MEETING MINUTES

Meeting Notes
General Meeting
02/02/2005

Meeting started with a welcome from Dave and a thanks for everyone's participation and patience at the last monthly meeting.

Jim Kraft - re: 2101 E. Pratt

Jim Kraft spoke to clarify rumors surrounding his support for the current plans for the development of 2101 Pratt St. by Stonington Partners. He wrote a letter of support and it was presented with a letter of support from Fells Prospect neighborhood. Their letter included some qualifications. Why did he write the letter? Because the property could have been developed anyway within the existing zoning. Stonington did not have to work on the issues that were presented to them. However, they did work on those issues. They did what we would expect people that want to work in this neighborhood to do. They worked in good faith and addressed a majority of the concerns plus other things that were not requested. The project is far more acceptable than what could have been built given the zoning.

There is a hearing tomorrow (2/3/05) downtown. He suggests that everyone go to the hearing and voice their opinion.

Questions -

• Rick G. - Why did you attach your letter to a letter from a neighborhood that doesn't include the property in question? Answer: Because it expressed the concerns that he had heard from our neighborhood and others.
• Dean - If you combine Fells Propsect's numbers with Butchers Hill's numbers, the majority oppose the project. Why didn't you abstain? Answer: Because no one would have been happy with what they could have done. They made many concessions at the request of the community.
• Dean - It seems that your letter puts those opposed at a disadvantage tomorrow at the hearing. We will be opposing a plan that is supported by our councilman. Answer: Tomorrow the planning commission is proposing that this plan be approved. They probably won't take people's opinions into consideration. It is already won. We accomplished a good deal here. We made it better than it could have been.
• Carol - Have you reviewed the environmental study for the property? Answer: No.
• Carol - Will you monitor the project as it goes along to ensure they meet zoning and permits? Answer: Yes.
• Larry - We should have worked with E. Bacon the last time she proposed a project. We would have had a better chance to affect the zoning of the property.
• Tom - We want it developed. We want homes. The zoning could be changed to R-8. I request that you withdraw your letter of support. We don't want four stories - it sets a bad precedent. Answer: No.
• Tom - With all due respect, we are going to fight this.

Back to Jim Kraft: We are in the process of rezoning Butchers Hill , Upper Fells and Fells Prospect - moving everything to R8.

To reach Jim Kraft:
Phone - 410-396-4821
E-mail - jkraft@baltimorecitycouncil.com / jimkraft@verizon.net

Marilyn Nunnally- President of Sisters of St. Andrews

St. Andrews - they support members, priests, the community, the Romanian Angel project (donated clothes - they support by paying airfare to Romania), food kitchens, the Ukrainian Festival They decided to put together a cookbook. It will be out by 2/13/05. There are 300 recipes from members of the church. There will be a cookbook cook-off on the 13th after church. There will be 30-40 of the dishes prepared. To purchase a cookbook - $18.00 (only $15.00 until the end of February) - get after church or from Father Tim. To attend the luncheon - sign up now. It is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.

Sue Noonan - The ladies have held an open house for us during the house tour every year. We should return the favor by supporting their efforts.

Carolyn Boitnott - CHAP Update

John Papagni was going to present tonight, but he has broken his hip. He is at home and doing well.

Update on CHAP - we need more volunteers. 100 properties have signed up. There are 800 properties total. We need 50% to sign up. Anyone that wants to help should contact Ann Stacy.

Christopher Schisler - from Hunting Ridge discussed their process. They have 500 single family homes. They wanted to keep neighborhood as it was - unique. They didn't want to lose the flavor of the neighborhood - including the materials used to make the houses. They had other motivations such as vacant lots and a few inappropriate renovations and additions. The community had convenances, but they weren't enforced.

The process was long. They started in 2000 and didn't get it until 2003. The process entailed writing letters, collecting signatures, a hearing with the CHAP commission and a vote, a hearing with the city council and a vote, and a hearing with the mayor.

Now that they are CHAP, people think it isn't as bad as it might have been. There is an architect on the review committee. This turned out to be a bonus - people get some free advice. The interaction with CHAP has been pleasant - they really want to work with them.

They had some unexpected consequences. The surrounding areas that originally weren't interested now want to join. There are tax incentives. And the neighbors have become more neighbor-/community-centric.

Committee Presentations:

Virgil Bartram - Land Use

Meet at 7:00 on the 4th Tuesday of the month at the White House in Patterson Park. They work on properties issues, CHAP concerns for the three blocks that are included, work with developers working on properties in the neighborhood.

William White - Parking

There is news! The letter to the city was sent 05/10/04. William got a letter back in January. He received surveys to find out the impact on the neighbors. The committee needs help with the surveys. Meeting schedule to be announced.

Susan Whitson - Trash

Organizes neighborhood dumpsters. They need volunteers to watch the dumpster every month. In the future there will be a sign and a tarp on the dumpster.

Remember, put out trash the morning of pickup. Otherwise, it attracts rats. It is okay to put out the night before in cans with tight lids. There is no pickup on the 11th - holiday.

Carolyn Boitnott - Crime

Includes COP (Citizens on Patrol) and the Crime Committee. COP (lead by Evan Helfrich) has been meeting twice a month since 1999. They walk the alleys and the streets - talking to people, watching for problem areas. They meet at 7:30 on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at Lombard and Patterson Park. Crime Committee - Meets at 7:00 on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at Carolyn's house. If you experience a crime, call the police and let Carolyn or your block rep know. They compile a monthly report and submit it to both the Eastern and Southeastern Districts. They also write letters to owners of problem properties, facilitate gates on open alleys, organize block meetings around problems. Their biggest need are reps that pull people together on block.

Jeff Gabriel - Streetscape

This is a revived committee. They are responsible for the beautification of the neighborhood. Anyone involved with the past committee is welcome to come share. Their first meeting will be at 7:30 on Wednesday the 16th at their house. The agenda for the first meeting will include the following projects: the entrance to the park at Baltimore and Patterson Park, capital improvements, improvements at Duncan St. park, and murals.

Martha DelPizzo - Education

This committee has four main objectives - Commodore John Rodgers school, the Patterson Park charter school, Audubon projects in schools, and education projects in Patterson Park. They meet at 7:00 on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at Martha's house.

Steve Young - Newsletter

The newsletter is published monthly. They have a press run of 1,200 each month. The staff consist of Sandy Sales and Rick Gilmour.

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