Weinland Park Community Civic AssociationHousing Committee

Minutes of meeting of June 11, 2013

Rory Krupp and Omar El Hag Musa called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m.

Mr. Krupp reported that Randy Black, the citys historic preservation officer, and Mark Dravillas, the citys neighborhood planning manager, agreed that Weinland Park would be a good candidate for designation as a conservation neighborhood. Columbus City Council approved a process in 2007 to designate a conservation neighborhood, but no neighborhoods have yet attempted to use the process. The designation of a conversation neighborhood is a resident-driven process that protects the characteristics of the neighborhood that residents think are important. Mr. Krupp outlined the process and timeline for such a designation. A proposed conservation neighborhood must include a minimum of 10 contiguous blocks. A working group of 10 property owners may apply to the city for designation of a conservation neighborhood. After the director of the Development Department approves the eligibility of the application, a public meeting is held and a one-year study period begins. If the working group then decides to go forward, it will circulate a petition for the designation that must be signed by a minimum of 60 percent of the owners of property within the proposed boundaries. The petition process must be completed within 60 months of the initial application.Committee members discussed the idea of the conservation neighborhood and the challenges of gaining support for such a designation. Committee members agreed that a summary of the Housing Committees discussion of the conservation neighborhood idea should be published in the next monthly civic association newsletter.

Laura Bidwa reported that the city is beginning a new neighborhood planning initiative for the whole University District. Ms. Bidwa said the planning committee of the University Area Commission will have an important role in the citys planning process. She expressed concern that residents were not adequately represented in the working committee for the planning initiative. She has been appointed to the working committee. The first public meeting on the planning initiative is likely to take place in September. As an aside, Ms. Bidwa reported that she attended a meeting the night before in the northern part of the University District. The meeting focused on the enlargement of an investor-owned residential property on Indiana Avenue that is entirely out of character with the neighborhood. At that meeting, people suggested that a moratorium on such redevelopment be put in place until proper standards could be studied and adopted.

Diane Dixon reported that kids are playing on North Sixth Street until 10 or 11 p.m. Children are tearing up flowers and vandalizing yards. She asked for curfew enforcement. She urged the need for a playground. She will get the address of the children to Steve Sterrett, who will write a letter to the landlord on behalf of the civic association. R. Anthonio Barno will visit North Sixth Street to try to identify and talk with parents.Notes taken by Steve Sterrett.