Discussion with Capt. Antonio Clay and Lt. Bighon related to safety issues for Zone 6

• ●  Please remember to keep a clean car!

• ●  Moreland areas near Trader Joe’s and Home Depot are now Zone 6 beats

•  Email ​zone6cid@atlanta.ga.gov​ if you have issues you want to communicate to APD

Application by Gino’s to do live comedy

• Application would allow Gino’s East to host live comedy on Wednesdays-Sundays 8-10 PM

• Requesting an amendment to their liquor license to allow for live entertainment for

  comedy in the restaurant

•  No plans to change the hours or affect others eating at the restaurant for to-go, bar

  seating, or path

• Vote passed: 14 in favor, 0 against

North Avenue Complete Street

• ●  Residents gave feedback at March 7th TSPLOST meeting

• ●  North Avenue has been approved for the design phase of the project but not the full

  construction; this makes the project “shovel-ready” when funds become available

• ●  Board and residents are engaged and working with Amir to help push this effort

  Bonaventure-Somerset district has been finally approved by the city

• Notices going out to residents of these streets.

TEDx Poncey-Highland

• ●  Ali Punjani spoke about the new TEDx-Poncey Highland event and platform

• ●  See the website at ​https://tedxponceyhighland.org/​ for tickets and more information

Freedom Park

● Please email PHNA with suggestions for small improvements Freedom Park

Conservancy can undertake such as more trashcans, small artwork, plantings, events

PHNA Outreach and Volunteering

• PHNA will be updating their database of residents and reaching out for new opportunities with committees for fundraising, events, park conservancy, and land use

Upcoming Events

• ●  Church at Ponce and Highland - April 6th yard sale

  ○ http://www.churchatponceandhighland.org/

• ●  Atlanta Film Festival - April 4th-14th

  • https://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/

  • Events at the Plaza, church, and on the Beltline

Discussion with Capt. Antonio Clay and Lt. Bighorn related to safety issues for Zone 6

Amir Farokhi, our city council member for District 2 took questions related to Poncey Highland and resident concerns

• ● Discussed TSPLOST funding reallocation due to tax collection shortfalls

• ● Topics included scooters, street repairs and sidewalk/road safety issues, Google Fiber alternatives

• ● Amir discussed legislative initiatives he plans to support including pay increases for police officers, participatory budgeting trials (allowing residents to vote on how some tax dollars are spent), and using opportunity zones to encourage affordable housing.

• ● Residents were encouraged to email city council members to support causes they believe in, with the booting ban being given as an example. Emails are used as an indicator of resident interest/support for initiatives.

Presentation from Jenna, Stephanie, Mercedes on the Beltline Farmer’s Market starting up for the year on April 9th.

Historic District updates

NPU approved the designation. ZRB voted the week before the meeting and it was approved unanimously. Goes to the Mayor’s office next.

• ●  Discussion of whether residents want to explore historic district for other parts of the neighborhood and what that would mean.

Report from Zone 6 Officer

• Officers will be out in force for the Superbowl

  • Can report additional information for police statements or share photos using their email zone6cid@atlantaga.gov.

• ●  Bonaventure is closing due to a Superbowl event; PHNA will check on timing

• Officers can come out for driveways being blocked if the car is blocking exit from the driveway

  • Reminder that residents can call 911 for non-emergency events and state that it is a non-emergency call to have a Zone 6 officer come out.

Report from District 2 Chief of Staff for Amir Farookhi, Jay Tribby

• Freedom Park Conservancy has a new executive director and they are convening a meeting of agencies to address homeless encampments in the park

  • Residents can report via 911, police make initial contact with camps, HOPE Atlanta then gets involved, and campers can eventually be removed by APD working with other agencies

  • Park workers are also looking at addressing cutting underbrush more regularly

• Amir is on 3 committees this year - zoning, transportation, committee on council

• Two upcoming meetings of interest to neighbors - Beltline Area 5 meeting for master

  plan (Jan. 17th) and TSPLOST meetings at Grady High School (Jan. 30th)

• New scooter regulations have gone into effect but may take some time to implement; allow for regulation of where and how many scooters can be placed

Henry from Blue Ridge proposed a working group to investigate new fiber internet options from Yomura Fiber

• Please contact Henry if you’re interested and want to be involved.

