February 2006 Minutes

Welcome to our new neighbors from the new East Village Subdivision!!
A motion was made by Jeff Erwin to approve the January 2006 minutes and was seconded by J.P Michalik. The motion was carried.

OLD BUSINESS
The assessment for speed humps on Benteen Avenue, Benteen Way and Federal Terrace will be completed by the end of February. Getting a stop light at Benteen Park Elementary was discussed. The hill at the school provides low visibility and a stop light will add a much needed safety feature. As our community grows, we need to seek ways to slow traffic down. Community support will be necessary.

The proposal to form three (3) subcommittees within the Benteen Park Neighborhood Association was revisited. The acceptance of the subcommittees was put to a vote. Proposal to accept by Rick Matthews, seconded by J. P. Michalik. The motion was carried unanimously and accepted. As carried, the three subcommittees will be:
1. Safety and Police
2. Zoning and Code Enforcement
3. Neighborhood Improvement and Special Projects

On the agenda for our March 2006 meeting: Subcommittee member nomination.


NEW BUSINESS
Neighborhood dumping was discussed. This has been an ongoing problem. It was suggested if we see anyone dumping illegally, get the car's tag number and notify the police.

A regular clean up project will be scheduled.

February 18th (Saturday), neighbors will meet at the Benteen Park Elementary parking lot at 9:00-11:00 AM. to do trash pick-up. Rick Matthews will call the city to arrange a trash pickup location. If it is raining, the cleanup will be rescheduled.

A home owner on Benteen Way reported that three men from Code Enforcement visited her street and wrote violation citations. She stated, no one from Code Enforcement returned to check if the violations were corrected.

Some of our members are regularly attending SAND meetings. All residents of Benteen Park are urged to attend SAND meetings. SAND meets the 1st (first) Thursday each month, 7 P.M. at Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church. The church is located at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Delaware Avenue. The Benteen Park Neighborhood Association is part of SAND (South Atlanta Neighborhood Development).

Neighborhood business was completed and the floor passed to Shane Little and Jim LaVallee to inform us about the new Condo Complex. Location: Corner of Benteen Way and Boulevard.

Jim LaValle stated this initial meeting is for “opening up discussion” with Benteen residents. A conceptual site drawing was presented. The site will contain 26 units with prices beginning at $250,000.00. This site will not be gated and will ingress/egress from Benteen Way. It will also have a swimming pool. Jim LaValle stated the pool must be gated for safety reasons.

One resident from Benteen Way expressed concern about water runoff from the complex into her yard and other properties that join to the building site. The developer stated a retention pond will be built to gather 150% (one-hundred fifty percent) of all runoff.

Issues with ingress and egress at the complex were discussed. A blind curve on Benteen Way and current traffic back-up were discussed. The complex entryway may contribute to problems at this site. Jim LaVallee stated he will visit this location and will present ways to alleviate problems. Mr. LaVallee was very open and forthcoming in addressing possible problems and ways to prevent them. Shane Little and Jim LaVallee stated this initial visit is to open up communication and they will communicate more as the project progresses. Actual building of the complex will not begin for nine (9) months.
Representatives from the new complex will attend our March 2006 meeting for more discussion. All residents who have questions and/or concerns are urged to attend our next meeting (March 13th, 2006).

CLOSING
Chris Ferguson reported the next Benteen Park Elementary PTA meeting will be February 21st at 6:00 P.M.. He said everyone is welcome. Attending residents from East Village expressed a strong desire to participate in neighborhood meetings and projects.