WECAN
General Membership Meeting Minutes June 2, 2016
Board
Members present: Byron Ballard, Jessie
Nell Coleman, Joe Fioccola, Rebecca Lance, Rachel Larson, Luke Perry
and Pattiy Torno.
Members
not present:, Tom Gibson, AnnaBeth
Hardcastle, Mike Kenton, Floree Lowery, JoAnn Skinner and Suzanne Willis.
Also present: Paul D’Angelo, Susan Haynes, Rafael Rettig, Assistant Planning
Director Alan Glines, APD Sergeant Lisa Taube, APD Officer Anthony Sorangelo and Marsha Stickford.
Byron called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm
after a round of introductions.
MINUTES: Minutes of the May meeting were approved as emailed.
TREASURER'S
REPORT: AnnaBeth emailed that there was no activity in May.
APD/CRO
UPDATE: Lisa is the Sergeant for the North/Central District and
reported for CRO Lucas Lovelace and Sean Davis that many campsites have been
moved along in May but it is an ongoing effort. There have been more vehicle
break-ins and she urged residents to lock their vehicles, secure their
valuables and if left inside to cover or keep them out of sight. Last Sunday
there was a huge parking problem at Flea to Y’all on Riverside Drive with hundreds
of cars parked blocking bicycle lanes and railroad tracks. This ongoing event
occurs the last Sunday of the month and there should be warning signs posted by
next time. There was also a problem of people camping behind the United
Christian Church at 10 Roberts St even after being told to move. She encouraged
anyone who sees suspicious people or activity to call the non emergency police
number (252-1110.) Calls will help to build a picture of where patrol is
needed. Jessie reported people
camping behind her house on Knoxville Place. Rafael asked about plans for
patrolling the greenways that will be coming soon. If they are designated as
parks then they will be closed after 10 pm and downtown bike units or
supplemental until may be used to patrol them. Marsha advised that there will
be lighting plans and that Parks and Rec and APD will be working together to
come up with strategies to keep them safe. Rafael noted that in other cities
crime decreased when greenways are put in. Pattiy reported an ongoing problem
with drunks and panhandlers at Curve Studios and a noise problem at 4 am on
Wednesdays when the dumpster at the Wedge is emptied. Susan noted the
continuing problem of speeding traffic on Roberts Street and no sidewalks.
BLOCK JESSIES: There was some storm water work completed on
Knoxville Place. Several old trees were cleared from Green Street and Girdwood
Street. The problem with construction materials stored in the street on
Jefferson has been taken care of.
Rebecca reported that ten blueberry bushes have been planted near the
Community Garden. Big thanks to Asheville Green Works and the Community
Foundation’s Power of the Purse fundraiser.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 338 HILLIARD
AVENUE:
Paul
D’Angelo, the Director of Affordable Housing at Tribute Co LLC explained his
background working for neighborhood revitalization with the Housing Authority
in Wilmington and was hired by CEO Matt Maynard, a for profit developer, to
demonstrate that affordable housing is not exclusively reliant on non-profit
agencies. Tribute will submit a proposal to the city on July 11 for mixed
income affordable workforce housing. Their goal is to propose the highest
number of units, affordable for the longest period of time and require the
least amount of incentives from the city. In addition, they want to include a
core community center to be useful to the neighborhood and are considering
access to healthy food, a child care component and have been in touch with the
YWCA, Smart Start and First Presbyterian. Their philosophy is that the urban
center should not be a playground for the wealthy and the question of the
limited availability of parking was also discussed. Tribute will develop, build
and maintain the facility. The Parks Department will vacate by March 2017 and if
selected by the city, construction should take about a year. Other Tribute projects in town are at
150 and 185 Coxe Avenue.
RAD
FORM BASED CODE: Alan Glines
explained that the first draft was completed on March 7. He provided maps which
showed 9 different districts—most of which are mixed use. The plan is
struggling with height recommendations and view sheds and the particulars of
the terrain. Luke observed that what one thing that attracts people to the
neighborhood is the sight and access to the river. Pattiy noted that the problem is escalating land values
forcing landowners to overdevelop or develop up. Alan explained the reasons for
more weight given to comments of property owners in the River Arts District so
that people impacted are given appropriate weight and that Open City Hall had
the ability to break out location information to help with weighting. Byron
asked where neighborhoods fit in to the comprehensive plan because if it is
already decided then don’t waste our time. Gentrification is here and what
protection do we have left? Alan explained that the city is struggling to
manage the growth in keeping with community goals. The next draft of the Form
based Code is due between last August and Early September, so there will be
more opportunity for input and then it will go through more hearings and on to
Council for approval. Marsha asked how the Gentrification study and Equitable
Development fit in. Also the next draft will be almost ready to go so any
comments should go soon to Sasha Vrtunski.
PLAN ON A PAGE: Joe
explained the purpose of “Plan on a Page” to articulate neighborhood visions
for the comprehensive plan to read from the 50 or so neighborhoods and
incorporate common themes into the Comprehensive Plan. While Rebecca attending
the workshop learned they don’t want it to be too specific, Joe explained that
they don’t want specific properties but general ideas such as commercial
development is preferred on the first block of Clingman Avenue.. Rachel and Joe
and Byron have worked on a draft for some of the questions: Neighborhood
Description, History, Vision, Strengths, Challenges, Responsibility and
alignment with City Goals. Joe discussed the visions from previous WECAN Plans
and how much the neighborhood has changed in the last 22 years and only a fraction of the people who created those
visions are still here. Joe took a suggestion from Pattiy to revise the History
and will reword the Vision and send it out again and receive edits/comments by
June 24 and incorporate them into a final draft to go out to the board by June
27 and submitted to the city by July 1.
EDIBLE
PLANTING PROPOSAL: Pattiy
reported that Gabi White did not get the ‘Awesome Grant’
but she did locate an email
from last year from McRae Coates about replacing the planting where the DOT
repaired the sink hole in front of Grey Eagle. She has contacted NCDOT Division
of Highways about making some of the plantings edible and will follow up next
week hoping to get all the parties to work together. Also Gabi did receive a
check (unknown amount) for edibles but the check went to Awesome.
WECAN
GARDEN CLUB: Joe reported the club was rained out on the 11th
and on the 25th worked the ‘sign garden’ and hedges. This month on
the 11th will tackle to rest of Owens-Bell Park weeding.—weather
permitting and on the 29th will work on Hilliard Avenue.
OWENS-BELL
STREAM DRIED UP?: Luke heard
that the stream at Owens-Bell Park had completely dried up. Not sure if this is
related to the recent storm water work completed on Knoxville Place. Marsha
will check with the city.
Meeting
adjourned at 8:45 pm
Minutes
submitted by Joe Fioccola
