Fellow Neighbors,

There are several issues I want to report on:

1.   Per City Commission discussion at the joint City/County Commission meeting last May 1, a special meeting of the Gainesville City Commission is tentatively being scheduled sometime in March to discuss the possibility of changing the Future Land Use designation on the Koppers site to something other than Industrial.  It will be a complex discussion.  I cannot overemphasize the importance of this meeting, and I urge everyone with an interest regarding the future of this site to attend.  When the date becomes finalized, I will post it. 

In conjunction with the aforementioned meeting, I have been informed by city officials that rather than this month (as had been previously expected), it will probably be summer before the USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) issues its ROD (Record of Decision) regarding the recommended remediation level (industrial or residential) for the Koppers site.  This delay could be very fortuitous.  The policies (and personnel) of the new administration might yield a more favorable ROD than what I was previously expecting.  And, if the City Commission initiates steps to change the Future Land Use designation on the site to something other than Industrial at its meeting in March, that decision might then influence the ROD by the USEPA.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that we must concentrate our energies on and utilize to the fullest.

2.  There have only been 7 responses to the blog survey regarding the allocation of our Planning Program Grant monies.  I will post all responses on the blog prior to our next meeting.

     In association with our potential purchase of neighborhood identification signs, I am currently in discussion with city officials regarding;

            A.  Installing "Speed Limit/25 MPH" signs at all entrances to neighborhood,

            B.  Moving existing speed limit signs to more noticeable positions near entrances (rather than on street signs themselves),

            C.  Adding "No Trucks" signs to all speed limit signs, and

            D.  Adding traffic calming language to our neighborhood identification signs, e.g.

"Stephen Foster Neighborhood"

[Insert Artwork]

"Watch for Children"

3.  There have only been 8 responses to the blog survey regarding the Name and Boundary Poll.  I will post all responses on the blog prior to our next meeting.