EXISTING NON-CONFORMING DUPLEX. Unanimous voice vote defer until September since the applicant did not appear.
2. V-04-185 1148 Reeder Circle, Craig Zimring
Variance request for a side yard setback variance from 7 feet to 4.14 feet to allow for an expansion to a single family house. The expansion is up and not expanding the footprint. MLPA Board approves (7-0): for a reduction of the side yard setback to 4 feet per the applicant's statement and the existing footprint of the house does not expand.
3. V-04-192 1183 Reeder Circle, NE, Application of Tim Ward for 4 Variances:
- reduce east side yard setback from 7 feet required to 4.3 feet
- reduce west side yard setback from 7 feet required to 2.5 feet
- reduce rear yard setback from 15 feet required to 1 foot
- increase impervious surface from 50% to 54% to allow for a room addition and carport.
MLPA Zoning Committee recommendation was as follows:
- Approval of the West side setback from 7 feet required to 2.5 feet. MLPA votes (9-0-0) to defer to NPU for applicant to work out a compromise with neighboring property.
- Approval of the rear yard setback from 15 required to 6 feet with the 4 standard conditions on the carport as follows: no more than 60 amp service, one hose bib, and 16 feet in height from top of slab to top of ridge and per footprint of 24x24 as submitted. MLPA votes (8-1-0) to defer to NPU.
- Deferral of the variance request to increase lot impervious surface from 50% to 54% so applicant can amend his referral certificate to delete this variance request. (he will not need it as he now intends to meet 50% or less.) Applicant is applying for amended referral certificate. MLPA votes (9-0-0) to defer until applicant has certificate.
- 4. Deferral of the variance for the east side yard setback so that Applicant and neighbors can meet and have a chance to negotiate a compromise. MLPA votes (9-0-0) to defer.
Meeting adjourned 10:00pm.
Back to minutes
and announcements archive
|
