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December 2010

JPNC Minutes

December 14, 2010

Attendance: Andrea Howley, Pamela Bender, Michael Reiskind, Jesse Abair, Karley Ausiello, Steven Backman, David Baron,

Red Burrows, David Demerjian, Francesca Fordiani, Steven Laferriere, Peggy O’Connor, Daniel Perez Lacera, Emily Wheelwright,

Jesse White.

Elected at the meeting: Orion Kriegman

Other Attendees: Maria Moreno, Yasmin Pereyra, Heather Perez (Councillor Felix Arroyo’s office), Fernando Mercedes (Councillor

Matt O’Malley’s office), Valerie Frias (Councillor Matt O’Malley’s office), Chris Helms (Jamaica Plain Patch).

Called to Order at 7:12pm at First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain by Andrea Howley.

1. Introductions: Members of the JPNC introduced themselves.

2. Announcements:

- The Community Planning Committee for the Arborway Yard (CPCAY) will be meeting on Tuesday, January 4 at 7:00pm at the

State Laboratories, 305 South Street.

3. Election to fill a JP Neighborhood Council vacancy in Area A:

- The Council held an election to fill the vacancy in Area A. Four candidates had been nominated at previous Council meetings: Stephen Riden of Paul Gore Street, Orion Kriegman of Egleston Street, Raymond Santos of Washington Street, and Michael Halle of Wyman Street. Stephen Riden has withdrawn his nomination and there has been no response from Raymond Santos to the numerous attempts to contact him. Candidates were asked to submit written statements.

- Orion Kriegman was in attendance and spoke for his candidacy. He said he has been living in the neighborhood since 2004, and bought a home on Egleston Street in March 2010 and plans to raise his family there. He helped to convert a city-owned vacant lot into a community orchard and is now in discussion to establish it as a permanent community green space. He has been active with the Egleston coalition meetings, and with Egleston Square Main Street to help Plaza Meat Market. He works at the Tellus Institute on global social movement formation, and has worked with the JP Forum’s New Economy Transition Series. He is eager to learn the ins and outs of getting things done in the City of Boston, and is most interested in the JPNC’s Public Service or Parks & Open Space subcommittees.

- Michael Halle was not able to attend and said in his written statement that he’s been a resident of Jamaica Plain for five years at 83 Wyman Street and is committed to improving the safety and vibrancy of Jamaica Plain.  He is the co-chair of the Boston Police E-13 Traffic and Parking Strategic Planning Committee, working with the police, businesses, residents, and city staff to help solve problems related to transportation and streetscape throughout JP.

The committee represents the kind of approach he would use on the Neighborhood Council. It is a model for building trust and respect, balanced with the strengths and limitations of City action. In this way, the Committee acts a little like the Neighborhood Council’s Zoning or Parks & Open Space subcommittees. He also serve as a member of the Centre/South Transportation Committee, the Route 39 Bus committee and the City’s Complete Streets planning committee.

4. Minutes: The minutes from the October 26, 2010 JPNC meeting were handed out. Motion by David Baron to approve the minutes from the October 2010 meeting. Seconded by Red Burrows. Passed 15-0-0.

The minutes from the previous (November 30, 2010) JPNC meeting were then handed out. Motion by Red Burrows to approve the minutes from the November 2010 meeting. Seconded by Michael Reiskind. Passed 13-0-2. Additional notes and the speaker list from

the neighborhood forum on recent violent incidents in Jamaica Plain will be coming.

5. Scheduling of Future Business:

- The members spoke about  planning for a second special meeting/forum in January on the recent violent incidents in Jamaica Plain. Special outreach would be needed to attract a wide group of Jamaica Plain folks. All the speakers from the first forum were thanked by the JPNC Chair and said they would be willing to return for another meeting. A special planning group consisting of Francesca Fordiani, Steven Backman, Andrea Howley and Michael Reiskind was set up, with Maria Moreno and Yasmin Pereyra offering to help with planning and outreach. Francesca Fordiani said the planning group will meet during the first week of January. February 8 at 7:00pm was tentatively designated as the meeting/forum date and time.

