December 13, 2004 MLPA Board of Directors Monthly Meeting  (draft)

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Board and committee members present:
President Norman McKay, Treasurer Christine Hung, Secretary Sarah Nunn, Parliamentarian Mae Reich, Security Patrol/Public Safety Chair Mike Carew, At Large (North) James Strack, At Large (South) Shira Kash, Traffic Chair Bill Ellis, Zoning Co-Chairs: Tad Christian and Trav Carter, Education Chair Barbara Feinberg, Parks Co-Chair Charlotte Gillis, NPU F Representative Julian Bene

Approval of Minutes:
A motion to approve the November 2004 minutes passed unanimously.

Treasurer: Christine Hung
$5000 paid for Johnson Taylor Park.  No current cap for sidewalk repair.  Approval for $495 sidewalk repair, $555 finial on Amsterdam column, $1000 for Morningside Presbyterian (use of facilities), $1020 for signs promoting Wizard of Oz movie.  Motion to cap sidewalk repair at $500 approved unanimously.  $1700 total holiday bonus for security patrol will be deferred.

Anne Fauver
City of Atlanta is beginning to cut off water to people who don’t pay bills.  $310,000 has been raised to buy land at Johnson Taylor Park.  Still need another $285,000 to buy all three pieces of land.  Anne is running for re-election.

Lamar Willis
Now three years in office. Lamar arranged for a directory of city resources with the help of corporate sponsors.

Housing Code Enforcement – Call 404 330 6190 to inquire about enforcement of any city codes.  Ask for Dwight Cobb or Yolanda Mack.  Ymack@atlantaga.gov

Nominating Committee:
20 positions, 6 of which are executive positions.  The nominating committee will send an email blast to all members.

Security Patrol/Public Safety: Chair Mike Carew
Arrests for drug dealing near Morningside Elementary.  Quiet recently except for spike during Thanksgiving.  Look out for mail theft, car break-ins, and car theft.  Check out safety tips at mlpa.org.  Look out for woman with magazine scam. 

Mike said that he found it unacceptable that a membership shortfall in the past year and a delay in the membership campaign for the forthcoming year had left the security patrol with too few funds to maintain staffing levels and  to pay the customary year-end bonuses to the officers.  The board accepted Mike’s resignation as committee chair.

Parks Co-Chair:  Charlotte Gillis
Tree planting in January.  Send suggestions on locations to Charlotte.

Education Chair: Barbara Feinberg
Grady HS newsletter says that library needs books.  Ask yard sale sponsors for donations.

Tour of Homes:
Harry Norman (Daniel Cherrix) will sponsor the Tour of Homes.

Membership:
Lee Nunn reported that the database has been cleaned up and reflects all current homeowners in MLPA.  A membership renewal notice will be mailed by 12/16.  Lee suggested a $25 credit to MSP members who recruit new MSP members. The general consensus of the Board is to contract with a person to follow-up and sign up neighbors who don’t respond to the mailer starting this spring.  Compensation to the recruiter would be $25 for each new MSP member. 2005 MSP stickers will be mailed with thank you note acknowledgements and vacation cards.

Traffic: Bill Ellis
Police enforcement statistics still unknown for 3 months.  Bill and Dianne scheduled meeting with Maj. Spillane on December 9 but he was unable to come.  Zone 2 is still very short-staffed.

Highland Corridor Group (HATS) met with MARTA Dec 8 and looked at draft plans for improved bus service to and on North Highland.  First project will probably be a cross-town line to connect Midtown rail station, Piedmont Park, Virginia and Highland, and Emory Village.

A citizens’ group is meeting tomorrow with Traffic Services to negotiate safety measures on Monroe Drive.  A lowered speed limit, traffic light synchronization, and improved crosswalk visibility are the first goals.  Yorkshire at Monroe is the key intersection north of Amsterdam (therefore in Morningside) needing safety treatment.

ARC’s funding for 4-neighborhood Traffic Calming project shifted to cover Ansley’s portion as pilot, other neighborhoods after Ansley success is seen.

Still no progress on the six requests made to Traffic Services in January.

At Large (North): James Strack
It was pointed out,  due to Anne Fauver's skillful leadership and persistence in City Council this past year that the rezoning of Cheshire Bridge Road, as recommended in the 1999 Cheshire Bridge Road Study is now on track to be approved and implemented by the Atlanta City Council in January.

Zoning:
Z-04-119 Ordinance by City Council member Mary Norwood to amend the Zoning Code of the City of Atlanta by creating a new residential zoning classification - to be identified as R-2b. Presentation made to the Zoning Committee.  Motion to deny the creation of this new residential zoning classification passed by zoning committee 3-1-2 (3 in favor, 1 opposed, 2 abstaining). Motion by MLPA to oppose new classification.  Split vote 5-2-3.

V-04-299 1677 Lenox Road - Applicant: Keith Thieme - Owner: Rebecca Leary-Safon  Applicant has withdrawn the application and the NPU chair has received the withdrawal letter.

V-04-314 1199 North Highland at Amsterdam - Applicant: David Green – Owner ? Property actually in Virginia Highlands, but is next to Morningside and the applicant wanted to present this to us and ask for our support. Variance to reduce the south side transitional yard from the required 20 feet to 15 feet, reduce the east side transitional yard from the required 20 feet to 13 feet for the construction of a one story commercial building. Also seeks special exception to reduce required parking from 17 to 14 spaces. Motion to approve passed by zoning committee 6-0-0.  Motion to approve passed by MLPA board 10-0-0.

V-04-362  1066 Highpoint Drive – Applicant/owner: Bradley & Eileen Mackett Applicant seeks a variance to reduce the front yard setbacks from 35 ft. (required) to 13 ft. 10 inches and the west side yard setback from 7 ft. (required) to 4 ft. to allow for construction of a single family residence. Motion to approve the front yard and west side yard variances per the plans dated 11-18-04 and the site plan dated 10-25-04. Zoning committee approved 6-0-0.  Motion to approve (subject to letters from neighbors at 1061 and 1067 Reeder Circle) approved by MLPA 9-0-0.

Meeting adjourned.

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