Meeting called to order by Rose Lambert on Tuesday April 24, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at Woodley Hills Elementary School - 8718 Old Mount Vernon Road.

Minutes from February Meeting were approved and are on the website for the community to read.

The President - Rose Lambert - requested that everyone sign the attendance sheets on the tables. Reminder dues are due by August 2001.

President’s Remarks:

Colonial Avenue will be paved from Beauchamp to Old Mount Vernon Road. The question is whether the paving will be done before builder starts new construction.

Mobile shelters – AAA Mobile Mart is being approached by three developers: Chattel (?), Sommerville (Townhouses off Central and homes between Central and Old Mount Vernon Road) and Tillman (Landmark Communities, Talbot Farm, and Sky view on Frye Road). They are looking at the property and negotiating with the owners on development possibilities.

Discussed Flyers and Handouts on front Table.

Formation of Nominating Committee – No one volunteered, so nominations will be accepted from the floor at the next meeting on June 12, 2001.

Carl Sivertsen, Deputy Zoning Administrator

Mike Simms, Senior Zoning Enforcement Inspector

324-1300 – Zoning.

Mike Simms and Rebecca Goodyear are the inspectors for the South County. When a complaint is called in, they have 3 days for assignment and 5 day for initial contact. They are currently running 50 – 75 cases at a time. Mount Vernon and South goes to Mike Simms. Best time is early morning 8:00-10:00 AM or 3 – 4:30 PM to reach them.

What zoning is involved with - Zoning deals with land use issues.

(The Health Department is for property management and maintenance.)

Land use involves the property only; anything that occurs on the streets is under the jurisdiction of the police and VDOT.

Are you allowed to have a home business?

You are allowed to run a business with one employee. Standards with how home base can operate – no signs or evidence of a business can be used in a residential zoned area. Commercial vehicles are allowed with one commercial vehicle – No large trucks – ex. Dump truck, bulldozer, vehicles with business lettering or any vehicle over 3 tons. ¾ ton pickup with or without lettering is over the limit.

Who can live in a house?

One Family – Mom, dad, kids related by blood or marriage.

How many people can live in a house?

Four unrelated people may share a house – the focus is on whom is in residence.

50 sq. ft is required per person. Multiply this by the number of people. 50 sq. ft is approximately a room area of 7ft x 7ft. There is a minimum of 70 sq. ft (7ftx10ft) bedroom for one person. State min. standards.

Junk car removal squad.

The county can tow cars that are inoperable. There is a 10-day rule, which states that a car must not stay in one place on a county or state road for more that 10 days.

How much junk can you have?

Stuff. Treasures – screened from view – you can have 100 sq. ft of stuff or (10’x10’) as long as it is screened from first floor level.

Recalcitrant. Adequate notice with 30 day appeal process. Work with person to resolve problem. Many avoid the issue and will refuse to comply – then the courts get involved. Cease and desist order is given which can lead to fines and incarceration.

1. comply
2. Pay fines
3. go to jail

Pay fines and then still will not comply court order on junk cars on property people are fined or go to jail.

They hope to open an office in the new south county building that they can use one day a week.

Information will be given out. Board of zoning appeals hears all . Works closely with police and bike patrol.

On June 9, 2000 the housing health, blight abatement laws were created. Structures vacant for more that one year can be sent to the blight abatement program. Ugly houses are not their problem the house has to fit special criteria before the blight abatement rules come into play.

Grass must be less than 12" tall.

Discussed local problems.

Question was raised about the neon sign, which was recently put on the Southern motel. Neon is legal in the County. The sign was refaced and permits were not pulled but they have remedied the situation. The sign is in compliance.

Car repair and overcrowding at the Southern Motel was brought up to zoning. They had a thick file of complaints that have been lodged against the property. Zoning said that they were trying to go after the owners because they want the landlords to be more responsible for what is happening at their businesses. They felt that fining the individuals did not solve the problem and that they would fine the landlords for non- compliance.

People need to call when they see the zoning violations and let zoning know when it is occurring whether it is late at night or on weekends they will check out the problem at the time that you let them know it is occurring. If no one calls then zoning never finds out about the problem. They have done many late night investigations to apprehend violators.

246-2400 Roy Eidem – call for overcrowding – Track when violations are occurring

Oldmill Road 2 properties – one burned down – They have gone to court and the owner paid fines. The properties have been claimed unfit for habitation.

Properties with too many cars. Call zoning and they will investigate. Be clear with type of violation and time of day that it is occurring.

Bargain rent a car – filed for special exception will be heard on July 19.

Landscaper with large trucks. Under investigation. You cannot keep large trucks in your backyard even if there is screening up.

Four steps used by zoning.

1. Educate
2. Motivate
3. Litigate
4. Incarcerate

Committee business

Education - Dr Sprague spoke about phonics instruction and whole language instruction - Next meeting is on May 2 at 8 PM in Whitman Middle School Library. Guest speaker: Ms. Vera Slaughter, Director, Gum Springs Community Center.

Transportation – website spot improvement colonial, central Ave, Vernon Ave hill. Chris Wells from the FFX CTY Dept of Transportation. List reviewed for improvements. Next meeting of the Committee will be on Monday May 7, 200 at 8:00 PM in Walt Whitman Middle School Media Center.

Planning and zoning – Charlie Becher – his property has not sold yet. Still going through zoning.

Brentwood Academy on Nalls has been sold to a developer – more information to follow.

Development off Nalls and Gibb Street will cause vacation of property behind houses on Quisenberry so the property owners will receive the land from the county since the original road will not be built.

Meeting adjourned by Rose Lambert at 9:00 PM.