Please bring a favorite foodstuff
to share
WILLARD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF MEETING AT BETSY ROSS HOUSE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2004
PRESIDING: Barry Wilson, President
ATTENDANCE: 14
The meeting was called to order at 7:08pm
SECRETARY'S REPORT: The Minutes of the October meeting were distributed and a motion was made to amend them as follows: Money from dog calendar sales will be earmarked for beach expenses in keeping up the beach, deposited in WNA account and earmarked for use by the Beach Committee. This motion was seconded and passed unanimously. A motion to accept the minutes of the October meeting as amended was seconded and passed.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION: With no additional nominations presented, the officers currently serving WNA were re-elected by a motion that the slate be accepted by unanimous acclamation. That motion was seconded and passed. However, President Barry Wilson stated that Vice-President Theresa Wiper has expressed a wish to step down, so we may have another election during the 2004-2005 year.
WILLARD SQUARE: Lisa Foster and her husband, who own a property at the corner of Preble and Willow Streets, have requested a hearing at a Willard Neighborhood Association meeting. They want to discuss development of their property with interested residents. (See attached e-mail below for more information)
It was stated that the parcel is zoned LB and Residential A. LB could allow a retail store, personal services, or business offices, restaurant, day-care center, or some "mixed use" (eg. storefront with apartments).
It was agreed that a WNA meeting will be held December 16 to accommodate this request. Additionally, the meeting will be an opportunity for a Potluck dinner and social time for WNA. Please bring a favorite foodstuff to share.
There was additional discussion concerning the new traffic markings at Willard Square with some lively opinions voiced. One opinion was, "It works!" Other opinions expressed that "It's a nightmare," that a bicyclist had poor visibility, that there are problems with cars suddenly coming into view, and that in recent years "there hasn't even been a fender bender." President Barry Wilson suggested all concerned people contact Public Safety, Public Works, or Tex Haeuser - City Planning, during this test period for the changes to give them knowledge of problems and / feedback.
FUTURE PLANS AND PRIORITIES: Barry asked for any recommendations for the coming year's meetings, and there were several suggestions for speakers to be scheduled. Review of the Willard Neighborhood Plan, Beach cleanliness, and a "greening of Willard" were also mentioned. A suggestion to meet two out of three months was not widely supported.
TREASURER'S REPORT: Treasurer Brenda Peluso brought her reckoning of WNA funds. She stated a September 30 Balance of $942.16, with $70 payments (Post Office Box) and $65 dues, resulted in $937.16 Balance on October 25.
Brenda also mentioned the WNA Newsletter should be ready to mail in early December and will include membership renewal. She asked that any contributed articles meet a December 1 deadline.
BEACH REPORT: Theresa Wiper gave an update on the beach profiling that has been undertaken by the SMCC students in Oceanography. She reported that a computer program will soon be available which will provide graphic visualizations of the sand levels.
When asked about getting the Shore Walkway plowed during the Winter snowy season, Theresa said she would follow up on that.
The Beach Committee expects to meet again in early December. All are invited to attend the meetings and join the discussions of projects, status of the Beach, Earth Day, and other relevant topics. For more information, contact Theresa Wiper at 767-1160 or email at twiper@gwi.net
ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Greater Portland Neighborhood Coalition Conference will be held December 8 at Holiday Inn By The Bay. For more information, http://www.livinginportland.org/default.htm
Barry stated that the Sentry and the Portland Press Herald newspapers often pick up articles regarding Willard Neighborhood. He provides press releases to four newspapers, including the Sentry and PPH plus the Forecaster and The Current.
Dolores Broberg said the Tree Committee will have a meeting after Thanksgiving.
Upon motion, the meeting adjourned at 8:47pm.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE WILLARD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
WILL BE HELD AT BETSY ROSS HOUSE
THURSDAY DECEMBER 16, 2004 AT 7:00 pm
Please bring a favorite foodstuff
to share
for
a Potluck Dinner and Social Time
Respectfully
submitted, Devon Gray
#
# #
Late
Update: The Fosters will not be
coming to the December meeting, but will be at the January meeting if all goes
as now planned.
