PHNA Neighborhood Meeting Notes - October 16th, 2019
32 attendees including 5 visitors
Report from Zone 6 officers, Lt. Bighon and Sgt. Smith
Meet your beat officer
Citizens can stop by the precinct and talk with the officers there.
PATH program - pilot program with the city to help divert homeless; can be an alternative to immediate arrest for trespassing
Report suspicious activity and remember to keep valuables out of sight and when possible at home!
Email zone6cid@atlanta.ga.gov if you have issues you want to communicate to APD
Fielded questions from attendees
For some nuisance issues please call 311 first. As an example, people working on cars in the street.
Peachy Clean Poncey event on October 12t
Thank you to our over 60 volunteers for making this event a success!
Halloween Decorating Contest for PHNA
Please sign up by October 25th to win one of three prizes!
Signup info can be found here or from ponceyhighland.org
Keith Pepper - fundraising update
There will be a contest for logo designs for PH’s 100th anniversary
4 weeks to submit designs - look out for a posting on the website and in email blast.
Land Use presented by Land Use chair, Lisa
863 Ponce - rezoning and variance application (ZRB Z-19-077 and BZA V-19-192)
Rezoning/change in conditions for allowed height from 52 to 100 feet
Variance to decrease required open space
50 units, 65 parking spaces, 4 retail spaces
Special neighborhood meeting was held earlier in October with the developers so that residents and others could offer comments and express concerns
Land use committee recommended support with conditions including: height capped at 90 feet; use of vines to screen parking deck at the sides and rear of the building; material changes; and reduction of two parking spaces to increase retail space and create more engagement on the park side of the building. Developers have also agreed to let Trees Atlanta select the required trees and implement the tree plan.
Motion to approve based on the plans date stamped for those presented at the meeting.
Zoning and variance motions: 22 in favor, 3 opposed (2 absentee), 2 abstentions
1037 North Avenue (BZA V-19-211)
Homeowner seeking to reduce side and rear setbacks to construct a new garage; previous shed was on the property line
Land Use committee asked for a grass strip in the new driveway to lower overall impermeable surface from 58% to 52%
Variance motion: 25 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions
599 Linwood Avenue (BZA V-19-216)
Homeowner seeking to reduce side and rear setbacks to construct a new carport and looking to add a new driveway
Permeable pavers and grass strip added to reduce permeable area under 50%. Flo-wells added to design to capture rainwater from the carport.
Plans were updated to help preserve a tree on the property during the construction process.
Variance motion: 24 in favor (1 absentee vote), 0 opposed, 0 abstentions
Cory Atkinson, NPU rep, shared information on NPU legislation from the City of Atlanta
New definition of small retail stores of up to 12,000 square feet. They would have to be 1500 feet apart with new legislation.
Meant to encourage larger gaps that can be filled by grocery stores and prevent food deserts.
Motion made to vote in support and resident discussion followed
Neighborhood is not required to vote on this legislation so a vote would only express interest in this legislation.
11 in favor, 3 opposed, 10 abstentions
Atlanta Planning and Variance update
· City of Atlanta's current interpretation of code means that NPUs can no longer require applicants for liquor licenses or special events to appear before neighborhood community meetings.
· NPU-N plans to ask Amir Farohki to sponsor legislation that would require these types of applicants to meet with neighborhoods to garner community feedback before coming to their relevant NPU meeting.
Miscellaneous
No updates on planning and historic district
Scheduled October planning meeting is cancelled
● Kayt from PCM Farmer’s Market shared an update on events and efforts to help reduce food deserts.