FANAfacts Newsletter December 2014
FANAfacts
news, reports and links about your neighborhood and the Faubourg Avart Neighborhood Association
Friday December 12, 2014
When the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) is passed into law next year most of Magazine Street will be zoned for commercial development, including our blocks of Magazine in Faubourg Avart. One of the permitted uses will be standard restaurants, which are sit-down restaurants. This has alarmed many Uptown neighborhood associations who have banded together and are lobbying the City Council to amend the proposed CZO to require standard restaurants to obtain a “conditional use permit.” What this would mean is that neighborhood associations and individual neighbors would be involved in the permitting process, similarly to when FANA was involved in the opening of Pizza Domenica last year. FANA has been asked to join this coalition of Uptown neighborhood associations.
This issue was discussed at the FANA General Meeting last month and the majority of those present voiced support for FANA joining the list of Uptown associations that want restaurants to have to apply for a Conditional Use permit. Because of that response at the meeting, as well as e-mails from members that have been received, the Board of FANA will join with the other Uptown neighborhood associations and request that the latest draft of the new CZO be amended to require that new restaurants obtain a conditional use permit.
Study on One-Way Streets in Faubourg Avart
At the FANA General Meeting last month there was a discussion with a representative of the City regarding the process of converting some streets in Faubourg Avart from two-way to one-way. Apparently the City is very open to neighborhood-led initiatives. In order to gauge whether there is support for converting some streets to one-way, if you have a comment on this issue, be it in support or opposition, and if in support if you could name the streets that you believe should be converted to one-way, please send that comment to [email protected]
Crime Reports
On Monday December 8 at 5:30 AM a woman coming home from work in the 5300 block of Camp was robbed. Video cameras in the area caught images of two men checking car doors earlier that morning near Camp and Soniat. As a reminder please keep your car doors locked and your porch lights on.
Nextdoor.com
FANA is continuing to use Nextdoor.com as its private social media site and everyone living in Faubourg Avart is invited to join. If you are interested in joining please reply to this e-mail and you’ll receive instructions on how to register. The site is a great place to discuss neighborhood issues, post announcements, ask for recommendations, etc. Currently 167 residents in Avart are registered for the Nextdoor site.
Board Vacancy
We currently have a vacancy on the Board of Directors of FANA. If you are interested in serving on the Board please send an e-mail to [email protected] stating so. One skill that we can most use is someone who can update FANA’s website, which is in WordPress. Deadline for nominations would be December 31.
Membership Renewals
FANA’s dues are annual so now is the time to pay your dues for 2015. You can use the attached form to make your renewal. Dues are $25 for a family and $15 for individuals.