SFNA email news – June 2014

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It is almost summer here in Frankfort and things are really starting to happen! So many that my calendar is running out of room – so I will try to list the primary ones that affect downtown/south Frankfort and the charities/causes that we try to highlight. Be sure to check out the SFNA Facebook page (would LOVE to get 500 likes), the State Journal, Capital Living, and the Downtown Frankfort e-mail blast for more information about anything I have listed or may have missed!
Things of interest with direct relation to the South Frankfort Neighborhood Association 
  • We will once again host our annual bike/trike/stroller/wagon parade down Paul Sawyier on Friday, July 4th at 11 a.m. with a picnic afterwards! Please see the attached flyer to stick on your fridge, pass out at events, or forward to a neighbor to encourage them to come! If you are still in Frankfort that evening and want to watch the fireworks, SFNA has once again requested that the top level of the Capitol Annex parking garage be closed to vehicular parking. We want to provide as safe of an environment as we can for our families in town to watch the spectacular fireworks show the city puts on.
  • The next SFNA quarterly meeting date has been scheduled for Thursday, July 24! The doors will open at 6 p.m. for dinner/social hour and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. The tentative agenda will be discussing survey results, electing new officers for the 2014-2015 term, and hearing a proposal from a former scholarship recipient and his fundraising efforts to spend a semester in New Zealand! This is YOUR opportunity to become involved with YOUR neighborhood association! We need candidates for all positions, so if you are interested in serving YOUR neighbors, please gander at our current bylaws and respond to this e-mail if you wish to be on the nomination slate.
  • Also, the SFNA EC/Board members will meet on Thursday, June 19th if you have any comments you would like to submit, then please respond to this e-mail and let us know.
Things of interest happening in Downtown and South Frankfort
  • Tonight – Old Capitol summer concert
  • Tomorrow, Saturday, June 14 – Capital City Stampede a 10k run and 2 mile walk starting around 8 a.m. at the Capitol building and finishing also at the Capitol. There will be many roads closed and Old Lawrenceburg/River Road/East Todd Street will also be closed for the race. Please plan accordingly when trying to exit/enter the east side of South Frankfort.
  • Tomorrow, Saturday, June 14 – Living In History Home and Garden tour from 10-4. To purchase tickets stop by the tourism office on the corner of Capitol and 2nd Street in the morning.
  • Sunday – Happy Father’s Day!
  • Tuesday, June 17 – Grand Theatre sneak peak for the 2014-2015 season at 5:30, please RSVP by Monday
  • Wednesday, June 18 – A tribute to Baxter at Gibby’s at 6 p.m. – a fundraiser for the Franklin County Humane Society and Life House for Animals in recognition of the Downtown Mayor, Baxter, who resided at Folkbike Recyclery.
  • Thursday, June 19 – SFNA EC/Board meeting
  • Friday, June 20 – the annual Kings Center Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction at 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 211 Washington Street – please see attached flyer and you may contact Margaret Townsley for tickets at Margaret.townsley@gmail.com.
  • Saturday, June 21 – Frozen is being shown at the Old Capitol on the lawn
  • Friday, June 27 – downtown concert
  • Saturday, June 28 – Sunshine Center’s Annual Caring for Kids benefit concert, A Storybook Evening, will be held at Prodigy Vineyards and Winery
  • Friday, July 4 – SFNA Kiddo Parade at 11 a.m.!
  • Friday, July 4 – Movie night at the Grand Theatre
  • Friday, July 11 – Movie night at the Grand Theatre
  • Thursday, July 24 – SFNA Quarterly meeting
Please be sure to complete our survey by the end of June. We plan on discussing the responses at the July meeting. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LZMY8MN
Keep an eye on the State Journal for an article we wrote highlighting this year’s Randy Bacon Memorial scholarship recipients!
Here is the link to the historic preservation survey results online Executive Summary of Historic Preservation Survey/Assessment 2013 | City of Frankfort
Are you interested in doing some repairs to your historic home this year? Be sure to check out the city’s pilot program – applications must be received by the end of the month. One is a grant and the other is a loan interest buy down program.   The press release and applications for each program is on our web page in several locations – attached is the press release, grant application, and loan application.   Here is our web page site: http://frankfortpbc.wix.com/frankfortplanning and here is the direct link to our historic information page accessed from the home page frankfortplanning
Walk/Bike Frankfort has been busy this season and one thing that might be of interest to you is improved sidewalks and addition of bike lanes on US 60. Please check out their proposal at this link. https://9e753a84-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/walkbikefrankfort/files/US60WestFrankfortBikeLanesPedestrianAccomodations.pdf
 
Thanks so much for all that you do. I look forward to seeing you around town!
Katie and your SFNA Board

Friends of the Library book sale coming up! 11-14 June 2014

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The Summer Book Sale, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, starts this week and it will be another HUGE sale, one you will not want to miss! The first day of the sale will be Wednesday, June 11 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.  This is Friends Preview Day and membership to the Friends will be available at the door.

