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Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods (CAN)
Meeting Minutes
June 9, 2008
CAN Goals
1. Educate and inform the community about matters that concern Asheville area neighborhoods;
2. Provide a means for Asheville area neighborhood organizations and groups to share information; and
3. Provide technical assistance to neighborhood groups and individuals that are interested in participating in community affairs
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#
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Allotted
(Actual)
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Topic
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Presenter
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1
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5 min
(5 min)
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Meeting started at 7:10 pm.
May 12 Meeting Minutes Accepted, available online.
Treasurer's Report.
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Marianna Bailey
Carl Nyberg
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2
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10-15 min
(5 min)
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Introductions - your name, neighborhood and quickly state any Issue / Success to share or to add to agenda.
Robert Zeiber (Biltmore Park); Mike Lewis (Grace); James Judd (Chunns Cove)
Kendra Turner (Parkway Forest) – Community wide yard sale. Starting edible community landscaping garden in front yard.
Joe Minicozzi (Brucemont Circle)
Chris Pelly (Haw Creek) 2nd Annual Memorial Day Kids Bike Parade
Sharon Fahrer (Montford) 3000 + at Art Fair
Joe Masters (Montford)
Byron Ballad (West Clingman Avenue)
Norma Baynes (Shiloh) Storytelling day on May 31 with 15 childrens and 15 adults, told stories, ate food and worked in Garden. Annual Historical Community Celebration June 21, 12-4 pm etc.
Judy Williamson (Shiloh) Planning 4th of July Festivities.
Peter Loewer (Kenilworth Lake) 18 acres of Lake behind Asheville Mall
Grace Curry (Grove Park– Sunset Mountain). Traffic calming as part of Grove Park expansion. Question about sidewalk down to ___. Will city pay for easement if need to take sidewalk. Depends on whether have 20 feet that they are already using.
Marianna Bailey (Viewpoint) Memorial Day picnic with barb’q wings instead of pork.
Bill Bailey (Viewpoint) one heck of a storm Sunday afternoon.
Barber Melton (Haw Creek)
Marsha Stickford (City of Asheville N’hood Coordinator)
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Round the Table
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3
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10-15 min
(15 min)
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Neighborhood Spotlight: MONTFORD see story below.
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Sharon Fahrer
Joe Masters
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4
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20-30 min
(25 min)
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Report on CAN Planning Retreat: Discussed CAN handout from Planning Retreat: Vision, Actions Brainstorm, 1 Year timeline. Available on website by searching for "CAN's Vision and 5 year plan" on www.AshevilleCAN.org
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Bill Bailey
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5
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5 min
(2 min)
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Salute to Barber Melton (Roast) Fundraiser – Last announcement before the big party.
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Chris Pelly
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6
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10 min
(10 min)
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Sustainable Development, LLC seminar series: Kendra Turner (our beloved original N’hood coordinator) provided an overview of a new class (IMPACTivism: Asset-based Community Development) which she is offering to the community through her new business. Her business also offers Community Relations Service for developers to help them to reach out to n’hoods. Kendra has a Masters of Public Affairs from Western Carolina. Ecological, Economic, and Social Sustainability. The following is a synopsis of the course (please contact Kendra to schedule):
"Neighborhoods often are reactive rather than proactive, and deal with what they lack rather than isolate the resources they already possess. This seminar series introduces a way of thinking about community building that encourages directing effort at positive, concrete results. Case studies and examples of focusing energies internally into the neighborhood illustrate the benefits of this approach in strengthening sense of community and addressing quality of life issues. Guidance and approaches to building cross-sector partnerships, along with "next steps" provide an in-depth introduction to a different way to think about and enhance community development from a neighborhood perspective."
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Kendra Turner
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7
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5-15 min
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Technical Committee Update
· Joe handed out matrix of various zoning types including Conditional Zoning (CZ). Will submit public records request to get information on all CZs created.
· Reported on planning by Land of Sky Regional Planning – Had done in the 1970’s.