Bonaventure-Somerset historic district plan presentation and vote

• Doug Young from the ATL Department of City Planning presented an overview of the Bonaventure-Somerset historic district plan

• Last week (1/9/19)the land use committee and board both separately approved the planned historic district unanimously.

• Discussion followed with a question and answer period

• Vote for PHNA to recommend a historic district for Bonaventure and Somerset to the

  NPU was called

• Vote passed 91-26

Lt D. Crowder, APD zone 6 night captain

• Auto theft issues - reminder about clean car campaign

• Bike theft: Use a bike lock to secure your bike

• Package and mail theft: Get to know your neighbors so they can receive and hold your packages

• Major Klotzer is open to calls. Can also ask for Crowder, 2p-10p

• Can also email: Djcrowder@atlga.gov

Jay Tribby, District 2 update

• - Mayor has inherited a lot to deal with from ransomware attack and previous administration

• Budget is finalized. Very collaborative with council.

• $661 mm general budget. Increase from next year.

• Sworn police officers and fire fighters given a raise.

• - Parks and rec got an additional $2 mm in funding.

• Somerset and other streets - issue in delays in picking up yard trimmings - they’re operating at 50% equipment and supply situation right now due to old and broken down trucks. New city budget anticipates getting back to where they were with trucks and hiring new solid waste workers. If you get to that two week point and have made a few 311 calls, don’t hesitate to let Jay and Amir know — they can call and email folks from there. By end of summer or early fall should be addressed. Thank you for your patience. Email or call the office. 404-330-6638?

• Mayor Franklin had pothole posse. Mayor Bottoms is reinstating that. Will also address dumped tires, furniture, etc.

• Amir was able to get mayor and colleagues to double city arts budget from $1 mm to $2 mm. It’s a competitive process that helps artists and art organizations get partial funding for projects. - On Thursday June 28 the city is sponsoring three open houses to finalize Monroe/boulevard complete street program. New crosswalks, medians, pedestrian activations, etc. 6:30-8:30 simultaneous open houses. One meeting will be at Grady. Core of District 2 (Ponce to Dekalb) will be held at new MLK center in Hilliard. Third is further south and you can find location online. This is your opportunity to weigh in.

North Highland land use application - parking lot by Manuel’s.

• - Jim McMahel explains land use process to members. PHNA is tasked with helping the applicant bringing best application possible, but it’s really NPU and the City who makes the decisions.

• Adam from Selig: selig purchased property in January 2016. Previously Green St owned and rezoned to apartments. Selig is doing townhomes.

• - How many parking spaces did you add? 6.

• There are 3 stories above grade with exception of back row. Back row is 2-story in back and in drive it’s 3 stories plus an unconditioned covered rooftop patio across whole roof.

• - Putting a retaining wall in at Freedom Park side. Trying to create as fast of a yard as possible. Will not be at grade with the park — around 6 feet elevation difference.

• Will there be access to the park? Sidewalk improvements? There will be something in corner when they hardscape architect is brought in. On previous plan there was a bridge with access. Here we have yard with retaining wall so we don’t feel it’s necessary. City has also kind of kicked the can on park access.

• - Where is existing fence line? (Adam shows it runs along yard and back of parking area).

• So it’s 5-6’ in from the existing fence? (Adam shows and explains where trees are and plans)

• Currently you’ve shrunk the yards to accommodate landscaping, right? Yes.

• What do you plan to do to address parking? Initially it was all retail at street frontage plus 75 units. They didn’t have enough parking in the deck. Townhomes have 2-car garages so we’re covered. Manuel’s owns 154 spaces. Code requires 86. We will have roughly 90-100 spaces when we’re finished and it will be strictly retail.

• So for now does parking deck plan behind Manuel’s go away? Yes. And we’re looking at restriping current lot. We would have to go back through city and repermit/rezone.

• Is there going to be a gate around community? I don’t think so. We didn’t feel like a gated community would fit in the fabric of the neighborhood.

