September To Remember Edition Of Louisville District 8 Enews Is Live

Press release from the City of Louisville:

September 10, 2020

• Welcome: Crisis of Confidence
• District 8 Streets Report: After the Flood
• District 8 Development Report: Waive Goodbye
• District 8 Crime Report: Freeze Tag
• District 8 Events Calendar: The Fortnight Ahead
• 8 Shout-Outs: The Grateful 8th
• In Two Weeks: The 40-Year-Old Version Edition

Welcome: Crisis of Confidence

City Hall sits empty and I am alone at my desk most of the time but the District 8 (Virtual) Office has never been fuller. Jasmine is working remotely. Former intern (2017) – now attorney – Aaron Vance is managing our campaign to register 1,808 senior households for the homestead exemption. Aaron is taking new intern Sam Stottman under his wing so that Sam can help lead the campaign after Aaron is gone. Councilperson-Elect Cassie Chambers Armstrong is getting involved, too, so that she can help finish the campaign after I am gone! In fact, Cassie and I are working together on multiple items, not only to ensure a “smooth transition” in 2021 – preservation of documents and information; regular briefings; etc. – but also to make real change now. For example, you may have read Cassie and Kentucky State Representative Josie Raymond’s Courier-Journal op-ed on Friday (Labor Day) advocating for paid parental leave for city and state employees; we are partnering with the Department of Public Health and Wellness and ACLU of Kentucky to research and draft local legislation by the end of the year. New legal intern Madeline Reed is helping to lead the interoffice effort. It is a virtuous circle: past, present and future.

Soon, this afternoon (9/9, 3:30pm), the Metro Council Public Safety Committee is expected to vote on a resolution expressing no confidence in the leadership of Mayor Greg Fischer and asking him to resign. In reality, it is an act of council members projecting their own lack of self-confidence onto the mayor and abdicating their own responsibility to heal our community. I get it. I suffer from self-doubt in this line of work, too. We the people are reckoning with a history and culture of overt and institutional racism and brutality made manifest by the extrajudicial killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, respectively, the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis all at once. It is a lot, and we the elected officials are supposed to do something about all of it. (And we are: from police reform to support for families and small businesses to accountability for government malfeasance, the Metro Council is plenty busy these days.) But we can’t make the Kentucky Attorney General’s prosecutorial decision for him, ensure the accuracy and completeness of national election results or create a vaccine, so it is easy to feel helpless. To just blame the mayor, though – who, let me be clear: this is not an unequivocal defense of – is itself a failure of leadership. Instead, we simply can and must do more to seek justice and correct oppression, every day.

For breaking news and information, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you have a question or comment, please call me at: (502) 574-1108 or email: brandon.coan@louisvilleky.gov (and copy jasmine.weatherby@louisvilleky.gov). If you have a service request, please call Metro 311 or visit Metro 311 online. Visit the District 8 Strategic Plan page here.

District 8 Streets Report: After the Flood

In this space, we provide updates on major projects and report on upcoming (scheduled and funded) streets and other infrastructure improvements.

In July, the “Hayfield-Dundee Pocket Park” project team – which is a placeholder name – met with the Upper Highlands Neighborhood Association and then on-site with adjacent property owners to ideate concepts for the improvement and maintenance of eight vacant FEMA lots along Sutherland Drive and Calder Court owned by MSD. Since then, planners have designed two different “Trees and Trail” concepts based on neighbors’ wishes and concerns, which will be presented to the UHNA at their September 16 annual meeting. The plans feature walking trails, natural play, lawns, tree groves, dog parks, stormwater management and park edges. Pending feedback, including from owners, one concept will be chosen, revised and a final plan set drawn up. Then, I will work with MSD, Metro and the neighborhood to determine next steps so far as development and financing. Of course, “No Build” always remains an option, in which case MSD will minimally maintain the parcels in perpetuity, but I think Upper Highlands neighbors deserve a first-class alternative to the existing site, if they want. For additional background, check out the project website and please text your input and ideas to: (502) 236-5562.

As reported last time, Public Works is proposing an update to the Right of Way Guide & Utility Policy designed to mitigate the aesthetic impacts of 5G small cells deployments. The proposed changes are focused in Part VIII, Section 8.01, pages 37-44. In summary: 1) public notice requirements are extended to neighborhood associations; 2) public meetings (in-person or virtual) are made mandatory upon request; 3) small cells must conform to the existing streetscape and infrastructure, including within historic districts; 4) if utilities are already located in an alley, then small cells generally must be, too; 5) the frontages of historic buildings are specially protected; and 6) the Division of Community Forestry assumes oversight of trees and vegetation without, as well as within, the ROW. View the proposed draft here and submit comments by September 15. I hosted a Special Discussion on the subject at yesterday’s (9/8) Public Works Committee meeting (02:56-21:38 / 37:28). We can have faster internet and protect our built environment.

