October 13, 2003 MLPA Board Meeting Minutes (draft)

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Board and committee members present: Norman McKay, Dianne Olansky, Mae Reich, Joelle Spain, Alan Perry, Bill Ellis, Susan Drake, Barry Berlin, Mike Carew, Ruth Alexander, Charlotte Gillis, Joe Giardina, Stephanie Marinac, Tad Christian, Trav Carter

Meeting called to order at @ 7:35 pm by President McKay.

Announcements: 10/20 NPU meeting: Belvedere applicant on Dutch Valley seeking liquor license.  First order of business was the approval of the minutes for the September 8, 2003 Board meeting.  Moved for approval; seconded and passed.

Committee reports

Security Patrol: Mike Carew reported.  No September crime statistics to report.  Email snafu.  Officer Stapler arrested thief of drycleaning riding away on bicycle.  Mike communicated appreciation of Board to Officer Stapler.  Now computerized system in place to transmit vacation security reports to Security Patrol members. $111 sought to be reimbursed for mailing of such reports.  Motion made, seconded and passed.  Report of inquiries and requests for increased security, from non-Security Patrol members and even from non-members of Association.  The way to increase security for the neighborhood is to get more neighbors to join the Security Patrol.  That would enable greater coverage in terms of patrols.  Discussion of insurance issues.  Discussion of membership issues and what businesses want and might expect from MLPA membership.  Letter handed out expressing views of Traffic Committee and Public Safety Committee for further discussion.

Anne Fauver recognized.  Board urged to stay away from her since she was in the sewer today (visiting the Nancy Creek tunnel).  Mayor emphasized need to obtain federal funding for sewer improvements.  Right now there are no federal funds coming.  Sewer rate increases scheduled are based upon our not receiving any state or federal funds.  Membership urged to contact state and national legislators about need for funds.  Traffic plan has been before BTS for 2 years, according to Dianne Olansky.  Anne agreed to check on it.  Two residents on Wildwood Place complained about very large pothole that was supposed to be repaired.  Anne agreed to check on it.

Membership: Joelle Spain reported.  Nothing but good news to report.  We are above 2002 member numbers of 906.  Still room for improvement.  Work continues on welcome package.  Walking map to be included.  Anything that anyone wants included should be sent to Joelle right away.  Suggestion made to blanket the neighborhood.  Also suggestion to get 5000 instead of 1000 if price breaks are right.  2004 membership package almost ready to go to printers.  Extensive discussion about raising rates, including the way that the neighborhood benefits from the Security Patrol.

Newsletter: no report.

Parks: Charlotte Gillis reported.  10/18 tree sale at Piedmont Park.  Sunken Garden Park: committee trying to work with City about erosion and dumping of yard trash in park.  Battle with City on arborist positions continuing.  Efforts made to expedite the taking down of hazard trees.  No monies available to hire another crew.  No update on Georgia Power.  Fountain to be installed soon at Sidney Marcus Park.

Beautification: report made through President.  New recruits for some of smaller common areas obtained by Committee for grass cutting and general beautification.

Schools: Joe Giardina: 10/22 meeting at CINS about what it means to "leave no child behind."  Requests from Grady and Inman for MLPA contribution.  Motion made to donate $1000 to Grady PTA (to be used for travel by student clubs, teams, etc.).  Similar request made to donate $1000 to Inman Middle School.  Funds already set aside in budget.  Both motions made and passed.

Tour of Homes: Stephanie Marinac reported.  November 8th and 9th.  Chefs from several local well known restaurants will be featured on the tour.   Email blast will be sent to seek a few House Captains and volunteers to staff the houses.  Posters will go up soon.  Tickets also available soon. Difficulty with corporate sponsorships this year.
 
Traffic: Bill Ellis reported.  Funding efforts continue with respect to traffic plan.  Letters to be sent by elected representatives seeking funds.  The Traffic Calming Plan is a concept plan, not an engineering plan.  Any implementation plan must first have a concept plan.  September saw 150 speeding tickets and 25 other moving violations.  Crosswalk on Sussex and E. Rock Springs courtesy of PEDS.  One of a few experimental crosswalks.  Discussion regarding need for crosswalks or limiting street parking on Cumberland.

