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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