November 2011

JPNC Minutes November 29, 2011
Attendance: David Baron, Red Burrows, Benjamin Day, Oliver DeLeon, Francesca Fordiani, Andrea Howley, Michael Reiskind, Martha Rodriguez, Kenneth Sazama, Hyun Shin, Jesse White, Jeffrey Wiesner, Joseph Wight, Erin Colgan-Snyder, Courtney Snegroff, Alex Rodriguez, Cooper Renfro
Other Attendees: Chris Helms (JP Patch), Helen Matthews, Jessica Later, Olu Ibrahim (Representative Jeffrey Sanchez’s office), Kieran Fitzgibbons, Arlene Rothman, Richard Heath, Rebecca Oliviera (JP Gazette)
Meeting called to order at 7:05pm at Curtis Hall in Jamaica Plain by Ben Day.
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Introductions: Members of the JPNC introduced themselves Additions to/Subtractions from Agenda: None Announcements: See attached: Announcements, incorporated herein, with the addition of Take Back Franklin Park, 5:30pm, Thursday, December 1st, Franklin Park Coalition, meet at golf clubhouse, bring flashlights. Minutes: Motion by Michael Reiskind to approve October, 2011 minutes, seconded by Andrea Howley. Passed 9-0-1 (3 not yet present, 4 not yet elected) New member elections:    One candidate for presented herself for the previously-announced vacancy in Area A: Courtney Snegroff, 83 Paul Gore St.. Three candidtes presented themselves for the previously-announced vacancies in Area B: Alex Rodriguez, 158 South Street; Cooper Renfro, 60 Union Avenue #1; and Erin Colgan-Snyder, 29 Child Street. Members of the JPNC had an opportunity to ask questions of the candidates. Motion by Red Burrows to accept all members by acclimation, seconded by Ken Sazama. Discussion on the motion clarifying provision in by-laws to seat a candidate from outside an area into an area seat. Motion passed, effective immediately. Ben Day stated that if no other candidate from Area A could be found for the remaining vacancy, we would consider filling the seat with someone from another area.
Committee Reports: Announcement by Ben Day that Council members are asked to join a committee by the January meeting and current chairs are asked to bring their committee lists to the January meeting for approval of the Council and for vote on committee chairs by the Council.
Public Service – Michael Reiskind reported that the Public Service Committee met on November 1st, discussed initiative to remove billboards, especially in business districts, by asking landlords to cancel their leases with the billboard companies. The Committee also discussed a new state initiative to change the state regulations on billboards to allow for larger ones without licensing by changing the definition of “public space.” Reiskind reported on the announcement of new parking regulations next spring for streets with street sweeping.    The Committee supports this change (moving street sweeping day to follow trash collection day), and will revisit the issue in February to help the City reach out to those affected. The next meeting of the Public Service Committee will be on December 6th at Curtis Hall. The Committee will consider three Common Victualler license requests from existing establishments that were inadvertently not licensed: Canto 6, Monumental Cupcakes, Faulkner Hospital employee café and coffee shop.
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b.    Parks and Open Space: Andrea Howley reported that the Committee is trying to change its meeting day and time to resolve a conflict with another Committee and for one of its members. Howley reported that there is now a bill in the legislature regarding underground gas leaks, which the Committee supports. She reported that the Committee had begun working on the issue of
JPNC Minutes, 11/29/11, p. 2 underground gas leaks killing trees five years ago. The Committee is planning to ask the Council to send a letter in support of the bill. The bill is in the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural resources. A hearing is not expected until February or March, 2012. She will have a letter for approval at the next meeting. Other issues addressed by the Parks and Open Space Committee: turnout for the recent public meeting regarding the Casey Overpass; repair of the Arboretum wall, which has joint ownership, joining forces to repair the wall; draft design for a sign to calm traffic on the Jamaica Way, remembering resident Georgina Tyman, who was killed on the Jamaicaway 10 years ago; and DCR is looking for input into potential public/private partnerships – anyone with ideas should contact Andrea Howley. Howley also reported that the Parks and Open Space Committee is helping with park clean-ups with Boston Shines, and assisting with identifying more “friends” groups of parks, and that they are working on an initiative for universal access to Murray Circle, which is not ADA compliant.
