Previous Meeting Notes
Notes from Quality of Life meeting July 19 2007
CWMAN Quality of Life Meeting
July 19, 2007
7:30 PM
Minutes
Media Note: The meeting was attended by Channel 10 and the Mt. Airy Times Express. The Chestnut Hill Local will be interviewing folks tomorrow by phone.
Report of Traffic Subcommittee
The traffic subcommittee reported on their extensive efforts. They made several major points:
" They began with Lincoln Drive, but soon realized it was a problem for the entire Northwest. The statistics are stunning, but no one has before "connected the dots"
" They examined a variety of measures, including short term stopgaps, long-term solutions, and research into what is being done elsewhere.
" They have reported problems and truck violations to several city agencies. At least one city official was responsive.
" Short term ideas including Drive 25 signs from Angela. They are trying to get signs available at Weaver's Way. Rush hour vigils are another short-term effort that is possible.
" Traffic may only get worse after the expansion of 309.
Next Steps for the Traffic Subcommittee
From this report, the group agreed on several next steps, including:
" Expanding the committee: More people are needed to do the work ahead. Dan agreed to publicize the work of the committee and work with WMAN to recruit leaders from across the area to serve on it. Kitty Dior agreed to act as the coordinator of the group.
" Put Kitty's traffic presentation on WMAN's website or elsewhere: Dan took the CD, and will look into posting it.
" Continue collecting traffic stories: Please post your experiences with speeding or traffic on the "Speeding on Lincoln Dr." thread at www.phillyblog.com or email directly to Kitty. This way, we can create a collection of stories and documentation
" Flyer to Town Watches: Information about the committee and a flyer about any hearings, etc., can be distributed through WMAN's network of town watches
Drunk Driver Hearing
In a related discussion, the hearing for the drunk driver that demolished the porch at Lincoln and Hortter is scheduled for 8:30 AM on July 30th at Broad and Champlost. There is the possibility that the driver will get away with a slap on the wrist and no restitution, even though the owners of the house have had to pay thousands in damages. To assist with this hearing, the group agreed:
" Ursa will make signs for the hearing to make sure that we are seen and heard.
" Pat will write up a petition; Rhonda will mention it on Corners and Porches
" As the hearing approaches, letters and the petition can be faxed to the prosecuting ADA; if we do not know who the ADA is, we will send it to the DA's office.
Dogs on Sharpnack Street
Mr. Charles spoke about the problem of 4 pit bulls, clearly being abused and bred for fighting, that are living behind his house. Dan Rhoton added that today, one of the pit bulls slipped his chain and killed one of the other dogs.
Near neighbors and members of Pelham Town Watch have repeatedly called PACA, but are still waiting for a response. Other members of the committee suggested the SPCA, and perhaps trying mediation with Good Shepard.
Dogs in Carpenter's Woods
Caitlin shared that there is a community meeting on the environmental status of Carpenter's Woods tentatively scheduled for September 19. As Caitlin shared, the Woods is a bird sanctuary, but many factors are leading to significant environmental degradation.
Corner Deli
Dan and Mr. Charles shared that the Corner Deli appears to be closed. Pelham Town Watch is prepared, however, if they try to apply for a takeout license.
Notes from Quality of Life meeting Feb. 15, 2007
Crime Prevention and Safety Promotion
Campaign to Obtain Better Lighting: Committee Chair Steve Masters reported on some research he has done about this issue. He spoke to Ed McBride, who is the government affairs officer for PECO and who will be a supportive advocate for our efforts. What he learned: Philadelphia’s Streets Department can’t add lighting because of budget constraints. Money has to be made available through separate channels.
Steve also spoke to Judy Appelbaum of the Washington Square West Civic Association. That group added new street lighting on Pine Street from the 900 block to the 1200 block. They began with a seed money grant from Senator Fumo which allowed them to hire a lighting company to do a survey and plan. We can have the Streets Department to do this, but we can’t expect the result to be as comprehensive. This cost $40,000. They them obtained $415,000 from the city’s capital budget through District Councilman DiCicco. They worked through the Center City District to actually have the work done.
