District 8 eNews: The Back to School Edition

Louisville Metro Government sent this bulletin at 08/15/2017 10:30 AM EDT

Councilman
Brandon Coan

Email Brandon

Jasmine Masterson

Legislative Aide

Email Jasmine

tel: 574-1108

District 8 Website

Welcome: Homeroom
District 8 Streets Report: Works Progress Administration
District 8 Development Report: Grinstead and Lexington
District 8 Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Crime Reports: Yes, Confidence
District 8 Events Calendar: The Fortnight Ahead
8 Shout-Outs: The Grateful 8th
In Two Weeks: The How-To Edition

Welcome: Homeroom

Tomorrow (Wed 8/16) is the first day of school for Jefferson County Public Schools students, and to celebrate (commiserate?) I’m turning my attention to Strategic Objective 3 of my One Highlands Plan for District 8: Bringing Our City Government and School Systems Closer Together. Officially, Louisville Metro Government has no responsibility or authority over JCPS, but as a practical matter the massive operation and infrastructure impacts our neighborhoods and daily lives as much or more than any other aspect of community life. (Parochial and independent school systems figure similarly, too.) That’s why I’m taking baby steps to collaborate with education leaders, help District 8 schools get organized, communicate among themselves and with neighborhoods and leverage schools as community assets. My observation is that we have barely scratched the surface in this area and the potential is huge. Imagine more students volunteering for community service, more neighbors involved in tutoring and mentoring young people and more public access to school amenities like libraries, computer labs, cafeterias and gyms. The possibilities are really exciting!

JCPS Board of Education Member Dr. Chris Kolb will be my guest on the October episode of Eight More Miles: the Louisville Metro Council District 8 Podcast to discuss all of the above and more. (My September guest is new LMPD Fifth Division Commander, Major Aubrey Gregory.) Chris and I are also working together to plan the first in what will be a continuing series of town hall-style meetings at District 8 schools featuring both city government and education officials to answer your questions about issues on the town-gown seam. We’re still working out the details but expect the event take place in early November.

Finally, I’ll be reaching out to all District 8 schools about forming an informal association over the coming months. The goal is not to establish a new organization but rather to create a forum for the many diverse schools in District 8 to discuss and pursue their common and community interests. Like religious institutions, schools can be effective conveners and catalysts for community organizing and social progress.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, staff person, administrator or neighbor, we’re all stakeholders in both our neighborhoods and our schools. I hope you’ll consider getting more involved in both (especially whichever you’re less involved with now!), and I welcome your ideas and suggestions for how to make this initiative a successful one.

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In two weeks, I’ll be out of the country and, so, for the first time District 8 eNews will be a Jasmine Masterson Production. Many of you have met our wonderful Legislative Aide (at least via phone or email), and she is going to use her eNews opportunity – The How-To Edition – to share lessons learned over our first eight months for solving some of the most frequently asked questions and problems that come across our desks. I hope you enjoy Jasmine’s writing and the brief respite from my bad puns.

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For breaking news and information, please follow me on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram. If you have a question or comment, please call me at: (502) 574-1108 or email: brandon.coan@louisvilleky.gov (and copy jasmine.masterson@louisvilleky.gov). If you have a service request, please use MetroCall 311 online to submit or check on it, and contact our office if you experience any problems.

Councilman Brandon Coan

District 8 Streets Report: Works Progress Administration

In this space, we provide updates on major projects and report on upcoming (scheduled and funded) streets and other infrastructure improvements.

We’re making progress on a number of District 8 infrastructure special projects. Last week I met with representatives from TARC and Metro Solid Waste Management Services regarding follow-up to our bus stop, sidewalk accessibility and litter bin audits.

TARC has agreed as a first step to evaluate 13 stops that we identified as being missing and recommended for replacement, 11 stops we discovered along the routes as not existing according to TARC data and 14 bus stop amenities (shelters, bike racks, benches, lighting, litter bins) that we identified as missing or damaged and in need of replacement. Additionally, TARC has agreed to explore partnering with me to repair bus stop-area sidewalks.

SWMS, meanwhile, has initiated a sophisticated computer analysis of our audit results and recommendations to help us plan the rearrangement of existing litter bins and the purchase of new bins to (reasonably) maximize our coverage area. The modeling is not yet complete but is quite impressive; take a quick look here. We’ll report-out the final actions and purchases once the plan is implemented.

Jasmine will report on our speed humps survey next time.

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Here are the upcoming paving and sidewalk projects in District 8. All should be completed by June 30, 2018. Of note:

Paving

Over the last two weeks, Seneca Park Rd (from Beargrass Rd to Pee Wee Reese Rd), Pee Wee Reese Rd (from Taylorsville Rd to I-64 and continuing to Cannons Ln in District 9) and Red Fox Rd were milled, repaved and restriped. There are no roads planned to be completed in the next two weeks.