c.    Housing and Development: Francesca Fordiani stated there was no report and announced the next meeting is Tuesday, December 20th at 7pm at the Bowditch School, 82 Green Street.
d. Zoning Committee: David Baron reported that the Zoning Committee met on October 27th and November 10th, and that the Committee regularly meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. The December 1st meeting is cancelled. The Committee requested action on 2 items: 1) 177 Green Street, change occupancy of office building to day care center plus offices. Committee Recommends approval. 2) 6 Peter Parley Road, change existing single family to a three-family residential structure and build additions including stairs and decks. This matter had previously been approved by the Zoning Committee and the Council, but the BRA sent the matter back to Inspectional Services because one variance had been overlooked. The Committee recommends approval. Baron reported that the Committee recommended approval of variances for two other matters that had been heard by the Zoning Board of Appeal prior to the JPNC meeting: 1) 68 Boynton Street, construction of a 3-story addition onto an existing Single Family to create a Three (3) Family dwelling. This matter had also been previously approved by the JPNC, but ISD identified another variance needed before this went to the ZBA. The Committee recommended approval. 2) MATCH Charter School, Bethel AME property at 215 Forest Hills Street, Committee recommended approval. Motion by Red Baron to recommend approval of petitions made relative to 177 Green Street and 6 Peter Parley Road, seconded by Ken Sazama. Passed 16- 0-1. The next regularly-scheduled meeting will be on Thursday, December 15th at Farnsworth House. The agenda for that meeting will include 2347-3478C Centre Street (change occupancy from two residential units and restaurant with take-out to three units and restaurant with take-out); 431 Pond Street (Armenian Nursing and Rehab Center seeks to erect a two-story addition to existing building); and 71 South Street (demolish existing two-family dwelling (currently used as offices) and erect a new building with five residential units).
e. Whole Foods Negotiating Team: Ken Sazama reported the meeting took place on 11/21/11, with good turnout, at Nate Smith House. Joseph Wight presented a proposal to charge the Housing and Development Committee with new tasks regarding future discussion related to Whole Foods (see proposal incorporated below). Red Burrows reported that it was also agreed in the meeting to ask the Housing and Development Committee to join with the Zoning Committee to develop commercial guidelines. There was discussion as to possibly creating an ad hoc committee including businesses to create business guidelines, or to reaching out to businesses after guidelines developed. Jesse White stated that the Housing and Development Committee should take on a leadership role in communicating with the Zoning Committee and businesses and other groups. Dave Baron stated that if commercial development guidelines are prospective, as opposed to retrospective, then it is not appropriate for the Zoning Committee to participate. Motion by Joseph Wight to accept proposal, seconded by Ken Sazama. Francesca Fordiani suggested friendly amendment to change language in Charge #2, accepted by Wight. Comments in favor and against
JPNC Minutes, 11/29/11, p. 3 were made by members of the audience. Passed 14-1-2. Motion by Ken Sazama to disband the Whole Foods Negotiating Team, seconded by Andrea Howley. Passed 17-0-0.
The following proposal was submitted and passed, as noted above:
“Charge #1: Ask the Housing and Development Committee to integrate all future discussion related to the new Whole Foods in Jamaica Plain and the impacts that it will have on our community into their agendas.
Charge #2: Ask the Housing and Development Committee to develop options to assess the impact on the community regarding issues of gentrification. This would entail teaming with other groups that have experience gathering information of this sort.