If we work on Carpenter Station, we will need to work with SEPTA. Steve has contacts there.
Ronda Throne-Murray and Bruce Murray, representing Friends of Ned Wolf Park, said they only need three new cobra arms on existing street lighting to fulfill their lighting needs for the park.
Decisions: Committee decided to begin work with elected officials to identify potential sources of funding. At the same time, we will begin a petition drive, both through email and on paper, to build awareness and community support for increased lighting. Laura Siena will promote a web-based petition campaign through the WMAN email list, and Dan Rhoton is willing to have volunteers distribute petitions at Carpenter Station.
Business Partnership Program
This is an idea which has been discussed at Quality of Life meetings before, but not in great detail. The idea is to create a sort of “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” for businesses who agree to meet certain criteria, such as keeping their sidewalks clean, discouraging loiterers, etc.
Laura Siena said that Mt. Airy USA is considering starting a similar program and suggested that WMAN work with that group, as well as East Mt. Airy Neighbors and the Mt. Airy Business Association, in creating such a program.
A discussion ensued about how to proceed. A significant piece of the discussion was centered on whether “carrots” or “sticks” should be the primary focus of such a program, or a combination of both.
It was noted that most Mt. Airy businesses are good citizens, so perhaps the focus should be on those which are not.
Potential “Carrots”
• Sign for window of business saying that business meets the criteria for approval
• Acknowledgement on WMAN website and in other public venues
• Awards – financial – for “best business”
Potential “Sticks”
• Boycotts – would they work? Acknowledgement that most people who might be willing to participate in a boycott are likely not patronizing those businesses anyway
• Negative publicity – photos in newspaper with name of business prominently featured
Decisions:
Steve and Laura will speak to colleagues at Mt. Airy USA about their plans.
Dan Rhoton of Pelham Town Watch will speak to Karl Biemiller, editor of the Mt. Airy Times Express, about carrying photos of businesses which don’t clean up litter outside ‘’shameful corners.” Pelham Town Watch was going to take this approach anyway, and their work can serve as a pilot to see if this approach will work with other businesses. They will also do clean-ups after they have exposed the litter-covered areas, and will seek publicity for both the problem and the cleanup.
Laura Siena will write a “How to deal with a nuisance business” focusing on the experience with the Mt. Pleasant Garage. This could be distributed to people who want to work at the grass roots level on specific businesses.
It was also noted that the Nippon-Bryan-Mt. Airy-Cresheim Town Watch is beginning a program to recruit Germantown Avenue businesses to serve as “save spots” for children leaving Houston School who are being harassed by other children.
New Business:
Sheena Fountain, a resident of the block of ____ Germantown Avenue, brought a new issue of the amount of trash and litter on that part of the Avenue, and the poor design of the trash receptacle. Dan Rhoton promised to add that strip to Pelham Town Watch’s clean up efforts, and Laura Siena said she would contact Mt. Airy USA regarding the trash receptacle. It was noted that the trash receptacles they have in Chestnut Hill prevent trash from flying about.
Old Business:
It was noted that there would be no further discussion of the “Sustainable Mt. Airy” initiative at this meeting, as the next step is a brainstorming session to bring together some reliable allies to think about next steps. This matter will be brought back to the Quality of Life Committee after that.
Ronda Throne-Murray and Bruce Murray reported on the progress of plans for revitalizing Ned Wolf Park, including meetings with representatives of the PA Horticultural Society and the Philadelphia Recreation Department.
