District 8 Streets Report: Strikes and Gutters, Ups and Downs

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

In the July 5 Dealin’s Done edition, I lamented that District 8 received only $30,505 (1.53%) of the city’s $2 million FY18 sidewalk repair budget.   (Moreover, the new sidewalk construction budget is zero, citywide.  Sad!)  So, I’m happy to report that we recently secured seven new sidewalk projects costing $16,107, increasing our plan total to $46,612 (+52.8%) and 2.33% of the overall city spend.

Unfortunately, however, as I wrote about in the January 31 Getting Strategic edition, sidewalk repair often necessitates tree removal.  In this instance, Community Forestry has determined that five trees must be removed.  Adjacent property owners have been notified, and repairs could start as early as this week, all to be completed by November.

All District 8 FY 2018 paving projects having estimated start dates should be completed by November, as well.  Actual start dates are to be determined.

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

District 8 Development Report: Stoppage Time

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 is not much to report in the way of District 8 development, so here is my brief current thinking on the soccer stadium – the vote on which was pushed back today to October 26:   

I think the Butchertown Stadium Development District is a great project; I just don’t think it’s a good deal for the city – and, so, I hope the Metro Council and the developers can reach an appropriate compromise that is favorable to all parties involved.  You can read the Development Agreement and exhibits yourself, but under the terms of the current contract:

- The city would pay $42 million to buy the land for the stadium and surrounding property ($24.2M), clean it up ($800K), put in the infrastructure ($5M) and pay the interest on the bond ($12M);

- The developers would build the soccer stadium (“anticipated” $45-50M) and exclusively develop the surrounding property as commercial, paying $130M total; and

- Once the stadium is built, the city would sell all the land to the developers for $14.5M, crediting all payments of any kind (e.g. lease payments) for 20 years after the stadium opens against the payoff amount.   

I think this is a windfall for the developers.  I want to vote “yea” on this project, so I’m keeping an open mind – but at the moment I’m uncomfortable, to say the least.  Here are three scenarios under which my vote would be a clear and resounding yea:

1) The city pays $42M for the land as described above, retains ownership and enters into a long-term ground lease with the developers, including a ramp-up period of (virtually) free or reduced rent;

2) The developers finance the purchase of the land, they retain ownership and the city contributes: a) the “expected…approximately” $12M local, ad valorem real property tax over the 20-year term of the TIF; b) $5M for infrastructure; and c) $800K for brownfield remediation ($17.8M total); or

3) Increase the payoff amount under the current deal to $28.25M (halfway between $14.5 and the full $42M).

If you’re pro-stadium, I hope you appreciate my fiduciary duty to safeguard taxpayers.  If you’re anti-stadium, I hope you appreciate the transformative investment this project represents.  If you have 19 minutes and eight seconds, I highly recommend this segment on Stadiums from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.   

* * * 

Over the last two weeks:

On October 2, the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BOZA) recommended approval of a Conditional Use Permit  to allow short term rentals of dwelling units that are not the primary residence of the host in an R-5A zone at 2021 Bonnycastle Avenue. 17CUP1062

On October 2, BOZA denied an appeal of a notice of zoning violating finding that the short term rental at 2211 Longest Ave. is in violation of Section 4.2.63 of the Land Development Code. 17APPEAL1003

Over the next two weeks:

On Monday, October 16 at 8:30am, BOZA will hold a meeting to review a Variance from the Land Development Code to allow a structure to encroach into the required side yard set back at 1133 Everett Ave. The meeting will be held at 514 W. Liberty Street.  17VARIANCE1059

On Monday, October 16 at 8:30am, BOZA will hold a meeting to review a Conditional Use Permit to allow a short term rental in an r-5B zoning district at 1510 Highland Ave. The meeting will be held at 514 W. Liberty Street. 17CUP1016

On Tuesday, October 24 at 7:00pm, a public meeting will be held to summarize the results of nine different charrettes for a proposed zoning change from C-2 to Planned Development District at the intersection of Lexington Road and Grinstead Drive. The meeting will be held at 2115 Lexington Rd.16ZONE1044 

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: Sharing is Caring

In the welcome message above, I alluded to “beginning a joint operations review of the Fifth Patrol Division and Strathmoor Village Police Department (Objective 22).”  In plain English, that means I brokered an introduction between 5th Division Commander Major Aubrey Gregory and SVPD Chief Joe Renzi.  Prior to that, they had never met.

Over the course of an hour meeting last Wednesday, the two officers shared an overview of their operations with each other, coordinated radio communications information, agreed to interdepartmental reporting practices and committed to an ongoing review of at least 20 weeks with every 45-day meetings.  If at the end of their efforts they decide a third-party consultant would be beneficial, then I’m committed to using District 8 funds for that purpose.

SVPD patrols 727 homes and businesses, representing 4.54% of the District 8 total.  The home rule cities the department protects and serves border Belknap, Bowman, Hawthorne, Highlands-Douglass, Kingsley* and the Upper Highlands.  You’ll notice that the cities aren’t included in the crime reports below.  That should matter to them and you because criminals don’t modulate their behavior based on imaginary lines.  It is crucial that our public safety officials are coordinated and have a complete picture of the activity going on around them because data is their best weapon to prevent and solve crimes.  As we continue to work toward that goal at the government level – and look forward to the day those results make us safer, and are visible in this report – I encourage you to think about how your neighborhood association, city council or neighborhood watch club can begin to bridge that gap, as well.

*There are another 188 homes and businesses in Kingsley, representing 1.17% of the District 8 total.  Kingsley contracts for supplemental police protection with Neighborhood Security and Asset Protection (NSAP).  We intend to bring them into the fold, too. 

Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Crime Reports, 9/24/17 - 10/7/17 

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). 

5th Division Weekly Crime Update, 10/1/17 - 10/7/17

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 Officers 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.

OCT 8 – 16            9:00 - 11:00pm                     Week in the Highlands

OCT 10                  7:00pm                                 Bonnycastle Homestead Association Meeting

OCT 11                  7:00pm                                 Belknap Neighborhood Association Meeting

OCT 12                  6:00pm                                 Metro Council Meeting

OCT 12                  7:00pm                                 Deer Park Neighborhood Association Meeting

OCT 13                  1:00 to 4:00pm                     Councilman Coan Satellite Office Hours at the DCC

OCT 13 - 14           6:00 to 11:00pm                   Belknap Fall Festival

OCT 14                  7:30am                                 Highlands Cup 5k Run/ Walk and Pancake Breakfast

OCT 16                  8:30am                                 Board of Zoning Adjustment Notice of Public Meeting                                                                                17CUP1016 1510 Highland Ave

OCT 16                  8:30am                                 Board of Zoning Adjustment Public Meeting                                                                                              17VARIANCE1059 1133 Everett Ave

OCT 16                  6:00pm                                 Original Highlands Neighborhood Association Meeting

OCT 16                  6:00pm                                 German Paristown Neighborhood Association Meeting

OCT 16                  6:30pm                                 City of Seneca Gardens Meeting

OCT 16                  7:00pm                                 Cherokee Triangle Neighborhood Association Meeting

OCT 20                  1:00 - 4:00pm                       Councilman Coan Satellite Office Hours at the DCC

OCT 21                  7:30am                                 Urban Bourbon Half Marathon

OCT 21                  12:00 - 8:00pm                     Louisville Halloween Parade and Festival

OCT 24                  7:00pm                                 City of Strathmoor Manor Meeting

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 Sandra Moak, David Johnson and all the neighbors of Saratoga-Ridge for inviting me to your picnic and introducing me to your impressively-organized community!

2. Shout-out to my dear friend and incredibly talented visual artist Lyndi Lou on the opening of her new tattoo shop, Mama Tried, on Bardstown Road!  (No, I don’t have any.)

3. Shout-out to JCPS Board Member Dr. Chris Kolb for all the important work he does, and for visiting with me on Eight More Miles: the District 8 Podcast!

4. Shout-out to future confirmed podcast guests Mike Rutherford, Mayor Greg Fischer, Councilman Tom Owen, Tyler Allen & J.C. Stites and CJ food critic Lindsey McClave!  (Subscribe on iTunes or the podcatcher of your choice.)

5. Shout-out to Shellie Nitsche for assisting our study of the crazy, convoluted intersection at Spring Drive, Lauderdale Road and Grasmere Drive – I’m hoping to make improvements by the end of the year!

6. Shout-out to Bill Farmer, David Smith and St. Raphael Boy Scout Troop 42 for inviting me to speak to your great group of young men!

7. Shout-out to the Highland Commerce Guild for volunteering to cleanup Baxter/Bardstown from Broadway to Speed as part of the Brightside Community Wide Cleanup Saturday, October 21!  Meet  at Mid-City Mall 9am to help!

8. Finally, shout-out to the Belknap Neighborhood Association for hosting the 23rd Annual Belknap Fall Festival this weekend!  The weather looks great, so get out and have some good, clean fun!

In Two Weeks: The City Business Edition

Thanks for reading, and tune back in two weeks!  

Councilman Brandon Coan   |   Louisville Metro Council   |   District 8

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601 West Jefferson Street, Third Floor

Louisville, Kentucky 40202

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