INC NEWS - DRAFT Minutes - May

[Deanna Crossman]

Minutes for InterNeighborhood Council
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Herald Sun Building 7pm

In Attendance
Aidil Collins          Uplift East Durham
Mike Shiflett         Northgate Park
Janet Hitti            Parkwood
Pat Carstensen    Cross Counties
David Harris         Old Farm
Kim Sage            Old East Durham
Melissa Rooney   Fairfield
Myers Sugg         Tuscaloosa Lakewood
Lynwood Best      City Durham NIS
Kevin Davis         Trinity Park
Rosemarie Kitchin    Falconbridge
Annette Smith      Durham Parks and Rec
Deanna Crossman    Walltown
Colin Crossman        Walltown
Heidi Carter          Woodcroft
Scott Carter         Woodcroft

Welcome and Introductions  7:10pm

Amendment to Agenda: No update on Alston – Wally Bowman had to cancel this
month

Steve Medlin – Environmental Protection Ordinances
    Thank you for inviting him.  Durham had almost no environmental
protection ordinances prior to 1999 (we did have floodplain protection
standards in excess of the Feds) – rewrote them to include tree, stream, and
open space protections [mass grading provisions will be discussed as
additions within the next year, along with tree coverage standards].  No
current requirement to protect existing trees if they are not within another
protection zone.
    Wetlands are regulated by the Army Corps of Engineers and the state.
Steep slope protection we have is rare and applies to slopes above 25% and
adjacent to another protected area, they must be protected.  Flood plain
work now requires governing body approval, far exceeding national and state
standards.
    When you don't mandate where specimen trees are protected, they are
often lost.  Planning is going to begin a community discussion in advance of
the larger-scale revisions next year to identify the priorities of the
neighborhood that they feel need added protection.
    Question about mixed-use development and if there are any plans to
restrict or deter it.  The city center should be the center of mixed-use
goodness while protecting the suburban and rural tier.  Medlin: a
comprehensive plan is a good start and why they introduced it, as well as
the Tiers.  It needs to be updated every 3-5 years and the time is now to
revisit it and modify it given current desires.  It's expected to take 2-3
years and is about to get started.  The changes will come only after
significant community input.
    Question about the fact that there are changes to the comprehensive plan
on a per case basis – should this be allowed?  Don Moffit suggested we don't
do this piece meal nor allow changes to the plan – the plan is changed every
three years and that's it.  Medlin: until recently, the comprehensive plan
was not even a binding document and was powerless.  Parcels could be rezoned
regardless of the overlay.  Now that the comprehensive plan has teeth, he
argues it becomes an overwhelming task to do a quality job revamping the
comp plan every 3 years without allowing modifications along the way –
becomes more a paper-pushing job than effective master plan.
    Question about the Planning Commission – if we have an on-staff
preservation planner, how can that person more actively engage preservation
interests in Durham?  Medlin: restrictions have been placed on that job in
the past that tied the preservationist's hands – in the last two years,
during the reorganization, has created a new team (Urban Design) that is
involved in preservation and planning in the urban tier, and with 3 people
instead of 1 (Steve Cruz, Sara Young, Lisa Miller), they can accomplish a
lot more.
    Question about transportation and the comprehensive plan – is there
Triangle wide discussion and does the plan include thought about the
transportation needs/projects.  Projects are now required to look at their
place in the community and not just be a single point of access with a bunch
of cul-de-sacs.
    Question about the conservation subdivisions – what is the schedule and
why is it double dipping (two credits for one piece of land?).  Medlin: You
can't get two credits for one piece of land.  The conservation subdivision
is a new concept for Durham – they are only allowed in Rural residential.
The enticement to utilize the Conservation subdivision standards is that max
density is 2 units per acre, which is significantly more dense that normal
RR, but there is no minimum lot size.  The net effect is more homes in a
smaller area in a large subdivision that contains large primary and
secondary protection areas.  40% of the subdivision needs to be protected
open space, with 80% of that being primary protected space.
    Question – we lose 80% of lives to flooding – when we look at
floodplains, do we consider building practices (example – septic tanks that
may contaminate a stream in a flood).  Medlin: every sewer treatment plant
is located in a floodplain in Durham but they are designed to be
structurally 2' above the base flood elevation and flood proof.  Septic
fields can be located in flood plains but the Health dept is very strict –
they are not allowed to put septic tanks in the flood plain.
    Question – if I have a 10 acre development, how to I drain storm water /
imperious surface runoff downstream?  Medlin: there are standards to define
how much needs to be retained on-site, and you cannot flood downstream, or
dam upstream.
    Question – is there any talk about pervious concrete, raingardens, and
other new rain and storm water management techniques to count toward
management credits.  Medlin: not yet, but there is a lot of talk to look at
new data to see if it can count.
    Question – open lines of communication with the Planning Dept is great
and we're happy to see Steve here to talk.  Who does the Planning Dept head
serve?  City council, county commissioners, the comprehensive plan?
Medlin:  he serves everyone who lives in Durham, but more directly answers
to the City Council and staff managers and 15 Boards.  Note about
Neighborhood Notification – there is no plan to stop notifications – they
are putting together a master notification list.  Let the Planning Dept know
and anyone can be added to the list.  Any notice about anything will be sent
to one master list.  *

