Daycare Operator Seeks Use Variance

On September 10, 2007, the Planning Commission heard a request for a variance from the city’s land use code entered on behalf of two childcare operations—Dee’s Little Darlin’s daycare and High Achievers preschool—on South Stull Street. Dee Harlow, the founder, runs both operations from two adjacent properties in this core residential neighborhood. She added a second story to one house under a residential permit last year in preparation for creating the preschool and adding clients. She resides in neither house.

This is at the heart of the land use issue, because City ordnances allow home-based daycare operators to care for a maximum of 16 children. Commercial daycare operators have no residency requirements and no specific maximum—but must be situated in a place that is zoned commercial. If the residency requirement were upheld, Harlow would be limited to providing care for 32 children. If the variance were granted, removing the 32-child limit, the properties would be re-zoned commercial in perpetuity, because the variance attaches to the property deed.

Jan Sorby, president of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association, spoke against granting the variance because of the impact that increased traffic and inadequate parking would have on neighbors. Like other neighborhood residents who spoke at the hearing, Sorby expressed concern that uncertainty over future commercial uses would lower property values.

“Core neighborhoods are especially susceptible to inappropriate land use because we don’t have sub-division covenants that protect us. We must rely on the enforcement of Bloomington laws for our protection. Disregarding this law essentially encourages spot zoning,” Sorby said. “In particular, this area is one of the last remaining affordable housing areas in a core neighborhood and needs protection for that reason. The City’s Unified Development Ordnance (UDO) explicitly ‘discourag[es] the conversion of dwellings to multifamily or commercial uses.’”

There is no question of closing down the childcare operations, just of the enrollment limit and bringing the properties into compliance with requirements (for example, for sidewalks and fire sprinklers). The childcare and preschool have a good reputation, and everybody involved in the hearings—from parents in daycare to the BPNA and the City Council—heartily endorsed the value of the service that Harlow provides. The variance request will go before the Bloomington Zoning Authority (BZA) on October 18, at 5:30 pm in the Showers Building. Everyone is invited to attend and to provide their own perspective on the land use issue.

From BPNA Neighborhood News, published October 2007

From

$250,000 Safe Routes to School Grant

11/15/07--The City of Bloomington received a $250,000 grant to build a sidewalk along the west side of Henderson St., from Allen St. to Hillside Dr. and the crossing to Templeton School. The grant comes from Safe Routes to School, a new program in the federal transportation bill, SAFETEA –LU. The goal of the program is to reverse the 30 year decline in the numbers of children walking to school and reintroduce opportunities for regular physical activity by improving conditions for bicycling and walking to school.

Edgewood High School in Elletsville also received a $250,000 grant. The combined value of the two grants in Monroe County equals 25% of the total awarded statewide—a showing that Justin Wykoff, Engineering Services Manager with the City of Bloomington, describes as “spectacular.”

Wykoff thanked the neighborhood association, parents, and school officials for their hard work, which contributed to the success of the Safe Routes application. The grant will supply two-thirds of the funding needed to complete the Henderson St. sidewalk project. An application is in process for a Community Development Block Grant to bring in the remaining funding.

Welcome, New Neighbors!

Bryan Park area residents welcome new blood to the neighborhood each fall and throughout the year. If you are new to Bloomington, you are probably still learning about the City services and ordnances. Here’s a little ‘cheat sheet.’

Quiet times. Sleeping hours are protected by limits on noise sources:

· 11:00 pm - 6:00 am for movable source noise (car radio, boombox, etc.)

· 9:00 pm - 7:00 am for fixed source noise (power tools or lawn mowers, etc.)

The City considers noise “excessive is if it can be heard in the public right-of-way or in another person's home.”

Parking is permitted on paved or gravel surfaces only, not in yards.

Snow removal. Property owners must clear ice and snow from sidewalks abutting their property within 24 hours. BPNA volunteers help neighbors with health problems clear their walks and avoid fines. Contact BPNA president Jan Sorby at jsorby@sbcglobal.net to get on the list.

Recycling. Every two weeks the recycling truck collects:

• Plastic containers coded #1 through #7 (it’s stamped on the bottom of the item) and clean plastic grocery bags
• Clean dry paper, shredded and bagged paper, flattened cardboard and paper board boxes
• Metal cans and glass containers.

