WECAN Board Meeting Minutes
March 1, 2018
Board Members present: Byron Ballard, Jessie Coleman, Joe
Fioccola, Rebecca Lance and Rachel Larson.
Members not present: Danny Aull, Lynn Hall, Luke
Perry and Pattiy Torno.
At Large Members not
present: Jared Fischer, Caroline Mullis,
Also
Present APD Officer Justin Wilson, Mike Vance, John and Lynne Diamond Nigh,
Blair Johnstone, Katy Aull and Joanna.
INTROS: Rachel called the meeting
to order at 6:30 pm with a round of introductions.
MINUTES: Byron moved and Rachel
seconded a motion to approve the draft WECAN minutes from February 1. (There
was one correction: Byron should have been marked as absent.) The motion passed.
MOUNTAIN HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES: Mike Vance showed illustrations of a proposed affordable housing
complex for the NE corner of Clingman and Hilliard. It will have 5000 sf and 80
apartments most of which will be affordable. 20 will be efficiencies, 40 single bedroom and 20 two
bedroom. Only 40 parking spaces will be provided below the building. Technical
review meeting is set for Monday March 5 and Downtown Design Review on Friday
March 9. They have an option to purchase the property until August and are
applying for NC low income housing tax credits along with three other Buncombe county
projects.(Only one will be selected.) Question: How long will the apartments
remain affordable? All will be to some degree( 30,50 or 60% AMI) The plan is to keep 60 units permanently affordable if the
city approves a loan from the affordable housing trust fund. Question: What
about parking? Twenty spaces will be reserved for the office use during the
day. Some will be available for rent on 24 hour or night/weekend rate and the
apartments will be advertised with no parking but on the bus routes and in
walking distance to a grocery store, park, movie theatre, etc. Question: If all
the financing is approved what it the timeline for completion? Approval will be
known by August. Construction should begin within a year and completion
expected by the fall of 2020.
APD/CRO Update: Justin had a follow up
on the Code Purple situation. He
advised that the policy was to change effective next Friday. As of then only
females and children will be guaranteed space on Code Purple nights. Recent crimes
reported include: residential break in at 62 Clingman Avenue through a bathroom
window in the afternoon; White Duck Taco vandalism to planters and flower pots;
unlocked vehicle broken into near Grey Eagle. There was an observed increase in
the use of the dead end of Jefferson as a safe space for prostitution. Rachel
reported that a streetlight for that location was in process. Lights, Signs and
fake cameras were also suggested.
Jessie reported a man behind her house on Knoxville Place. Rebecca
suggested some kind of flyer. Justin will check for Community Watch signs and
non-emergency phone number refrigerator magnets.
BLOCK JESSIES: Marjory is moving to
Black Mountain from Park Avenue and Josie is moving from Jefferson.
DUKE RIGHT OF WAY: Lynne and John are
concerned about activity in the ravine between West Haywood and Club/Trade.
Their Club Street home used to look out on a wooded area and that is changing
with the development of new houses along West Haywood and the installation of
new power transmission poles in the ravine. Duke is also getting ready to cut
mature trees inside their property line. Their concern is about not knowing
what is going on in this historic area. They question what the plans may be for
replanting the area. Rachel offered to research rights of way and easements.
Duke power pole installation is set to begin by the end of March and continue
through May and June.
TREASURER’SREPORT: Rebecca explained
that the IRS Tax exemption was revoked 7 years ago for failure to file annual
forms. There is a process for reinstating the determination but professional
accountants will charge $200. Katy offered to consult a friend who is an
accountant for not-for profits in Philadelphia.
NCDOT ENCROACHMENT: Joe and Byron have
been working with NCDOT about an encroachment agreement to put in a community
Garden across West Haywood from Park Avenue. The application form on line is for utilities. They have
contacted Brenda Mills to get with the City transportation department—with
contacts at NCDOT to get the city on board as a third party. When that happens
we will have an agreement with the city and they will go- between with
NCDOT. Rachel has received a
letter of support from Asheville Greenworks and three adjacent property owners
who want to maintain smaller portions of the right of way.
JESSIE MAE MEMORIAL GARDEN:
Rachel will check with Pattiy and Joanne about getting plants from Jessie Mae’s
garden.
QUEEN CARSON COMMUNITY GARDEN: There was a
rainy work day on Sunday. Marjory and Suzanne have sent emails about freeing up
their beds. Katy and Danny will take on one and Zac and Lynn will continue
their. There is still room available for others interested in participating.
CENTRAL AREA MEETING: Joe announced the Neighborhood
Advisory Committee area meeting on Monday March 19 6:30-8:30 pm at Public
Works. Rachel will attend. Others?
ADOPT A HIGHWAY: Joe set Tuesday
March 18 at 9 am for the next litter pickup meet at Clingman and Hilliard.
KUDZU HILLWORKDAY: set for Sunday March
4 Afternoon?
Meeting adjourned at 8:05
pm
Minutes submitted by Joe
Fioccola, Secretary
Leftover from February
minutes:
To add to March
Agenda: Appointment of at-large members: How to get people involved, to
participate, to come to meetings, to give input? Not just a membership drive
but some social aspect, face to face, also to begin planning activities for
2018. Invite Payne Kissinger to show plans for 338 Hilliard.
Important Upcoming Dates:
Mar 3 Lyman
Street Cleanup 2:30-4:30 Meet at Greenworks 318 Riverside Dr
Mar 4 Kudzu
Hill workday-afternoon
Mar 5 Technical
Review Committee Meeting on MHO Apartment proposal
Mar 9 Dntn
Design Review Meeting on MHO Apartment proposal
Mar 10 Tree
Planting 165 S French Broad 9-1pm
Mar 11 Daylight
Savings time begins
Mar 12 CAN
Meeting
Mar 13 Adopt
a Highway litter pick up 9 am
Mar 13 Growing
From Seed workshop and Tea 6-7:30 at Sow True Seed on Haywood St
Mar 16 NH
leaders Roundtable 8:30 @ Riverlink
Mar 19 NAC
Central Area Neighborhoods Meeting at Public Works
Mar 26 Transit
Master Plan Public meeting
Apr 5 Next
WECAN Board Meeting Thursday 6:30 pm
