Weinland Park Community Civic Association
Housing Committee
October 8, 2013Omar Elhagmusa and Rory Krupp called the meeting
to order at 5:40 p.m. at Godman Guild Association.
Mr. Elhagmusa asked if persons had questions about the Short
North Special Improvement District (SID) along High Street in
Weinland Park. The SID has extended its jurisdiction to Seventh
Avenue. Mr. Elhagmusa will look into the SID and its plans for its
new service area and, perhaps, invite a representative of the SID
to attend the next Housing Committee meeting.Mr. Elhagmusa
discussed the campaign to add street trees in the neighborhood.
Laura Bidwa said a representative of the Columbus Neighborhood
Design Center spoke at the last Weinland Park Community Civic
Association meeting about a new brochure promoting the planting of
trees in Weinland Park. Mr. Elhagmusa said the city will plant a
street tree in the curb lawn if requested by the property owner.
Martin Weston suggested a promotional campaign to inform people of
the value of planting trees. Steve Sterrett will give Mr. Elhagmusa
a list of e-mail addresses of property owners who could be
contacted about tree-planting. Mr. Elhagmusa reminded the committee
members that Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) has
donated 35 saplings to Weinland Park. The saplings are being grown
by the city and later will be available for planting on private or
public properties in Weinland Park.Diane Dixon reported on her
conversation with a city official on permit parking. She
distributed information about the parking permit process. The
on-street parking permit is $40 per year. She said residents on the
west side of North Sixth Street are supportive of permit parking.
Mr. Elhagmusa suggested an education campaign about permit parking.
Mr. Sterrett suggested that North Sixth Street be considered for a
pilot program of permit parking. Ms. Dixon will work on a petition
to implement permit parking on North Sixth Street.Ms. Bidwa and Mr.
Weston spoke about the public meeting in September sponsored by the
citys Planning Division to discuss the public process to prepare a
new city plan for the University District, including Weinland Park.
About 80 persons were in attendance, but only three persons from
Weinland Park. At the meeting, one of the stations for public
comment had a map of the University District with zones designated
for two types of commercial uses and three types of residential
uses (low, medium, and high density). The central portion of
Weinland Park was noted as the lowest level of density, while a
portion of Weinland Park is listed as medium density. Committee
members expressed concern about a lack of definition of low,
medium, and high density. Public comment on the planning process
can be made by October 18 on the Internet at
www.development.columbus.gov, then search for University District
plan. Mr. Weston expressed an interest in exploring the placement
of decorative street lights throughout the neighborhood. The
committee agreed that Mr. Weston should look into this matter.Susan
Colbert reported that the City of Columbus has compiled a list of
agencies that will assist residents through a variety of housing
programs designed to serve renters, homeowners, senior citizens,
and others. Terry Althouse said Godman Guild would assist in
marketing these services. Mr. Elhagmusa will distribute the list to
the committee members. He suggested that there might be a series of
events to present the agencies and services to neighborhood
residents. Ms. Colbert suggested a housing fair that would feature
these agencies. Volunteering to help plan such a housing fair were
Ms. Colbert, Ms. Althouse, Ms. Dixon, and Sheila
Billingslea-Moser.The business of the Housing Committee being
concluded, Mr. Elhagmusa adjourned the meeting at 6:39 p.m.Notes
prepared by Steve Sterrett.
