Call to Order / Start Meeting Recording 7:00pm. January 10, 2023, Meeting Minutes approved. January 2023 Treasurer Report approved.
Key January Events Recap – Chase Miller: About 30 people came to the MLK day of service to work at Branan Towers and two Neighbor in Need homes. We also had a good session at Midway after the volunteering. Thanks to everyone who came out. EACA officers and committee heads met at Brownwood Rec Center for a visioning session to set 2023 priorities. Park officials and stakeholders met at Brownwood to start planning for improvements.
Elected Officials’ Reports
Council Member Bakhtiari’s Office, Patrick Husbands: Community event on February 28 at Chris180 headquarters near Fayetteville and Flat Shoals intersection to discuss safety of that part of the neighborhood. (Chase later showed a map of this area and noted reps from city and county will be there. This is an in-person meeting with a Zoom option. See the EACA newsletter for info.) There also will be a session with Department of Transportation on March 9 to discuss DeKalb Avenue. Bakhtiari will be giving much of her discretionary funds to Brownwood Park improvements. If you are having trouble with issues reported via 311, please reach out to Bakhtiari’s office. Q; Any update on the hole in the sidewalk at Flat Shoals and Glenwood? A: Atlanta Department of Transportation says it’s Georgia Department of Transportation’s work. Q: Ormewood Forest closing update? A: Closing is to be in March.
Commissioner Larry Johnson’s Office, Florence Coram: Working on a schedule for the rest of this quarter. Will get back to us with list of cleanups, town halls, etc.
Public Safety Update – Zone 6 Representative Lt. Christopher Butler (cdbutler@atlantaga.gov 470-218-5001) and Myron Polster: Kias and Hyundais seem to be popular targets in the area, particularly Grant Park. He also has passed on info about the issues at former Happy Donuts and issues with graffiti and public urination on Flat Shoals. Q: What is being done to protect pedestrians during high-speed chases? A: Officers use their sirens, but in general APD tries not to do high-speed chases. Q: Why so many helicopters over EA? A: He will find out but knows they have been using helicopters to survey the forest protestors south of the neighborhood. Call for volunteers interested in joining the Public Safety Committee to work together with our community partners to shape solutions.
EACA 2023 Strategy – Chase Miller: See meeting recording for a slide presentation noting EACA’s mission statement and goals for this year.
Fiscal Year 2023 Budget (March 1, 2023, through February 29, 2024): Budget was presented by treasurer Ralph Green. It will be voted on at next month’s meeting. He says it’s more like a list of spending that membership can vote on. It doesn’t mean everything on this list will be spent or that these are the only expenditures. Items that come up that weren’t on the budget will be voted on by the executive committee. We’ll also need to raise funds to cover items.
Parks & Greenspace Update: Alex Levy and Matt Day are leaders, but not available for meeting. Chase went through a slide presentation on the park. See meeting recording. Re-launch of the Friends of Brownwood Park. City of Atlanta commitment of funds for Brownwood Park renovations/enhancements. Get iInvolved! Parks and Greenspace Committee’s monthly meeting will be at Joe’s Coffee Shop on February 19 at 9:30am. Email us at parks@eaca.net and let us know you will be there. First coffee then walk-through of Brownwood Park.
Arts and Culture Committee Update: Lisa Miscio is the leader, but she was not at the meeting, so Chase spoke for them. Successful launch of the Arts & Culture Committee in January; now the group is in full-swing. Key goal of A&C is to be a force that helps to unite the East Atlanta community after years of Covid + many new community members moving in. Goals of the committee are to bring people together, promote the arts (and artists) within our community, and help create a visual look, feel, and appeal for East Atlanta. Key initiatives to be aware of: Chess Club – Every Wednesday at 6:00pm at Branan Towers; Earth Day event – Saturday, April 22; Art Design initiative – In the works. Email artsculture@eaca.net to get involved.
