Special meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 4th

I will be sending out an email and walking around an announcement to everyone in the neighborhood probably on 10/30 (weather depending), but I wanted to get the basic information up here right away.

I have been contacted by Tim Crockett, local engineer and owner of Crockett Engineering Consultants here in Columbia. Here are some excerpts from his emails:

I have a client who has recently purchased the parcel of land in which was the location of the landscaping business located on the east side of Old 63 between Gordon and McAllister Streets. My client desires to develop a portion of this property and will need to seek approval of a C-P Development Plan as well as an adjustment to the zoning.

Before we take this request to the City, we would like to meet with the neighbors of the area to present our plan and get public input. We strongly feel that we need to meet with the neighbors before we make any request.

* * *

The purpose of this meeting is to present to the neighbors what we would like to construct on the property, what we are preserving, and how we propose to be neighbor friendly while still doing business as a commercial development. While we are proposing our development to the neighbors, in return we would like to get input from the neighbors. We would like to take this input and try to create our plan with that mind.

The meeting will be next Wednesday, Nov. 4th, starting at 5:30 PM at the Oakland Senior Center, 805 Old Highway 63 N (across from the parcel of land in question, next to the Access Arts building).

I am not sure just exactly what kind of business they want to put there. I have heard a *rumor* that it is an auto repair shop. But we’ll have to see what they actually tell us at the meeting. I think that it is good that Mr. Crockett is taking the initiative to contact us (and the Benton-Stephens Neighborhood Association) to arrange a meeting at this point in the process, but beyond that I have no information or opinion on the matter yet.

Do try and attend the meeting next Wednesday, so we can hear what they have to say. Afterward we can set up a Neighborhood Association meeting to discuss the matter amongst ourselves.

Jim Downey

Some news items of interest…

I should have gotten these up earlier, but for one reason and another I had a rather hard week. So, apologies for the delay and here ya go.

From Leigh Britt, Volunteer Coordinator:

• NLP 2010: Planning for the 2010 class is well underway and registration is now open.  I hope you will let your neighbors and friends know about your experience and encourage them to apply.  Details and an application are available at:  http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/NeighborhoodLeadershipProgram.php.
• Keys to the City – Oct. 27: We invite you to the third installment of Keys to the City on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 5-8:30 at Riechmann Pavilion at Stephens Lake Park.  There will be council office hours and an information fair from 5-7 p.m. followed by a discussion of infill development and the new Office of Neighborhood Services from 7-8:30 p.m.  Learn more at:  http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/KeystotheCity.php

From Timothy Teddy, Director, Department of Planning and Development:

As you may have read, we are hosting a second “congress of neighborhood associations” at the Riechmann Pavilion in Stephens Lake Park (2300 East Walnut) on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. The “congress” follows an information fair and City Council office hours from 5:00 to 7:00 PM as part of the Keys to the City. More at:
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/KeystotheCity.php

As a theme for the congress, we have selected “Growing Up, Not Out: a dialogue on ‘infill’ development.” We will display a map of selected sites throughout the City that have had some form of development approval (zoning, plan, or subdivision) but to the casual observer are simply vacant and unused property. We will moderate a dialogue on “infill” development to learn how neighborhoods may become more involved and informed on the progress of these often promising but sensitive development locations. Tell us how we can make “infill” (loosely defined as new development in already settled areas) a success.

Our choice of this topic is based on the comments received that perhaps the “congress” ought to be involved in the comprehensive plan and suggestions in the vision process that we educate the public about infill development as a growth management strategy.

In addition, Leigh Nutter will introduce the City’s new Office of Neighborhood Services and take your questions and comments.

From Karl Skala, Third Ward Councilman:

Friday, October 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This morning I filed a nominating petition to run for re-election for Columbia’s Third Ward City Council seat. I have enjoyed representing the Third Ward on the council for the last two and a half years.

I want to continue to help make our neighborhoods safer, improve our roads and city services, develop more thoughtful city planning, and create a more responsive city government.

If re-elected, I will continue to make myself available to hear constituents’ concerns and ideas, and to work hard on behalf of the Third Ward and all the people of Columbia.

Karl Skala
Columbia Third Ward City Councilman
573-474-2195
SkalaforCouncil@yahoo.com

I will be attending the “Keys to the City” event on Tuesday, and invite any and all interested neighbors to join me.

Hope to see you there!

Jim Downey

Garage Sale October 10

As we have discussed, we will be having a neighborhood-wide garage sale next Saturday, October 10. It is being coordinated by our Secretary, Sarah Catlin-Dupuy, so if you have any further questions, please contact her. Here are the basic details:

Hours of the sale will be 8:00 to 4:00 3:00 on Saturday only. There will be a large sign at the main entrance to the neighborhood a few days ahead of time to get people interested. We plan to have smaller additional signs directing people to continue throughout the neighborhood to make sure they get to all the locations. There will also be ads in both the Tribune and the Missourian.

Every household is welcome to join in. You will need to set up your own things and try to have them out and ready by the 8:00 start time. The really serious yard-sale customers tend to come early. We’re hoping for good weather, but you might think about what you’ll do if it is raining.

Hope everyone who takes part has a good sale!