Wesley Heights Community Assoc.

WHCA MEETING MINUTES - 07/14/2005

Wesley Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes

Date: Thursday, 14 July 2005

Site: St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 615 Grandin Road

Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Board Members: Present – Brian Nolen (President), Anita Mobley (Financial Secretary), Valaida Fullwood (Recording Secretary), and Chris Rogers (Corresponding Secretary). Absent – Peggy Howey (First Vice President), Thomasina Massey (Second Vice President), and Gloria McClain (Treasurer).

Approximate Number of Attendees: 28

Guest Presenter:
• Tonya Brandon, Member of the Historic District Commission and resident of Wesley Heights
• Mike O’Brien, Architect and former resident of Wesley Heights

Main Agenda Items
 Sign-in of meeting attendees / Collection of membership dues – Anita Mobley
 Call to Order / Introductions – Brian Nolen
• Recital / Confirmation of Minutes from Previous Meeting – Valaida Fullwood
• Treasury Report – Valaida Fullwood (on behalf of Gloria McClain)
• Questions, Thought and Concerns to be Conveyed to CMPD – Brian Nolen
• Board Vacancies – Brian Nolen
• Neighborhood Developments – Michael O’Brien
• Historic District Commission Report – Tonya Brandon
• New Business – Members and Board

Meeting Handout(s):
• Meeting agenda
• Financial report
• Rendering of multi-family residential project planned along Wesley Heights Way, Grandin and Walnut (circulated)

Call to Order / Introductions
Brian opened the meeting and attendees introduced themselves, by name and street.



Recital / Confirmation of Minutes from Previous Meeting
Valaida reviewed meeting minutes from June 9th. Minutes from each meeting are accessible on the WHCA website:

www.neighborhoodlink.com/charlotte/wesleyheights/

Treasury Report
Valaida distributed copies of the financial report, prepared by Gloria. Since the meeting, $45 in membership dues has been credited to the WHCA checking account. The balance as on July 14 stood at $2,781.42.

Questions, Thought and Concerns to be Conveyed to CMPD
Since the last WHCA meeting, residents have noticed that CMPD has placed a speed gauge/monitor in the neighborhood. Some residents note, however, that the monitors should be re-positioned for more accurate indications of speeding on neighborhood streets. The monitors should be place farther away from the railroad crossing, where drivers tend to slow down.

Opening Discussions / Announcements
Matt McCall, a candidate for City Council, introduced himself and asked attendees to sign a petition that will put him on the election ballot. 2500 signatures are needed. His platform issues include burying power lines and securing antique lampposts for the neighborhood.

A resident reminds attendees that 311, non-emergency number is now available and should be used in lieu of 911 to report concerns and problems that do not require urgent attention.

Board Vacancies
Brian reminded attendees that volunteers and nominations are needed to fill board vacancies (Street Representatives and Committee Chairs) and to compose committees.

New Residential Developments
Michael O’Brien provided an update on the Summit Greenway project (corner of Litaker and Summit), a partnership between Neighboring Concepts and WHCA to develop single-family homes and multifamily townhouses on land owned by WHCA. The project is moving along. Permits for grading are in place, building permits have been secured, and developers expect the loan to close on July 26. Construction of the townhouses is set to begin August 1. The project is scheduled to take 12 months and will be completed by summer 2006.

Mike announced plans for new project on West Fourth, in the bend of the curve near Wesley Heights Way/Tuckaseegee Road. The wooded property, adjacent to residences on Heathcliff, is visible from West Fourth Street and drops roughly 20 feet to the greenway. A maximum of 25 upscale condo units are planned, with selling prices ranging from $200,000 to $300,000+. The units will have a townhouse design reminiscent of The Grandin with parking underneath.

The property lies outside the boundaries of the Wesley Heights Historic District and is not subject to historic district guidelines. The developers have met with residents of Heathcliff and the WHCA Board and held a public meeting. They are presently finalizing the re-zoning. Marketing will begin in the summer.

The property does not connect to the neighborhood and its driveway will open onto West Fourth. The only pedestrian connection between the development and the neighborhood is greenway. Several large oak trees, which are visible from the road, will be preserved and some new trees will be planted.

Single-family homes were not an option for the property because of the steep topography, efforts to save trees and a desire provide residents with views and access to the greenway.

Summary of Q&A on the newest development
• Front porches will be built on townhouses facing West Fourth. The developers want the front units to serve as a “gateway,” announcing a shift from an industrial area (along Tuckaseegee) to a residential neighborhood.
• There will be only one access road in and of the out the development – a sort of a cul de sac.
• Developers expect to provide some sidewalk improvements along West Fourth – e.g., lighting, trees and widened sidewalks if necessary.
• Access to the greenway is not expected to be ADA accessible.

Historic District Commission (HDC)
Tonya Brandon reported that the multi-family residential project planned along Wesley Heights Way, Grandin and Walnut has been deferred for another month. It is common for plans to be deferred from one month to the next in an effort to obtain better details and compliance.

She showed a rendering of the developers’ most current plan with meeting attendees. Part of the development lies within in the Wesley Heights Historic District and part does not. Presently, HDC is concerned about the project’s size, massing and scale, because the developers have not provided an accurate depiction of the structure’s size and scale from the street-level. Proposed construction material and elements are in keeping with historic district requirements.


Summary of Q&A on HDC Requirements and Guidelines
• Charlotte’ HDC oversees four local historic districts: Wesley Heights, Dilworth, Fourth Ward and Plaza Midwood.
• Home improvements, such as fencing, doors, windows, garages, decks, etc., should be approved by HDC prior to undertaking any alterations or construction. These elements must fit the character of an historic district.
• HDC does not govern paint colors.
• Residents should seek HDC approval before cutting down trees – even dead trees. A valid report from an arborist can support cases where a resident wants to remove a tree.
• HDC decisions are based on context, character, style and aesthetics.
• Some home improvements and other physical changes can be approved by the HDC staff and do not have to be reviewed by commission members. The full commission reviews major construction and other property elements that the staff is unauthorized to review.
• Decision-making is conducted on a case-by-case basis.
• Consequences of stepping out of HDC guidelines are somewhat limited. Homeowners receive notices of violations and there’s a hearing board process when people don’t comply.
• The volume of requests is high for Charlotte’s four historic districts, which can create backlogs.
• Residents of historic districts are eligible for tax credits. The process requires homeowners to do a lot of homework and paperwork, but the financial benefits can be substantial.

West Morehead Streetscape Project
Brian reported on a meeting held earlier in the day where the City presented its plan for improving West Morehead (from I-77 overpass to Freedom Drive). Numerous WHCA board members, neighborhood residents, property owners and business owners attended the meeting.

The two-year project will include aesthetic enhancements (trees and landscaping), sidewalk widening and improvement, traffic calming measures, and pedestrian crosswalks. There will a dedicated turning lane from West Morehead onto Freedom heading to I-77 South. Road changes will also allow drivers to turn left from Woodruff onto Freedom Drive.

New Business/ General Discussion
A resident inquired about the possibility of creating a road from the new Lela Court development (not within the bounds of the Wesley Heights Historic District) to Freedom Drive. Some attendees stated that no such plan is underway, in part, because of the floodplain bordering the development.

Adjournment
Brian adjourned the meeting at 7:30 pm.