South MLPA: Barry Berlin reported.  He introduced Dawn Davis and Christa Martin.  Thanked the Board for contribution of 5000 for what turned out to be an extremely successful project at Sidney Marcus Park.  Perhaps as much as 150,000 spent on park, 85,000 of which came from private fundraising. Ongoing maintenance efforts reported on by Christa.  Volunteers will contine with certain maintenance activities at park.  Group asking to be considered for funds for ongoing expenses of park.  Suggestion re placement of placque.  Board asked to consider wording and whether to name individuals who helped with renovation.

NPU Rep: Dianne Olansky reported.  NPU elections to be held over the next 2 months.

Treasurer’s report: Ruth Alexander handed out written reports.  Motion made to pay Morningside Presbyterian $1400 for use of space in church.  Already allocated in budget.  Passed.

Seth Green allowed to go out of order (before lengthy Zoning issues) to present his Eagle Scout project.  50-hour community service project presented: painting of addresses on streets.  Merton/Plymouth/Mifflin/E.Sussex as a starting point.  Seeking approval of MLPA as sponsoring organization.  Question re type of paint to be used.  Motion made to approve project, seconded and passed unanimously.

 Zoning: Tad Christian reported.  Each applicant to be given 5 minutes and then time for questions.

V-03-211: 1264 N. Morningside Drive Applicant seeks a variance to reduce the front yard setback from 35 feet to 30 feet to allow for existing porch to be enclosed.  Opposition is that encroachment should not be allowed into front yards and in effect creating a bedroom.  Applicant’s position is that you’re not changing the footprint of the porch, just enclosing the porch.  Other houses on the street have less of a front yard setback than 30 feet, according to applicant.  Extensive discussion regarding enclosure and whether facts were as represented.  Motion made to deny application for variance as submitted, as was voted at the zoning committee (8-0).  9 in favor of motion; none opposed; 3 abstaining.  Motion made to approve variance application on condition that residence be transformed from nonconforming (duplex) use to single family residential conforming use.  3 in favor of motion; 7 opposed; none abstaining.  Motion made then to deny the special exception to expand a legal nonconforming use (duplex).  8 in favor of motion; 0 opposed; 3 abstaining.

V-03-271: 1433 N. Morningside St. Applicant seeks variance to reduce front yard setback from 35 feet to 28 feet and reduce west side yard setback from 7 feet to 3 feet to allow for addition to single family residence.  Applicant revised plans to address what he saw as principal objections raised by Zoning Committee: no encroachment of living space into setbacks. Extensive discussion of revised plans and whether there was any need for a variance any more.  Motion made to deny application as submitted, as zoning committee did.  Motion passed 10-0-1.  Board member Mae Reich offered statement of reason for denial, in her view, was that variance no longer required.

V-03-277: 1346 Northview Avenue.
Applicant seeks a variance to reduce side yard setback from 7 feet to 5 feet for addition of outside stairs to second floor of a single family residence.  Letters of approval from neighbors.  Side yard staircase hiding "industrial" side of house. Extensive discussion, including fact that outside stairs makes a rental apartment more likely.  Applicant denied any intent in this regard; zoning committee member noted that variance ran with the property.  Motion made to deny the variance as submitted.  Motion passed 7-3-2 (as it had in the zoning committee 8-0).

New Business: Secretary recognized and urged Board members and committee members not to see minutes as way of communicating time-sensitive information to membership.  Only implicit obligation upon Secretary is to have minutes prepared in time for next meeting of Board.  Also, Secretary raised issue of what "discount" opportunities should be communicated to membership via email, such as discounted theater tickets.  Problem weighing benefits to membership versus burden of receiving email (and being used as advertising avenue).

Meeting adjourned at approximately 10:20 pm.

Next meeting Monday Nov. 10th, 7:30 pm Morningside Presbyterian Church

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