February 10, 2003 MLPA Board Meeting Minutes - draft

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Board members present:   Dianne Olansky, Norman McKay, Ruth Alexander, Charlotte Gillis, Lee Kintzel, Bob Silvia, Mike Carew, Bill Ellis, Alan Perry, Daniel Cherrix, Steven Rowell, Susan Drake, Joelle Spain, Karen Schaefer, John Schwartz, Martha Porter Hall, Van Hall, Pat Gardner.

Meeting called to order at approximately 7:30 pm.  First order of business was the approval of the January 2003 minutes.  Motion made to approve, seconded and passed.

Elected representatives Anne Fauver and Nancy Boxill recognized.  Later in the program, representatives Pat Gardner and Sam Zamarippa also recognized.

Church representative thanked Daniel Cherrix and Julia Emmons and MLPA for the Atlanta Symphony string trio concert visit to the Church.

Voice vote to bring Georgia Power issue to the front of the agenda.  Passed.

John Kelly (Operations), Dorsey Walker (External Affairs), Don Perkins (Land Acquisition), and Lolita Browning (Media Relations) there from Georgia Power.
John Kelly: GP has option on 2020 Lenox Road.  Plan to design and build substation adjacent to property.  Need to get more power into this area.  Considered many sites.  This is the best site.  Power lines already there: 230 and 115.  Right of way already there.  Less disruptive to the neighborhood.  No new transmission lines to be constructed.  If present home is to stay there, then smaller station.  Use of GIS or newer system to be explored.  Smaller station than the one on Monroe expected.  Emory is part of puzzle but not entire puzzle.  Neighborhood should see greater reliability.

Trying to put substation behind house at 2020.  Plan is to put it underneath the lines already there.  Because plans are not firm, put option on house; didn't buy it.  Willing to come back with more detailed plans in a week or so.  Would not maintain home; if home remained, then would re-sell home.  Georgia Power does have homes it rents but this would probably not be one of them.  Many questions asked from neighbors gathered.  Not presently planning to buy other homes unless adjacent homeowners felt like substation impacted their property and then Georgia Power would be open to discussing buying the property.  Question from neighbor about speed: Georgia Power saw home for sale and had it under option the next day.  When heard word was out, did go out and attempt to speak to neighbors.  Suspicions voiced about Emory growth and CDC being reasons for substation need.  Those areas, as well as North Decatur and Druid Hills generally, will be served out of this substation.

Questions as to noise and environmental dangers.  More modern equipment has much less hum.  Site was chosen mainly because of the convergence of the power lines at this point.  These lines have to be tapped in order to serve what Georgia Power needs to serve.  Rumors about Emory not allowing substation to be built near its property being the reason it needs to be located in our neighborhood.  Looking for completion of project in June 2004 with ground being broken in early 2004 (guess).
Most recent substation was in Emory on Oxford Road.  Worked with screening and reduced noise.  Several years ago.  Clarification about whether house will stay.  Georgia Power just does not know whether house at 2020 will stay or not.  Substation on Piedmont is about a year old.  And screening is just now going up.  Explanation is that Georgia Power did not have to work with the neighborhood.  Georgia Power is "pretty certain" that a substation will be built at this location.  Plan is for CDC lines to go underground with mini substation at CDC (moving of present substation because of post-September 11 concerns).  Question re why not run larger lines through same stations and along existing rights of way if problem?  Confusion re transmission and distribution.  115 is overloaded at this time.  Consensus that more information needed so that neighborhood understands exactly what is going on.  The Board will provide updates on website at www.mlpa.org.

Security Patrol: Mike Carew and Bob Silvia reported.  No crime statistics available because Officer is undercover.  No new calls.  Call 911!  New sign displayed.  40 members who have been signed up since (or who fell through the cracks) should have signs up next month.  Volunteers who put up new signs on a very cold day were: McKay, both Halls, David Turkheimer, Tad Christian, Ellis, Olansky, Gillis, Schaefer, Silvia and Carew.

Membership: Joelle Spain reported.  Numbers as of 1/2003: 786 total members.  Street captain contest winners to be recognized soon.

