Wesley Heights Community Assoc.

WHCA MEETING MINUTES - 05/12/2005

Wesley Heights Community Association Meeting Minutes

Date: Thursday, 12 May 2005

Site: St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 615 Grandin Road

Time: 6:30 - 7:52 p.m. (called to order at 6:38 p.m.)

Board Members: Present - Nevada Graham (President), Manny Campos (Vice President), Mike Doney (Financial Secretary), Valaida Fullwood (Secretary), Michael Hopkins (Corresponding Secretary) and Gloria McClain (Treasurer).

Approximate Number of Attendees: 50

Guests:
Will Lisk and Bobby Drakeford, Developers

Main Agenda Items
 Opening Remarks – Nevada Graham
• Proposed Neighborhood Development – Will Lisk and Bobby Drakeford
• Bylaws Background and Proposed Modifications – Valaida Fullwood
• Request for Vote on Bylaws – Nevada Graham and Manny Campos
• Board Election – Manny Campos (deferred to 5.19.05)
• Closing remarks – Nevada Graham

Meeting Handouts

• Meeting agenda
• Original bylaws
• Modified bylaws’
• Voter card – members only
• Pens, Index cards
• Material regarding the Lisk/Drakeford residential development


Highlighted Notes/Meeting Minutes

Proposed Neighborhood Development
Will Lisk and Bobby Drakeford presented their plan for a residential development on vacant land bordered by Wesley Heights Way, Grandin Road and Walnut Avenue. The development is planned as 44-unit project, though it may not reach that density. A handout on the property and zoning change was distributed to meeting attendees.
They stated that a zoning change (from B-2 to UR-#) had been requested to the city. The zoning change would allow relaxed setbacks and in general allow more creativity, flexibility, urban-look for the project. The change would permit them to develop closer to the street (setback varies from street to street, 30 to 20 ft).
They announced that Kennedy Covington law firm will represent the developers and handle any questions, conflicts, etc. They also announced plans to hold a community meeting on Wednesday, June 1 at the Wadsworth House from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. The city’s re-zoning public hearing is scheduled for June 20 (7:00 pm) at the Government Center. These meetings provide an opportunity for community input.

Topics discussed and issues raised during the presentation included:

• Q: Why are two access points for the development planned? A: The fire department and other agencies require two access points.
• While Lela Court is not part of the Wesley Heights historic district, the Lisk/Drakeford development would have to adhere to standards set by the Historic District Commission.
• John Carmichael is the re-zoning consultant.
• No street-level grading is planned; the builders will work with the current topography.
• While many attendees express a strong preference for the single-family model developed by the Drakeford development group in Plaza Midwood, the developers state that every site presents different challenges and the current space cannot not accommodate it and is not conducive a single family development in an economic and business sense.
• Some attendees question whether the developers are listening to the concerns of the local people.
• A resident states that earlier plans for the site, a senior-citizen residential village, fell through.

Bylaws Background and Proposed Modifications
Valaida presented the history of the bylaws and why modifications are being requested. Preparations for the board elections surfaced the issue that modifications made by the Board over the past two years had not been formally approved by the membership.

Leon motioned for vote on bylaws to be held until a later date, after members were able to review them more carefully. Carolyn seconded the motion.
Despite the motion, discussion continued regarding the pros and cons of approving the proposed modifications. Some members also shared the history of the development of the original bylaws. Two members also suggested naming a Parlimentarian and Chaplain for the Board, as allowed for in the bylaws.

Helen Kirk made a substitute motion to table both the bylaws modifications and officer elections for later review and discussion. Mr. Pride seconded the motion. A vote was taken: 27 in support of the motion and 21 against it.

At the conclusion of the meeting, members decided the following:

• Publicize and hold a special neighborhood meeting on May 19 for residents,
• Distribute the original bylaws to all residents,
• Distribute a roster of candidates for the Board officer elections
• Place only two items on the meeting agenda: (1) Vote on proposed modifications to the Association bylaws pertaining to: (a) membership and (b) voting eligibility; and (2) Elect 2005 Board officers.