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Home My WebLink About04/17/07228 APRIL 17, 2007 At a Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners, held on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at 5:30 p.m., Mayor Paxton presided, and upon call of the roll by the City Clerk, the following answered to their names: Commissioners Coleman, Kaler, Smith, Watkins and Mayor Paxton (5). WORKSHOP FOUNTAIN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN Tom Barnett, Planning Director, presented the plan to the Commission. This plan has been in the works for about two years. The neighborhood has been digressing over the last 40 years. Certain areas have been very neglected by the property owners. The following departments gave reports on current and future efforts for the neighborhood. Asst. Chief of Police Carroll - Policing activities began in September 2005, the Police Department assigned two officers to the area. From September to the current time there have been 32 drug arrests and seizures. Crime has lessened in the area and the Police Department has cut back to one officer. The area will continue to be monitored and if crime increases additional officers will be assigned to the area. Eamie Via, Public Works Director - Public Works has provided dumpsters to residents on clean-ups days to help with the renovations of properties in the area. Landscaping has been done on the boulevards. Maintenance will be provided for alleyways. To avoid damage by contractor's vehicles, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters will be upgraded after most residential construction on a block is completed. The area will be monitored by the department and maintenance will be provided as issues arise. Joel Scarbrough, Chief Building Inspector (Code Enforcement) - Nuisance codes and property maintenance codes mandated by ordinance are the same in the Fountain Avenue area as in other areas of the city. In accord with the plan, enforcement work in the neighborhood has been intensified. These efforts are already attracting people to invest. Mr. Scarbrough has talked with potential investors with projects totaling approximately $1.4M. The Commission has been involved in "ride-arounds" of the area. Mark Thompson, Parks Services Director - In June 2006, Parks Services held a meeting with residents in the area to discuss Lang Park. A variety of recommendations were discussed. Primary goal is to create a safe playground area for children who reside in the area. If the plan is adopted, a copy will be received and filed in the City Clerk's Office. PUBLIC COMMENTS Dr. David West, Pastor of Margaret Hank Cumberland Presbyterian Church, informed the Commission that there will be a very active alliance of churches involved in humanitarian work for the residents in the designated Fountain Avenue area. Grant funds and other avenues for funding are being researched for residents who fall into the appropriate guidelines. The more churches that get involved, the greater the resources are for the people who need it. He also hopes there will be an executive board formed from members of the churches, owners and renters. He feels this alliance will provide a major impact for the revitalization of the neighborhood. Cecil Barnett read a letter from Pastor Greg Waldrop (Fountain Avenue Methodist Church). Pastor Waldrop "support completely the idea of revitalizing, not replacing or demolishing, the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood." A copy of his letter is in the minute file. Mr. Barnett, President of the Mid -Town Alliance of Churches and Residents, also spoke on behalf of the group. The group agrees with the principle of the plan but would like to make sure the working class residents in the neighborhood receive credit for keeping the area from getting worse. The group believes the neighborhood was not as deteriorated as the Lowertown Neighborhood prior to its revitalization. Don McConoughey, Darren Crysup, and Gwen Kaiser spoke in full support of the plan. 229 APRIL 17, 2007 Louis Moore, resident, has concerns about the time frames, enhanced codes, his income not being enough to keep his residence in compliance but income being too much to qualify for grants, etc. Myra Henderson, owner of rental property in neighborhood, believes inspectors going inside homes to do an inspection of the property is a violation of constitutional rights. She voiced concerns about the direction of the project/plan, the City's buy back plan, and she feels the City's codes are not in harmony with federal law. Lowertown resident Tricia Cameron believes in the intention of the plan but hopes the plan will not allow the neighborhood to become too overpriced. After much discussion between the Commission the following action took place. MUNICIPAL ORDER ADOPT FOUNTAIN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN Commissioner Coleman offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith, that a Municipal Order entitled, "A MUNICIPAL ORDER ADOPTING PHASE I OF THE REVITALIZATION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PADUCAH'S FOUNTAIN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD," be adopted. Adopted on call of the roll, yeas, Commissioners Kaler, Smith, and Mayor Paxton (3). Nays, Commissioners Coleman and Watkins (2). Motion carried. M.O.#1288; BK 6; PG ORDINANCES — ADOPTION AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE TO CREATE NEW ZONING DISTRICTS AND ALLOW SIGNS WITHIN THE NEW DISTRICTS Commissioner Kaler offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Coleman, that the Board of Commissioners adopt an ordinance entitled, "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CH. 126, ZONING OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PADUCAH, KENTUCKY." This ordinance is summarized as follows: The City of Paducah hereby creates Section 126-120, Neighborhood Services Zone, to provide for residential uses, and encourage development according to standards that will ensure harmony with the existing historic residential environment and allow for home based commercial activity that reflects the community character. Section 126-121, Neighborhood Commercial Corridor Zone, is created to provide for a mixture of commercial and residential uses and encourage development according to standards that will ensure harmony with the existing commercial and residential environment. Further, Sections 126, (g)(o) & (p), amend the sign regulations for R-1, R-2, R-3, NSZ, and R-4 zones. Adopted on call of the roll, yeas, Commissioners Coleman, Kaler, Smith, Watkins, and Mayor Paxton (5). ORD.#2007-4-7269; BK 31; PG CHANGE ZONE OF PROPERTY IN THE FOUNTAIN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECT Commissioner Smith offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Watkins, that the Board of Commissioners adopt an ordinance entitled, "AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FINAL REPORT OF THE PADUCAH PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE TO NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ZONE AND NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR ZONE, AND AMENDING THE PADUCAH ZONING ORDINANCE SO AS TO EFFECT SUCH REZONING." This ordinance is summarized as follows: The City of Paducah hereby rezones the following areas: An area generally bounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, an alley on the west side of Fountain Avenue, Park Avenue, North 13th Street, an alley on the north side of Jefferson Street, mid block between North 13th Street and North 14th Street, Madison Street and North 14th Street to the Neighborhood Commercial Corridor Zone and an area generally bounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, North 14th Street, Madison Street, mid -block between North 13th Street and North 14th Street, the property lines between Jefferson Street & Monroe Street and the rear property lines of properties facing Fountain Avenue to Neighborhood Services Zone, and amending the Paducah Zoning Ordinance to effect such rezoning. APRIL 17, 2007 Adopted on call of the roll, yeas, Commissioners Coleman, Kaler, Smith, Watkins, and Mayor Paxton (5). ORD.#2007-4-7270; BK 31; PG CITY MANAGER REPORT • Calendar Items City Manager requested an executive session to discuss an economic development prospect. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Watkins offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith, that the Board go into closed session for discussion of matters pertaining to the following topics: A specific proposal by a business entity where public discussion of the subject matter would jeopardize the location, retention, expansion or upgrading of a business entity, as permitted by KRS 61.810(1)(g). Adopted on call of the roll, yeas, Commissioners Coleman, Kaler, Smith, Watkins and Mayor Paxton (5). Upon motion the meeting adjourned. ADOPTED: May 8 , 2007 t=01j" _1L'•- 230