June 9, 2003 MLPA Board Meeting Minutes (draft)

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Board members present: Norman McKay, Susan Drake, Alan Perry, Dianne Olansky, Mike Carew, Bill Ellis, Charlotte Gillis, Joe Giardina, John Schwartz, Ruth Alexander.

President McKay called the meeting to order at approximately 7:33 pm.  First order of business was the approval of the May meeting minutes.  Motion made to approve, seconded and passed.

Councilwoman Anne Fauver recognized.  Peachtree South Fork work to be completed with ribbon cutting in July.  Biggest news is that the Mayor has nominated a new Commissioner of Public Works.  David Scott comes from Baltimore and will be voted on on 6/16.  New Deputy Commissioner in charge of yard pickup (a/k/a solid waste) also nominated.  Dog park at Piedmont Park is the subject of ordinances to make it a permanent part of the park.  Orme Circle residents object but question arises whether Amsterdam "Dog Bark" may be responsible for noice complaints.  Graffitti ordinance requires owner of property on which graffitti exists 10 days after citation to remove the offending marks.  Sunken Garden erosion going to be addressed as well as bogginess of area underneath playscapes.

Committee reports:

Security/Public Safety: Mike Carew reported.  Auto theft crime wave.  4 reported thefts during one week in May.  All involved car keys either left in cars or in bag next to unlocked house door.  Precautions need to be taken.

Membership: no report.

Newsletter: Susan Drake recognized.  Martha Hall reported through President.  Articles due for current newsletter.  New email address for martha hall: marthaporterhall@bellsouth.net.

Parks: Charlotte Gillis reported.  Letter passed out to the Mayor about the movement of arborists from Bureau of Buildings to Watershed Management.  Strategy will be to recruit involvement across the City, given the difficulty of getting such a structural change approved.  Complaints about plywood left by City when mowing Lenox-Wildwood Park and a tree leaning over West Sussex from the same park.  Much discussion about content of letter to Mayor.  Essential terms approved (action already approved by Board at earlier meeting).

Beautification: Pat Gardner reported through Ruth Alexander.  Approval sought of total funds of $1400 for summer mowings of various islands throughout the neighborhood.  Passed on voice vote.

Schools: Joe Giardina reported.  School's out.

Special Events: President observed that the Celebration was a wonderful event.

Tour of Homes: no report.

Traffic: Bill Ellis reported.  Dianne Olansky and Bill will be attending Walkable Streets workshop 7:30 tomorrow morning.  MARTA meeting took place.  Survey agreed to be conducted to see how public bus transit can be improved so as to increase neighborhood ridership.  45, 36, 16 and 27 are the routes in question.  Traffic calming efforts looking for funding and Committee will be meeting with ARC.  BTTS the subject of concern by the Committee for being slow to act to approve the traffic calming plan.

Indoor air quality: recommendation will be to approve a no smoking ordinance but with restaurant representatives presenting minority view that no government regulation of this kind should take place.  CDP: Bill also attended a meeting on the Plan, the Comprehensive Development Plan.

North MLPA/Sidewalks:no report.

South MLPA: no report.

NPU Representatives: present but no report.

Treasurer: Ruth Alexander reported.  Insurance quote forthcoming.  Written report handed out.

Zoning: Mae Reich reported as the only Zoning Committee member present.

Application No. V-03-122: 836 E.Morningside Drive.  Variance to reduce the west side yard setback from 7 feet to 3 ½ feet to allow for the construction of a 2nd story and 2nd story rear addition.  Approved by Zoning Committee 6-0, per site plan of 5/14/03.  Motion made to approve, passed unanimously.

Application No. V-03-126: 691 Sherwood Road.  Variance to reduce the west side yard setback from 7 feet to 2 feet 3 inches for 1st and 2nd story additions and to reduce east side yard setback from 7 feet to 3 feet 3 inches and rear yard setback from 15 feet to 7 feet to allow for a detached garage.  Committee voted to approve.  Motion made to approve with standard conditions, hose bib, amp, height.  Passed unanimously.

New Business: Tom Walsh of Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh Associates reported on improvements to Piedmont Park.  Changes of various kinds, not all of which have been funded, were discussed.  The Midtown Alliance is helping fund certain aspects of the changes, including the fence along Piedmont Avenue.  Motion made to recommend approval of plans to NPU.  Passed unanimously.  Nothing new from Georgia Power, as reported by President McKay.

June 23rd: workshop at the Rock Springs Chapel on the WUFG Master Plan.

Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:52 pm.

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