Land Use & Zoning – Karla Lightfoot Causey: Update on key applications. Z-22-088 – 1640 Flat Shoals Road (no vote; update only). Background: Applicant seeks to rezone parcel abutting Flat Shoals Rd and Grace St from R-4 (Single Family Residential) to PD-H (Planned Development-Housing) to allow for construction of 7 single family residences. Based on existing R-4 zoning, the applicant would be able to build 4 single-family residences. Status: During the January 30 LUZ Committee session, the application in present form was denied unanimously with a counter-proposal presented. Applicant has deferred, choosing to first address several issues directly with abutting neighbors and return to EACA LUZ February 27. Next Steps: If you are an immediate adjoining neighbor and would like to engage on this topic, please email landuse@eaca.net. V-22-197 – 1540 May Avenue. Background: Applicant seeks (1) variance to reduce the front yard setback from 35 feet to 29.6 feet and (2) to reduce the half depth setback from 17.5 feet to 9 feet. Variance to coincide with second story addition. Status: The application is effectively seeking to recognize the existing (though non-conforming) setbacks. The footprint will neither expand nor shrink from what is present today. Therefore, EACA LUZ recommends support for this application with 1 abstention. NPU-W LUZ supports the recommendation as well. Next Steps: EACA General Body votes without dissent to approve the applicant’s request. SAP-22-208 – 405 Moreland Avenue (proposed Starbucks). Background: Starbucks has proposed to open a location at 405 Moreland Avenue (site of the former Long John Silver’s at the corner of Moreland Avenue and Metropolitan). Retail drive-up model is framed as a “curb-side pick-up.” The site plan at present violates several provisions in place to support the Neighborhood Commercial node as noted in SAP response (included in linked folder above). As presented, the addition contributes to promoting a drive through corridor on Moreland for the SAND and East Atlanta community. Status: The official comment period for this Special Administrative Permit (SAP) closed January 17. The city is being requested to uphold ordinances for the NC node and provide Starbucks with an opportunity to present revised site plans for this initiative. Next Steps: Invitation has been extended to applicant to connect directly with the community. Bouldercrest Triangle Neighborhood Commercial-17 Atlanta Zoning 2.0 & NPU-W LUZ – Zoning 2.0 Ad-Hoc Committee. Update – Atlanta is embarking on a multi-year effort to align its growth and development regulations with current needs. These regulations have a major impact on how communities grow, how developments are executed, etc. If you’re interested in getting involved, please click the links below to get looped into the relevant upcoming meetings.
East Atlanta Parents Network, Rachel Williams: EAPN is building out monthly events and programs to cater to families. They would like more representatives from parents of school-age children. EAPN also is always looking for volunteers to help with event planning. March calendar will be set soon. eapn@eaca.net
Announcements/Community Updates: There will be BATL tours once a month. See the BATL website for more info.
EABA Update, Nate Minor: EABA has been working on a number of initiatives including aligning EABA committees with the organization’s goal. They have openings for treasurer, secretary, and several other positions. Email hello@eastatlantabiz.com for more info.
Amelia Weltner, working with a group opposing the police training facility south of East Atlanta. She brought a petition and “Defend the Atlanta Forest” yard signs for any EACA attendees who might be interested in supporting her group. eavdefendsthetrees@gmail.com
Michelle Rice – EACA is working on a Faces of EAV project in which elementary and high school students will interview, videotape and photograph folks who have lived in East Atlanta for 20 or more years. If you fit that bill or have neighbors who would like to be interviewed, please contact Michelle at secretary@eaca.net.
The NPU-W “Community Impact Grant” is now open for applications. Read about the Community Impact Grant. To apply for a grant idea for our neighborhood, click here. Applications are due by this Saturday, February 18.
EACA Call for Volunteers – We’re excited for what we will accomplish in 2023. But we won’t get there without engaged members of the community to help make it happen. Please reach out to president@eaca.net or any member of the EACA Executive Committee to find out how and where you can support. Ongoing recruitment for committee involvement – Arts and Culture, Communication, Community Outreach, East Atlanta Parent Network, Education, Fundraising and Grants, Land Use and Zoning, Membership, Neighbor in Need, Parks and Greenspace, Public Safety, Transportation.
Closing Remarks and Adjournment 8:28pm.
