DPNA Meeting Minutes

Regular Monthly Meeting
December 11, 2003

Board Members Present: Carol Donin (President), Andrew Preiss (Vice President), Rob Dilworth (Secretary), Esther Bent (At-Large Member), Daniel Kirk (At-Large Member)

Attendees: Neighbors from Duke Park and Old North Durham

Guest Speaker: Dick Hails, Assistant Planning Director, City andCounty of Durham

1. Update on Partners Against Crime, District 2 (PAC 2)
Katherine O'Brien reported that the next Coffee with Council meeting will occur on Monday, February 9. Representatives from neighborhoods will make presentations, as well as representatives from PAC 2. Katherine also mentioned that the preliminary work on the Durham Cultural Master Plan is nearing its completion. There will be a meeting at the Durham Arts Council on Monday, January 12. It would be nice for a representative from Duke Park to attend the meeting. (See http://www.durhamarts.org/dcmp_about.html for information about the plan.)

2. Treasurer's Report
Carol Donin stated that the DPNA's current account balance is about $2,575.

3. Park Update
Andrew Preiss reported that dirt to fill in the pool is being stockpiled in the back of the park. Three city departments—parks and recreation, general services, and public works—are still collaborating on turning the pool into a meadow. The plans for updating the playground equipment, renovating the loop, and establishing the skateboard area are still under review by Durham's planning department. The skateboard area has been completely redesigned; the new design is a definite improvement over the previous one.

4. Presentation about the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)
Dick Hails, assistant planning director for the city and county, gave a presentation about the UDO. (A "Public Review Draft" of the UDO can be downloaded at http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/departments/planning/udo.cfm. ) The UDO will be the biggest change in planning in Durham in years. It is being done at the same time as a new comprehensive plan. The main idea for the UDO is that it will create variable codes for different areas. For instance, there will be different codes for urban residential areas, like Duke Park, and suburban residential areas. The plan will provide incentives for compact development in priority areas and encourage mixed-use development. It will also ensure a predictable process for rezoning, make sure that a neighborhood meeting is held before rezoning, and set more standards for zoning and development. The plan should be make the process of development less bureaucratic; this could lead to more infill development within the city and within Duke Park.

Next DPNA Meeting: Grace Baptist Church on January 8 at 7 p.m.

 

Minutes of the November Monthly Meeting, November 13, 2003
The October DPNA meeting was the fall potlluck. No business was conducted.
Minutes of the September Monthly Meeting, September 11, 2003
Minutes of the August Monthly Meeting, August 14, 2003
The July DPNA meeting was the July 4th picnic. No business was conducted.
Minutes of June Monthly Meeting, June 12, 2003
Minutes of May Monthly Meeting, May 8, 2003
The April DPNA meeting was a potluck dinner. No business was conducted.
Minutes of March Monthly Meeting. Mar. 13, 2003
Minutes of Feb. Monthly Meeting to Discuss Duke Park Renovations Feb. 13, 2003
Minutes of Special Session to Discuss Duke Park Renovations Feb. 20, 2003