TOWN CENTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Minutes August 13, 2014 APPROVED 9/10/2014

The regular meeting of the Town Center Community Association was held on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, at Historic . Those in attendance were Chairperson Linda Wengel, Board members Helen Ruther and Lynn Foehrkolb, Columbia Council Representative Jeanne Ketley, Village Manager Patricia Laidig, and Assistant Village Manager Patricia Loeber. Ray Cole, Dylan Goldberg, Joan Lancos, Laura Parrish, and Mary Kay Sigaty were guests.

At 7:00 p.m., Ms. Foehrkolb made a motion, seconded by Ms. Ruther, to approve the agenda as amended to remove Symphony Woods, 990 Form, and Strategic Initiatives. The motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Ruther made a motion, seconded by Ms. Foehrkolb, to approve the June 11, 2014, minutes as submitted. The motion carried unanimously.

Resident Speakout Joan Lancos, a Town Center property owner, stated that she believes Downtown development will only improve the value of properties in Town Center. She has already seen improvement in not having Merriweather Post Pavilion’s temporary stages so close to the Banneker neighborhood. Board member Lee Richardson arrived at 7:06 p.m. Ms. Lancos further said that she is looking forward to everything coming to the Downtown, especially the Inner Arbor plan, which she encouraged the Town Center Board to support.

Board Liaison Not present.

GUEST: Laura Parrish, Kings Contrivance Covenant Advisor Discussion included the following:  Ms. Parrish served as the property standards evaluator in Wilde Lake two years ago, a position that was funded by a Columbia Association grant.  She evaluated each detached home and townhome in Wilde Lake from the curb, looking for overall trends. Apartment-style condominiums were not evaluated.  The process involved sending green postcards to owners of properties which had passed inspection and yellow postcards to owners of properties which were not in compliance with the covenants. Owners were given two months to rectify the problems. Follow-up postcards were sent when necessary. Any outstanding issues were reported to the covenant advisor to follow up on. About 70- 75% of property owners made the corrections.  The project overall had a positive impact on the appearance of properties in Wilde Lake.

Courtney Watson arrived at 7:17 p.m. Ms. Parrish left at 7:18 p.m. Barbara Rudlin arrived at 7:19 p.m.

GUEST: Courtney Watson, Howard County District 1 Representative and Candidate for County Executive The following subjects were discussed:  Ms. Watson said that she is excited about the changes coming to Town Center, such as the completion of the path around .  With County Council redistricting, she no longer senses a division between Columbia and the rest of the County.  The referendum process is ruled by state law. The Howard County Council has rectified County law, but fixing the process at the state level is in the hands of the Senate.  Ms. Ketley would like to see an education program developed at the County level to inform condominium owners of their rights.  Ms. Watson observed that we are not prepared for the coming aging of the County. She has an “kitchen cabinet” on aging that is considering this issue. Norma Rose arrived at 7:30 p.m and Michael McCall arrived at 7:31 p.m.  The Board reiterated its ongoing concerns about traffic and parking in the Downtown as development proceeds.  Ms. Watson stated that Howard County will manage growth and make sure the appropriate infrastructure is in place.  Ms. Watson also commended the Board on Town Center Community Association’s recent activities such as the National Night Out Ice Cream Social, the Deer Management Seminar, and the Howard County Board of Education Candidates Forum.

GUEST: Michael McCall, President and CEO of the Inner Arbor Trust Discussion included the following points:  Ms. Wengel noted, and Mr. McCall acknowledged, that the horns and merry-go-round were not part of the presubmission meeting but were added later. Ms. Watson and Mr. Goldberg left at 7:43 p.m.  Ms. Foehrkolb advised Mr. McCall to listen to the concerns of people who are not in favor of the Inner Arbor plan, that there is room for better dialogue.  Mr. McCall said that the Trust has an easement and must adhere to very strict and legally binding deadlines and conditions. Nina Basu arrived at 7:48 p.m.  The project will be built in phases, but the whole of it will be approved all at one time. The Trust is seeking a 7-year time frame for seven distinct and logical phases. Money will limit how quickly the whole project can be completed. Pathways will be built in each phase to bring people to that particular park feature. Phase 1 is the chrysalis, and phase 2 is restoration of the stream. The horns are primarily sculptures, with some minor music component each day.  Ms. Foehrkolb noted that in winter, a mulched path that is planned will become icy/slippery and may not be accessible.  There will be 67 parking spaces for the chrysalis with ADA access. The other side of the park will have lots of 32 and 30 additional parking spaces. Ms. Ruther stated that Symphony Woods is being talked about as a regional park and should therefore have more parking. Mr. McCall pointed out that there is shared parking with surrounding office buildings. The Board encouraged Mr. McCall to voluntarily increase the number of handicapped spaces in the park. He said that could be done temporarily for a given event by using stanchions.  Naming rights might be available for any element of the park, from an entire phase to a single plank of wood with a small engraved plate.  The butterfly will be built after the chrysalis and will provide a source of revenue, with two eateries and indoor seating for 70.  The Inner Arbor Trust exists for development and custodial care of the park. Ms. Ruther stated that she does not want the Columbia Association (CA) and lien payers to fund maintenance of the park.

The Board thanked Mr. McCall for attending the meeting and responding to their questions. All guests left the meeting at 8:37 p.m.

Architectural Committee No applications

Order of Business

Management Contract: Ms. Laidig updated the Board on Oakland’s front lawn situation and said that some of the village boards have sent letters of support for Town Center to CA. Ms. Ketley noted that Oakland is a gem and needs to be treated like one.

Merriweather Post Pavilion: The Board chose to pass on sending a letter to Merriweather Post Pavilion about recent deaths during an electronic dance music concert. The Board will wait for the investigation to run its course.

Development: The Board decided by unanimous consent to send a letter to the Department of Planning and Zoning 2 about Symphony Woods, to be drafted by Ms. Wengel and to include a recommendation that would require the Inner Arbor Trust to apply in phases, build more pathways initially, and provide more handicapped parking.

Board and Staff Reports Manager’s Report: Submitted in writing. Ms. Laidig said that future issues of the Center Fold will include photos from around Town Center to encourage residents to learn more about their village.

Chairperson Report: Ms. Wengel reported on the recent meeting of the Downtown Partnership: (1) there will be a 5-K race in October to highlight significant areas and buildings in the Downtown; (2) Whole Foods will hold festivities outside for several days after it opens on August 20; (3) signs are being developed for the Downtown. Board members commented that any Downtown signs must complement and integrate with Town Center signs.

Columbia Council Report: Ms. Ketley stated that on October 18, the Columbia Association (CA) will bring together 200+ people as representative stakeholders into a single meeting. The meeting is by invitation only. Ms. Ketley believes that CA lien payers are stakeholders and should be permitted to attend this meeting. Ms. Ketley commented that some residents have negative views of the CA Board.

Board Member Comments Nothing further at this time.

Ms. Ruther made a motion, seconded by Ms. Foehrkolb, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting of the Town Center Village Board adjourned at 9:36 p.m. The next scheduled meeting of the Town Center Village Board will be Wednesday, September 10, 2014, at 7:00 p.m.

Recorded and attested to by:

______Patricia B. Laidig Secretary/Treasurer Date

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