December 8, 2003 MLPA Board Meeting Minutes (draft)

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Board and Committee members present: Mike Carew, Norman McKay, Joelle Spain, Ruth Alexander, Alan Perry, Bill Ellis, Susan Drake, Charlotte Gillis, Dianne Olansky, Joe Giardina, Mae Reich, John Schwartz, Kathy Payne, Tad Christian

President McKay called the meeting to order at @ 7:35 pm.

General announcements first.

• Congratulations to Dianne Olansky on her recent election as Chair of NPU-F.
• 2004 MLPA/MSP membership renewal forms are out -- if using the return envelope, please write in the zip code 31106.
• Thanks to Lena Young from City Planning Department for role in getting Georgia Power to complete new sidewalks along Monroe Drive.
• Lee Kintzel presented brief update on planning process for the North Woods addition to Piedmont Park.  Stakeholders’ meeting most recently: plan presented for discussion.  General consensus on some issues.  Plan presented for primarily passive greenspace.  Discussion of natatorium, soccer field, etc.  Issue has arisen about possibility of parking facility that would serve both the Park and the Botanical Gardens. Discussion about wisdom of building such a facility.  Mae pointed out Master Plan making reference to parking lot at CSO.

Motion made to approve the November minutes; seconded and passed with one abstention.

Committee Reports:

Security Patrol: Mike Carew reported.  3 car breakins and 5 burglaries in November.  Holiday increase in burglaries.  2 burglaries on West Sussex.  MSP officer responded to 911 call and dusted for fingerprints.  Resident had seen a suspicious person but failed to call 911.  Directed patrols around parks during holiday seasons trying to prevent grafitti artists.  1000 new MSP stickers bought for 107.00.  Reimbursement moved, seconded and passed.  End of the year bonus time for MSP officers.  Amounts vary by seniority, per long-standing tradition.  From 150 to 50 or 60 bucks. $1850 approved for bonuses for officers.

Membership: Joelle Spain reported.  2004 membership package out.  Zip code not absolutely necessary so we should receive.  Invoice for printing and mailing (not postage) for $1691.14.  Moved for approval, seconded and passed.  Need approval for $250 graphic designer work for welcome package.  Moved, seconded and passed.  Quotation received for 1000: $2500; 2000: $2700; 3000: $2900.  Discussion regarding what should be ordered.  3 or 4 day turnaround to print.  Discussion regarding where money is coming from.

Newsletter: no report.

Anne Fauver recognized.  Thankful for recognition.  Reported that bar closing approved for 2:30 am.

Sewers report: Mayor’s proposal changed to include a base rate of 2250 gallons per month.  Average increase would be 30% instead of 45%.  Motion did not pass.  Motion from floor of base rate at 6 ccf; motion passed only 8-7.  No financial analysis of substitute proposal.  Double downgrade of bond rating as a result.  Other possible consequences exist (including holding Council in contempt).  Joseph Lowery initially against the Mayor’s proposal but came out with strong letter in support.  Question regarding whether 5-year raise in rates could then be followed by rollback.  Bill does state that if funding received from outside sources, rates would be lowered.  3 times tried just to get Fulton County to allow referendum on whether to impose sales tax, without success.  State legislature efforts failed.  Federal lobbying efforts failed.  Best chances are for CEOs and other big donors to write potential funding sources.  No other major city has done this without State and Federal support.  Mayor has until tomorrow night to veto Council proposal.  If she does veto the proposal, Anne has hope that a workable plan might be put together to get 8 votes in support.  Question regarding whether outside forces trying to force City into receivership.  Anne reported that comments received at her office are overwhelmingly against her supporting the Mayor’s proposal (which she plans to continue to do).  Some Council members have been rude and unprofessional with the Mayor and Watershed Management staff.  Suggestion made for neighborhood Town Hall meeting.  Anne does not think that a meeting this month would serve any purpose.  Anne thanks those who have kept up with the issue.  She trusts the Mayor and Watershed Management and believes that, given the conditions under the federal court Consent Decree, a plan will be put together to spend the money in the most efficient fashion.

Question regarding parking meters going in, especially in front of residences on Virginia Avenue.  Council members should receive advance notice but this is not happening.  Note that City tax dollars being spent putting in improper parking meters and then removing them.  Public Works will enforce parking meters.

Parks: Charlotte Gillis reported.  $119.40 for maintenance of Tree Eagle website.  Reimbursement moved, seconded and passed.  Suggestions sought for placement of trees for winter planting.  Communicate with Charlotte or Karen: gillis-brown@mindspring.com and karenschaefer@mindspring.com.  Efforts continue on enforcement of Tree Ordinance.  Thank you note received from Trees Atlanta and from other neighborhood organizations for contribution recently in honor of Aaron Gross.

Beautification: no report.

Schools: Joe Giardina reported.  No CINS meeting in December.  Next one will have Dr. Hall speaking in January.

Special Events: no report.

Tour of Homes: report through President: if pledges come through, should clear $17,512 from this year's Tour.  Two gift certificates given to cochairs from the appreciation of the Board.

