Meeting Minutes
PHNA Neighborhood Meeting Notes – November 20th, 2019
32 attendees and 1 visitor
APD presentation
No business from APD zone representative
No questions from attendees
Future questions can go to srsmith@atlantaga.gov
Land Use - Lisa Malaney
V-19-261 - Illuminarium Experiences, LLC, 820 Ralph McGill Blvd. (Common Ground building) - Special Exception Application to reduce parking requirement
A representative for Illuminarium Experiences presented background:
Seeking a parking exemption.
In order to have liquor license, must “park” entire space. Parking reduction is required because they would like to apply for a liquor license in the future.
Off-site parking for employees; incentive program for public transportation
Chris and Jack from Illuminarium presented on the company:
Immersive digital experiences with videos presented on the wall, ceiling, and floors; haptic sensors on the floor
Representative fielded questions:
Expected to open September or October of 2020
Off-site parking for employees
Anticipate being able to park in larger parking deck once Georgia Power site is developed
Number of people admitted:
Will “pulse” admission with timed tickets
Maximum capacity:
500 to 800 people if everyone is there at the same time; business plan is based on running at 16.7% of that capacity
Land Use and Board both voted unanimously to support
Lisa motioned to approve the request to lower the required number of spaces from 336 to 221 as requested.
o Motion was seconded; Vote in favor 23, opposed 0, abstentions 1
Ralph McGill Parking Discussion
Tom from 976 Ralph McGill briefed on history: There are a number of no parking signs on both sides of Ralph McGill; most days there is no problem and residents can park anyway, but occasionally enforcement will come through and ticket. Because it is a residential street, the residents would like to change the signage and allow parking on Ralph McGill.
Further discussion postponed so board can have further discussions with residents
Next step is to do a study and get something more formal in the works.
Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Planning/Historic District Updates
Lisa provided update on last planning meeting.
City will be distributing new notice of intent to nominate package within next two weeks. This will restart city’s part of the process.
Next planning meeting is December 5.
Survey will be distributed within a week to ask for input on the planning process.
Update on Renew Atlanta projects
• Contractor has started work on Blue Ridge sidewalks; other projects are forthcoming as funds become available.
Communications/fundraising update - Tanya
Upcoming neighborhood happy hour at The Poncey-Highland Café and Coffeehouse on December 4.
Poncey Highland neighborhood home tour is being planned for 2020.
Miscellaneous Items
President mentioned APD’s Zone 6 annual toy drive. Must be delivered by December 11; can bring toys to the neighborhood happy hour on December 4.
President said nominations for the board must be provided by December 9 via email.
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.
Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Association General Meeting - September 18, 2019
Report from Zone 6 officer
Seeing about a 10% increase in crime in Zone 6; most is from theft from vehicles ● Citywide is down about 2%; projected for the year is down 10%
Fielded questions from attendees
Malory announced Peachy Clean Poncey event on October 12th.
Please sign up here using this Google Form to attend.
Chris Tilley announced Halloween Decorating Contest for PHNA
Dates and more information to be announced in the near future
Land Use presented by Land Use chair, Lisa Liquor License, Kroger #695, 725 Ponce
Attorney representing Kroger presented application
Motion to vote on license to sell malt beverages and wine in retail store
42 in support, 0 against, 0 abstention
Motion to vote on license to sell malt beverages and wine in restaurant
On-site consumption will be a maximum of 3 drinks
42 in support, 0 against, 0 abstentions
Elemental Spirits
● Cory Atkinson presented application for liquor license
● Motion to vote on license to sell distilled spirits
43 in support, 0 against, 0 abstentions
Motion to vote on license to sell malt beverages and wine
43 in support, 0 against, 0 abstentions
571 Linwood Avenue
● Dave Price presented application; Jason and Rachel Kyzer are
homeowners● Dave fielded questions from attendees
● Motion to vote on variance request for side and rear setbacks and lot
coverage● Amended motion to change side setback to 3 feet instead of 2 feet
● 25 in support, 9 against (1 absentee), 5 abstentions
SAP, 891 Ponce de Leon Avenue (Chase Bank proposal)
● Request variations for fenestration, supplemental zones, driveway curb
cuts● Land use committee is opposed to this proposal. PH master plan mandates
minimum building widths, minimum building heights of two occupied stories, promoting ground-floor retail on Ponce, and encouraging architectural excellence. Also ask that excess off-street parking be reduced.● Show of hands in support of the SAP
0 in support, 35 against, 3 abstentions
Robert Hamburger presented neighborhood survey results
● Results are available on PHNA website
● Hunter Burk is the winner of the staycation at the Hotel Clermont
Beth McDonald provided update on Poncey-Highland Historic District planning
● City felt that it was not in the best interest to proceed with the application as it stood
● Office of Design would need to restart nomination process based on a new petition, new
public notice, and new mailings
● Jim McMahel volunteered to get a new petition signed; total of 30 signatures have been
submitted to the city as of September 17 ~55 attendees according to sign-in sheets