Chris Murn of Murn Development contacted me after our August meeting to let me know that he is reworking the Rallo’s Parking Lot plan with fewer houses, as per our suggestion, and he will come back to our association when that plan is complete. This is a great example of the powerful influence our association can have with developers when we approach things in a realistic and practical manner. We voted against his project, but gave him specific reasons, which he is taking back to the drawing board. Hopefully, we will reach a plan that works for everyone. The Key Highway Task Force is in the final 5 weeks of work. I will be presenting the completed Task Force recommendations to our association at our October meeting. I strongly encourage all of you to attend. I will have some solid updates on this process for you at the September meeting. Additionally, Harborview Properties will be presenting their next project at our September meeting. This project is planned on their existing property along Key Highway. Refer to www.baltimorehousing.org for all permit/renovation questions. Please contact me with any questions. See you at the meeting. Ann

As has been the case lately, I have many updates for the neighborhood. I would like to first clarify the vote on the Jackson Street. development. Although the neighborhood voted to support the project, it was with some stipulation. The day after our meeting I met again with the representatives for the project. They are going to take another look at the alleys and the challenges the project creates. They will then get back to me and I will update the community. They are, and have been, fully committed to paving the 1800 block of Jackson and adjacent alleys upon completion of the project. Demolition has begun on the JED property and I will have more on that project at our next meeting.

Our development committee met with the developer of the Rallo's parking lot. He is planning a 12-15 home project. I will be discussing a few details of this project at the next meeting and the developer will probably be presenting the full project at our August meeting.

I want to encourage everyone to attend the Key Highway Charrette/Workshop. As I say so often, change is coming and this is your chance to have a voice. It is in everyone's best interests to attend the charette (The charette is a "workshop" of sorts, at which all residents of the peninsula will be invited to participate in group sessions) that will shape the future of the peninsula.

Our development presentation at this month's meeting will be from NV Homes, who is developing the former T&M Paint property on Fort Avenue into 26 new homes. This developer has had several meetings with me and with the development committee, and now has a site plan and home design to show to the association.

Refer to http://www.baltimorehousing.org/ for all permit/renovation questions.

Please contact me with any questions. See you at the meeting. Ann

The Key Highway Community Charrette has been scheduled for 6pm Tuesday, July 26th at Digital Harbor High. Given the large number of participants involved and the logistics of obtaining a location for the event, we are not able to shift the date going forward. We understand that some Task Force members might not be able to make this date, however we would urge all Task Force members to send an alternate in their place that can represent the concerns of their group. Additionally, we would like to encourage a healthy turnout to the Charrette and encourage Task Force members to promote this event to their groups and to the Key Highway/Federal Hill/Riverside community at large.

Neighbors,

As promised by the planning department, the Community has been invited to be a part of the planning process for the tract of land that borders our neighborhood. The task force has grown to include not only RAG, Key Highway Community Association, Federal Hill South, Federal Hill Neighborhood Association and property owners of
land within the study area, but also Locust Point (Who I am surprised were not involved in the original task force and am glad are now invited) Friends of Federal Hill Park, Federal Hill Main Street, South Baltimore Business Association and the Fort McHenry Business Association. Everyone involved in this process has their own agenda, and I do not fault any of them in the least for pushing their respective agendas but I honestly feel that the people who live in the RAG boundaries will feel the results of the development of Key Highway more that any other group of people being represented by members of the task force. That being said, I do not want to
see our interests steamrolled over by the louder, more politically connected groups and the only way to do that is to show up in sheer numbers. You have heard me time and time again plead for participation, but every time I do, I know in my heart it is for something that is very important to the health of the neighborhood.

So, please help me spread the word to everyone in RAG. Print out this email and stuff a copy in everyone’s door on your block. Talk about it to the people you spend time with in the park. Talk about it in your local tavern and grocery store. I don’t care how it gets done, just get it done. Key Highway is going to be something different than what it is now, so make it what we want it to be, not what everyone else who doesn’t live next to it wants it to be.