E-Mail from Owners of Preble & Willow Streets:
…
regarding the Preble Street, (at the corner of Preble and Willow) which
belonged to my grandmother. She passed away two years ago and my mother who is
75, the sole heir and executor was planning on selling the property.
I now live and work in England but have very fond memories of summer
holidays with my grandmother. My husband and I visited South Portland last year
(Oct 2003) and saw first hand the disappointing condominium development at the
end of the street. After some thought we decided to take charge of any future
development on the site to ensure it would by more sympathetic to the
neighbourhood- something to be proud of- rather than selling the lot to highest
bidder.
We
now own the property, a big step for us, and as Tex has indicated we would like
to organise a meeting of those in the area interested in our proposals for
suitable commercial development at the front and residential along Willow.
(‘Residential’ as in keeping with the architectural style of the older
elegant residential properties in the neighbourhood.)
It
is a long journey for us to make so we need to give plenty of notice to ensure
people can attend. No use travelling from London and no one turns up! Tex has
supplied the list of people we need to invite and it would obviously be best if
we could speak to work out the most agreeable time and place. We
both have fulltime work commitments and a 7 year old in school but
can make time to see the process through, although probably not as fast as we
first thought. We do need a venue which you may be able to help with as the
existing house is in a very sad state.
Lisa
Foster
*************************************************************************************************************
WILLARD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF MEETING AT BETSY ROSS HOUSE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2005
PRESIDING: Barry Wilson, President
ATTENDANCE: 23
The meeting was called to order at 7:05pm
Mark Foley, current owner of the corner lot on Preble and Willard Streets, came to present his ideas for developing his property. City Planner Tex Haeuser attended to offer his expertise regarding the development of the site. Tex displayed a zoning map of Willard Square and stated that the requested development is a little more than current zoning allows, therefore some zoning changes would probably be necessary to allow more than two residential units on the approximately 3.9 acres parcel. Mr. Foley would like to divide his property into two buildable lots. For the corner lot, fronting on Preble Street, he proposes a multi-purpose unit comprised of a two bedroom, single-family house connected to retail space with two two-bedroom apartments on a second level. For the second proposed lot, which would have 75' frontage on Willow Street, he proposes another single family home. Mr. & Mrs. Foley, who reside in England, have not yet decided whether they will retain possession of the property or sell some of it. Several questions and comments followed Mr. Foley's presentation with final comments focusing on the fact that economic realities will ultimately influence whether this or some other use of the property is pursued.
REPORTS: The minutes for the November meeting were on hand, but their approval was dismissed. No Treasurer's Report was presented.
Barry informed the group Mayor Jim Hughes proposed neighborhood associations be represented at City meetings. Barry attended a meeting before Christmas that included the City Manager and representatives from Ferry Village and Knightville. The consensus of that group was they woiuld like to continue to meet regularly. A schedule for those meetings remains to be determined.
Regarding the Board of Appeals and Zoning Board issues: Barry stated that the City Council will address this matter some time soon.
A Beach Committee meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 23 from 3-5pm. Contact Theresa Wiper 767-1160 for more information.
WILLARD SQUARE: The Inn at Willard Square is addressing concerns about parking issues. Mike Friedland is seeking creative ways to solve them before an upcoming, but as yet unscheduled, meeting of the Planning Board.
TREE COMMITTEE: Dolores Broberg informed us that a questionnaire has been provided to facilitate citizens' use of tree information and resources. The questionnaire is available at the WNA website, www.WillardNeighborhood.org.
Upon motion, the meeting adjourned at 8:58pm.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE WILLARD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
WILL BE HELD AT BETSY ROSS HOUSE
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2005 AT 7:00 pm
Respectfully submitted, Devon Gray