• Dumpsters or trashcans? Looking at trashcans. Where picked up? Wheeled out along Williams Mill, or city/waste management come pick up in driveways.

• Will yards be fenced in with white brick? Yes. We added that later on.

• Proposal is not to reclaim alley. With it on current property line and neighbors line, that’s where setbacks start.

• Sidewalks and bike paths? 6’ sidewalk with 5’ planting area to city midtown standards planned. Shifting curb line a little. About 33’ wide to north highland to about 26’.

• 12’ wide alley. Old pins in alley from old survey.

• When is NPU and BZA? NPU is next Thursday at 7p.
  Motion presented and seconded to approve request.
  25 in favor. 1 opposed. 0 abstentions. (27 residents present).

Renew Atlanta

• - Jay explains Renew Atlanta process. $400k+ for each neighborhood. Kwanza.

• Beth explains PHNA’s involvement. Complete streets is coming down North Ave, so we stayed away from those projects.

• Whatever money we saved from the changes we put back into more improvements.

• About 10 areas with sidewalk improvements and ADA. Changes will be ADA compliant.

• Somerset - no tree damage or removal for improvements. Floating sidewalk over tree roots.

• Barnett - street paving would have been $280k. We did fix sidewalks there.

• Linwood and Ponce - striping and turtleheads. No parking.

• Blue ridge: No parking and marked bulbouts and signage that there’s a stop ahead.

• -  Inappropriate tree planting’s near Publix - Trees are dying. They will be replaced.

• -  Sidewalks along that area - Blue ridge and north highland - we won’t touch because

  complete streets is going to work on that and retaining wall might collapse.

• Seminole - relief there at intersection with blue ridge. Issues with storm drains not being there. Curb and drainage is too cost prohibitive. Requires milling. We were not able to get the project there at the time so we will leave that project for later. We won’t be able to improve that intersection, even painting crosswalk because it’s not ADA compliant. But we’re going to get on that list of roads to be fixed.

• -  Sidewalks all the way to north and Moreland - improvements.

• -  Gateways into park - too costly. But we do have ramps on the list and potential for

  gateway markers.

• -  Connectivity from poncey-highland into carter center - tried to get bus stops moved but we really going to get with carter center on that.

• -  To save money bidding out as one project. Work will start fall 2018 or early 2019.

• -  Is there money to add ramp in freedom park where there are steps? No but we’re working on ramp at crosswalk. Steps also have to be Ada compliant and add rail.

• -  How do we get sidewalk like Cleburne? These will likely be brushed concrete. If it’s hex they replace it with hex. If they touch sidewalk they have to make it all Ada compliant.

  We stamp some concrete to make it look like hex. It will be looking great!

• -  North Highland where there are tree roots - how to address? We have what we call a bridge - gravel and stones and an impervious layer over it before concrete. Goal is to protect trees and work around them.

Lt. Crowder - Update - Crime is down! Issue of package theft in Zone 6.

• Application for liquor license for Gino’s East of Chicago Pizza (going in old Rize Pizza space) at 675 North Highland.

• Presenting for Gino’s: Mindy with Sard and Leff attorneys; Steve Sharples (licensee).

• Hours: 11a-12a. Sun through Thur likely until 9 or 10p. License is later for special events.

• Patio as well that’s dog friendly.

• Manager will be there full time.

• Will offer vegan and gluten free pizzas.

• Full liquor license.

• Planned opening late August early Sep.

• Will redesign interior space.

• Staff parking - spaces allotted for manager and employees. Encouraging staff to use garage, and to use side street when garage is not available, only. Model in Chicago is that most employees travel by transit.

• Ywo hour validation at host station.
  Jim McMahel motion to support.
  Mark Brodbeck second to motion.
  18 for. 0 opposed. 0 abstained.

Mark Brodbeck - Information about PHNA Poncey Pickup and Planting. Will be held Saturday, October 6. Starts around 9a. Around 3 hour pickup then meet for beverages afterward. Captain for each of 9 regions. There will also be a planting! Email ponceyhighlandna@gmail.com to sign up to volunteer.

