Forest Acres City Council meets March 13
By John Dixon
Cub@TheColumbiaStar.com

Public hearing

The March 13 Forest Acres City Council Meeting began at 5:15 pm with a public hearing for purposes of rezoning the corner of Beltline and Hanson and the corner of Beltline and Valley.

The purpose of this rezoning is to add four houses to 11 under construction by adding cloisters. This would involve designating a planned development district allowing a wall extension. Area residents Dorothy Brooks and Ken Galer on Hanson were concerned because they believed the wall would extend too close to the road and result in the loss of trees.

Community members John Thorne , Hugh DeBose , Thomas Boyle , Ken Yaler , and John Stuart were in favor of this project because they believed it could transform a rental unit into a residence more in keeping with the neighboring properties and improve the community. Council asked for a projected start and completion date on the building project and agreed to give the proposal a first reading.

Roll call

The public hearing was adjourned and Forest Acres City Council Meeting was called to order by Mayor Frank Brunson at 5:45 pm. All assembled were led in Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance by Charles Fetner . Lee Holloway , Ginger Dukes , Curtis Rye , Frank Brunson , Shell Suber , and Charles Fetner were all present. The minutes from the February meeting were approved with no changes. The Mayor had no major issues to report other than they are keeping an eye on the signage issue and Quinine Hill Park redevelopment.

New Business

Jill O'Ryant from the Columbia Museum of Art asked for $36,000 to sponsor their Renoir installation. This marks the first time a Renoir painting has been exhibited in Columbia. There will be a family fun night and an educator's night. The curator of European paintings will attend the educator's night. An upcoming music exhibit is also planned. Pete Hoyt will assist in this venture. It was agreed the museum would work with the Forest Acres Restaurant and Merchants' Association (FARMA) for a visibility campaign. The entire appropriation was approved without opposition.

First reading approval was given for amendment to the city zoning map establishing a planned development district and adjustment of boundaries of the city zoning ordinance for the subdivision known as The Cloister.

Old Business

Second reading approval was given for an amendment to the city code providing for council voting requirements.

City Administrator's Report

The Columbia Fire Department honored the Forest Acres Police Department at an awards banquet and thanked them for cooperation with the fire department. The fire department also gave Forest Acres a pat on the back for their AED project.

Forest Acres's ISO rating has been lowered from class five to class two, which represents significant improvement. To achieve class one, improvements are needed to the current water system.

The city mechanic is to become a city employee rather than a contractor, and his service vehicles will be provided by the city. This move represents a potential for significant savings by the city.

The AED project has been fully implemented with police officers and city officials receiving training. The police department has already saved one life with CPR.

The upcoming Council elections include Frank Brunson running for Mayor unopposed, Ginger Dukes and Curtis Rye running with opposition from Jeff Thore.

The FARMA newsletter mail distribution has not been effective so the practice is being discontinued in favor of putting inserts into local papers to increase circulation and dissemination of information.

Community Forum

Kathy Davis thanked City manager Mark Williams for dealing with the issue of removal of old garage sale signs but complained that tractor trailers continue to park on neighborhood streets causing problems with visibility and traffic flow.

Valeria Bailey thanked council for approving the art request and for cleaning up the neighborhood and asked Council to check into late garbage pick ups.

Council was adjourned at 6:35 for a second public hearing.

Second public hearing

The purpose of this public hearing was to rezone 1548 Sunnyside Drive from R- 1 residential to C- 1 commercial. If approved, the property will be turned into a salon. Currently, it is being used, without permission, for overflow parking from the surrounding shops.

Residents of Sunnyside Drive Nancy Reader , David Fost , and Mary Catharine Smith expressed concerns that the rezoning of this property would cause a domino effect adversely affecting the residential character of the area. They also expressed concern regarding what happens if the tenant moves out. Michael Diaz , the son of the current owners of the property, responded by saying that the proposed tenant plans to buy the property. His parents who own the adjacent property do not plan to move and, thus, no other rezoning requests are forthcoming. Council tabled discussion of this issue pending a request for more information about the proposed project.