Newsletter: Van and Martha Hall.  Printing bill of $2786.  Motion made and passed for approval of payment.  Summer issue will be anniversary of stopping I-485.  Issue recently delivered.

Parks: Charlotte Gillis reported.  70 trees planted on Saturday.  Trees Atlanta was a big partner in this, as were many neighbors.   Meeting on 3/2 from 2 to 4 on "Your Neighborhood Green Connections" presented by the Rock Creek Watershed Alliance.  Sidney Marcus Park group representative thanked MLPA for its support.  Old playground equipment will come down and be replaced.

Beautification: Pat Gardner reported.  One marker damaged (decapitation).  Motion made to spend up to $500 to repair marker. Passed.  Habersham Gardens has taken over circle at Rock Springs.  Wilson Park is focus of efforts of Kerry Brown.

Schools: Joe Giardina reported.  Next CINS meeting on Wednesday with Dr. Sharron  Hunt, APS Director of Research and Accountability (lunch for $5).

Special Events: Daniel Cherrix reported.  String trio at Church was successful with over a hundred in attendance.  Celebration of Summer party will be on May 23, 2003 in Sunken Garden Park, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Traffic: Bill Ellis reported.  Attended meeting of GA DOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee and discovered that only one employee (out of 6,000) is dedicated to pedestrian and bicycle issues in entire state DOT.  Help recently received from Lamar Willis's office to get one of the ARC "Walkable Communities" workshops in our neighborhood.  Next traffic committee meeting will also focus on MARTA and how it can work better in our neighborhood.  Meeting to be arranged with Councilman Willis (Chairman of Council Transportation Committee) to try and improve Bureau of Traffic & Transportation customer service. $106.77 to print Traffic Calming Plan books and for parking on DOT meeting.  Motion made and passed.

Sidewalks/North MLPA: Lee Kintzel reported.  Newsletter generated interest.  Sidney Marcus Park approached her about working with drainage/walkway issues -- encouraged to look for grant money.

Treasurer's report: Ruth Alexander reported.  Motion made to approve additional $4000 to Sidney Marcus Park.  Seconded and passed.  Liability insurance issues discussed.  Competing broker application in the works.  No later than 24th Board will have information and will vote by 28th so that we continue to have liability insurance.

Zoning: Steven Rowell reported.

First item was discussion of accessory structure height.  Motion to adopt wording that the height of accessory structures is to be measured from the top of the slab to the top of the roof ridge.  This will be policy of Zoning Committee.  Motion made to approve; passed.

V-02-367: 594 Cumberland Road.  Variance to reduce side yard setback from 7 feet to 2 feet and reduce rear yard setback from 15 feet to 2 feet to allow for construction of detached garage.  Neighbor urged consideration of not damaging root structure of large tree between houses.  Discussion.  Motion made to approve with condition that applicant provide report from arborist by NPU meeting on Monday.  Also other conditions: height limited to 16 feet; plumbing limited to hose bib; electrical service limited to 60 amps; and submitted plans amended to show height limited to 16 feet (which was done).  Motion made and passed with one opposition.

V-03-01: 1268 Pasadena Avenue.  Variance to reduce side yard setback from 7 feet to 2 feet to allow for construction of detached garage.  Committee approved with conditions of height limited to 16 feet, plumbing limited to hose bib, electrical service limited to 60 amps, and per plans as submitted, dated 1/1/03.  Motion made to approve and passed with no opposition.

New Business: Pot Hole Report on website.

Old Business: Deux Plex.  Applying for liquor license as new owner of existing business.  Questions re bottom of business and usage.  Cabaret usage on weekends.  Question re parking.  Thursday and Friday nights were packed (All Star events).  Neighbor called police 5 times.  Owner is DJ on some events.  Question re whether restaurant can legally be operated at same time as cabaret (because of parking concerns).  Need to know what are parking spaces.  NPU is where these issues will be addressed.  Need to know about parking (valet parking) and plans for business so can judge whether parking requirements be satisfied.  Owner is before MLPA only as courtesy; NPU is the place where these issues are addressed.

Nick Moritakis could not be here because a Judiciary Committee meeting was called.  But Martha Hall will be working for him on constituent services (so his assistant was present).

Meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm.

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