- The CPCAY (Community Planning Committee for the Arborway Yard) is asking to give a presentation to the JPNC at the January 25 meeting about their request to the MBTA to honor their commitment to build a permanent facility at the Arborway Yard for alternative fuel CNG buses. The temporary facility has been in place for seven years. Without the permanent construction, the community cannot gain access to a promised 8-acre parcel of land designated for community uses such as affordable housing, open space or small businesses. The planning process for the uses on the 8-acre parcel will probably be led by the JPNC. Motion by Pam Bender to sign on with other groups supporting the December 16, 2010 draft letter to Richard Davey of the MBTA. Seconded by Red Burrows. Passed 15-0-0.
- Centre/South Streets Corridor Transportation Plan is asking  the JPNC to schedule a presentation at the February 22 meeting on the status of the planning process.
- JPNC Get-Together/Holiday Party is tentatively planned for January 5 or January 11,2011. Possible sites are the Dogwood Café,
Canary Square or The Haven. Andrea Howley will gather a subcommittee to plan the party.  

6. Committee Reports:

The next scheduled meeting of the H&DC will be on Tuesday, December 21 at the Bowditch School.

Ad-Hoc Outreach/Communications Committee -- David Demerjian reported that the Committee work is mostly being done by David Demerjian and Ben Knappmiller. In the new year, they will reformulate the Committee and start to move the work forward .

Zoning Committee – David Baron reported that there was one Zoning Committee meeting on December 2, at which one issue was considered:

- 541 Centre Street; request by Clear Wireless (Sprint) to expand wireless communications equipment on top of the Forbes Building. This is to upgrade their network to 4G capability and to compete with Verizon. None of the equipment on the roof is visible except for the panel antennae. Because this issue was before the Zoning Board of Appeal this morning, it was recommended for approval by the Executive Committee. No JPNC action is needed.

The Zoning Committee will next meet on Thursday, December 16 at Farnsworth House to consider petitions from 21 Seaverns Avenue (convert a 2-family residence to a 4-family), 398 Centre Street (allow an acupuncture office in a residential unit) and 47-49 Catherine Street (convert a 2-family residence to a 3-family).

Public Service Committee — Michael Reiskind reported that the Public Service Committee meeting was held on December 7 at 7:00pm at the Greater Egleston High School at 3134 Washington Street. On the agenda was a request for a transfer of the all-alcohol license of the former Old Stag Tavern at 3169-3173 Washington Street to new owners at the same location. The partners intend to buy both the license and the real estate formerly held by the Old Stag and that the license would have the same hours and capacity as the old license. Coco’s Lounge would be a caribbean-themed restaurant and lounge serving tapas-type food from its limited kitchen until 10:00 or 11:00pm.  Mr. Pascasio only has one- or two-years experience in the hospitality industry. Comments from the well-attended audience were generally positive about a new business in this empty space on Washington Street, but there were concerns with a number of issues associated with the Old Stag: the unattractive front entrance on Washington Street, loud music, rodents, garbage, parking and deliveries. Fears were also voiced about the viability of the business, and the small size of the kitchen. Because of the lack of response of the previous owner of the Old Stag, it was agreed that a memorandum of understanding be created with the new owners. The proposed owners also went to meetings with Egleston Square Main Street and the Chilcott Place-Granada Park Neighborhood Association. Motion by Michael Reiskind to recommend approval of the transfer of the all-alcohol license of the former Old Stag Tavern at 3169-3173 Washington Street to Tropical Ventures, LLC, doing business as “Coco’s Lounge” at the same location with Leoni Pascasio as manager, and with the provisos that the new owners meet with the neighborhood residents three months after the transfer takes effect and that a memorandum of understanding be created and agreed to by the concerned neighbors and Tropical Ventures, LLC. Seconded by Red Burrows. Passed 13-0-2.

The next meeting of the Public Service Committee will be Tuesday, January 4 at the Greater Egleston High School at

3134 Washington Street. On the agenda will be a follow-up meeting on the Old Stag Tavern/Coco’s Lounge at

3169-3173 Washington Street.

Centre/South Corridor CAC — Michael Reiskind said that the final community meeting on the design phase was held on
December 13 at the Agassiz School. The next phase – detailed design – is planned for early 2011.

7. New/Old Business:

- Andrea Howley reported on the planning meeting on the proposed Jackson Square playground behind Bromley-Heath on the Southwest Corridor Park. This partnership program of the Department of Conservation & Recreation and Children’s Hospital has come up with some exciting playground equipment. She urged people to go to the next meeting to see it for themselves. Construction is planned to start in the spring and finish by June 2011.

 

The next meeting of the full JPNC will be on Tuesday, January 25 at 7:00pm at the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain.

The next meeting of the JPNC Executive Committee will be on Thursday, January 20 at 7:30am at Ula Café.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm.

(Minutes submitted by Michael Reiskind)