MEETING MINUTES

(For last month's meeting minutes, click here)

Meeting notes, August 3rd BHA Meeting

PRELIMINARIES:
Rick and Barbara Gilmour are leaving Butchers Hill. They were presented with a gift in appreciation of the great amount of work that they have done to further the neighborhood over the years.

BHA COMMITTEES:
A volunteer is needed to chair the Butchers Hill Fall Flea Market. Instructions will be provided. For more information, contact Rick Gilmour or Sandy Sales.

Sue Noonan will be replacing Rick Gilmour as chair of the Marketing Committee, which will change its name (and direction) to the Events Committee.

Carolyn Boitnott (Crime Committee) reported that there has been an increase in break-ins of houses under construction. Please report suspicious activity. Ongoing drug activity should be reported to 410-666-DRUG; a narcotics officer will handle the call.

Martha DelPizzo (Education Committee) asks those who have "adopted" a teacher to bring the materials to School #27 between 9 and 1:30, or to contact her. She reminds us to attend the Breakfast for Teachers scheduled for 8 to 9 AM, on August 26th at the White House in Patterson Park.

William White (Parking Committee) said that there is still no answer from the City on conversion of the unit and 100 blocks of S. Chester to angle parking and one-way traffic.

COUNCILMAN KRAFT:
1st District City Councilman Jim Kraft gave an update on the proposed development of Lighthouse Point in Canton. The developers had requested a zoning amendment to include a 30-story condo/hotel/boatel on the site. Reflecting unanimous opposition by various Canton community associations (who are concerned about height, traffic, and parking issues), Mr. Kraft announced that he will not support such legislation. The developer still has a right to make other proposals.

Mr. Kraft announced that he opposes city subsidies being used to support a Convention Center Hotel downtown. The final City Council vote on city subsidies for the hotel is expected to take place in September. Councilwoman Holten is seen as a possible swing vote.

AGENDA ITEMS:
Deputy Chief of the Traffic Division (Department of Transportation) Frank Murphy was present to answer questions regarding the planned conversion of Pratt and Lombard Streets, between Broadway and Patterson Park Avenue, to two-way traffic. Also present was traffic engineer Gerald Neily, who had done the original comprehensive traffic study of Butchers Hill and East Fells Point. It was on the basis of Mr. Neily's recommendations for improvements that the City is now implementing the Pratt and Lombard changes.

Among the concerns raised were the width of Pratt and Lombard (it will be tight, but will work: Light Street in Federal Hill is also tight); loss of several parking spaces; whether stop signs can be placed at every intersection along with or instead of the proposed changes (no, since these are arterial streets); whether traffic direction on Pratt and Lombard can be treated separately (the City was asked to look at both together). There were a number of statements of support, and it was pointed out that the changes were approved by Butchers Hill in previous administrations and have also been approved by the Washington Hill and Upper Fells Point community organizations. There was a request for a bilingual announcement of the changes (Councilman Kraft said that his office can prepare a flyer in both English and Spanish). At the end of the discussion, a poll was taken of those in favor of/opposed to the changes. There were 43 votes (80%) in favor, and 11 (20%) against. Conversion is expected to take place by the end of August.

Laurie Feinberg of the Baltimore City Planning Department and Kathleen Kotarba of the Baltimore City Commission on Historic and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) presented Task Force recommendations on rezoning in Southeast Baltimore and inclusion of the entire area as a local CHAP historic district. They addressed a number of questions and noted that each community can propose its own "CHAP" palette of local requirements. To accommodate existing corner stores a new zoning category, R8A, will need to be proposed citywide. They also emphasized that a local historic district designation establishes an architectural predictability and security for those buying into the neighborhood. Final task force recommendations will be sent back to the communities in September, with legislation to follow.

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