Please sort recyclables into two categories: paper and everything else. To check the collection date or request a red recycling bin, call the Sanitation Department at 349.3443.

Dog don’t. You’ve probably noticed the doggy waste bags dispensed from plastic milk bottles around the neighborhood. Liz Brown gets the “good neighbor” award for putting them up, but she needs an endless supply of plastic bags. Feel free to fill the dispensers yourself or leave bags in the bin on Liz’s porch at 413 E. Davis.

Neighborhood Watch provides both an 'extra eyes and ears' approach to crime prevention and a proactive approach to improving quality of life in the neighborhood. Dick Mitchell acts as liaison to the police or other city offices, without involving you. Call him at 339-5096 or email mitchellr@insightbb.com.

From BPNA Neighborhood News, October 2007

Neighborly Compassion, by Mary Lou Mitchell

Charles and Olive Scamihorn have lived on Grimes Lane since August 17, 1956, and attended the Free Methodist Church ever since. Charles is a WW II and Korean War veteran who served in the Navy in both the Pacific and Atlantic fleet, in England, Normandy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He and Olive were married July 28, 1946.

The last of August Charles took Olive to the beauty shop. Not feeling well, he asked a friend if she would bring Olive home. Charles drove himself home and after he got out of the car, he dropped his house key. When he bent over to pick it up, he fell – half on the sidewalk and half in the street. Unable to get up, he lay there.

Charles heard the screech of air brakes close to him. A semi driver jumped out of his truck and lifted Charles up. The driver wouldn’t leave until he had helped Charles into the house, helped him to get undressed and into bed. Charles thanked him over and over. When Charles asked what he owed him, the semi driver pointed to the cap Charles always wears—a WW II & Korean War cap with the five battle stars that he had earned. “You’ve paid already,” the driver said. “It’s a privilege to help an old soldier.”

Charles knows the man only as Roscoe, and that’s all he knows about him. Roscoe ignored all the cars honking outside the door because his semi was sitting in the street for as long as it took to help Charles, then he left.

When Charles and Olive moved here they were the youngest couple in the neighborhood. Now they are one of the oldest ones. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more people were as compassionate as Roscoe was? What might have happened if he had not stopped?

If you have any human interest stories to share, please e-mail me at richard_mitchell_401@comcast.net

From the BPNA Neighborhood News, published October 2007

Dancing in the Street - BPNA Block Party

Great music turns a picnic into a party. Specifically, the third annual BPNA Block Party got rocking when Craig Brenner and Friends—Craig on piano, Lori Wallace on vocals and percussion, Gordon Bonham on guitar and vocals, and Kenny Aronoff on drums— set up on the 1000 block of South Dunn amid the scent of hamburgers and potluck offerings on Friday, August 24.

About 200 people came to eat, chat, listen, and dance with their neighbors. Craig’s signature mix of jazz, blues, boogie woogie, and New Orleans R & B got adults and children alike up and moving.

Jan Sorby, president of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association, said, “Craig Brenner and Friends’ music really makes our picnic an Event. We are very lucky to have talented giving people like Craig and all the band members who virtually donate their time to our annual picnic. It is this kind of personal contribution that makes the Bryan Park a special place to live.”

Craig Brenner added, “It was a reunion of sorts for three of us - Gordon Bonham, Kenny Aronoff and I were all in the Ragin' Texans in the late 1980's, and Kenny left when John Mellencamp's Scarecrow Tour hit the road and it took him away. Aronoff still lives in Bloomington and he jumped at the opportunity to play.”

Sorby said, “To say it was a successful community building experience would be an understatement. Our picnics bring together long-time and new residents in a positive pleasurable manner. Sharing time together at this annual event is the first step to knowing, enjoying and respecting each other’s life-style and privacy.”

Jon Lawrence, the event organizer, said, “Each year more and more people volunteer to help. It’s so wonderful to see people take ownership of the party and really of the neighborhood.”

If you missed the party, you can still hear the music. Look for upcoming dates on www.craigbrenner.com.

From BPNA Neighborhood News, published October 2007