Charge #3: Ask the Housing and Development Committee to create commercial development guidelines.”
f. Outreach Committee: No report. g. Jackson Square CAC: Red Burrows reported that a letter regarding the Kelly Skating Rink was
sent to the BRA. There will be no December meeting. h. Centre/South Street Corridor CAC: Michael Reiskind reported that CAC has not met since last
JPNC meeting. The final report of the schematic study has been issued, plans are 1 year behind, schematic plans for Hyde Square have been agreed upon, but not yet for the Monument area. Reiskind reported that the schematics are on the BRA website and the CAC will re-start in the spring, 2012.
i.    CPCAY: No report. j.    Casey Overpass: Francesca Fordiani reported that summaries of bridge and at-grade options
presented by MA DOT, as well as traffic data are on their website, and that public comments on
the proposals are due on 12/6/11. k. Burnett/Washington/McBride: No report.
VII – New/Old Business
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Motion by Jesse White for JPNC to co-sponsor upcoming State of the Neighborhood with JP NET and a number of other groups. Seconded by Red Burrows. Passed 16-0-1 Hyun Shin will coordinate meeting of those interested in youth issues. Red Burrows announced that Oliver DeLeon will be replacing him on the Jackson Square CAC.
b. c. d. Ben Day gave update on redistricting: Congressional redistricting is complete, no changes to the
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proposal had been accepted. Day reported that City Council redistricting is still in process, with voting expected in March, and that there are currently two maps under consideration by the City Council. One proposes to move Ward 19 Precinct 12 to District 5, and one does not. Day will coordinate a meeting to discuss possible recommendations by the JPNC.
Andrea Howley announced that there will be a budget hearing for the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs on 12/1/11 at 2:30. Next meeting: 12/13/11 at 7pm at Curtis Hall, followed by JPNC holiday party at Doyle’s.
f. Motion to adjourn at 9pm by Red Burrows, seconded by Francesca Fordiani. Respectfully submitted,
JPNC Minutes, 11/29/11, p. 4 Francesca Fordiani, Secretary
JPNC Minutes, 11/29/11, p. 5 Announcements
a.    Thu Dec. 1, 7pm – JP Forum screening & discussion of Saul Landau documentary, “Will the Real Terrorist Stand Up?” First Church In Jamaica Plain Unitarian Universalist, 6 Eliot St. b.    Sat Dec. 3, 10am – JP Centre/South Main Streets Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting, 670 Centre St. c.    Sat Dec. 3, 11am – JP Holiday Fair by Boston Handmade collective, First Church In Jamaica Plain Unitarian Universalist, 6 Eliot St. d.    Tue Dec. 6 – Last day for public comment on Casey Overpass. Send feedback to John Romano at john.romano@state.ma.us. See all available materials here: http://app1.massdot.state.ma.us/CaseyOverpass/meetings.html
e.    Tue Dec. 6, 6pm – 2nd Fall Potluck with Jamaica Plain New Economy Transition (JP NET), Nate Smith House, 155 Lamartine St. f.    Wed Dec. 7, 6pm – Washington St. Complete Streets Discussion with Boston Transportation Department, English High School Library, 20 McBride St.
g. h. i. Way Lounge, 284 Amory St. j.    Sat Dec. 10, 2pm – Greater Egleston Holiday Celebration, Egleston Square Peace Garden, 3133 Washington St.
k.    Sun Dec. 11, 3pm – Daughters of St. Paul Christmas Concert, Daughters of St. Paul Chapel, 50 Saint Paul’s Avenue l.    Ongoing until Dec. 31 – Canned Food Drive for ABCD and Community Servings, sponsored by Representative Jeffrey Sanchez and Whole Foods, 413 Centre St.
Thu Dec. 8, 6pm – Winter Holiday Party at the JP Branch Library, 12 Sedgwick St.
Thu Dec. 8, 6pm – The Freedom Trail on Trial at Urbano Project, 284 Amory St. Fri Dec. 9, 10pm – 2nd Annual Charity for Youth Concert, Bella Luna Restaurant and Milky