Hi Neighbors,

It’s that time of year again – the SFNA annual membership meeting and election of officers! All membership dues are up for renewal, new officers can be elected, and planning for the upcoming year is underway. Please join us on Thursday night for a packed agenda of many interesting topics. The doors at the South Frankfort Presbyterian Church (corner of Steele and West Third), enter through the West Third Street doors, will open at 6 p.m. for a social dinner hour with a menu of gazpacho, salad, bread, and dessert. We ask for a small donation for the meal that is applied towards our annual scholarship fund. At 7 p.m. our meeting will begin and attached is the tentative agenda.

At this moment the slate of officer candidates for the meeting will be:
Chair – Katie Carney
Vice Chair – Jennifer Oberlin
Secretary – Margaret Townsley
Treasurer – Lori Macintire
Member-at-large – Hannah Prichard

At the meeting nominations from the floor will be accepted for all positions upon agreement to serve from the candidate being nominated. Also, if nominations and agreements are received before the meeting then an updated slate of candidates will be provided at the meeting. An opportunity will be provided to any candidate that wishes to give introductory remarks.

The third agenda item is in response to Oracle Design Group requesting an opportunity to meet with SFNA and present to us their proposal to rehabilitate 8 vacant and blighted properties in South Frankfort. They have requested a letter of support from SFNA to accompany their housing tax credit application and after their presentation we will ask for approval to submit a letter from the SFNA on their behalf. Attached is a company portfolio document and a map of the properties they will be revitalizing.

At the recent Executive/Board meeting of the SFNA we discussed the opportunities for our annual fall picnic and October meeting ideas. With many conflicts during the month of September with other organizations, we discussed the idea of a fall festival along Capital Avenue in October. The Board would like to further discuss this idea with our members and have a decision on if this festival be in lieu of an October quarterly meeting or other options. If you would like additional information on the topic, please respond to this e-mail.

Over the past year SFNA has encouraged the formation of neighborhood associations that adjoin ours. We will be devoting some time to this topic to discuss more in detail what type of approach you wish for the SFNA Board to take. Please see the attached agenda to review the various ideas that are available for action and again if you would like more information on the topic prior to our meeting, please respond to this e-mail.

The last agenda item we have for the evening might take longer than 30 minutes – so I encourage you to become as familiar as you can about the topic of the Joint Land Use Study and the expansion of the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Boone National Guard Center. Attached is a copy of the JLUS and a summary of some of the recommendations (prepared by one of our members). Also attached is a draft letter that the SFNA Board has written. This time frame will be an opportunity for you to direct the SFNA Board on any future action. SFNA’s bylaws state that the organization shall be non-partisan but at the same time allow, with membership approval, to become active in public policy participation.

After the meeting, we will send out another e-mail recapping what happened and future events of interest to the residents of South Frankfort. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday night and thanks for your interest in SFNA. Please be sure to “like” our Facebook page and also encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same and/or sign up to receive future e-mails.

Sincerely,

Katie and your SFNA Board

Printed in the State-Journal, Frankfort KY, 21 July 2013

As President of the Berry Hill Homeowners Association, I have been following the changes planned by the National Guard for the Army Aviation Support Facility. Our neighborhood is relatively new, and we are unfortunately coming late to the concerns expressed by others about the planned expansion. I applaud The State Journal for their continued coverage of this issue, since it appears that many of our local officials have no concept of the problems some of us deal with on an almost daily basis by the overflights by the current helicopters used by the Guard.

For instance, I recently began recording the times and dates of those flights over my own home which shook my home enough to cause the dishes to rattle, not to mention the associated noise. I noted only those that caused this result and only when I was actually in the house. During a 90-day period, I recorded 84 flights that met the above-mentioned “requirements.” My neighbors have all had similar experiences, and we believe that, contrary to the Guard’s assertion in the 2013 Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) that flights only occur between 6:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Tuesdays thru Thursdays and at an altitude of at least 500 feet, this is not the case; and actual physical damage is resulting from these flights. My reading of the JLUS indicates that future flights, regardless of how many helicopters the Guard has, will more narrowly focus the flights to leave and return from the ends of the Capital City Airport. This means that my neighborhood, and those to both the east and west of the ends of the runway, will experience more flights – and damage – not fewer, and thus increase the problems we are experiencing.

My neighborhood has joined together in signing a petition that is being distributed to all local and state officials, as well as our Congressional delegation, outlining our concerns, both immediate and long-term. We believe that this expansion (which is really what it is, regardless of Mr. Sanderson’s assertion in a previous editorial) will negatively affect property values of not only my neighborhood but all of Frankfort and Franklin County and also result in an increase in the insurance rates of those most directly affected. This will not happen overnight, but the impact of a military facility in the city limits of a place the size of Frankfort can have no other effect.