Jeff

As I have mentioned, Jeff and I are on a community task force with the city to develop a vision for Key Highway with immediate focus on the Fire Repair Facility, which the city will be putting up for sale in the coming weeks. At our next meeting I will be updating everyone on the final results of the Task Force Study, which will include the feedback from the community wide meeting held at Digital Harbor High on April 12th. The other large development projects in the neighborhood are progressing as expected. I will continue to give updates at each association meeting as all of these projects move along. Refer to http://www.baltimorehousing.org for all permit/renovation questions. Please contact me with any questions. See you at the meeting.

If you weren't able to attend the Key Highway proposal meeting last week we have have a copy of the presentation online
This is a large file at almost 5 megs so it make take some time to download. Please feel free to pass your comments on to Jeff at Ragsobo@yahoo.com or to add your comments to this post below.

I gave updates at our last meeting on the various projects in the neighborhood. The NESCO project on Wells is moving along. Windows are being restored to their original appearance and the next activity people will see will be repair of the entire roof structure. The JED property has had some delays but the next activity there will be the JED Company moving out to their new location. Merritt Properties has sold the T&M Paint lot and I am in the process of following up with the new owners. Jeff Ratnow and I are on a community task force with the City to develop a vision for Key Highway with immediate focus on the Fire Repair Facility, which the city will be putting up for sale in the coming weeks. There may be an open forum on this topic. The date should be Tuesday, April 5th at 7pm in the Digital Harbor High Auditorium but we will confirm at the March 28th meeting. I will continue to give updates as all of these projects move along. Refer to www.baltimorehousing.org for all permit/renovation questions. Please contact me with any questions.

Baltimore City Zoning Board has officially adopted the guidelines for renovations of homes. The zoning board will be using these guidelines at the hearings for variances. The Association encourages all homeowners to design their plans based on these guidelines. They are available for review from the city. As of our print deadline, I did not have my copy, so I will post them in next month’s newsletter. Refer to http://www.baltimorehousing.org for all permit/renovation questions. Please contact me with any questions. See you at the meeting.

A rash of illegal dumping has been occurring in our neighborhood including in the park and masonry construction debris behind the 700 block of E. Fort Avenue in Hyson alley. If you see anyone in the act of dumping, please call 911. If you do not see the actual act, please still report the dumping, to the City at 410-396-4707.

Illegal dumping is not only an eyesore to the community; it is a crime and will be treated as such. Violators of anti-dumping laws are subject to fines of up to $1,000 and/or up to 30 days imprisonment for less than 100 pounds of debris; dumping over 100 pounds can lead to a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 1 year. Maximum penalties are higher for commercial dumpers.

The Department of Public Works has a 24-hour surveillance unit out to catch illegal dumpers in the act. Since 1997, the city has successfully prosecuted 40 such cases. Citizens can help by simply reporting illegal dumping.

ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT Ann Fiocco

As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the city has created new guidelines for the zoning hearings, which are still in the preliminary stages. The plan is to use the guidelines on a six-month trial basis before the City Council formally adopts them. Please send any feedback to me at the RAG email account (Ragsobo (at) yahoo.com). Remember, the guidelines are not finalized at the time of this printing:

Third floor additions are allowed as long as they meet all other R8 guidelines.

Third floor additions must be brick or stucco. No siding is allowed except for the alley-facing wall. If house is on an end, even if the side is an alley, the side must be brick or stucco.

Third floor additions on narrow streets/alleys (right of way less than 30 feet) must be set back 10 feet. When end of group, side wall must be architecturally integrated.

Third floor on wider streets must extend straight up as brick, be mansard, or must be set back 10 feet.

Roof access/Pop ups must be 75 square feet or 25% of roof, whichever is less. They must not be used as a room if they go above the 35 feet height limit.

All R8 must go to FAR2.

Rear Additions – Will be allowed, but must be no greater than the average building depth of the block.

Builders/owners must present site plan at hearing that shows existing house in the context of the block, building elevations, and building materials. Signing off of plans by architect or engineer is not necessary for the hearing process. They will be needed at the time of permit request.

The city is still working out the rules for decks as to height limits. However, the city expects owners to send a certified letter to their immediate neighbors before putting up a deck.

Decks must be set back at least 8 feet from the front of home.

The NESCO project has begun on Wells Street. Passersby will notice they have started removing the metal shed and barbed wire on the property. A reminder to all to refer to www.baltimorehousing.org for all of your renovation questions. Please contact me for further assistance.