Traffic: Bill Ellis reported.  Highland Corridor workshop last week: designers showed up without plans showing MLPA Traffic Calming plans and previous efforts of Highland Corridor group.  Another workshop will be scheduled.  Meeting with Sen. Zamarippa and Anne Fauver rescheduled regarding funding of Traffic Calming.  Ongoing communication with neighborhood parent organizations.  6 traffic requests to be made of City: 1.  Designation of parking on one side of North Rock Springs between traffic circle and Piedmont.  2.  Milling on Lenox extended uphill to Wildwood, and in other direction to Wildwood, to alert drivers of hill and curve before they’re on it.  3.  Designation of "go straight lane" on North Morningside at North Highland.  Some drivers go straight from the right lane, others from the left.  4.  Parking solution for residents adjacent to Sidney Marcus Park -- possibly elimination of parking on one side of Cumberland for the length of the park.  5.  Re-striping of crosswalk scheme at North Highland/Lenox/Johnson intersection, to provide crossing without having to use island.  6.  Placement of pedestrian crossing signs at key intersections of Johnson.

Money has been in budget for 2 years for purchase of laser guns for enforcement of speeding laws.  Discussion regarding how many and whether we hold on to them.  Motion made to approve purchase of one dash-mounted radar gun ($1800) which will allow enforcement in more locations.  Radar gun will belong to Association and be loaned to police. Seconded and passed.  $120 needed for payment to Kinkos for 11 more traffic calming booklets.  Seconded and passed.  Enforcement stats for October: speeding 147, other 42; November: speeding 118, other 31.  Enforcement efforts described as weak.

North MLPA/Sidewalks: Kathy Payne reported.  One reimbursed and a couple pending.

South MLPA: no report.

NPU Representative: announcement about development of Sears Building (City Hall East) meeting that Dianne Olansky will attend.

Treasurer’s Report: Ruth Alexander reported.  If budget request will take more than 3 minutes, or you won’t be at meeting, email it to everyone before the budget meeting on 1/12.  Approval sought for payment of 2379.34 for Tour expenses.  Seconded and passed.  Approval sought for 360.19 for additional Tour expenses.  Seconded and passed.  Approval sought for 242.95 for post-Tour party expenses.  Seconded and passed.  Approval sought for President for 215.42 to reimburse President for other Tour expenses.  Seconded and passed.

Zoning: Tad Christian reported.

V-03-309: 830 Yorkshire Road.  Applicant seeks a variance to reduce east side yard setback from 7 to 1 foot, exceed the maximum allowable floor area of detached structure from 30% to 33%, exceed the maximum allowed rear lot coverage from 25% to 40% and exceed the maximum lot coverage from 50% to 57% to allow for a detached garage addition.  Building 2 car garage where one car garage stood.  Removing existing construction and replacing it.  All work from here on out will be above grade.  Now going to be a one-story garage.  Maximum allowed rear lot coverage variance no longer needed.  Extensive discussion regarding numerous issues arising from this property whose application had been deferred from last month’s meeting.  Affected neighbors approved of current application with one, present, in opposition.  Zoning committee had approved east side yard setback and maximum allowable rear lot coverage and as set out in variance application of a detached structure with the garage foot print not to exceed 23 by 22 feet, 16 foot height maximum height from slab to top of ridge, 60 amp electrical service, hose bib plumbing, with gutters and downspouts attached to direct waterflow away from rear property and per the site plans dated 12-02-2003.  Motion made to approve per Committee; seconded.  Motion failed on a vote of 4 in favor, 4 opposed and 4 abstaining.  No additional motions made in connection with the application.

V-03-320: 1275 Beech Valley Road.  Applicant seeks a variance to reduce the east side yard setback from 7 feet to 3 feet 6 inches to allow for an addition to single family house.  Tad observed that most homes in Va-Highlands and Morningside are built within the 7 foot setback so if any improvements are made to a home, there is a need to obtain a variance.  Committee approved motion to approve east side yard setback per the site plans dated 8-29-03.  Motion made to approve per committee action; passed 11-0-1.

V-03-337: 1846 Wellborne Drive.  Applicant seeks a variance to reduce side yard setback from 10 feet to 5 feet to allow for second story addition to single family house.  Zoning committee approved motion to approve side yard setback as long as the applicant is not increasing the existing side yard encroachments and the structure is built on the existing side yard foundation per the site plans dated 8-7-2003.  Should the current structure be torn down, the required setbacks should revert to the current code.  Motion made to approve per committee action but variance also conditioned upon elevation plans dated 8-25-2003.  Passed 10-0-0.

V-03-350: 1727 Johnson Road.  Applicant seeks a variance to reduce south side yard setback from 7 feet to 0 feet to allow for a detached garage.  Zoning committee made motion to approve side yard setback from 7 feet to 2 feet with the garage footprint not to exceed 22 by 24 feet, 16 foot maximum height, 60 amp electrical service, hose bib plumbing, with a guttering system to divert water from neighbor’s property and per the site plans dated 12-2-03.  Question regarding impact on existing tree.  Applicant encouraged to protect drip line of tree (even though on neighbor’s property) by measuring from circumference of branches around and putting up fencing to keep contractors from loading up concrete, tools, etc. against tree.  Motion made to approve per committee action; passed 9-0-0.

V-03-359: 1274 N. Morningside Drive.  Applicant seeks variance to reduce the west side yard setback from 7 feet to 1.8 feet to allow for a second story and covered deck addition to a single-family house.  Zoning committee voted to approve west side yard setback per the site plans dated 8-25-03 and to deny the front yard setback from 30 to 29.  2 out of 4 letters obtained from neighbors.  Motion made to approve per committee action with the addition of the denial of the amended request for a front yard setback; passed 9-0-0.

Old business: extensive discussion on action by Board at last month’s meeting to approve sending of letter to seller of home in neighborhood that is advertising an illegal duplex.  Motion made to reverse last month's action.  Motion passed 8-0-2.

Meeting adjourned at @ 10:20 pm.

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