WECAN Board Meeting March 3, 2016
Board Members present: Jessie
Nell Coleman, Joe Fioccola, AnnaBeth
Hardcastle, Rebecca Lance, Rachel Larson and Suzanne Willis.. Members
not present: Byron Ballard, Tom
Gibson, Mike Kenton, Yuri
Koslen, Floree Lowery, Luke Perry, JoAnn Skinner and Pattiy Torno. Also present: Lee Lance, Charlie Lance, CRO Lucas
Lovelace and Marsha Stickford. Rachel called the meeting to order at
6:27 pm
MINUTES: Minutes of February meeting were approved as distributed.
TREASURER'S REPORT: AnnaBeth reported a balance of$645.72
and raised the issue of changing banks since the new fee for getting a paper
statement is now $3.50. She volunteered to get an electronic statement. She
will also take care of the newsletter reimbursement.
APD/CRO UPDATE:
Lucas reported that there were no car or home break-ins reported this month.
There was a traffic accident mid-month that briefly knocked out power. Another
report concerned someone who was picking up feral cats and having them spayed
or neutered and then returning them but getting their traps stolen. Graffiti was
reported at 87 Roberts St and on Riverside Drive and Pattiy called in
suspicious characters which turned out to be police officers looking for
graffiti taggers. Lucas also reported a sanctioned mural project on May 22 and
23 at Asheville Waste Paper and the building owner at 339 Old Lyman (behind
Riverview Station) has been granted permission by the city graffiti team on a
trial basis to establish a ‘free wall’ but only during the day and with
permission.
BLOCK JESSIES: AnnaBeth asked about what can be done to
get construction contractors to remove materials from the roadway on Jefferson
Drive. The temporary inconvenience
of staging is understood but here it is ongoing for extended periods. She will
take a picture and email Marsha to determine if they are illegally blocking the
road and then decide if a letter from WECAN is useful. Also at the turnaround
on Jefferson a lot of silt and mud washed down from the two construction sites
spilling over from the silt fences. Joe asked why all the trees in Aston Park
are being cut down. Marsha suggested it might be that older trees may be
diseased and can be a liability.
Suzanne was asked about a vacant lot with a creek and sewer lines next
to her house on Rector Street that someone was asking about putting in a tiny
house. Even though WLOS reported the city considering changing minimum lot
sizes for smaller houses Marsha noted that currently prohibited are houses on
wheels, less than 500 sf and those not meeting setback rules. She also noted
that the planning department was very busy working on accessory dwelling unit
rules and the comprehensive plan but questions emailed to her will get answers
from planners. Suzanne also reported that Rector Street was being used by
speeding cars as a cut through to Hilliard. She asked about Pace Cars in the
Charlotte St area and speed bumps which may not qualify if there are less than
1,000 cars per day. Marsha suggested bringing the traffic engineer to look at
the situation. She noted that Pace Car was a pilot program where neighbors took
the lead and pledged to drive the speed limit. It starts with a speed study to
gauge the extent of the problem and Pace Car may be rolled out to other parts
of the city. Marsha also announced a new system for citizen alerts called
Everbridge. It is used mostly for
water outages and police and fire but may eventually be used for road closures
like the recent MSD Hilliard closure. Rebecca reported a problem of not being
able to see the traffic light and only the crosswalk signal at Hilliard and
Clingman and that one of the pedestrian crossings was not working.(SW corner) Marsha
suggested a neighborhood walk through with city department heads may be in
order. It was suggested to wait for New Belgium to open and then see how
traffic will be affected. Marsha reported that NBB was working with Google Maps
to direct drivers to use Haywood Road. Rebecca asked about trash and brush on
city property on Jefferson. Marsha noted that Sanitation does not pick up
construction debris which should be removed by the property owner. Rebecca will send her a picture.
Rebecca also reported a problem with water pressure. She was encouraged to
contact the water department to check the pressure to the meter.
RAD FORM BASED CODE: Marsha announced there will be a meeting on April 7 at 6:30 pm (Place
TBA).(Which conflicts with the next WECAN Board meeting). Rachel will ask Sasha to come to the
May 5 WECAN Board meeting.
PLACE-MAKING IN RADTIP: Rachel
reported that the meeting was looking for placement ideas and then artists
would create installations. She is looking for a place to re-use the Ice House
Doors. Joe was not impressed with the meeting. It seemed like obligatory public
input –like Livingston Street: required but not really wanting ideas.
EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT: Rachel advised that the report was on line but no one had read it.
WHITEWATER PARK/PERMANENT SOUND STAGE: Rachel asked about a rumor she heard that
New Belgium was funding a permanent stage for River Music. Marsha assured us
that no plans have been received and that Stephanie Monson Dahl could provide
more information at the salons.
NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISRY COMMITTEE: CENTRAL AREA MEETING: Joe announced that the central meeting was
set for Monday March 21 from 7-9 pm at Public Works. WECAN should send a
delegation and report on what we have done, what we need, what problems we may
face, etc.
MEEHAN MAINTENANCE FACILITY: Joe reported that Planning and Zoning had approved the rezoning request
for the Meehan Maintenance facility to Central Business District with 40
affordable units,(maximum of 80% of median income), maximum rent at 30% of income. Next it goes to City Council for
approval and Request for Proposals later this month.
I-26: Joe heard recently that some funding
was approved for I-40E to I-26E at malfunction Junction. Marsha explained that
the construction company was not paying workers and so they stopped working and
a new crew was being found. Rachel
was told that a six lane alternative for the I-240 section through West
Asheville would have little impact compared with 8 lanes.
WECAN COMMUNITY GARDEN: Marsha met with city officials and they said rain barrels at the
transit building would not be allowed due to liability issues having to cross
the driveway. Regarding planting along the driveway it would (for the same
reason) be allowed on the east side but not the west side. However non-edible
perennial pollinators may be allowed where the transit sign is. Marsha
suggested contacting Asheville GreenWorks and Bee City for help with
pollinators.
WECAN GARDEN CLUB: We received a request to partner and
plant serviceberries in the Clingman Circle. Marsha noted there is a need to develop a process for
planting on rights of way with approved plant lists and appropriateness and it
is moving ahead but slowly. The area between Grey Eagle and the Circle is
currently maintained by the RADBA and the city has not budgeted for maintaining
medians except for Broadway. The club is still working on a new list. Rebecca
heard from Meg about Bee Houses for pollinators but non-honey bees. AnnaBeth
asked if the city could ban stores from selling neonicitinoid pesticides to
protect bees. She will call Phyllis Stiles for more information.
PLAN ON A PAGE: Marsha announced that the due date has moved to July 1. She will do
a blog post and organize a clinic to answer questions.
GOALS/PLAN FOR 2016: Rachel wants to brainstorm outside the monthly WECAN meetings about
establishing a welcome wagon packet of info with coupons for local businesses
and how to be involved with WECAN with Block Jessies.
Meeting adjourned at 8:17 pm Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola
