ENA Monthly Meeting Minutes, June 2, 2011
The ENA annual meeting was held at Fairhaven Park Pavilion and was called to order at 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 2nd by Co-President John Erickson. Sandie Koplowitz recorded the minutes and Lylene Johnson presided over the discussion about the Edgemoor Neighborhood Plan Draft.
MSP: Minutes of the last monthly meeting
Treasurer’s Report (Diane MacLean):
Balance to date is $3131.06. Expenses in the amount of approximately $700 were due to the postcard mailing to the neighborhood announcing the Annual Meeting and June meeting to discuss the Neighborhood Plan.
Committee reports were not given to allow time for discussion of the Edgemoor Neighborhood Plan Draft.
Edgemoor Neighborhood Plan Draft (Lylene Johnson):
The 2011 Edgemoor Neighborhood Plan Draft was presented and approved section by section as follows.
Section I. Neighborhood Character: MSP as proposed
Section II. Open Space:
Discussion re: the creation of an Urban Forest Plan. It is desirable to develop a plan that would keep view corridors intact while maintaining the beauty of an urban forest.
Discussion re: the existing trail easement at the end of Arbutus, which is shown on city maps. It is not the intent of ENA to have any trail access go through private property. There is a public trail easement that would be used for this purpose. There is a question about where the easement is intended to access the waterfront due to the rugged terrain below Arbutus. This question will be put to the city planning department. MSP to include this action statement in the plan:
CONNECTION OF THE TRAIL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHUCKANUT BAY TO THE EDGEMOOR STREET SYSTEM VIA THE EXISTING TRAIL EASEMENT IS NEEDED TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE TRAIL.
Discussion re: Waterfront Futures recommendation, as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan, to build a trail on the waterfront around Edgemoor connecting Fairhaven to Chuckanut. MSP to include this action statement in the plan:
THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTS THE VISION FOR CHUCKANUT AND EDGEMOOR AS STATED IN THE WATERFRONT FUTURES GROUP VISION AND FRAMEWORK PLAN WHICH WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN 2005.
MSP: To adopt Section Il, Open Space, as amended.
Section III. Public Facilities and Utilities
Discussion re: water system wording in the plan. It was decided to keep both action statements regarding the water distribution system.
THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GENERALLY ADEQUATE. HOWEVER, IN THE LESS DEVELOPED SOUTHERN PART OF EDGEMOOR, SOME ADDITIONAL “LOOPING” IS DESIREABLE.
AS DEVELOPMENT OCCURS, ADDITIONAL LOOPING OF THE WATER DISTRIBUTION AND ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED.
Discussion re: action item for speed bumps on Hawthorn by the playing field of Fairhaven Middle School to reduce speeding. Brad Rose noted we have been told in the past that speed bumps would not be allowed due to the number of vehicles that use Hawthorn Road. He suggested we add, “or other traffic calming measures” to the statement. MSP to include this action statement in the plan:
A SPEED BUMP OR OTHER TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES SHOULD BE INSTALLED ACROSS HAWTHORN, SOUTHWEST OF FAIRHAVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WEST OF THE BAYSIDE RD INTERSECTION.
MSP: To adopt Section III, Housing, as amended.
Section IV. CIRCULATION
Discussion re: the 12th St. Bridge. Concerns were raised about increased vehicle traffic over the 12th St. Bridge which could cause increased traffic congestion as development occurs south of the bridge.
Discussion re: the 14th St. connector as a future possibility to alleviate traffic congestion. Greg Aucutt, city planner, stated by email that there are NO plans to develop the 14th street connector due to the cost of bridge construction and the fact it will go through Fairhaven Park. Joe Yaever mentioned that former Mayor, Mark Asmundson, told ENA previously, that the 14th St. connector would be built in the future to alleviate traffic congestion and allow the 12th St. Bridge to be rebuilt.
Discussion re: safety of the 12th St. Bridge for pedestrians walking and in motorized wheelchairs. Improvement to the sidewalk is desirable because the edges are crumbling. The sidewalk is too narrow for pedestrians and bicyclists, who often use the sidewalks to cross the bridge.
Statement added to the plan: “The Edgemoor Neighborhood considers the 12th St. Bridge unsafe.”
Discussion re: action item for speed bumps on several roads in Edgemoor to reduce speeding concerns. “Traffic calming measures” was added to the action item because we have been told in the past that speed bumps would not be allowed.
Discussion re: which roads need “traffic calming measures?” Fieldston, Willow, Viewcrest, Bayside Roads were all discussed. It was decided not to include Willow Road in the consideration for speed bumps, or other traffic calming measures because it has sidewalks on both sides. The concern is for pedestrian safety and to focus on the highest priority areas. MSP: Not to include Willow Road in the action item for “traffic calming measures.”
Discussion re: reduced safety due to blind spots due to vegetation and cars being parked near corners.
Discussion re: confusion at intersection of Briar and Hawthorn often leads to near misses when cars entering Briar southbound from Hawthorn fail to yield to vehicles traveling on Briar Road. It is recommended the intersection be signed as a round-about in such a way that all traffic turns left around the ornamental cherry tree. When signage is developed, work with the city to preserve the beauty of the intersection.
Discussion re: widening Viewcrest to 28 ft with pedestrian path on one side. Residents on Viewcrest were present at the meeting and raised concerns that widening the road would increase speeding. There is concern about the blind hill on Viewcrest and parking on the street, which further restricts line of sight for drivers and pedestrians. MSP: to remove widening of Viewcrest from the action item.
Discussion re: improving streets
Discussion re: sidewalk from Chuckanut to Briza.
Discussion re: bike lanes on Chuckanut. Clarification is needed from the city/state to find out if the markings on Chuckanut are bike lanes.
MSP: To adopt Section IV, Circulation, as amended.
V. Housing
Discussion re: added statement to plan to request all CUP notifications in Edgemoor be sent to ENA.
MSP: To adopt Section V, Housing
VI . Land Use and Maps
Explanation re: the proposed area boundary changes as indicated on the Edgemoor Area map in red. Boundary lines are changing in order to more closely match existing lot descriptions. The Edgemoor Land Use table will need to be amended to include a new Area 9, which is Clark’s Point. The zoning changes in the area are not a concern because existing lots sizes are less than the minimum lot size and minimum density.
Explanation re: zoning elements cannot be included in the Neighborhood Plan, but are on the Zoning Table and Zoning Map.
Discussion re: ability to cluster will be removed new Area 4, but most of the homes in this area have covenants restricting clustering. A recent lawsuit in Clarkwood supported covenants restricting subdividing and clustering.
MSP: To adopt Section VI, Land Use and Maps.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandie Koplowitz
Minutes are subject to approval