Also alarming are the proposed “Notes of Disclosure” contained in the JLUS. For those not familiar with this, the JLUS proposes to put a note on the deeds of all properties “impacted” by a radius around the airport and AASF that will require any potential buyer that such property is subject to aerial overlights and resulting noise, vibration, dust and potential aircraft accidents. This will obviously cause any potential buyer to think hard about whether to buy that property and can have no effect but to lower its value.

I understand the safety issues that face airports, and those of us at Berry Hill knew there was an airport nearby when we purchased our property, but what is now being done is a material change from what we bought into. We have no quarrel with fixed-wing aircraft, but the physical damage being inflicted on our property currently by the helicopter traffic, much less the increase that will occur with the changes identified in the JLUS, is unacceptable.

Adjutant General Tonini is quoted in the July 14 article about the groundbreaking for the AASF as saying “. . . moving the AASF will make the Boone National Guard Center a better neighbor for those living near the base.”; “We are going to be better neighbors for everybody regardless of how you measure being a good neighbor”; and “Everything’s going to be a positive rather than a negative, and I just think that people that express their displeasure were just not well informed about what the real situation is.” I respectfully request that he meet with me to explain how these changes will improve my neighborhood’s quality of life; I look forward to hearing from him.

Paula Moore, President
Berry Hill Homeowners Association

Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 25 at 6 p.m. for our quarterly neighborhood association meeting.

This meeting is our typical membership drive, election of officers, and planning for the upcoming fiscal year.

From 6 to 7 p.m. the SFNA’s EC/Board will host a dinner/social hour and our meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

The fireworks for the city of Frankfort to commemorate the 4th of July holiday have been postponed until Friday, July 5 at dark.

SFNA will maintain their request to block off the top level of the Capitol Annex parking garage and ask that the Capitol Complex’s Education Center be opened.

If you are available on Monday, then please join the Friends of Fantasy Forest at the forest on East 2nd Street for a work party from 5:30-7. They will be weeding, mulching, planting, and having a fun time!

After careful consideration with the South Frankfort Neighborhood Association’s Executive Committee and Board, we have decided to cancel this morning’s parade along Paul Sawyier Drive and picnic afterwards at Dolly Graham Park. There is still too high of a chance of rain during the day and pop-up showers that we don’t want the kids suffering from being cold and wet.

We were looking forward to again hosting one of our favorite activities in celebration of wonderful holiday, but alas, we cannot control the weather. If we are able to host another social activity during this summer, then we will let you know.

Hope everyone has a great Fourth of July holiday with your friends and family.

Katie and your SFNA Board

Dear Neighbors!

The South Frankfort Neighborhood Association is excited about our annual 4th of July Parade on Thursday! We encourage kids and all the kids young at heart to decorate yourself, a bike, trike, wagon, or stroller and meet us at 11 a.m. on the corners of East 4th Street and Paul Sawyier for a parade along Paul Sawyier Drive to the Dolly Graham Park. (Helmets are encouraged.) After the parade, Tony will be grilling hot dogs and we will have ice cream and water to help everyone cool down. See you Thursday! Fingers crossed that the weather holds out for us – updates will be made on the SFNA Facebook page if there are any changes.

Also on Thursday, the SFNA has requested Facilities Security to block off the top level of the Capitol Annex parking garage (and at some point the circular drive around the Capitol) to all vehicles. We are asking individuals to park along Capitol Avenue, Shelby Street, and inside the Capitol Annex parking garage (levels 2-6 with handicap spaces). We are encouraging families to walk to the top level of the Annex garage to experience an unrestricted view of the fireworks (launching from Capitol View Park) and mingle with our neighbors from across the city. The opportunity to roam freely and safely while watching the fireworks was a big plus in 2012 and we have submitted the request for 2013’s show. We have also requested that the newly opened Capitol Complex’s Education Center be available for families to explore.

Next Wednesday, July 10, your SFNA Executive Committee and Board will meet to discuss agenda topics for the July 25th quarterly meeting. If you have any comments you wish to submit regarding the JLUS study, nominations for an SFNA officer, expanding SFNA to include North Frankfort and Tanglewood or assisting in helping them create neighborhood associations, or other agenda suggestions then please respond to this e-mail.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 25 at 6 p.m. for our quarterly neighborhood association meeting. This meeting is our typical membership drive, election of officers, and planning for the upcoming fiscal year. From 6 to 7 p.m. the SFNA’s EC/Board will host a dinner/social hour and our meeting will begin at 7 p.m. We are accepting nominations for all of our officer positions, so if you have been interested in becoming a little more involved with your neighborhood association – now is the time! The current bylaws are attached to provide a little more information regarding all of our officers and committees. We do have a few committee chair spots available and we encourage receiving new ideas that help our association grow and become better.