The other hours for the sale are as follows:  Thursday, June 12, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm; Friday, June 13, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; and on Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Nothing in the sale will be over $1.00 and on Saturday, the prices are reduced to $2.00 a bag and $5.00 for a box!  This is a great time to stock up on books for summer reading and the Friends are hoping to see you at the Sale.

Frankfort-based National Guard helicopter crews on deployment

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Friends and family joined the Kentucky National Guard to say farewell to the Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, June 4. The aviation unit will deploy to the Middle East this summer.

from the KY National Guard: http://kentuckyguard.com/kentucky-aviation-unit-departs-for-middle-east/

news and video from WTVQ: http://www.wtvq.com/content/localnews/story/Families-Say-Farewell-to-Soldiers/MydzB0B_a0KrYAn1a6HdfQ.cspx

JLUS MEETING POSTPONED

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THE IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE OF The Frankfort/Franklin County PLANNING COMMISSION’S Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) COMMITTEe meeting has been Cancelled for may 8, 2014.  This meeting will be rescheduled for a later date.

Any questions concering this notice should be directed to Franklin County Director of Planning robert hewitt (502) 875-8701.

Please pass this message on to anyone that might be attending that is not on the distribution list.  thank you.

plant sale 10 May 2014 – Capital Area Master Gardeners

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CAPITAL AREA EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS
PLANT MARKET

Kindly hosted by the Kentucky Historical Society on the Front Lawn of the Old State Capitol
300 West Broadway
Frankfort, KY

Saturday, May 10, 2014
9 AM to 2 PM

Vegetables, Herbs, Perennials, Garden Art, Silent Auction, Children’s activities & more!
Gardening Related Vendors
Enjoy Saturday in Downtown Frankfort!
Many merchants will be featuring garden related items.

Proceeds go towards community horticulture projects and the Capital Area Extension Master Gardeners Scholarship Fund for students majoring in horticulture or related subjects

May 8th 2014 meeting on the JLUS

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The Planning Commission created a JLUS implementation committee several months ago and this committee will be meeting for the first time on May 8th 2014 beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Facilities Bldg. #162 @ Boone National Guard Center.

This is open to the public and those interested in attending should inform Gary Muller or Chermie Maxwell at City Hall so that they can arrange seating etc.  Telephone: 502-352-2100

The Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) Report can be downloaded from one of the following links, printed copies are available from the City and County planning offices on request:

The study can be accessed on both the City and/or County websites at the following links:

http://www.franklincounty.ky.gov/dept/planning.htm

http://www.frankfort.ky.gov/document/jlus-joint-land-use-study-final-plan-2013

REMINDER – SFNA’s Quarterly Meeting on Wednesday, 4/30

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The next SFNA meeting will be on Wednesday, April 30 at the South Frankfort Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall, please enter through the West Third Street doors. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a social hour with donations for dinner accepted to benefit our Randy Bacon Memorial Scholarship fund. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. We have invited the five candidates for the 1st District Magistrate position to come introduce themselves and answer questions from the audience. We will also provide updates regarding a tentative social event for May, information about the annual 4th of July Parade and picnic, the July quarterly meeting, and a survey we will be creating to gauge your thoughts about our neighborhood association. The survey will focus on our communication options, social events, quarterly meetings, membership participation, and your thoughts/suggestions for the association. The purpose of the survey is to reflect on the past to help prepare us better for the future. So we encourage your participation, we plan on having paper copies available at the April meeting and it will be online (a link will be sent when it is created). We ask that all surveys be completed by the end of May so we can compile the results and discuss any changes needed prior to the July quarterly meeting.

