Minutes May 14, 2001

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Present Board members: Diane Olansky, Norman McKay, Judy Jameson, Annette Beasley, Bob Silva, Bruce Maloy, David Robertson, Alan Perry, David Garr, Ruth Alexander, Joe Giardina, Bill Ellis, Pat Gardner, Jody Mansbach, Zac Pasmanick, Lee Kintzel Meeting convened by President Olansky at @ 7:30 pm.

April minutes approved.

Rock Creek Watershed Alliance: Peggy Bartlett and Charlotte Gillis presented. Concern over Edmund Park Project built on Rock Springs, in Druid Hills neighborhood. Volunteers needed for water quality monitoring. 5 concerns:deforestation, erosion and siltation during construction, increased impervious surface and flooding of Rock Spring Road, detention adequacy and streambank damage, and floodplain construction and stream buffer violations.

Officer Vazquez from MSP: introduce MSP: uniformed officers, working offduty, checking homes and generally touring the neighborhood and responding to calls. Vegetation, poor lighting contribute to neighborhood being targeted. Last month: no residential burglaries; only one car breakin.

MSP: Bob Silva, Annette Beasley and Judy Jameson. Judy will focus on membership efforts for Security Patrol, working with Jody Mansbach. Zone 2 meeting recently and our neighborhood is the "good" part of Zone 2. Suggestion that we are doing what Judy has been telling us to do for years: take your belongings out of your cars.

Membership: Jody Mansbach reported: Directory published. Looking for volunteers to help distribute directories by hand. Calendar-year membership now. Also looking for a volunteer to help with placing signs. Signs cost $330; one-call cost $113; putting together of directory cost $500 and publication cost $3300. Motion to approve payment, seconded and passed.

Newsletter: Martha Hall reported via Norman McKay. Planning meeting between Martha and Van will take place soon for next edition.

Parks: David Robertson  Remember to water your new trees at least once a week with a hose."Soak them in." Mulch to help keep the soil cool in the summer and protect the trunk from damage. Take a look at the new MLPA tree web site for more tree care information ,City Tree Ordinance and to sign up for free MLPA street trees next winter.( http://www.treeeagle.org/)  Forms passed out to appeal the permitting of cutting down trees in Atlanta. All cutting of trees over 6" in diameter must be permitted before removal (Dead or alive). Call 330-6586 for more forms/info ; or email to laustin@ci.atl.ga.us.

City tree Ordinance explained. BMP (Best Management Practices) explained for construction sites. Issue regarding beautification on Monroe and Amsterdam and request by developer to build markers.

Motion made to deny use of development marker. Approval of beautification project of development, to be placed in the form of a letter to NPU, developer and Georgia Power. Objections raised to accelerating consideration of issue when proponent/developer is not represented at meeting. Vote of 10 for, 3 against, and 2 abstentions.. Second motion made to deny use of MLPA marker. Passed with 2 abstentions.

$197.32 in parks expenses relating to irrigation, kudzu spray, printed material for annual meeting. Motion to approve made and passed.

Beautification: Pat Gardner and Kerry Brown. Request for volunteers to help keep up islands or to work on parks within our neighborhood. Email is patgardner@mindspring.com and kerrynbrown@hotmail.com.

Schools: Joe Giardina reported. 9 days until end of school: 5/25: school's out!

Special Events: Mike McCool: 9 days until Celebration of Summer. 9 sponsors confirmed. Signs made by same company who made signs recently for annual meeting. Entertainment confirmed: 2 clowns. Speed pitch; giant slide; ponies; Pocket Lady; jousting. PR at Morningside School and Haygood Preschool. Sign at Morningside and hopefully at Coldwell Realty. Approval of band expenses and various other expenses. Motion made to approve $5500 for total expenses of event. Passed.

Tour of Homes: Zac Pasmanick will head up Tour (after a year's absence). We need volunteers, homes, and sponsors. Zac@thezacteam.net.

Traffic: Bill Ellis reported. 2nd traffic workshop held May 8; not that well attended; all opportunities presented. Straw vote taken; results available for next Traffic committee meeting. 3rd and final workshop within 5-8 weeks. Will attempt to upload CD from second workshop onto MLPA website. Attended PEDS presentation by Australian "traffic calming" expert. PEDS and traffic committee looking for "pace cars" that will be stickered for summer "Take Back the Streets" program.

Sidewalks: Lee Kintzel reported: half the cost up to total of $250 is what is reimbursed by MLPA. Newsletter generated phone calls and requests for information. Gas company replacing gas lines so sidewalk replacement already going on. Contractor willing to replace sidewalks for $3.62 per square foot (city still cheaper) but you don't have to wait. 4/876-9198 or kintzellee@aol.com for information on contractor. Question re whether it would be helpful to increase maximum. Question re improving sidewalks in front of Church. In the works.

Treasurer's report. Ruth Alexander reported. Suggests that any expenditure in excess of $100 approved in advance by Board. If need payment before board meeting, get approval for amount in advance. Any contractor/supplier who gets more than $600 a year will have to fill out W-9 form and will receive 1099 form. Funds for MSP in separate account. Ruth and Dianne will be signatories on MSP account. Motions made to approve changes; passed.

Zoning: Steven Rowell reported.

746 Wildwood Road (V01172): garage addition; footprint slightly larger of garage. Motion made to approve with same conditions as before. Footprint not to exceed 25 by 22 feet. 5/7 site plan. Motion made and passed.

1129 Cumberland Road (V0104, amended): amended application. Variance needed because enclosing and making "livable space" out of screened porch and attic. No structural change or pushouts taking place on exterior of house. Committee approved. Motion made to approve; passed.

933 E. Rock Springs (V01103): deferred at Committee. Motion made to defer. Pad already there. Committee thought to give applicant benefit of doubt to see if he could increase strength of argument. A committee member spoke up and said important to be consistent and also important to give applicant chance. 4 nay votes on motion to defer; 1 abstention. 9 votes to defer.

1006 Wildwood Rd (V01117): variance to reduce side yard setback to 5 feet and rear yard setback to 5 feet. Structure at 19'8". Existing garage added to house later. Space above garage could be used for office space. Architect of client present; admits that general rule is 16' for such additions. Looking from 746 on down Wildwood: detached accessory houses built with variances. According to architect, bathroom already there upstairs. Structure allowable (as long as built within setback). Committee denied because of height and concern that could be used later for apartment rental. Although presented as office, sketch showed bed in space. Buildings cited as examples: at least new one is within setback. Move to deny variance; passed unanimously.

1490 Monroe Drive (V01147): variance to allow duplex within single family residence. Contractor denied building permit because zoned single family. Appraisal before purchase shows that it was a working duplex. Not necessary for homeowner to do anything at this time but he just wanted neighborhood to know what was going on with structure.

658 Cumberland Circle (V01143): variance to reduce side yard setback. No footprint changes. Support from all neighbors. Approved conditioned upon 4/19 site plan. New business: Todd Foster presented issue with respect to tree removal. Appeal is of the tree removal going on with the Petronis construction of 3 houses on Morningside. Problem is that trees are within footprint of house. Concerns expressed over trees located between sidewalk and street and whether proper care is being taken of them. Motion made for David Robertson and President Olansky to send letter in connection with appeal urging tree replacement and care for remaining trees during construction. Passed. Reminder of WUFG celebration on the 25th at 4:00 pm.

Meeting adjourned at @ 9:30 pm.

NEXT MEETING: TOMORROW AT 7:30.

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