Notes from 1/3/07 Zoning Committee meeting:
WMAN's Zoning Committee held its regularly-scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 3, 2007. Decisions were made on the following matters:
7500 Germantown Avenue (New Covenant Church): Re-consideration of application from last August for expansion of day care center in Founders Hall to 109 slots. (Another part of the original application, for an elevator shaft on the rear of Founders Hall, will be withdrawn at the Zoning Board hearing.) Van Strother, staff architect for New Covenant Church, presented an overview of the uses of the New Covenant Campus which included some planned expanded uses in the future. Decision: Zoning Committee is not opposed to granting of variance for day care, and understands that elevator application has been withdrawn. Continued interest in development of master plan for campus expressed by both committee members and near neighbors.
7224 Germantown Avenue (business in question is on Nippon Street): Application is for variance to use second building on parcel for commercial purposes, which is not allowed in C-2 zoning, and use permit to allow use as a gymnasium. Property owner Bob Elfant and gym operators Jason Brown and Pam MacElree represented ways in which they could meet near neighbors’ concerns over parking and patrons’ use of Nippon Street as running track. Decision: Committee not opposed to granting of variance and use certificate with the following conditions: the certificate is for the benefit of this applicant only; parking for patrons will be provided off site at the Valley Green Bank in the evenings, and at other times patrons will be instructed not to park on Nippon Street. Patrons’ autos will be registered with applicant. Lease will be amended to include parking restrictions on the part of patrons.
Notes from 12/6/06 Zoning Committee meeting:
WMAN's
Zoning
Committee
held
its
regularly-scheduled
meeting
on
December
6,
2006.
Decisions
on
agenda
items
are
below.
In
the
first
two
cases,
the
committee
considered
the
relatively
low
number
of
near
neighbors
who
attended
the
meeting
in
deciding
to
review
the
matters
again
at
the
next
meeting.
6950
Germantown
Avenue
(Germantown
Home):
Erection
of
a
one
story
addition
to
an
existing
structure
for
use
as
adult
day
care
facility
and
administrative
offices;
2nd
and
3rd
floors
to
remain
29
dwelling
unit
for
elderly;
erection
of
flat
wall
sign.
Decision:
Refer
to
January
3rd
meeting.
7224
Germantown
Avenue:
Use
of
existing
rear
detached
garage
structure
as
a
gym
on
same
lot
with
existing
retail
clothing
store – legalize
multiple
commercial
structures
on
a lot,
which
is
not
in
conformance
with
C-2
zoning.
Decision:
Refer
to
January
3rd
meeting.
29
West
Upsal
Street:
Review
revised
plans
for
twin
home.
The
architect
for
the
owner/builder
presented
new
plans.
The
committee
agreed
not
to
oppose
the
application
at
the
Zoning
Board
of
Adjustments
based
on
the
new
plan.
Zoning Decision on West Mt. Airy Property Nov. 22, 2006
The Zoning Board of Adjustment last week rejected an application for zoning variances for 367 West Hortter Street. The application included a Laundromat and two other commercial spaces in the former Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall at the corner of McCallum and Hortter Streets. West Mt. Airy Neighbors' Zoning Committee had opposed this application.
WMAN's Zoning Committee met on Wednesday, Nov. 2nd
On the agenda:
367 West Hortter Street: Creation of three (3) tenant spaces for retail space as permitted in C-2 zoning designation in stores #1 and #2: self-service Laundromat in store #3. The Committee unanimously agreed to oppose this application, reflecting neighbor concerns regarding parking, fume exhaust and potential hours of operation.
The Zoning Committee will extend an invitation to the owner to work with a small group of neighbors to create a plan for the property which will meet both his and the neighbors' needs.
WMAN's Zoning Committee met on Monday, October 23rd to obtain additional community input on revised plans for the development of 29 West Upsal Street. The Committee agreed unanimously to ask for a continuance at the Zoning Board of Adjustment. This continuance was granted Tuesday the 24th until December 22 at 9:30 am. At the Zoning Committee meeting, the attorney for the property owner agreed to find a new architect to design the twin home
October 4, Zoning Meeting
August 24, Zoning Meeting Traffic and Parking Carpenter/Greene
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