Before we get to the reports on tonight’s neighborhood-council meetings, one more from last night – the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council. We have toplines from two of the major topics, trees and traffic – read on:
First, the traffic – coupled with parking. Now that school is in session again, those who live or drive by Pathfinder K-8 (where PPNC meets) are reminded just how many more students attend there than when the campus held Cooper Elementary (this is its second year as Pathfinder). A special event at the campus last month was accompanied by a huge parking crunch around the area, but when Pathfinder held its open house recently, things were OK. That, neighbors noted, was because of a couple of factors – including increased communication between neighbors and the school, but also, practical action, including opening the school’s back lot for overflow parking. Nonetheless, traffic and parking remain an ongoing concern, with a perception that school-bus use is not maximized, but instead many students arrive and depart in private vehicles. One suggestion that gained traction toward meeting’s end: Make a map to distribute to Pathfinder parents, showing some of the traffic bottlenecks, and also pointing out areas where parking can be a problem.
Now, the trees. PPNC heard from Brennon Staley of the city Department of Planning and Development regarding the proposed changes to the city’s tree regulations. The comment period for the proposals runs through the end of this month. The city’s proposals are summarized here, and viewable in detail by going here. One major part of the proposal would be to repeal “interim tree regulations” requiring permits for tree-cutting on private property; this FAQ document explains why the city thinks repealing that would lead to more tree preservation than keeping it. The general discussion at PPNC ran toward agreeing that the city should tread lightly with words like “regulation” and “permits,” and would likely get further through outreach and education. Once the comment period ends October 31st, it’ll be up to Mayor McGinn to propose changes that would start down the road to a formal vote next year.
Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council’s next meeting will be a holiday potluck; you can keep up with PPNC online at pigeonpoint.org.
| 2 COMMENTS