· Reported on Downtown Master Plan – lot of people and positive, productive direction. June 12 = Draft Master plan is being floated. Trying to reduce 11th hour activism (i.e. last minute complainers).
Report on Other City Committees on which CAN members are involved:
· Storm water committee: being asked to compromise on 50 foot buffer. Only want to reduce for 30 foot.
· Affordable housing committee: wants to push up to 50 units or over 100,000 sq. feet before have public input. Affordable housing group was not receptive to concept of reducing developer hurdles based upon upfront interaction with neighbors.
· Watershed Policy: Want to have a board other than BOA that will review. Will have an ongoing committee that will look at yearly.
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Joe Minicozzi
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8
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Additional Agenda Items
· Peter Loewer (Kenilworth) talked about development in flood plain, Condos at site of Tobacco warehouse and Glendale Bridge. Kenilworth is measuring depth of Lake to better understand impact of soil erosion.
· 5 points concerns – graffiti concern.
· National Night Out – Crime Prevention event. COA will be sending out notices for participation. 25th anniversary. Different events throughout city. Joint project between police and sheriff department.
· New planning director starts June 30th
· Barber Melton has spotted new person taking Charlotte Caplan’s place (community development director).
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Open to All
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1:05 to 1:35
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TOTAL minutes estimated
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Spotlight on Montford – from presentation made by Sharon Fahrer and Joe Masters at the June CAN meeting.
Montford Neighborhood Association has the distinction of being one of the longest and most successful established neighborhood groups in Asheville. Montford has always been a diverse neighborhood, not only in terms of residents but also in housing stock, with lots of big and little houses and everything in between. In part because of its location so close to downtown and to 19/23 and 240, it is a neighborhood with its share of challenges with crime and other issues that negatively impact the quality of life in a neighborhood. For Montford, it was these issues that brought people together and made everyone a stakeholder in an effort to create a neighborhood with no drugs and related crime.
One strength of the Montford Association is their newsletter, which is produced by Montford resident Joe Newman. There are 10 editions each year, with 1600 copies printed per issue. Residents all have the opportunity to contribute to the newsletter – it is a true community effort. The newsletter goes out to all residents and businesses in the neighborhood. Hard copies are hand delivered by 50 people to residents and community locations including Pack Library. The most current newsletter and 12 years of archived issues are available on the Association’s web site www.montford.org. Over the years the newsletter has become self-supporting through the sales of ads and resource listings.
The Association also has a listserv to reach out to residents and interested folks. It is a great tool for fostering community discussion and dialog and keeps people in touch with each other and current issues. Recently there has been a hot conversation on chickens in the neighborhood.
The Association has worked hard over the years to support itself while continuing to keep the neighborhood focused on its identity and the activities that build community. This effort has had its challenges. The Historic District designation has not always been a positive and unifying force, especially since not all the houses in the Montford Neighborhood are in the historic district, which encompasses 600 houses. Keeping the neighborhood diverse has presented challenges with renovations, increase in bed-and-breakfast industry and rising cost of housing. The presence of a high proportion of apartments, vacation rentals and summer homes, and absentee landlords creates a level of transience that can adversely impact the stability of the neighborhood. The neighborhood will continue to change with the coming of the Health Adventure and other urban village development.
But the Association and other groups find ways of bringing folks together to create a sense of community that makes this neighborhood so special. With so many great front porches, people have lots of opportunities to visit and enjoy the neighborhood. There are several Association sponsored events that bring the community together, like an Easter Egg hunt and the Montford Music festival, and events that raise funds and draw people from the rest of the community, such as the tour of Montford homes. In addition, the Association tries to organize and fund projects like building the gazebo in Montford Park.
While the Montford Park Players are a separate organization, they also provide a draw to the neighborhood and add to its unique identity. The neighborhood is also fortunate to have the Montford Community Center located in its midst. The center provides additional activities for neighbors and hosts community events like the Halloween Haunted House.
Meetings are 2nd Monday of the Month
Check Out www.AshevilleCAN.org
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