Beth McDonald (also on FPC board) - Freedom Park Conservancy has just hired their first executive director. Largest part of Freedom Park is in Poncey-Highland, and Freedom Park is larger than Piedmont Park. The goal now is to figure out how PHNA and Freedom Park Conservancy can work together. Director Lauren H asked to share than there are several capital campaigns, including Rosalyn’s Butterfly Trail for monarch butterflies, as well as Park Pride and Trees Atlanta initiatives. Last Saturday of every month anyone can meet with Lauren. This month is at Condesa Coffee. Sign up for their email list on their website.

Beth - Introducing Malory Atkinson, our new board member. Malory lives in Highland School Lofts and is on their homeowner association. Malory is our new Outreach Chair.

Beth - Garbage collection - Old equipment has gone out of service and new equipment is coming in. Schedules may be adjusted over that time. The City is still working through getting yard trimmings picked up and correcting the schedule.

Beth - Bonaventure - new parking curb-outs - The City is working on changing these to work better.

Neighbor: Back wall of parking lot for Plaza Center - being tagged.

• Who to contact? Call or email Asana property owners to have it repainted. Some neighbors have also been in touch with Publix to see about help with graffiti and other issues.

Mark: What to do about large amount of furniture/waste on the street? The City does bulk pickup once a month. Call 311 or visit ATL311 website to share the issue.

Beth: Renew Atlanta is bidding PH projects. Expected start date on sidewalk repairs is early 2019.

Kathy Hutcherson: What’s happening with the razed house by Manuel’s? It will be leveled and used as parking for Manuel’s. Townhouses go behind the big parking lot (backs up to park).

(Approx 23 people in attendance)

Poncey-Highland Tour of Homes & Hangouts

Come hear the latest updates and details on the homes on the tour, learn how you can help and how to be the first to get your hands on the 2018 Poncey-Highland t-shirt

• General plan provided as an update for the event on 5/12/2018

• Poster shown

Poncey-Highland Master Plan

Open conversation on the Poncey-Highland Master Plan and possible future historic preservation

• A master plan covers a number of high level questions

  • How high can developers build?

  • How dense should areas be in the future?

  • Where should single family homes be, vs duplexes, vs commercial properties?

  • How should we handle traffic volume concerns and attempts to optimize gong

    forward?

  • Etc

• There have been questions around “Should we update the master plan?”

  • There has been a new building created next to Church on Ponce & Highland. That’s

    been built. Do we need to update the master plan to note that update?

  • Do we need to consider a neighborhood historic preservation designation given the

    recent development trends in the ATL central area?

• How do we include the Renew Atlanta Smart Streets and Complete Streets within the

  overall plan?
  • Complete streets = revised cross walk markings, bike lands, pedestrian hawk

  crossings, side walks, street paving, traffic calming, road diet, shared real estate for

  cars & bikes, etc
  • Smart streets = intelligent sensors and other elements to enable better

• Do we want to control aesthetic elements of our neighborhood going forward?

• The only way to do this is with a historic zoning overlay (eg. Inman Park, Virginia Highlands which impacts single family homes but not necessarily all types of zones)

• Then a separate step would be a master plan review. They are not the same thing.

• Neighborhoods that have these types of historic district designations have limitations

  on facade visible from the front of the home, etc. But it doesn’t control size, interior

  aesthetics, etc.

• Do we want to do a survey & related to pursuing a historic district designation?

• A majority of the attendees raised their hands (approximately 25 people in attendance)

PHNA Annual Budget

Review of the approved 2018 PHNA annual budget. Expected contributions and spending in all its glory!

• 2017 Operating Checking Account Current $10,062

• 2018 Income projected $19,700

• 2018 Expenses projected $16,500

• 2018 Overall net income $3,200

Police Update

• Recovering from city-wide computer hacking attack - responses to

• Please destroy sensitive material in trash

• As weather improves we will continue to see more incidents

• Package thefts and stolen bicycles are a common issue

• Social media craze currently happening where people they are shooting paintball guns out of moving vehicles and hitting not only each other and innocent bystanders.

• Please report as you see it with descriptions, tag info, etc.

• Please be careful as they are sometimes also armed with real weapons.

• Some minor graffiti issues with gang tags noticed in zone 6. They are monitoring the

  situation.