Community Corner
The Check The Record Edition Of District 8 ENews Is Live In Louisville
The report documents the recommended solutions to rehabilitate Eastern Parkway's historic transportation and recreational corridor.
December 3, 2020
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Councilman
Welcome: Great Success, Very Nice
Two weeks ago, I wrote about some of the mistakes I made and regrets I have from the last four years serving as the 8th District Metro Council Member. Now, I want to talk about some of the progress we made and hopes I have for the future – not only because I am proud of what we accomplished but, also, to flag issues for follow-up and improvement over the coming years.
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At the 2008 GOP convention, Borat 2 star Rudy Giuliani said derisively, “Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy.” I think he is wrong. We arrive at a new and different and better city every time we aspire together in the legislative process.
I wrote new laws early and often in my term of office, sometimes in response to outside threats, like President Trump’s Muslim Ban – the “Separation” Ordinance, which prohibits local police from enforcing federal civil immigration law – and other times to address internal concerns, like Metro’s renewable energy goals. I focused on criminal justice reform, land development and preservation and public health and equity, often to good result:
We effectively decriminalized adult possession of small amounts of marijuana; codified policies against police use of excessive force; and created an animal abuse offender registry.
We overhauled the historic landmarks and demolition ordinances to strengthen and prevent abuse of both. We substantially eliminated minimum parking requirements; expanded the residential parking permit program; and enhanced protections for ADA-accessible parking. We established the Commission for Persons with Disabilities. We toughened tree preservation and planting standards.
We licensed tobacco retailers and slowed or stopped the proliferation of hookah bars, “investment” short-term rentals and vape shops. We expanded outdoor dining and alcohol sales in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
We are fighting for paid parental leave for Metro employees on our way out the door and have changed local law in several other impactful ways. The ability to physically file legislation is one of the things that separates real power from mere influence in government and politics and, so, it should not be squandered. We should do more of it. My full record of sponsored legislation can be viewed here.
At the literal street level – where many constituents judge performance – good advocacy only goes so far, though, without money to back it up. Having limited discretionary funding, I directed spending toward neighborhood and transportation planning, targeted road investments and tactical urbanism (i.e. cheap fixes) to make our public spaces safer, slower, cleaner, greener and other delightful comparative adjectives.
The nascent transformation of Bardstown Road, of course, stands out among road projects but the reconstruction of Barret, Castlewood and Winter Avenues and the gateway to the Douglass Loop are other notable improvements. At other locations, we used speed humps, driver feedback (radar) signs and road marking paint to mitigate traffic conditions at a fraction of the cost of new construction. We reused stadium seats from the old Cardinal Stadium, installed colorful recycling bins and planted (and trimmed) almost 800 trees to beautify the streetscape. We held Google Fiber and Louisville Water accountable and, as a result, got paved a decade’s worth of roads.
We secured funding and implemented the majority of the Tyler Park Master Plan, added security features to all our parks and supported new green space planning from the Bowman Area Neighborhoods to Hayfield-Dundee. If budget is policy, then in the case of capital infrastructure we are what we build. We should build more streets for people.
We should also continue to experiment to make local government more accessible, interesting and participatory. If there is a (relevant) silver lining to the global pandemic, e-government is getting better and civic engagement is at a modern high. The two are set to fully collide. We should invest real time and money in civics education to nurture activists and organizers and grow more policymakers. To that end, we instituted Louisville's first participatory budgeting initiative, launched the city’s first and best podcast (just sayin’) and wrote 97 editions of this newsletter, which has been a true labor of love.
Looking back, we were able to keep most of the promises I campaigned on five years ago. Looking forward, the future is brighter because of it. Thank you for your support.
For the latest news, resources and government response to the coronavirus pandemic, please visit these local, state and federal websites. For breaking news and information, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you have a question or comment, please email me at: brandon.coan@louisvilleky.gov (and copy jasmine.weatherby@louisvilleky.gov) or call: (502) 574-1108. If you have a service request, please call Metro 311 or visit Metro311 online. Visit the District 8 Strategic Plan page here.
District 8 Streets Report: Eastern Philosophy
In this space, we provide updates on major projects and report on upcoming (scheduled and funded) streets and other infrastructure improvements.
The Eastern Parkway Transportation Plan is complete (and enormous). The report is the final deliverable of the Eastern Parkway Transportation Study, the culmination of the series of public outreach sessions and the Gresham Smith consultant team’s work. The report documents the recommended solutions to rehabilitate Eastern Parkway’s historic transportation and recreational corridor.
I have not yet had the opportunity to read the full report but I have reviewed the recommendations specific to District 8 from Cherokee Park to Poplar Level Road (Goss Avenue) and I like what I have seen so far. This includes: a sidewalk, shared-use path and crosswalks at the Cherokee Circle to connect into Cherokee Park, calm traffic and delineate designated parking; neutral offset left turn lanes from Eastern Parkway to Bardstown Road to relieve congestion at the intersection; and a narrower entrance to Dahlia Avenue to reduce cut-throughs and calm speeds – all of which could be implemented quickly within the existing cross-sections.
Intersection realignment at Baxter Avenue and Barret Avenue is more complicated yet ultimately of vital importance and potentially transformative design. I don’t know about you, but I like roundabouts. Cédez le passage.
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Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and help MSD to better understand what you value and enjoy about the Middle Fork Beargrass Creek Watershed and help shape the future for it. Thank you.
