District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) Meeting notes from October 20, 2007
Attendance
- Jason Hibbets – Lineberry Alliance / PRR Watch / SWCAC
- Ron Aycock – Cameron Park / Hillsborough CAC
- John G. Reaves, Jr. – Caraleigh / SWCAC
- Connie Crumpler – Caraleigh / SWCAC
- Carolyn Sheets – Avent West / WCAC
- R. Bethea – Method / WCAC
- Ted Shear – Avent West / WCAC
- Elizabeth Byrd – Avent West / WCAC (Chair)
- Mark Vander Borgh – Avent West / WCAC
- Mary Belle Pate – Fairway Acres / SWCAC (Chair)
- Bruce Mamel – WCAC
- Jim Paumier – Fairview Acres / WCAC
- Joe Boisvert – University Park Homeowners Association
- Lourent de Comormond – Cameron Village / Hillsborough CAC
- Phil Poe – Glenwood Brooklyn / Five Points CAC
- Bill Padgett
- Thomas Crowder – District D
- Nancy McFarlane – Councilor Elect District A
- Rodger Koopman – Councilor Elect District B
Notes
- We went around the table for neighborhood leader intro’s
- Some of the top issues the neighborhoods are facing:
- diversity (cultural & language barriers)
- crime
- PROP (need a stronger PROP, need criminal elements added)
- Infill issues
- sidewalks (aging, none, disconnection)
We went in-depth on some of these issues. We spent some time talking about infill, which we noted have several different types. One is the popular McMansions that we hear about, the other is a “prey” on cheaper property for apartment style housing. This will typically have no regard for building materials and devalues surrounding homes and property values. Thomas mentioned a proposal in the works for an interim solution that would limit infill until City Planning can better understand the issue and come up with solutions, standards, etc.
We talked about the Planning Commission (PC), the process, the composition. We are concerned that citizens do not have (enough) representation on the PC and about the geographic make-up of the PC.
We highlighted the success of the PROP in our neighborhoods but in the same breath talked about the need to strengthen the PROP, add the criminal element to it, and look at a landlord registration program. Along with issues like the PROP, we also mentioned Front Yard Parking (FYP) and Shopping Cart Blight.
The Comprehensive Plan is an important topic to DDNA. We discussed that, some of the potential solutions, and how neighborhoods can be strengthened through the comp plan. We noted that the Comp Plan kickoff is this Thursday at 7pm.
The strength of neighborhoods was mentioned and we talked about the desire to have a strong CAC program with support from Community Services. On the Boards & Commission topic, we talked about non-citizen friendly meeting times, with a hope that this would change to accommodate more citizen participation.
Finally, we got a chance to hear from both Nancy and Rodger.
Nancy will represent District A and has these concerns on her radar:
- North Hills is a great development, but the neighborhoods can’t access it
- concerns on traffic calming
- storm water issues (how to get pre-construction storm water mgmt as well as legacy problems)
- similar infill issues to what was discussed today
Rodger will represent District B and has these concerns on his radar:
- sewer easement issues
- parks (Horseshoe Farms, etc.)
- concerned about the mix & make-up of the commissions and boards
- concerned about the working poor
- revenues, impact fees & property taxes
- traffic calming
- water conservation, usage, long term planning
- philosophy: “will it be safe for my 7 year old?”