Rental problems

Dear Neighbors,

With a new semester almost upon us, the University Hills Civic Association board met Tuesday evening with an attorney in the Parish Attorney's Office to discuss the enforcement of A1 Single-Family Residential zoning. The homes in the University Hills are zoned A1 Single Family Residential. The City-Parish A1 zoning restrictions prohibit more than two unrelated persons from residing in a single-family home. If the owner resides on the premises, a total of four unrelated persons may reside in the home.

We were joined by members of the College Town Civic Association which also values the integrity of its neighborhood. Senior Special Assistant Parish Attorney, Cynthia Childress Bohrer, answered all of our questions and pledged that her office is willing and able to remedy each violation as it is reported to them.

The issue of ownership was discussed at length, as it is a critical part of the ordinance. Ms. Bohrer confirmed that only ownership as recorded in the public record in the Clerk of Courts Office would be considered authentic. When a property owner allegedly sells a small percentage of ownership to one of the renters so that four unrelated people can live in the rental property, no record other than the property title, recorded in the city courthouse is considered factual.

If you feel that a house in our neighborhood is in violation of the A1 zoning, you need only file a complaint by phoning 311. You should confirm the violation by making a record of vehicle license plates parked at the property over the course of two weeks. Photographs of the cars are also helpful. The city will investigate the complaint and send the property owner an affidavit which they must fill out stating who lives in the property. If they are in violation, then the landlord will be required to remedy the situation or face prosecution in court.

Cyndi was adamant that we should speak up about all violations. If you believe a property is in violation, forward that address to me. And we will work together to have the situation remedied.

Chris Liddy
President
417 Delgado Drive

PS: Make universityhills70808.net your home page. That way you can follow our progress and keep up-to-date about your civic association and your community.

Median beautification project progresses

On June 29, the Association board met with Stephen A. Shurtz, Landscape and Forestry Manager for East Baton Rouge Parish, to discuss cooperation between the Association and the city-parish on  plans to beautify the Delgado Drive median. The median is city-parish property; but the Association generally maintains it by mowing and watering the lawn and caring for the front garden. Landscape architect Bill Reich, who is developing plans for the median, also spoke at the meeting.

Mr. Shurtz told us that the city-parish is eager to work with the Association on the beautification project. He spoke enthusiastically about the horticultural importance of the two centennial oaks on the rear median, which he said may be upwards of 300 years old.

He said that he would investigate several possible sources for grants to, at least, partially finance the improvements. The city-parish may also be able to contribute some trees as it did in providing the live oak to memorialize John LaPlante. The city-parish can also assist in the planting of trees and the removal of unwanted existing trees. He will look into extending water pipes from the rear median under Centenary Drive where it crosses the median to provide irrigation to front median. He will also check with the utility companies that have equipment and servitudes on the median about access issues.

Shurtz also advised the Association that a grant would most likely be awarded if it addressed issues important to the city-parish. Those issues include efforts that would help protect the oak trees, help provide sidewalks that connected to Highland Road, and help beautify the median. It would not include money to erect signs for the Association. Although he could not give definite figures, Shurtz said individual grants probably would not be large — he spoke of grants in the few-thousand-dollar range; but the project might be eligible for several different grants that could be combined.

Shurtz mentioned that, if Association members volunteer to help with the planting, that could improve chances of getting grants and would hasten completion of the project.

He said that he will get back to us by July 15.

Meanwhile, the Association will look into finding someone in the neighborhood who can assist in constructing the new signage for the front of the median. If you can have masonry skills and would like to help, please contact us at web@universityhills70808.net.

Also, if you are willing to work on the project, please contact us at web@universityhills70808.net so that we will have a list of volunteers when we begin work on the project.

More information on the beautification project can be found on the Your Thoughts page.

2009 Association annual meeting

The Civic Association held its once-rain-delayed annual meeting on Sunday, May 31. The meeting took place on the Delgado Drive median at 5 PM. (An attempt to meet on May 3 was called because of thunderstorms. Yes, it actually rained within the past two months.)

Association president Chris Liddy gave a report on the Association's activities during the past year. Treasurer Rob Canzonire gave his financial report, explaining how dues were spent and saying that about 70 residents had paid dues for this year, in contrast to the 116 who paid last year.

The next order of business was the election of new board members. Paul Bell and Tracy Molidor were elected to the two new board seats, bringing the total board membership to nine. Robert Canzonire, George Daniels and Erick Swenson were re-elected without opposition. Those elected at the meeting will serve two-year terms. The terms of the four other board members will expire next year. (For a listing of board members with their terms can be found here. The board met June 15 to elect officers. See story below.)

After the elections, landscape architect, Bill Reich presented his plans for Delgado Drive median beautification and answered questions from the assembled Association members. The "D" option for the front median had narrowly beaten the "A" option in an opinion poll on this Web site. Later this month, the board will discuss possible city-parish assistance in the project with EBR director of Landscaping and Forestry, Steve Shurtz. Although the civic association maintains the median, it is city-parish property. The city-parish donated the live oak that was planted last year in memory of the late John LaPlante who was an association president.

Board member and Zoning Committee chair Bob Benedict reported on progress concerning abandoned properties, in particular 4665 Tulane Drive that was demolished by the city-parish recently and 4615 Tulane Drive (at the corner of Tulane and Delgado Drives) which has since been remedied. Bob also passed out a written report to go along with his discussion.

Zoning Committee member, Tommy Watts, discussed problems with rental properties and possible remedies. (If you're interested in working on the Zoning Committee, contact Bob at zoning@universityhills70808.net.)

[Complete annual meeting minutes and the treasurer's report are available on the Reports page of this Web site.]

New Association officers elected

The board of the University Hills Civic Association met June 15 to elect officers for 2009-10 and conduct other business. The new and returning officers are:

• President: Chris Liddy, who was re-elected to that office
• Vice-president: Bob Benedict, who replaces Michelle Spielman in that office
• Secretary: Michelle Spielman, who replaces George Daniels
• Treasurer: Rob Canzonire, who was re-elected to that office

Thanks to those who served in 2008-9.

Further information on the board meeting is available on the Reports page.

Editor's note: Sometimes, because of space and clutter considerations, the navigation on a Web site can be slightly cryptic. What does How To mean? What are Resources? Actually, they can mean what you want them to mean. If you know how to do something that others in the community can benefit from, then let us know and we'll put it on the site. Have a product or service that your company sells? Then that can be a resource. We encourage Civic Association members to patronize other members' places of business.

Are you a teenager who is looking for lawn mowing work or babysitting? Let us know and we'll post that on the site. Want to volunteer to help elderly neighbors? We can facilitate your finding neighbors in need. Know a good handyman? Recommend him to the community.

That's what this site is for. You.

If you're really stumped about what a button means, hold your mouse over the button to see a further description of the contents of the page.

And, if we need other buttons, that's OK. Buttons are cheap.