|
CAN Board meeting November 12, 2007
14 present plus 3 police officers
Joe Minicozzi, President, Brucemont Circle Laurie Saxton, City of Asheville
Reid Thompson, Five Points Tom Rightmyer, Secretary, Crowfields
Byron Alday, South French Broad Doyle Baynes, Shiloh
Grace Curry, Grove Park Sunset Mountain Chris Pelly, Haw Creek
Norma Baynes, Shiloh Robert Zieber, Biltmore Park
James Judd, Chunns Cove Brian Peterson, Royal Pines
Ben Gillam, Five Points Steve Hudzik, Kenilworth
1. Neighborhood Coordinator – Laurie Saxton City Information Officer The city hopes to hire a Neighborhood Coordinator soon to begin December 1. This is now a permanent position and will report to Laurie. President Joe Minicozzi reviewed history of CAN’s request for this position. Our concern is getting direct and timely answers to questions about city decisions. Some CAN input is requested on coordinator’s role and responsibilities. Laurie will supply job description. A Planning Department organization chart would also be helpful.
2. Ben Gillum reported on P&Z action on Horizon – Deal Motors. Neighborhood asks for lower height of 123 ft 10 story buildings because of shadow. Also asks for access for northern deliveries from Merrimon not from Eloise, a residential street to north. Scheduled for January 8 Council meeting. Protest petition and lawyer needed. Joe will send Ben information. Supermajority of Council (6-1) needed if protest petition is properly filed.
3. Shiloh water and sewer problem. City annexed an area with cesspools and has not provided sewer service. Cesspools are failing and presenting problems. City of Asheville and Metropolitan Sewer District are not agreed on responsibility. CAN asked Shiloh for a community resolution voted on by the neighborhood association regarding this standing issue of lack of sewerage. There was support on the CAN Board that this basic service should be afforded to this community.
4. Chunns Cove – James Judd Church property proposed for senior citizen housing, property is near Social Security office but not on bus line. He has discussed proposal with developer.
5. Bylaws discussion Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) request for CAN staff person to help organize low income neighborhoods in city and nearby county areas, particularly as Neighborhood Housing Services is not continuing in the Shiloh area. CAN will ask for 30K grant, promise to raise 10K. Approved in concept. Investigating Committee to include Brian Peterson, Norma Baines, Barb Vani-Lau, Jennifer Long, Joe Minicozzi, Tom Rightmyer will report in December.
6. Legislative Update – Barber Melton
a. Stormwater Advisory Committee – Public information meeting Wednesday November 28, 5:30 to 7:30 at Public Works Building. Also relates to flood protection ordinances.
b. Merrimon Corridor Plan – meeting Thursday, November 15, 6-8 pm Public Works Building
7. Zoning Appeals Update – Joe Minicozzi
Letter sent August 14 to Mayor still hasn’t been responded to. The response received in October after CAN meeting didn’t adequately address deadlines and timelines as requested in August. Frustration was expressed over lack of action on Greenlife. Laurie Saxton noted that Staples has responded to Mayor’s visit recently, but no communication has come from the city regarding these meetings. Laurie Saxton will send more information.
8. Planning & Zoning and TRC updates – Tom Rightmyer At TRC meeting I asked on our behalf that the rationale for all Conditional Zoning requests be made part of the record.
9. Legal Defence Fund – On motion by Brian Peterson the CAN Board agreed to establish a Legal Defence Fund to assist neighborhood groups needing legal or professional assistance. This is a separate account from operating funds. Decisions about the use of the Legal Defence Fund will be made by the Executive Committee of the CAN Board. Adopted unanimously – President Minicozzi recused himself from the vote citing his involvement as a planner on the Greenlife project.
10. Treasurer’s report - $4,559.93 on hand, no activity in past month. Thomas Rightmyer, Secretary |
