Summary of the May 15, 2003 Northside Neighborhood Conservation
District Advisory Committee Meeting
Committee Members Present: Delores Bailey, Jeff Caiola, Linda Convissor, Melissa Exum, Jane Farrar, Esphur Foster, Sally Greene, Josh Gurlitz, Estelle Mabry, Mae McLendon, Mark Patmore, Velma Perry, Sydalg Severe, R.D. Smith, Tom Tucker
Committee Members Absent: Ed Caldwell, Helen Galbraith
Town Staff Present: Than Austin, Loryn Barnes, Chris Berndt, Maggie Bowers, Thomas Cummings, Roger Waldon
The Northside Neighborhood
Conservation District Committee held its organizational meeting on May 15, 2003
at 6:30 at the Hargraves Center.
Delores Bailey convened the
meeting at approximately 6:30 pm.
The Committee elected Delores
Bailey as the Chair of the Committee (Committee Members Severe, Convissor
and Greene arrived after this vote took place)
Committee members Esphur Foster and Mark Patmore were nominated for Committee Vice Chair. The Committee elected Esphur Foster as the Vice Chair of the Committee.
The Committee decided to hold its meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 at the Hargraves Center. Future meetings are scheduled for June 19, July 17 and August 21.
The Committee discussed how it would vote – by majority or consensus. The Committee decided that votes would be taken depending on the issue. The group stated that it would prefer a consensus, but would take a hand vote on each issue.
The Committee reviewed the charge and boundaries of the area that were adopted by the Council on April 14, 2003. The Committee also reviewed the timetable for completing its work. Committee member Patmore stated that the Pritchard Park public housing community should be included in the boundaries of the Conservation District. Committee member Smith also stated that the charge of the Committee should be to focus on the Northside neighborhood only and not the entire Town. Town staff explained that though the preamble of the resolution adopted by the Council on April 14, 2003 refers to “enhancing the livability of the Town”, this is a general statement outlining the purpose of a Neighborhood Conservation District, and that the charge the Committee is to focus on developing a Neighborhood Conservation District for the Northside neighborhood, and not Town-wide.
Planning Director Roger Waldon provided an introduction to the Town’s Land Use Management Ordinance and Neighborhood Conservation Districts. Committee member McLendon requested that the staff provide a summary of the Town’s zoning district before the next meeting. Staff agreed to provide this information. Committee member Tucker asked what would happen to existing units that would violate the new Neighborhood Conservation District once it was adopted. Mr. Waldon stated that the properties would become a non-conforming use, but could continue to exist and there would be limitations on expansion. Committee member Patmore stated that the Neighborhood Conservation District would mainly effect new development and nonconforming properties would likely be grandfathered. Committee member Foster stated that she would like to try and change the Council’s policy on grandfathering nonconforming uses.
Mr. Waldon also reviewed the Planning Board’s recommendation regarding the current duplex prohibitions in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 zoning districts. The Committee unanimously voted to support extending the sunset date for the current duplex prohibitions in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 zoning districts to February 29, 2004. Ms. Bailey agreed to present the Committee’s recommendation to the Council at the public hearing on May 19.
The Committee decided to discuss the following issues at its next meeting:
The next meeting is scheduled for June 19, 2003 at 6:30 at the Hargraves Center.
-prepared by L. Barnes