Sidewalks

I was overly optimistic in the last eNews sidewalk report, as Louisville Metro Public Works is still determining start dates for District 8 FY 2018 Sidewalk Plan repairs. They should be ready by the next edition. Thank you for your patience.

Scheduling information is subject to change. Please let us know if you observe any discrepancies in projects reported as completed.

District 8 Development Report: Grinstead and Lexington

In this space, we report on District 8 planning and zoning activity from the past two weeks and, also, preview activity scheduled for the next two weeks. All information is as of today’s date. Please Subscribe & Stay Informed to receive Notification of Development Proposals via email or text and never miss the opportunity to participate in the development process.

There are two public meetings scheduled tonight, Tuesday August 15 and tomorrow, Wednesday August 16, both beginning at 7:00pm at the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana Learning Center, 2115 Lexington Road, regarding the proposed mixed-use high-rise development located at the intersection of Lexington Road and Grinstead Drive.

Because I performed past legal work on this project for the developer (terminating in May 2016), however, I am recusing myself from any debate or vote of the Metro Council in order to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. This includes not attending the meetings or commenting on the proposal, which related documents you can view here.

If you cannot attend either of the meetings but have questions or concerns, please call William Bardenwerper at 426-6688. Additionally, I will forward all written comments to the Department of Planning and Design Services case manager assigned to this matter, Julia Williams, who can be reached at: (502) 574-6942 or julia.williams@louisvilleky.gov

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Quick Hit #1: 1240 E. Broadway has been designated a local landmark. The Metro Council did not initiate a review of the Landmarks Commission’s final action upon the proposal within 60 days.

Quick Hit #2: On August 10, the Metro Council adopted the ordinance I sponsored requiring conditional use permits for private institutional uses in single-family zoning districts. Prior to this, private schools and similar uses were permitted in residential neighborhoods as-of-right, without any due process for neighbors. This is a result of the Stonecote Sudbury School/Alta Vista Road case.

Quick Hit #3: My colleague Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D-24), who chairs the Metro Council Planning/Zoning, Land Design and Development Committee (on which I serve), has granted my request for our committee to review the city’s Short Term Rentals (Airbnb and similar services) regulations. The current laws and policies have been in effect one year. Beginning September 5, we’re going to take a look at what’s working and what’s not.

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Over the Last Two Weeks:

On August 7, the Board of Zoning Adjustment recommended approval of a variance to allow a fence in a Traditional form district to exceed 42 inches in height in the street side yard of 1300 Cherokee Rd. 17VARIANCE1045

Over the Next Two Weeks:

On August 15 and 16, 7:00 pm a public meeting will be held to discuss the proposed application for a zone change to allow a Planned Development District located at the intersections of Lexington Road and Grinstead Drive. The location of the meeting is 2115 Lexington Rd. 16ZONE1044

On August 16, 1:00pm the Development Review Committee will hold a public meeting to review a proposed minor plan to divide one parcel of land into two in a recorded subdivision at 2401 Dundee Rd. The location of the meeting is 514 W. Liberty St. 16MINORPLAT1125

On August 16, 4:30pm the Architectural Review Committee will hold a public meeting to review the proposed installation of a 6’ by 18’ canvas awning on the side elevation of the Belvoir building. The location of the meeting is 444 S. Fifth Street. 17COA1170

On August 16, 4:30pm the Architectural Review Committee will hold a public meeting to review the proposed demolition of an existing garage and a proposed new garage at 2424 Longest Ave. The location of the meeting is 444 S. Fifth Street. 17COA1174

On August 17, 7pm, a neighborhood meeting will be held to discuss the proposed application for a zone change to allow a condo building located at 1576 Cherokee Rd. The location of the meeting is 2305 Douglass Blvd.

Click here to view meeting agendas, download supporting documents and live-stream all planning and zoning public meetings.

District 8 Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Crime Reports: Yes, Confidence

I don’t often recommend video of our Metro Council meetings for your consumption, but last week’s debate and vote of No Confidence in the Leadership of LMPD Chief Steve Conrad is worth watching, no matter your opinion of the Chief or the Council’s actions in this case. Despite what has been (and likely will continue to be) a divisive and controversial issue among Council Members, I was encouraged by our discourse the other evening. The tone was civil and somber. Members spoke cogently and sincerely. We listened to each other. For a moment there, I even thought I was going to be in the majority; but, ultimately, I was one of only nine Members who voted in support of the Chief, with 13 voting against. I disagree with my 13 colleagues – I think Chief Conrad is doing everything police can do to protect the city in the face of nationwide homicide and opioid epidemics – but I respect their thoughts and feelings, and I share their frustrations. We all want this city to be safe and healthy, so we all need to be part of the solution moving forward. You can play a role in addressing violence in Louisville by getting involved in the city’s #Bethe1 initiative.

You can watch video of the Council’s Chief Conrad discussion (Item 65) here, beginning at 1:43:59. I speak at 2:24:38.