It has been difficult to expand trail connectivity through District 8, so I have turned my attention to supporting the Ohio River Recreational Trail, which is being developed in partnership with National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program with the goal of creating an official National Water Trail from Portsmouth, Ohio through Cincinnati and Louisville to West Point, Kentucky. I canoed the river from Cincinnati to Louisville in June 2019 and had a wonderful trip. If you are interested in the Ohio River and the ORRT, get involved this week: 1) attend a free webinar, “What's a river worth? A discussion on the economic value of the Ohio River,” September 10 at 1:00pm; and/or 2) be a part of revamped River Sweep on September 12. Due to COVID-19, the annual event has been changed to a collection of small efforts instead of the traditional large group. Groups of 10 or less interested in picking up litter in their area in honor of the Ohio River can contact River Sweep Coordinator Rhonda Crotzer at (502) 548-8409 or Rhonda.Crotzer@louisvillemsd.org to pick up supplies and participation t-shirts.

Over the Next Two Weeks

Paving

Beverly Rd; Cross Rd; Ingleside Dr* (Woodbourne-Brookside); and Woodbourne Ave (Valetta-Cherosen)

Ingleside Drive, which is concrete from Brookside Dr to Dead End, will be completed later this season, along with the rest of the FY 2021 Paving Plan.

Sidewalks

2108 and 2120-2130 Baringer Ave; 1615-1625 Beechwood Ave; 1642 Bonnycastle Ave; 2230 Blvd Napoleon; 1828 Deer Park Ave; 1506 Goddard Ave; and 2171 Winston Ave (concrete pad/litter bin).

Scheduling information is subject to change. Please let us know if you observe any discrepancies in projects reported as completed. Visit the District 8 Streets Information page here.

District 8 Development Report: Waive Goodbye

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 August 27, the Land Development and Transportation Committee continued to their October 1 meeting a proposed change in zoning from R-5, single-family to R-6, multi-family residential with detailed district development plan and waiver at 1616 Rosewood Avenue. 20-ZONE-0058

On August 31, the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BOZA) approved a request for a variance for an accessory structure to encroach into the side and rear yard setbacks at 1629 Windsor Place. 20-VARIANCE-0072

On September 2, the Architectural Review Committee: 1) approved a proposed construction of a terrace at the front of a home at 1452 Cherokee Road (20-COA-0134); and 2) continued to their September 16 meeting a proposed construction of a retaining wall in the front and side of a property at 927 Cherokee Road. 20-COA-0113

On September 3, the Planning Commission approved: a parking waiver to reduce required parking from 45 to 23 spaces; a waiver to encroach into a required landscape buffer area; and a waiver to allow parking spaces closer to the right-of-way than the front façade at 1125 and 1131 Bardstown Road. 20-PARKWAIVER-0003; 20-WAIVER-0049; 20-WAIVER-0058; and 20-WAIVER-0059

Over the Next Two Weeks

All meetings will be held online: https://louisvilleky.gov/gover...

On September 14 at 1:00pm, BOZA will hold a public meeting to review a proposed variance to allow a proposed hotel to exceed the maximum height of 45 feet by up to 4.75 feet at 1125 and 1131 Bardstown Road. 20-VARIANCE-0066

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: Freeze Tag

The following Crime Report is adapted from the last two 5th Division Weekly Crime Updates (8/23/20 - 9/5/20) provided by Dets. Daniel English and Ryan Quirin. Please note the linked maps cover the entire LMPD Fifth Division, not just District 8 (Beats 2, 3 and 4).

Last Metro Council meeting (9/3), we passed an ordinance which I hope will help curtail major acts of graffiti vandalism. Councilman Anthony Piagentini was the primary author and Councilwoman Nicole George and I co-authored and co-sponsored the legislation. The crux of the policy is to impound vehicles used in the furtherance of graffiti vandalism, which for several years now locally has been an effective deterrent against illegal dumping. Additionally, I directed that all fines collected over and above the costs of abatement and restitution get allocated to the Louisville Public Space Art Fund. The city regularly spends six figures on vandalism and graffiti repairs annually. Over the last four years, District 8 alone has spent $50,000 with the Highland Commerce Guild to remove hundreds of tags and thousands of square feet of paint from the public realm. Imagine spending our money on murals and other public art instead! Please report vandalism to graffitibuster@gmail.com (HGC) and we will continue to respond with all available tools.

The final 60-day comment period to protest 2020 District 8 liquor license renewals is upon us; nearly 40 businesses are up for scrutiny. Unfortunately, ABC Administrator Robert Kirchdorfer denied my request to not renew Speedway’s and Walgreens’ licenses but at least he is taking this process seriously, writing to me:

After receiving your letter and others, I began to review our past records with staff and discussed the concerns with Major Hallahan & Lt. King and my County Attorney Brendan Daugherty assigned to ABC licenses.