As a follow-up to our October 2012 quarterly meeting about riverfront development, attached are two letters that were sent to the Riverfront Development Committee, the Mayor, and County Judge-Executive. When additional information is received regarding these requests, we will let you know.

In addition to planned SFNA events, Frankfort is bustling with other exciting events. Attached is the Capital Living July events calendar and I encourage you to sign up to receive notices from Downtown Frankfort, Inc. and Capital Living. Both organizations are wonderful about posting notices on what’s happening in our capital city!

Here are two upcoming events of interest to South Frankfort residents.
Sunday, July 14 – some of our neighbors are hosting an “All About Family” day at Dolly Graham Park. If you are interested in volunteering, donating, or becoming more involved with this event, then please respond to this e-mail. When we have a flyer with additional information, we will pass it along thru here or the Facebook page.
Tuesday, August 6 – the Frankfort Police Department and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is hosting the National Night Out 2013 event at Lakeview Park. Law Enforcement Agencies, Public Safety Agencies, commercial establishments, civic clubs and citizens groups will join forces to promote police-community partnerships, crime, drug and violence prevention, safety and neighborhood unity.

The Frankfort Parks, Recreation and Historical Sites are offering NatureCamps this summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 am -12 pm, starting June 11. There are 6 weeks of camp and each week will have a theme and a special location (park) with a fun activity and craft. The Camp is geared to children 4 -10 yrs old and must be accompanied by a “keeper” 14 years or older. The cost is $5/week or $25/summer. You can register at the Juniper Hill Parks Office, at the previous week’s camp, or at http://www.frankfortparksandrec.com/

Frankfort’s American Red Cross Chapter is accepting applications for an AmeriCorps volunteer. For more information please visit www.AmeriCorps.gov or contact Duncan Ewing at 502-561-3697. To apply for a position please send a resume and cover letter. (Please indicate your desired location in the cover letter). Application deadline is Friday July 19, 2013. Requirements of the position include:willing to make an 11 month commitment (beginning August 5th) and complete 1700 service hours during their time of service; be at least 18 years old of age at start of program; be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National or lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S; minimum high school diploma or GED (college degree highly desired); previous successful experience working with diverse populations; foreign language skills highly desired; possess a current valid driver’s license and clean driving record; at least one year of volunteer or community service; excellent presentation skills, organizational skills, self-motivating positive attitudes; excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills; excellent public speaking skills; ability to deploy on national, regional, and local disaster relief operations lasting up to three weeks in length; demonstrated professionalism, flexibility, and initiative. Benefits of the position include: up to $15,000 living stipend for 11 months of service; upon successful completion of the program, members will be eligible for an education award in the amount of $5,500; health insurance provided; childcare available if eligible; and food stamps.

A few additional items of interest are attached and we encourage you to become active in any organization that is of interest to you and your family. Frankfort’s diversity allows for many organizations to work towards individual and collective goals that better enhance our city. Also, I hope that our homeowners completed the Historic Preservation Survey that the City of Frankfort distributed to homeowners in June. This survey was mailed to property owners in the local historic zones only. According to the Planning Director, ‘The survey will be reviewed, and proposed changes to the Historic Preservation Guidelines will be prepared for future public comments, hearings, and potentially adoption. This will be the first of several opportunities for public input, however, returning this survey will help staff in the initial drafting of the proposed changes.’ SFNA will keep you posted on the next stages of this survey and any upcoming action the city will take.

Thank you for your support of SFNA and our city!
Katie Carney and your SFNA Board

Letter to the Editor, State Journal, Frankfort KY. 22 June 2013

Bigger Boone will hurt city
Plan to expand aviation facility needs to be re-evaluated

By Pat Layton Published: June 22, 2013

I was a professional real estate agent and broker in Franklin County for more than 18  years. I served on the joint land use study group when it was first organized, but resigned more than two years ago and did not participate in approving the findings or recommendations that have been issued in the final study. I have asked that my name be deleted from the list of committee members.

As a former real estate professional, I understand that advising buyers and sellers in both residential and commercial property transactions is a serious business. For a residential buyer, the purchase of a home is probably the largest single investment the family will ever make. For investors and developers, there are businesses and jobs on the line that depend on a sound decision.