SFNA e-news update April 2014: quarterly mtg / city business / historic distr / preservation grants

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The next SFNA meeting will be on Wednesday, April 30 at the South Frankfort Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall, please enter through the West Third Street doors. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a social hour with donations for dinner accepted to benefit our Randy Bacon Memorial Scholarship fund. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. We have invited the five candidates for the 1st District Magistrate position to come introduce themselves and answer questions from the audience. We will also provide updates regarding a tentative social event for May, information about the annual 4th of July Parade and picnic, the July quarterly meeting, and a survey we will be creating to gauge your thoughts about our neighborhood association. The survey will focus on our communication options, social events, quarterly meetings, membership participation, and your thoughts/suggestions for the association. The purpose of the survey is to reflect on the past to help prepare us better for the future. So we encourage your participation, we plan on having paper copies available at the April meeting and it will be online (a link will be sent when it is created). We ask that all surveys be completed by the end of May so we can compile the results and discuss any changes needed prior to the July quarterly meeting.
Some other notes of interest to our neighborhood include a meeting of the Zoning Update Committee of the Frankfort/Franklin County Planning Commission on Tuesday, April 15 at 5:30 in the Public Safety Community Room at 308 West Second Street. The agenda will consist of a review of proposed revisions to the City of Frankfort’s Zoning Regulations, which might include revising the historic district guidelines as outlined in Articles 4 and 17 in relation to the Citizen Survey comments and City Commission comments. Discussion and possible revisions to the General Commercial and Professional Office zone districts located on West Second Street. The last item is discussion of possible revisions to the conditions relating to the specific conditions of approval for daycare use requests.
Gary Muller with the City of Frankfort sent the following information that might be of interest to tomorrow’s meeting.
Hello all, the link below will provide you a PDF file that is the latest draft of the zoning regulations that are in draft form written to amend the 3 local historic zoning district regulations and Article 17 based on the public survey we completed last year.   Also, the PO and CG were amended to reflect some of the form code language that seemed to have the most support in encouraging redevelopment of Second Street.   
 
 
One of the goals for this draft is to identify specific requirements (former parts from Article 17)  placed in each district  and that if an applicant meets – they will obtain administrative approval.    Second goal is for the draft to incorporate comments from public and City Commission in a way that will encourage maintenance, investment, and stability within our historic districts.
 
Please note: The general guidelines that have been viewed as arbitrary, unclear, or too restrictive – are being moved out of the zoning regulations, incorporated specifically for each zoning district and are nearly complete.
( this is being done for example that properties on Broadway does not have the same historic elements as to properties on Conway Street – yet we only have one set of rules/guidelines/requirements. )   Furthermore, we are hoping that the staff’s version of the guidelines will be further updated with graphics and illustrations, pending funding/grant review.
 
Again, Article 17 guidelines – requirements are now shown in each zoning district (SC, SH, & CB) and when a development does not meet these or is seeking local, state, or federal tax credits – a different set of guidelines will be provided (final touches are being done to that draft and will be sent out when completed). 
 
I am going to begin discussions of the draft with the Planning Commission’s Zoning update Committee to get them familiar with the concepts, directions, and likely changes that will then be discussed at a public meeting to obtain public input as well as the same purpose of getting the public familiar with the proposed concepts, directions and changes suggested.     Then a ARB/Zoning update meeting will likely be scheduled, followed by formal public hearing by the Planning Commission, then final review by the City Commission.
 
If you have any questions, comments or needs, please do not hesitate to contact me.   Thank you for your continued interest in Historic Preservation within our great City.   Gary
Also some additional updates on things that SFNA has been tracking:
GAC: We are interviewing top three engineering firms to do the design of Second and Bridge Streets. We will take the recommendation to the City Commission in May and hopefully have a kickoff meeting soon after. There will be a public forum planned during the design phase to get additional community input .
Bob Yapp Preservation How To Event:  April 24th-26th, Grand Theater. Hurry!! Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to benefit from rehab tips and how to’s from this Old House Expert and nationally known author!! One day event registrations are available at only $15, and includes a keynote lunch.  Go to www.frankfort.ky.gov to register.
Call Maya DeRosa for details (502) 352-2097. There are some attached documents that might be of interest.
Coming Soon! Historic Preservation Grant and Loan Fund! City is kicking off a pilot program May 1st to allow owners in the historic district to apply for financial assistance for exterior repairs. Grant window will be open 60 days. Minimum project cost is $10,000 and grants require a 50% match by applicant. The project must be complete within one year and exterior changes must pass a final inspection to receive grant funds. As this is a pilot program with limited funds, this year there will be one qualified residential project and one qualified commercial project selected randomly from the grant lottery pool.  For the low interest loan program, the maximum loan amount is $20,000 and projects that meet the City’s screening requirement will be referred to a third party bank to be pre-qualified.Check City website at www.frankfort.ky.gov for details on May 1st or call Rebecca Hall, Grants Manager (502) 352-2076.
Attached is the agenda for the City Commission’s meeting on April 21. 
We will send out another reminder e-mail closer to the quarterly meeting date – until then, please feel free to reply to this e-mail. FYI – any SFNA membership applications received from April on will be applied towards membership in fiscal year 2014-2015.