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Today, I received notice that Verizon has filed an application with the Department of Public Works to construct a new 39’ wood utility pole and install a wireless small cell node (LV Louisville 2559) in District 8 right-of-way at or near 1169 Eastern Parkway. If your property is within 150’ of the proposed location then you should have received the same notice letter and photo simulation. If you care to submit any questions, comments or objections then please email: VZW.KY.SC@verizonwireless.com Learn more about 5G here.
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Over the Next Two Weeks
Paving
Hawthorne Ave (Bon Air-Bardstown); Lowell Ave (Tyler-Hawthorne); and Speed Ave (Fernwood-Bardstown). This will complete the FY 2021 Paving Plan.
Sidewalks
Sidewalk repair is done for the year. The FY 2021 Sidewalks Plan will be completed in spring.
Scheduling information is subject to change. Visit the District 8 Streets Information page here.
District 8 Development Report: The No-Build Option
In this space, we report on District 8 planning and zoning activity from the past two weeks and, also, preview activity scheduled for the next two weeks. All information is as of today’s date. Please Subscribe & Stay Informed to receive Notification of Development Proposals via email or text and never miss the opportunity to participate in the development process.
Over the Last Two Weeks
On November 18, the Cherokee Triangle Architectural Review Committee approved a request for a certificate of appropriateness to allow a retaining wall at 927 Cherokee Road. 20-COA-0113
Over the Next Two Weeks
No development activity is scheduled.
Click here to view meeting agendas, download supporting documents and live-stream all planning and zoning public meetings. Visit the District 8 Development Information page here.
District 8 Crime Report: Limping to the Finish Line
The following Crime Report is adapted from Weekly CompStat Reports (11/15/20 - 11/28/20) provided by the Louisville Metro Police Department. CompStat reports represent preliminary information designed to allow commanders to direct officers in the field to respond quickly to emerging crime trends. The reports are preliminary in nature. District 8 comprises the LMPD 5th Division Patrol Beats 2, 3 and 4.
Sadly, the Fifth Division’s neighborhood crime reporting appears to be done for the year. The operation never fully recovered from the events of this summer. I trust that with a new, permanent commander coming soon, though, this can be remedied in time for 2021. Meanwhile, for a more complete picture of the crime activity reported in your vicinity, please follow the CrimeMapping link below, enter your address and customize the date range from 11/15/20 to present.
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Burglary – There were four burglaries this reporting period. There were two in Beat 2 and two in Beat 4. All were residential.
Auto Theft – There were seven auto thefts this reporting period. There were four in Beat 2, two in Beat 3 and one in Beat 4.
Theft from Automobile – There were 14 thefts from automobile this reporting period. There were three in Beat 2, seven in Beat 3 and four in Beat 4. Please remember to Lock, Take and Hide!
If you have any questions or want to discuss anything in these crime reports, please email LMPD 5th Division District Resource Officers at: 5thdivlmpd@louisvilleky.gov. Visit the District 8 Crime Information page here.
District 8 Events Calendar: The Fortnight Ahead
This listing is primarily a District 8 business calendar. We’ll also highlight annual and special events affecting traffic and street closures, and choice events that are free and open to the public. We’ll use social media to promote many others. For event location and other information, click here to visit District 8 Events online.
DECEMBER 2 6:30pm Highlands-Douglass Neighborhood Association Meeting
DECEMBER 3 7:00pm City of Kingsley Meeting
DECEMBER 8 7:00pm Bonnycastle Homestead Association Meeting
DECEMBER 9 7:00pm Belknap Neighborhood Association Meeting
DECEMBER 10 6:00pm Metro Council Meeting
7:00pm Deer Park Neighborhood Association Meeting
DECEMBER 14 6:00pm Bardstown Road Improvement Group Meeting
6:30pm City of Strathmoor Village Meeting
8 Shout-Outs: The Grateful 8th
This is a flexible space for giving thanks, saying hi to friends and having a little fun.
- Shout-out to LMPD 4th Division Officers Jessica Morrison and Robert Yoshioka for their kindness and dedication to ensuring houseless individuals in the vicinity of Bardstown Road and the Watterson Expressway get the housing and other services they need!
- Shout-out to Jess Clark and WFPL for their excellent series on the proposed student assignment plan and what it could mean for JCPS’s legacy of integration, the district’s and the city’s future! (Also, I've just got a feeling: watch for schools to loom large in the next mayoral race!)
- Shout-out to Dare to Care for the heroic and indispensable work they do every day to keep Louisville fed and alive! Check out this 5-minute video about their Community Kitchen Project and please consider investing to address hunger in our city. Dare to Care isn’t just an organization name; it’s a call to action!
- Shout-out to my friend and colleague Councilwoman – make that: Superwoman – Jessica Green (D-1) for responding to Give Every Day in a big way by preparing 43 wills and testaments, all while caring for her newborn, crushing it as the Chair of the Public Safety Committee and doing a million other things!
- Shout-out to editor Erin Keane and all the talented essayists and poets of The Louisville Anthology, which I have been thoroughly enjoying and you will, too!
- Shout-out to GMAC for inspiring this edition’s welcome message and motivating me with the fantasy of Sandals!
- Shout-out and congratulations to Cassie Chambers and Bryan Armstrong and welcome to the world, Baby Mills – take it easy on your mom next year!
- Finally, shout-out, drive safely, we love you and we’re going to miss you to Uncle Spencer! Hakuna matata!
In Two Weeks: The Last Waltz Edition
Thanks for reading, and tune back in two weeks!
Councilman Brandon Coan | Louisville Metro Council | District 8
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601 West Jefferson Street, Third Floor
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
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This press release was produced by the City of Louisville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