Contact Wade Griffin at the Planning Dept and he can add you to the list.
There is also a link on the Planning Dept homepage as well to add your email
to the list.*

    Question – is there a website to provide info with upcoming projects?
Medlin: not yet, but very soon.  All new applications will be added to a
webpage as they are scanned in or digital copies are provided.  It is a high
priority.  There is a lot of information already on the site, but not easily
navigable.  Agendas will also be uploaded as soon as they are created.
Sometimes now there is a delay.
    Question - What is the procedure for new changes to the department?
Medlin: Joint commission to look at work program for the next year is next
week.  You can email the Commission with your opinions/thoughts.
    Question – Seen lots of info to speed up development process.  What is
the difference between the administrative and legislative processes?
Medlin: there has been a lot of discussion without specifically identifying
the problems.  Not so many in the legislative process.  The administrative
(site plan) process is currently averaging 20-26 weeks (5-6.5 months).  The
process isn't flawed, but the application of the process is flawed.  There
are areas that need to be redefined.  He is not suggesting that the
ordinances are not upheld in site plans.  There are currently a lot of
projects that are subject to personal opinions and not the UDO.  That isn't
how it should be.  His goal is to make the process more predictable, so
people can become familiar with it easily and know what to expect.  The
development review process is the single most complex process a city and
county department tackles at any time.
    Steve has tasked his staff with reaching out and reconnecting with the
community.  Please invite anyone in his department to discuss issues of
interest and he will have the right person come to discuss.


ANNOUNCEMENTS
Parkwood Neighborhood tomorrow is meeting with Jay to do ComNet.  NE Central
Durham and Old Farm have also been done.

Parks and Rec: this is music month!  5 Free opportunities this month!  All
on Saturdays at 6pm:  Duke Park June 21st Blues; Twin Lakes Park June 28th
R&B.

Neighborhood Improvement Services – Minimum Non-residential building code is
in the works – worksession June 5th and to Council June 17th.

Foreclosure Workshop – open to everyone – July 19th at the Education
Building at NCCU.  Targeted to individuals who are 6-9 months away from
foreclosure.  There will be bankers, councilors, and others who can provide
information and resources.

Keep Durham Beautiful – congrats to Tuscaloosa Lakewood for their tree
planting award!

Clean Energy Durham workshop – in Golden Belt at 1005 Worth St, this
Saturday, May 31st at Noon.

June 8th – Old East Durham Old Home Tour 1-4pm.  Packets can be picked up at
Preservation Durham before the tour.  There is also a yard sale this year!
There will be a couple houses from last year that have made fabulous
progress, and a lot of new ones.

UPDATES
Minutes from last meeting – Motion to approve by David Harris, second by Pat
Carstensen.  Motion carried.

Treasurer report – $2500, no expenditures in April.

David Harris – motion to receive the Treasurer's report, seconded by Pat
Carstensen.  Motion carried.

David Harris – motion to accept Myer's suggestion to identify a target for
our extra funds from the 1980's and have it discussed at the next Board
meeting.  Seconded by Mike Shiflett.  Motion carried.

Resolution to allow neighborhoods to hold meetings at city facilities.  Mike
Shiflett motion to adopt resolution as written.  Dave Harris second.
Friendly amendment to change "Durham INC" to "INC of Durham" by Pat
Carstensen.  Accepted by Shiflett.
Motion carried.

*Elections in September for INC Board.  Spread word out to those who may be
interested.  It's a great way to have a voice and be involved!

Neighborhood Hero nomination deadlines in August!  Start thinking about who
your neighborhood hero is!  We'll send more information in the coming weeks.
*

Big Thanks to the INC candidate forum – great work!

Motion to adjourn (Mike Shiflett, seconded by David Harris).  Motion
carried. 8:30pm.


Resolution

WHEREAS, neighborhood associations and associated neighborhood watch
programs are a crucial element in crime prevention, and

WHEREAS, regular neighborhood meetings are the foundation of these
neighborhood associations, and

WHEREAS, many neighborhood associations lack both space for regular meetings
and the funds to rent meeting space according to the current schedule of
fees at the City of Durham Parks & Recreation, and

WHEREAS, neighborhood associations are organizations formally recognized and
encouraged by the City of Durham, and

WHEREAS, neighborhood associations are an integral part of successful
government in the City of Durham for the following reasons:

   1. they play a central role in the Durham Planning Department's
Organization Notification Directory Program,
   2. they are an key vehicle for neighborhood engagement by the Department
of Neighborhood Improvement Services' Community Relations Coordinators and
   3. they provide focused and consistent feedback on a range of issues to
the elected officials and staff of the City of Durham;

 NOW THEREFORE, the INC of Durham requests that the City of Durham provide
public meeting space to all neighborhood associations at no charge and
requiring no deposit for the use of these facilities.  Specifically ...

    * "Neighborhood associations" includes those either registered with the
Durham Planning Department or working with this department to organize as a
neighborhood association.
    * This meeting space should be made available for the purposes of
regular business meetings of the neighborhood association.

    * Meeting space may be provided at any appropriate City of Durham owned
facility including but not limited to Parks & Recreation facilities.

    * The facility made available to any particular neighborhood association
should be the City owned facility with public meeting space that is as close
as possible to the neighborhood's boundaries (ideally no more than 2-3
blocks from the neighborhood wherever possible).
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