Therefore, based on my review, I do not feel I have justification to not renew these licenses at this time with no recent ABC violations. However, to address the concerns, I will have my investigators monitor these locations for compliance with ABC laws for the next twelve months. We will also work closely with LMPD staff to address ABC concerns that they observe.

I take Mr. Kirchdorfer at his word and believe we have laid the groundwork to ultimately hold Baxter/Bardstown bars and booze retailers accountable on an annual performance basis. But success depends on doing the work and creating a record, so again please submit public comments in protest of any specific business’s extended hours (2:00am or 4:00am) or other privileges to me by October 31.

Robbery – There was one robbery this reporting period, the same as the last reporting period (1).

On August 29 at 2:30pm, a suspect assaulted a store employee while shoplifting merchandise in the 900 block of Baxter Avenue.

Burglary – There were three burglaries this reporting period, a significant decrease from the last reporting period (9). There was one in Beat 2 and two in Beat 3. One was unlocked and two were by force. One was a business and two were residential. See maps here and here for more detail.

Auto Theft – There were five auto thefts this reporting period, the same as the last reporting period (5). Three was one in Beat 2, three in Beat 3 and one in Beat 4. Three were by unknown means and two were unlocked. See maps here and here for more detail.

Theft from Automobile – There were seven thefts from automobile this reporting period, a decrease from the last reporting period (8). There were two in Beat 2, three in Beat 3 and two in Beat 4. One of the vehicles was unlocked, four were by force and two were by unknown means. Please remember to Lock, Take and Hide! See maps here and here for more detail.

2020 District 8 “Unlocked” Crimes Tracker

Q3: 37/110 = 33.6%

Q2: 38/138 = 27.5%

Q1: 50/157 = 33.8%

2019: 182/492 = 37%

2018: 206/581 = 35.5%

2020 over 2019 District 8 CompStat Data (Period 2020 35)

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.

SEPTEMBER 9 7:00pm Belknap Neighborhood Association Meeting

SEPTEMBER 10 7:00pm Deer Park Neighborhood Association Meeting

SEPTEMBER 14 1:00pm BOZA Public Meeting 20-VARIANCE-0066 1125 & 1131 Bardstown Rd

SEPTEMBER 16 6:30pm Upper Highlands Neighborhood Association Meeting

SEPTEMBER 17 6:00pm Metro Council Meeting

SEPTEMBER 21 6:00pm German Paristown Neighborhood Association Meeting

6:00pm Original Highlands Neighborhood Association Meeting

6:30pm City of Seneca Gardens Meeting

7:00pm Cherokee Triangle Association Meeting

8 Shout-Outs: The Grateful 8th

This is a flexible space for giving thanks, saying hi to friends and having a little fun.

1. Shout-out to Kentucky State Representative Charles Booker for joining me on Eight More Miles: the District 8 Podcast this month! Subscribe today in Apple Podcasts to automatically download the show next week!
2. Shout-out to Chris Schork, Bryan Smith, Barry Clyde, Tim Maier, Steve Kurowsky, Jeff Brown and the entire Public Works team for installing old Cardinal Stadium seats at 26 new locations in 17 Metro Council districts all around Louisville last week! This was one of my favorite projects of the last four years!
3. Shout-out to Ben Botkins and Friends of the Highlands for painting a vibrant new Cherokee Park mural at 1349 Bardstown Road!
4. Shout-out and welcome to the world to William Wynn McClave and congratulations to the Father and the Foodie on their beautiful boy!
5. Shout-out to my dear friend the talented Danica Novgorodoff for her graphic novel adaptation of Jason Reynolds’s bestselling novel Long Way Down and, also, happy birthday!
6. Shout-out to Louisville Grows for hosting the inaugural PLANT 5K Run & Walk on September 19 to support their urban forestry program and their goal of planting 5,000 trees by 2025!
7. Shout-out to Evolve502 and scholarship donors for making the commitment of a two-year tuition-free postsecondary education possible for every eligible JCPS student in the class of 2021! Learn more, including how you can help extend this commitment to all the students currently enrolled in high school!
8. Finally, shout-out to Councilman Bill Hollander for authoring a critically important ordinance banning the cruel and unloving practice of LGBTQ conversion therapy to minors! I am proud to support Councilman Hollander’s work by co-sponsoring the legislation and I am happy to report that today the Community Affairs, Health and Education Committee recommended the ordinance for approval! It will be debated and voted on at next Thursday’s (9/17) Metro Council meeting.

In Two Weeks: The 40-Year-Old Version 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.