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This is a repeat announcement: District 8’s quarterly Neighborhood Watch Workshop is back, an initiative of my strategic plan to Organize Against Crime. Our second workshop is scheduled for August 23 at the Douglass Community Center Gymnasium beginning at 6:00pm. Based on the feedback we received from the first workshop, this session is designed to be more hands-on and action-oriented, in addition to informational. That means we’ll be working with groups of neighbors to establish and register new watch clubs live and on-site. So, if you’re interested in being part a block watch to protect your home and family, bring your friends and neighbors with you – it takes a village to prevent crime! For more information and resources, including a new District 8 Neighborhood Watch Toolkit and the PowerPoint from Workshop 1, please visit the District 8 Crime Information webpage.

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Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Crime Reports, 7/30/17 - 8/12/17

Currently covering Belknap, Bonnycastle, Bowman, Cherokee Gardens, Cherokee Seneca, Cherokee Triangle, Deer Park, Hawthorne, Highlands-Douglass, Original Highlands, Tyler Park and Upper Highlands (Gardiner Lane and Hayfield-Dundee).

To receive these Weekly Crime Updates every Monday via email or text, please Subscribe & Stay Informed.

To receive daily crime updates specific to your home or business via email, follow this link, click “Receive Alerts,” and follow the instructions.

District 8 Crime Information

If you have any questions or want to discuss anything in these crime reports, please email LMPD 5th Division District Resource Officer Amy Matthis at: 5thdivlmpd@louisvilleky.gov. Our DROs also appear at all monthly neighborhood association meetings, which you can find information for below and on the District 8 Events Calendar.

District 8 Events Calendar: The Fortnight Ahead

This listing is primarily a District 8 business calendar. We’ll also highlight annual and special events affecting traffic and street closures, and choice events that are free and open to the public. We’ll use social media to promote many others. For event location and other information, click here to visit District 8 Events online.

AUG 15 7:00pm Zoning Change Neighborhood Meeting for Planned Development District at Intersection of Lexington Road and Grinstead

AUG 16 1:00pm Development Review Committee Public Meeting 16MINORPLAT1125 2401 Dundee Road

AUG 16 4:30pm Architectural Review Committee public meeting on 17COA1170 - 2229 Cherokee Parkway

AUG 16 4:30pm Architectural Review Committee Public Meeting 17COA1174 2424 Longest Ave

AUG 16 7:00pm Zoning Change Neighborhood Meeting for Planned Development District at Intersection of Lexington Road and Grinstead

AUG 17 7:00pm Zoning Change Neighborhood Meeting for 1576 Cherokee Rd

AUG 18 9:00am Coffee with a Cop

AUG 21 6:00pm Original Highlands Neighborhood Association Meeting

AUG 21 6:00pm German Paristown Neighborhood Association Meeting

AUG 21 6:30pm City of Seneca Gardens Meeting

AUG 21 7:00pm Cherokee Triangle Neighborhood Association Meeting

AUG 22 7:00pm City of Strathmoor Manor Meeting

AUG 23 6:00pm LMPD Fifth Division Neighborhood Watch Workshop

AUG 24 6:00pm Metro Council Meeting

AUG 24 7:00pm Tyler Park Neighborhood Association Meeting

AUG 25 1:00 - 4:00pm Councilman Coan Satellite Office Hours at the DCC

8 Shout-Outs: The Grateful 8th

This is a flexible space for giving thanks, saying hi to friends and having a little fun.

1. Shout-out to Hawthorne Elementary Principal and District 8 Advisory Board Member Jessica Rosenthal, wishing you a great start to the school year!

2. Shout-out to The de Paul School Head of School Tony Kemper for inviting me to tour your campus and learn more about your program, wishing you a great start to the school year, as well!

3. Shout-out to a couple of District 8 Kyles for their advocacy of our parks: Kyle Bates for meeting with Metro Parks Director Seve Ghose and me to explore bringing paddle tennis to our system, and Kyle Noltemeyer for meeting with Assistant Director Marty Storch and me to plan improvements for cleaning-up Big Rock Park and Beargrass Creek!

4. Shout-out to Lt. Alejandro Cabrera for demonstrating to Original Highlands neighbors and me what it means to be a caring, concerned and determined Louisville Metro Police Officer!

5. Shout-out to Big Rock Jazz & Blues Fest coordinator John Chamberlain for working hard to prepare for Week in the Highlands!

6. Shout-out (again!) to WFPK Waterfront Wednesday – this time it’s Iron & Wine, James Lindsey and In Lightning Wed Aug 30 6:00PM Louisville Waterfront Park!

7. Shout-out to my dear friend Ellen Bizer on the occasion of her 89th birthday!

8. Finally, shout-out to peace, love, kindness and justice – we need you now more than ever!

In Two Weeks: The How-To Edition

Thanks for reading, and tune back in two weeks!

Councilman Brandon Coan | Louisville Metro Council | District 8

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Louisville, Kentucky 40202

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