General Meeting of the North Rose Hill Neighborhood Association

Place: Fire Station #26
Date: February 16, 2004
Call to Order: 7:30PM

Co-Chair Karen Tennyson called the February 16, 2004 meeting of the North Rose Hill Neighborhood Association to order at 7:05PM. Board members in attendance: Chris Teem, Bryan Wang, Margaret Carnegie, Stuart Hall, Sharon Clark, Betty Lou Crampton, Mike Stults, Karen Tennyson, Peter King, Linda Jones, Bud Gesell, Mark Isaac, Nicole Hallberg. Others: Dave Asher, Tom Hodgson and other neighbors.

The agenda for the meeting was listed on the white board as follows:
neighborhood signs; projects: Mark Twain cleanup, 124th cleanup, overpass cleanup, survey; committees; property at 9752 -130th Av NE.

Signs: Costs: $150 set-up fee + approx. $6/per sign. The board approved the order of 10 picnic signs, 10 project signs and 15 neighborhood signs.

Projects: Clean-ups: Board to purchase bark from the City for the 100th overpass. Nicole Hallberg to check on feasibility of using arborist's chips as mulch for Mark Twain school. Linda Jones to inquire regarding availability and costs for the purchase of litter extension pole pickup devices. Dates for clean-up as follows: April 10 for 124th NE (gather at the Fire Station to sign liability forms, collect bags, implements and safety vests); May 8 for Mark Twain Elementary and the 100th St overpass. Please assemble for both events at 8am and bring garden equipment, such as trowels and gloves, for your own use.

Committees: 

Suggested committees and members/chairs:

1. Forbes Lake and Sensitive Areas: (including tree preservation and planting efforts) Bud Gesell, Margaret Carnegie, Nicole Hallberg
2. Cleanup of 124th Ave NE: Bryan Wang
3. Cleanup of Mark Twain Elementary and 100th St overpass: Jeff Trager
4. Heritage Society/History/Centennial: Nancy Stephens
5. Innovative Housing: Sharon clark, Peter King
6. Land Use and Housing: Linda Jones, Mark Isaac
7. Traffic
8. Sidewalk Bond: Karen Tennyson
9. Freeway Softball Tournament: Chris Teem
10. Parade: Kaylee Trager
11. Picnic: Debbie Turner
12. I-405 Project: Stuart Hall
13. Neighborhood Grant: Mike Stultz

Approval of Last Meeting Minutes: Minutes of January 19, 2004 meeting (distributed via email) were approved unanimously.

Survey: Tom Hodgson circulated copies of the proposed survey questions and board discussed options, particularly regarding traffic calming, sidewalks, trees and picnic shelters. Dave Asher suggested an email contact address be provided for additional information or in order to be added to the regular mailing list. This survey is to be distributed to the entire neighborhood via Debbie Turner's newsletter. Tom offered that previous surveys have produced response rates in the range of 10%. Stuart Hall moved to accept the survey with the proposed modifications. Motion was seconded and the Board passed unanimously. Debbie Turner to receive survey results.

Next Meeting: To be held March 15, at 7:30pm at Mark Twain Elementary. Guests are: Dave Ramsey, City Manager; Kari Page; Elizabeth Walker, City Arborist; and a representative from the I-405 project. Karen has arranged for Starbucks to provide free coffee. Stuart Hall has offered to reserve the fire station each month for our meetings.

Property at 9752-130th Ave NE:

Mr Glen Allen addressed the board and assembled neighbors regarding his petition to change the zoning of the above property from residential/grandfathered commercial to commercial. He is proposing to use the property to house his contract glazing business, Advanced Glazing Systems, which engages in engineering and design for commercial windows. Product is fabricated off-site and delivered directly to the construction site where crews install. Only design will occur on the subject property, not fabrication. Questions from the audience included concerns about traffic, parking, noise, exterior lighting. Mr Allen responded that little equipment will be present and always secured inside the building. Parking for approximately 6 cars will be provided at the back of the property, away from the street. Only 6 employees, at present, will be accommodated, and Mr Allen has no expansion plans in mind. No exterior lighting will be installed except as required by the City. Little traffic is expected to be generated by this business and Mr Allen stressed repeatedly that he and his business are good neighbors. This assertion was corroborated by the neighbors present who find him accessible and a positive influence in the neighborhood. It was suggested by Tom Hodgson, based on his experience on the Planning Commission, that Mr Allen faced an insurmountable challenge in converting the underlying zoning of the property to commercial since it rests entirely within the boundaries of a residential neighborhood. He recommended Mr Allen adapt his interior requirements to keep from triggering the need for a building permit in order to keep the grandfathered commercial use in effect and sidestep a zoning problem. It was the general feeling of those present that Mr Allen had brought positive change to the neighborhood and was welcome, but concern for future commercial use, if the property were to be rezoned, kept the neighbors from supporting a zone change. The board agreed to support the commercial use proposed by Mr Allen under the grandfathered clause, but not a zoning change. Karen Tennyson agreed to communicate the resolution of the board and neighbors to Eric Shields, Planning Director. 

New Business: Karen has received a request from the board of the South Rose Hill Neighborhood Association to send a letter to the City in support of speed humps on 128th Ave NE in front of Rose Hill Elementary. Discussion of traffic calming devices and their effectiveness followed. The board instructed Karen to compose a letter in favor of the speed humps in front of the school zone only and to distribute electronically for the approval of the board. 

Bud Gesell inquired if it was possible to obtain a sign to place at Forbes Lake to deter trespassers. Tom Hodgson suggested he contact the Parks Dept.

The Board congratulated Co-Chair Karen Tennyson upon her appointment to the Planning Commission.

Stuart Hall asked if a detailed street map of the neighborhood was available for posting during neighborhood meetings. Karen suggested the City might have one that Stuart could pick up.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:55pm.

Action Items:

Nicole Hallberg: check on arborist chips for Mark Twain cleanup
Linda Jones: costs/availability of litter pickup extension poles
Stuart Hall: fire station meeting reservations (ongoing basis); and street map for meeting use.
Karen Tennyson: contact Eric Shields regarding Board resolution on Mr Allen's property; and letter supporting South Rose Hill's proposed speed humps