January 13, 2003 MLPA Board Meeting Minutes - Draft

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Board members present: Dianne Olansky, Norman McKay, Alan Perry, Mike Carew, Ruth Alexander, Susan Drake, Karen Schaefer, Bob Silvia, Steven Rowell, Martha Porter Hall, Bill Ellis, Mae Reich, Mike Banick, Joelle Spain, Van Hall, Joe Giardina, Trav Carter.

Pres. Olansky convened the meeting at @ 7:35 pm.  The first order of business was the approval of the December 9, 2002 minutes.  A member had raised a question about the contribution by MLPA to Morningside Presbyterian so the Secretary asked that the minutes be clarified so that it was clear that this annual donation was in lieu of rent for the space used by MLPA throughout the year.  Motion made to approve the minutes as clarified.  Seconded and passed.

Councilmember Anne Fauver recognized.  Things coming up this year from the City include the finalization of the Parks plan, perhaps including moving it away from the City so that contributions could be solicited from private citizens; a movement to improve the antigraffitti and antilitter laws.  Special events ordinance and tree ordinance changes have already happened.  Street renaming issues raised.  She invited everyone to the District 6 Town Hall Meeting next week, January 21, 2003, from 7 to 8:30 pm at Inman Middle School.  Special guests are to be Mayor Franklin and Police Chief Pennington.  Mention made of sewer work in the neighborhood, for which Councilmember Fauver commends the City in getting notice out to the neighborhood.

Committee Reports

Security Patrol: Mike Carew reported.  December stats: 4 car breakins, 2 burglaries, 1 grand auto theft and 1 other larceny.  Trend is counter to what we usually see in December.  Warning given of incident on Wildwood last week; 2 guys going door to door, one with yellow pamphlets.  Suspicious activities which they ceased when tailed by a Board member.  Also report of similar activities on Northview.  Bob Silvia reported on the new signs coming out this weekend which will replace the ones that are 10 years old.  Later in the meeting, Mike suggested that you put your street numbers on the new signs to reduce theft.

Zoning: Steven Rowell reported.  V-02-356: 1159 Reeder Circle.  Application for variance to reduce side yard setback from 7 feet to 1 foot to allow for construction of detached carport.  Motion made to recommend approval in Committee with conditions that gutters be added to the structure, that height from the slab to peak is limited to 16 feet, that plumbing is limited to a hose bib, electrical service limited to 60 amps, and the submitted plans be amended to show a distance from the structure to the property line of 1 foot instead of the 6 inches as submitted.  Passed Committee 5 in favor with 2 abstaining.  Motion made to recommend approval per conditions.  Passed with 1 abstention.

V-02-359:  947 E. Rock Springs.  Application for variance to reduce side yard setback from 7 feet to 2 feet to allow for swimming pool installation and variance to increase paved area in required yard from 33% to 42% to expand existing driveway.  Withdrawing second variance request.  With respect to first, Committee imposed conditions of stone treatment to dissipate water released from the point discharge and that written approval be received from neighbors on both sides.  Passed 6 in favor with 1 abstention.  Suggestion made to withdraw request for variance and apply for building permit to build retaining wall.  Motion made to support withdrawal of application; passed with 2 abstentions.

V-02-362:  1733 Inverness Avenue.  Application for variance to reduce side yard setback from 7 to 2 feet and the rear yard setback from 15 to 2 feet to allow for addition of detached garage and a variance to reduce other side yard setback from 7 to 3 feet for addition to single family residence.  Committee made motion to recommend approval with conditions: height from the slab to peak limited to 16 feet; plumbing limited to hose bib; electrical service limited to 60 amps; and submitted plans be amended to show the height limited to 16 feet.  Site plan needs to be amended to take out pad in front and concrete in back because otherwise would violate impervious percentage.  By changing plans, eliminated second part of variance.  Motion made to recommend approval with site plan dated 1/13/03 and contingent upon all concrete not shown on site plan be removed, including apparently illegal pad in front yard.  Passed with 1 abstention.

Membership: Joelle Spain reported.  Renewals still coming in.  Last count was 490 Security Patrol members and @ 350 MLPA-only members.  Results of Street Captain Contest will be announced soon.

Newsletter: Van Hall reported. There will be a newsletter coming out soon.  Daniel Cherrix asked Van to announce Concert at Morningside Presbyterian on Monday 2/3 by Atlanta Symphony.

Parks: Karen Schaefer reported.  Annual tree planting will be Saturday 2/8.  Expect to be planting about 50 trees, some of which will be along Wildwood Gardens.  Meet in Church parking lot @ 9:00 am.

Beautification: no report.

Schools: Joe Giardina reported.  Next CINS meeting will be at 7:00 pm at Mary Lin Elementary.

Special Events: no report.

Tour of Homes: Charla Silvia and Stephanie Marinac will lead.  Focus will be on kitchens.

Traffic: Bill Ellis reported.  Senator-elect Sam Zamarripa got Dianne and Bill into a meeting with key State DOT officials to seek funding and coalition for traffic calming.  More meetings are in the works.  MARTA "Task Force" met 12/17 to begins plans for communications with MARTA about Routes 16, 36, and 45.  Next meeting is tomorrow night at 7, just before the regular Traffic Committee meeting.  Bill is meeting tomorrow with the Principal and the PTA President of Morningside Elementary to begin coordinating events and communications.  Thanks to Mike McCool for opening this door.  Bill joined Major Spillane's Citizen's Advisory committee.  Major Spillane is developing plans and possibly a proposal to increase traffic enforcement in Zone 2 neighborhoods.  More can be discussed next month.  Frederick Werner of the US DOT and Jeff Breedlove, who works with the State legislature, will be joining the Traffic Committee.  Bill's computer crashed on December 30, wiping out all files; he begs your patience while he reconstructs information.  Of all the requests made to BTTS in July and October, only one (repair of a downed speed limit sign) has been met.  Today we were informed that all three all-way stop intersection requests failed the volume test; we believe the data are flawed.  Bill officially asked for the intervention of Anne Fauver's office.

North MLPA/Sidewalks: no report.

Treasurer's Report: Ruth Alexander reported.  2002 report presented for Association and Security Patrol.  2003 budget presented.  Motion made to approve the budget as presented.  Seconded and passed with 1 abstention.

Mike Banick and Norman McKay spoke on liability insurance investigation for MLPA/MSP; will need to be resolved soon; membership trend will be charted to show that size of organization has not increased dramatically in attempt to avoid premium increase.

New business: extensive discussion regarding at what point in the monthly meeting the zoning committee report should take place.  Many various positions expressed, including whether or not the presence of a lawyer for the applicant should make a difference.

Meeting adjourned at @ 9 pm.

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