Because of the importance of the decisions — both for residential and commercial real estate — I was deeply troubled and concerned when I first heard about recommendations of the joint land use study. Although longtime residents of Frankfort have lived with the airport and the helicopter operations at the Boone Center for years, recommendations in the study signal a new phase in the community’s relationship with the Boone Center and the airport that should give the community pause.

Across the country, joint land use studies are being undertaken in communities near military installations, particularly when those installations are gearing up for expansion, as is the case here. Not only is the Boone Center proposing a new and expanded Army Aviation Support Facility at a cost of $48 million, but more than $100 million in additional construction has been proposed in the last two six-year statewide capital improvement plans conducted by state government.

The joint land use study recommendations as to real estate are several. An Airport Overlay District would be adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan. The district identifies various zones based in proximity to the airport. A large area of the city would fall within the Planning Influence Area and ALL PROPERTY TITLES IN THIS AREA WOULD INCLUDE A FORMAL NOTE DISCLOSING THE PROXIMITY TO THE AIRPORT. An online data base would be developed so that all properties within the Airport Overlay District could be searched with additional information provided as to impact such as noise, vibration, low flying aircraft, training and potential accidents.

Additional recommendations apply to those areas in the Approach Zones, which includes most of South Frankfort, the downtown commercial district and neighborhoods to the west of the airport.

It is being recommended by the joint land use study that realtors and owners provide both prospective buyers and renters a notarized disclosure stating: “The subject property may therefore be exposed to periodic low-level military and civilian aircraft over flights and associated noise and vibration, the risk of aircraft accident and other impacts associated with standard military training activities.”

Clearly this will make these properties less attractive to investors, buyers and renters, and may, over time, result in a loss of investment dollars in critical places across Frankfort and a decline of highly visible neighborhoods that will reflect poorly on the entire city.

All of this raises so many questions that it is hard to list them. What about the families and investors who already own property in affected areas? What happens to their equity and investment? Why would any future buyers or investors be interested in putting their money and their life’s work in an area like this? What happens to our historic neighborhoods like South Frankfort and downtown? What happens to the city and county property valuation and tax base? Are local governments responsible for compensation to aggrieved property owners, since it will be local ordinances that implement these recommendations?

Without question, what we are seeing in an initiative by the Boone Center to carve out control across the city to make way for its expanding mission of attracting Chinook and other helicopters for repair from across the country, not just from Kentucky.

Why is this expansion taking place in Frankfort, where testing and training flights occur over a densely populated area? Kentucky has dedicated thousands of acres to National Guard training in Muhlenberg County. Bluegrass Station is vast and rural, if there is a need to stay in central Kentucky. Doesn’t this plan need to be re-evaluated?

Pat Layton is a retired realtor, businesswoman and Frankfort city commissioner.

Since the beginning of the year, the new City Commissioners have been having a discussion about whether the historic preservation ordinance should be reduced or even done away with all together.

The City is now following up on this discussion with a mail survey which you may have already received. See: http://www.frankfort.ky.gov/blog/2013-05-16/planning-department-seeks-comments-concerning-historic-preservation. This survey was mailed to property owners in the local historic zones only.

According to the Planning Director, ‘The survey will be reviewed, and proposed changes to the Historic Preservation Guidelines will be prepared for future public comments, hearings, and potentially adoption. This will be the first of several opportunities for public input, however, returning this survey will help staff in the initial drafting of the proposed changes.’

The survey takes about 10-20 minutes depending on how detailed you want to get.

It is important that changes to an ordinance which has such impact on the character of our historic neighborhoods receive more public attention. It would be extremely helpful for you to fill out this form and encourage as many residents/property owners in our historic districts to respond to this survey as possible, particularly those who value the character of their neighborhoods

Thank you for supporting preservation and continuing to make our historic neighborhoods better.

The Friends of the Paul Sawyer Public Library June sale is June 12-15 2013 with the set-up day being Tues. June 11.

Volunteers are needed.

They need workers to set-up on Tues, June 11, starting about 11am.

Additional volunteers may be needed for Weds morning to finish setting up, hanging signs, etc.

Opening night is Wed. June 12 from 4-7. (Friends members only)

Thursday June 13 with shifts from 10-12, 12-2, and 2-5.

Friday, June 14 with shifts from 10-12, 12-2, and 2-5

Sat. June 15 from 10-12, and 12-2. This is bag/box day.

Sat. June 15-2 p.m.  pack up, box up and carry down to the garage

Store will also be open on Friday June 14, with shifts from 10-12, 12-2, and 2-5.

There is a spot for everyone, so please select your best time.

The sign-up sheet will be in the store Wed afternoon after 2pm or contact them via facebook or their website: http://www.psplfriends.org/

Boone JLUS Final Report March 2013