WECAN
Board Meeting April 7, 2016
Board
Members present: Jessie Nell Coleman, Joe Fioccola, Rebecca Lance, Rachel
Larson and Luke Perry.
Members not present: Byron Ballard, Tom
Gibson, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Mike
Kenton, Yuri Koslen, Floree Lowery, JoAnn
Skinner, Pattiy Torno and
Suzanne Willis. Also present: APD
Officer Brandon Shope, Marsha Stickford
and Gregory Ness. Rachel
called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm
MINUTES: Minutes of March meeting were approved as
distributed. TREASURER'S
REPORT: No report. APD/CRO UPDATE:
Brandon reported that in March there was a break in to an unlocked vehicle and
residence at 69 Park Avenue North. Cash and a cell phone were taken from the
home. Brandon will email a copy of
a brochure about how to prevent car break-ins: Secure it, Lock it, Hide it. It
is important to convince neighbors that an unlocked vehicle is more likely to
be broken into than a locked one and the risk of a broken window on a locked
vehicle is much smaller if there is nothing visible to steal. There is an
increase of itinerant camping going on with the warmer weather. Six campsites
were cleared in March. Joe reported that people have been sleeping and leaving
debris under the bushes on the NW corner of Clingman and Hilliard. At 191 Lyman
Street two people were arrested on felony drug charges and also had graffiti
supplies and a cell phone was secured that may have evidence of more graffiti
vandalism. Rebecca reported there was a big fire in the Clingman Forest on
March 22 and someone was found sleeping on Suzanne’s porch. BLOCK JESSIES: There are several houses in transition now.
Two are for sale on Jefferson and one on W Haywood. 83 Clingman was just sold
and 116? is being renovated. Joe noticed that Vaughan and Melton were doing
some surveying in the Melk area across from Transit-- not sure on whose
behalf. Big thanks to Marsha for
the repaired fence on Hilliard and the shoulder work on Green Street. Jessie
saw a notice in Friday’s paper about a meeting on Monday April 4 about the
potential hotel becoming apartments. Luke did not pass a final inspection but
has only minor corrections to complete before a ‘final’ final inspection set
for Tuesday. RAD FORM BASED
CODE: Rachel had printed out a copy of the draft code. Marsha announced that it was the
subject of an ‘Open City Hall” online meeting on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
There will be links to the report and background information, and questions to
consider and a way to receive comments. Joe has read the report—which is a bit
dull and technical. He thought it didn’t address differences in topography—all
the pictures show flat square lots, and isn’t sure that setbacks should be the
only acceptable solution since designers can use and solve problems addressing
the perception of space. PSNC
BUILDING: Rachel reported that it is about to be renovated by June with a
big deck on the river side. She wants the ice house doors to be used somewhere.
ASTON PARK MASTER PLAN: Rachel received a copy in response to the
concerns about trees being removed from the park. (A copy will be attached.) NEIGHBORHOOD
ADVISORY COMMITTEE CENTRAL AREA MEETING: Joe reported that Byron attended the meeting on March 21st.
There were reports from the Transportation, Planning, Police and Fire
Departments. City representatives were outnumbered by neighborhood
representatives expressing their concerns. WECAN resident Byron Ballard
began by noting some successes: WECAN has an engaged core of neighbors. She is
happy about the coming needed affordable housing on Hilliard and Clingman and
the community garden next to Asheville Transit which functions like a community
center. We have great support from our CRO Lucas Lovelace, from Mountain
Housing Opportunities and Laura Loftis at the Aston Park Tennis Center. Marsha
Stickford is also a great resource and listens to a lot more crap than anyone
should. She noted that WECAN currently has about 200 households and is looking
at some 350 more in the next few years and a possible Hotel. Infrastructure
sucks-- a sidewalk on Roberts Street is desperately needed with the increased
tourist foot traffic to White Duck Taco. West Haywood is a winding curvy street
and gets a lot of cut-through traffic and is very dangerous. There is bus and
staff speeding at Asheville Transit. She observed that WECAN has effectively
lost the gentrification wars. A recent house sold for almost a million dollars.
Also between DOT and the City it has been several years that the fence at the
top of the hill on Hilliard has been falling down. Storm water runoff continues
to be a challenge at new developments and New Belgium Brewery across the river
is bringing noise, smell and traffic as other events and construction blocking
traffic at the river. We need help updating our fifteen year old WECAN
Citizen’s Master Plan. The stairs that go to the Hillcrest pedestrian crossover
bridge are deteriorating. We are losing green spaces and older trees to more
development.
COMMERCIAL
FILMING: Marsha explained that her email
notice was just for general information that unusual things may be seen. BEAUCATCHER
GREENWAY OPEN CITY HALL:
Marsha explained that at this time it was closed so that staff can
prepare the comments in a report for City Council’s meeting on Tuesday. She
noted that it has been in discussion for some 20 years. CARD FOR YURI:
Rachel will get a card. Or people will do their own thing. WALLS AND ROADS:
Rachel complained that historic walls were collapsing. She has questions about
who owns them and who is responsible for maintaining them. Marsha explained
that every city street has a right of way but their size varies. There is a
question of whether the city should be involved after what happened to Floree’s
wall on Rector Street. Marsha cited City Ordinance 16-3 that says property
owners are responsible for sidewalk and gutters adjacent to their property. CURBING
ILLEGAL DUMPING STRATEGIES: Rachel is still trying to get a clarification:
is clearing campsite detritus is just a liability issue for the city. Marsha
pointed out that she has heard that some people have chased out campers near
the river and then thrown their stuff away. Debris on private property is the
owner’s responsibility. Also that open areas should be maintained to less than
three feet. The Japanese knotweed across from transit might violate that rule later
in the season but it is complaint driven. COMMUNITY GARDEN AMMENDMENT: Marsha gave Rachel a copy
to sign that had five points: 1)
Planting bed on west side of driveway will be weeded and planted with
pollinators (see attached Bee City pollinator plant list) 2) Planting bed on
east side of driveway will be planted with dwarf blueberry shrubs and
groundcover. 3) Both beds will have a set-back of 2 feet from the driveway and
road and not obstruct the sidewalk. 4) Holes for shrubs will be hand dug. If they are outside existing beds, a
Utility locate is required. 5) WECAN will maintain the expanded area to the
standards specified in the original agreement.. WECAN COMMUNITY GARDEN: About ten
people have expressed interest in planting this year. We decided to have more
formal organizing and reporting meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays.
Tuesdays will remain workdays. Planting should begin soon. WECAN GARDEN CLUB:
We worked on the Community Garden on two days in March in addition to the work
day on March 19 spreading a truckload of mulch (donated by Pattiy Torno) on the
paths of the wood fenced garden. Also Owens Bell Park Garden was mostly weeded
on March 23. Thanks to Joe, Rebecca and Charlie. In April the sign garden is a
priority. PLAN ON A PAGE: A
drop in work session is scheduled for April 19. Marsha will send Rachel a list
of questions as a guide. GOALS/PLAN FOR
2016: Rachel will call a committee to meet about establishing a welcome
wagon packet. ADOPT A HIGHWAY: The
next clean up is scheduled for Saturday April 30 beginning at 10 am at Clingman
and Hilliard. CLINGMAN CIRCLE PLANTING:
Marsha reported that Gabi White from the Buncombe Fruit and Nut Club will be
planting serviceberries there in the next week. Maintenance issues with RADBA
do not include the kudzu up the hill towards Jefferson. Joe suggested garden
Club can begin to address it later in the season when the kudzu is just
beginning to grow.
Meeting
adjourned at 8:00 pm Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola
