http://northdowntown.org/ en colettehall@embarqmail.com Copyright 2008 2008-09-16T18:46:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/ndra_home/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/ndra_home/#When:23:31:00Z From South Street and the Downtown Mall to the 250 Bypass, and from McIntire and Birdwood Road in the west to Kelly Avenue in the east, North Downtown is located in the heart of Charlottesville. The North Downtown Residents Association is our neighborhood’s voice in matters of community and neighborhood concern, uniting the thoughts and concerns of many into one voice that speaks for the neighborhood as a whole. We need your ideas, your suggestions, your help, and we welcome your support. Unless we make our opinions known on issues of common concern, neighborhood interests can easily be ignored or simply taken for granted. The NDRA serves as a clearinghouse for information, a forum for discussion of neighborhood issues and a vehicle for making our concerns known to those who make decisions. Join us and make your voice heard. board 2007-09-09T23:31:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/agenda_for_ndra_nd_meeting_thursday_september_25_7pm_central_library/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/agenda_for_ndra_nd_meeting_thursday_september_25_7pm_central_library/#When:17:46:00Z SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE AGENDA for NDRA/ND Neighborhood meeting * Approval of September 25, 2008 minutes Treasurer Report OLD BUSINESS: A. Discussion on fate of NDRA newsletter B. Report on Reservoir Task Force C. Report on Hillcrest Closure mtg D. Report on “Consulting Parties” for Historic Resources/250 Interchange NEW BUSINESS: A. Downtown Parking Study (Completed) B. Report on Meadow Ck. Sewer Interceptor mtg C. Report on City Manager’s mtg for NA Presidents D. Matters by Directors *Reports 5–10 minutes to leave time for Q & A PUBLIC HEARING ON FATE OF SFR RESERVOIR, MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 6 PM, LANE AUDIT0RIUM Next NDRA/ND meeting, Thursday, December 4, 7 PM, library (no meeting in November). issues 2008-09-16T17:46:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/cell_phones_in_the_neighborhood/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/cell_phones_in_the_neighborhood/#When:16:48:00Z What do you think about cell phones in the neighborhood? The Planning Commission is seeking your input, e-mail them at creasym@charlottesville.org. (The application has been “deferred,’ but that does not mean you shouldn’t let your opinion be known.) 1.The Ordinance passed 2001 re: cell phone towers, they are allowed in B3/M zoning areas, but restricted in historic and residential areas. 2. A communications company is requesting a change in Ordinance to allow towers in residential areas on non-residential buildings like schools. There are towers on many commercial buildings in allowed areas already. This company also has towers in the County. 3. According to the Federal Government, the health argument (damaging radio waves) cannot be used to deny the rezoning. issues 2008-09-16T16:48:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/hilcrest_rd_closure_meeting_tuesday_september_30_7pm_covenant_school/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/hilcrest_rd_closure_meeting_tuesday_september_30_7pm_covenant_school/#When:19:56:00Z What a success, at least 50 neighbors and the Mayor and two Councilors attended! The City heard you. Plan to attend a “public hearing” Spring of 09 on the 250 Interchange design changes. Letters from Birdwood residents. Letters from Birdwood residents. A letter from one Birdwood area resident. “Dear Mayor and Council Members: Although I’ve copied this letter to your general mailbox, I am sending it to each of you individually. The people in the neighborhood would appreciate your presence at the September 30 meeting at the Covenant school. The residents are aware that it really didn’t matter what design was voted for because all of the most recent designs require the closing of Hillcrest Road. We would like to know why new designs were sought in the first place when there were viable designs already in place. We’d also like to know why our neighborhood wasn’t informed in writing of the closing of Hillcrest Road so we would have been able to appear at the public hearings to express our concerns. We were notified in writing last year when the median to turn west on 250 was closed. The Hillcrest Road closing will have a much larger and deleterious impact on our community Although the website on the 250 interchange is snazzy with the autocadvideo - it doesn’t “spell out” closing Hillcrest Road. The architect designs may be very clear to an architect, but not to a person unschooled in what different colored lines mean. The information may be out there, but it may as well be in Sanscrit. Although State and Federal contract deadlines may be in place, I’m sure that modifications can be made. I would like to believe that each of you has the integrity to protect the constituents who put you in office and have the City bear any penalties that may occur by making a modification.” “September 24, 2008 Re: Proposed Hillcrest Road closing Dear Ms. Tucker: I am writing this in response to your September 10 letter informing owners and tenants of the September 30 neighborhood meeting at the Covenant School. In that letter you state that you will be sharing the work you have done on the Interchange project and the options available to you for maintaining access to our neighborhood. Isincerely hope that you will also give time to hear, listen, and be open to the concerns and options expressed by the tax-paying citizens who live here and who will be impacted by your decisions. As far as I can ascertain, the last public hearing on this project was November, 2007. No where in the literature before or in this public hearing have I been able to find “spelled out” that all of the most recent designs require the closing of Hillcrest Road. Mayor Norris off-handedly mentioned it in a response to Holly Edwards at the end of a council meeting in March. Recently, the purchase or sale of a parcel of land in the Fifeville neighborhood was on the City Council public hearing agenda. The Council declined to act because there were no representatives from the neighborhood present. I can only think that we were not accorded the same courtesy because no one even thought that the closing of Hillcrest would cause a measurable impact. I have not been able to find evidence of any impact study on our community. The traffic generated by the parents of the Covenant school in the morning hours and at afternoon pick-up time is a difficult situation that the community and the parents have successfully negotiated thus far. The parents come in through Hillcrest and exit the school through Birdwood Road. This situation is difficult in the morning due to the heavy rush-hour traffic on 250. There isusually a line-up of cars extending back into the driveway of the school waiting for a break in traffic ­ which, by the way, unlessthe light at McIntire is red ­ regularly exceeds the 25 mph school zone limit. Anyone leaving the community during this time has to get into the school traffic line to exit. If Hillcrest is closed, there will be an incoming stream of traffic onto Birdwood Road. These vehicles will have to make a U- turn somewhere to get in line to drop off their children and exit. The “somewhere” is of great safety concern to the residents of Birdwood Court (and Hillcrest Road). Logistic issues with closing Hillcrest: The turn lane on 250 to get onto Birdwood Road is very short. There will be standing traffic on 250 waiting to get into the turn lane if Hillcrest is closed. Some residents of Birdwood Road do not have driveways. These residents have to park their cars on the street in front of their homes. Birdwood Road (and Birdwood Court) is only wide enough to accommodate three vehicles abreast. With in-coming and exiting traffic, it’s a tight squeeze with parked cars ­ especially for the public school bus that comes in to pick up neighborhood children. (This bus will also have to make a U-turn to exit back onto 250.) In the event of an accident on Birdwood Road ­ which closing Hillcrest promotes - everyone in the community will be “locked in.” In the event of a natural disaster, e.g. fallen tree, the community will be “locked in.” Aren’t there State, county, or city rules and regulations in place regarding access and egress for communities? Isn’t there a public hearing process for closing a road or street when there will be public safety issues in so doing? Since there will have to be accommodation for the private residence located in front of the school, there should also be accommodation for the seventy+ tax-paying residents who are “hidden” behind the school. Even without closing Hillcrest, an on-demand traffic light at Birdwood and 250 would be very helpful. It would allow school traffic to exit in a safe and expeditious manner; it would once again give the community access to 250 west, which was closed off to us a year ago ­ for safety concerns. At that time the City suggested in a letter that residents go down to the McIntire light, turn right, and make a U-turn on Harris to come back down to 250 to go west ­ “only a mile and a half” out of the way. A traffic light would also afford the possibility of a crosswalk so that the families in our community can take their children safely to the park without driving a mile and a half to cross the street. Our community is already putting up with a lot of inconvenience. I think your office would be well-advised to have someone come out and observe the current situation, both in the morning and in the afternoon. I am sending this letter to you, Ms. Tucker, because I will be out of town on the 30th. I am sending it by email to the neighborhood as well. I am anxious to hear how responsive the City will be to the legitimate concerns of this neighborhood.” issues 2008-09-12T19:56:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/north_downtown_annual_picnic_and_board_elections1/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/north_downtown_annual_picnic_and_board_elections1/#When:14:04:00Z Election Results: Colette Hall, Ted Jones, Pat Napoleon, Debra Weiss, June West and Diane Wilson were all elected to the NDRA Board of Directors. All North Downtown residents are WELCOME at NDRA/ND neighborhood meetings. They are usually held the LAST Thursday of the month at central library, 7 PM, but check the website for the monthly date. NDRA is no longer mailing out a newsletter. News/ND issues are now online at this web site. issues 2008-09-08T14:04:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/director_of_the_year/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/director_of_the_year/#When:13:59:00Z Debra Weiss was voted NDRA Director of the Year 2007 - 2008 for her work as our webmaster, development of this beautiful new website and longevity on the Board. Thanks, Debra. issues 2008-09-08T13:59:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/the_pople_are_voiceless/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/the_pople_are_voiceless/#When:13:51:00Z Your best chance to speak before the Reservoir Task Force on Monday, October 27.  If you can not attend, a survey will be available eventually on the city web site, where you can comment. The next meeting of the Task Force is Monday, October 13, 6 PM, County Office Bldg, room 241, just past Lane Auditorium. Public speaking will be allowed in the first 30 minutes. If you can, please go and represent yourselves, the people, the public. (Future meetings will be held 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, 6 PM.) The Task Force involves more than money, more than potable water. It involves our freedom to speak in a public forum about a MOST IMPORTANT public issue. Costs keep rising. http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/22/stop-work-dam-halted-after-99-million-surprise/ No pipe line? http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/29/sans-pipeline-dam-wont-work-sans-bypass-pipeline-derailed/ Wise opinion. http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2008/10/07/crutchfield-writes-again-councilors-want-all-numbers/ issues 2008-09-08T13:51:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/2n/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/2n/#When:19:04:00Z "Dear Neighbors, We’re writing to let you all know what a big impact your opinion had on City Council last night.  With regard to the specific issue of the house at 509 Second Street, Council passed a resolution locking in a much smaller design while still giving the BAR jurisdiction to rule on the details. Just as importantly, Councilors acknowledged that size matters, and suggested a task force to look at the tools the City has in place to deal with oversized development. We consider both of these major victories, and thank you for your willingness to weigh in on the issues.” Kristen Suokkok suokko@gmail.com Fred Schneider redbox@charlottesville.net Story “Dear Neighbors, Several of us who are property owners contiguous to the proposed residential project at 509 Second Street, NE appeared before City Council on May 5 to appeal the Board of Architectural Review approval of the concept design.  We are appealing on the grounds that the process insufficiently addressed the issue of mass and scale in relation to the lot, the surrounding area, and the character of the neighborhood.” issues 2008-08-20T19:04:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/films_and_books_at_central_library/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/films_and_books_at_central_library/#When:17:52:00Z Documentary Film Series: Thursdays, Central Library, 7 PM Third Thursday Book Group: Noon, Central Library.  Bring your lunch (drinks/desserts provided) and discuss fiction/non-fiction books. Library staff will provide value-added content and lead the discussion. More info - http://www.jmrl.org/br-central.htm issues 2008-08-01T17:52:00-05:00 http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/local_links/ http://northdowntown.org/site/comments/local_links/#When:19:24:00Z Jefferson-Madison Regional Library - Central Branch none 2008-07-28T19:24:00-05:00