Wednesday Night at 1717

Special thanks to the folks who showed up for our bi-monthly meeting last night. Our first discussion was about what bi-monthly means! According to the dictionary, it means either twice a month or every two months. We meet every two months.

We did have a good turnout - 12, including residents and non-resident property holders and one prospective property owner.

Following are the issues we discussed:

• Brooke and Sherry are moving. We need to elect a new vice president.
  
  
  
  • The VP role should continue Sherry's position of watchdog, being alert to crime and being our contact with the police and inspectors.
    
  • Jerry and Jim and Wendy voiced interest in being involved in watching the street. Jim recommended that we divide the job into top, middle, and bottom of Evergreen. Jerry will take the top, Jim and Wendy the middle, and we'll talk to Julie about watching the bottom.
    
  • Jerry's name will be listed with Raleigh as our VP.
    
  
  
• New development and covenants
  
  
  
  • Andy met briefly with an attorney to discover what covenants are and if they can benefit our properties
    
    
    
    • A covenant is a legal document that can establish standards for new development. It only applies to properties whose owners agree to sign it. However, the covenant remains in place if the property is sold or subdivided.
      
    
    
  • Even though covenants don't affect properties retroactively, Jerry noted that we need to start somewhere. Andy agreed that this could be helpful long term.
    
  • A covenant could require minimum square footages, neighborhood plans approvals, materials, plantings, etc.
    
  • The group agreed to form a committee to begin writing a covenant for interested property owners. This group includes Jim, Mary, Andy & Kristen, and Nathaniel.
    
  
  
• Jerry gave report from the last CAC meeting.
  
  
  
  • Possible widening of Lake Wheeler Road to 3 or 5 lanes with sidewalks.
    
  • Our region has high gang activity - police are focusing on this.
    
  • Jerry will make sure we're on the CAC mailing list.
    
  
  
• Crime Updates
  
  
  
  • Drugs continue to be a problem.
    
  • Andy handed out contact numbers for the local police and inspections.
    
  • Jerry will look into getting "neighborhood watch" and "slow down" signs.
    
  
  
• Update on Raleigh ordinances
  
  
  
  • Julie wrote summaries of the ordinances that apply to our neighborhood. Copies of her summaries were passed out. (Julie's summaries will also be posted on this website.)
    
  • These ordinances are enforceable by calling inspections or the police.
    
  
  
• Julie wants to organize a social event:
  
  
  
  • "I would like to address possiblity of having a social function for all neighbors for purpose of getting to know each other and increase awareness of problems and to promote working together. A good place to start would be street cleanup.Taking trash bags to pick up trash, clearing away tall weeds, etc. A social could be a watermelon cutting, a covered dish dinner, etc. A small committee could be set up to organize. I will gladly participate."
    
  • June and Kristen volunteered to help Julie organize the social event.
    
  
  
• The next meeting will be Wednesday, July 20, 7:30pm, at 1717 Evergreen.
  

Summary of Raleigh Ordinances - by JULIE

NOISE

“DAYTIME” HOURS 7am – 11pm
“NIGHTTIME” HOURS 11pm – 7am
EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION STANDARDS:

• Emergency warning devices or safety signals
  
• Lawn care equipment used during daytime hours.
  
  

UNLAWFUL NOISE

• It is unlawful to emit any unreasonably loud, annoying, frightening, disturbing or unnecessary noise. Noise of such character, intensity or duration as to be detrimental to the life or health of any individual.
  
  

PROHIBITED NOISE

• Sounding vehicular horn while vehicle not in motion, except as a danger signal. Sounding for an unnecessary or unreasonable time.
  
• The playing of music, TV, radio at such volume during nighttime hours as to disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of any person.
  
• Use of any vehicle so out of repair or so loaded as to create loud or unnecessary noise(s).
  
• The discharge of any firearms.
  
• The keeping of any animal or fowl making habitual or frequent loud sounds. Crying, howling, barking, squawking, meowing or other sound that disturbs the quiet, comfort or repose of any person.
  
  

PRESUMPTION IN PROSECUTION FOR NOISE VIOLATIONS

• The complaints of two or more persons residing in different homes or complaint of one or more persons when combined with the complaint of a duly authorized investigating person.
  

HEALTH, SANITATION AND PUBLIC NUISANCES
ENFORCEMENT BY CITY INSPECTION DEPARTMENT
NUISANCES PROHIBITED; ENUMERATION

• Any condition which is a breeding ground or harbor for mosquitoes or a breeding ground or harbor for rats or other pests.
  
• Heavy growth of weeds/grasses over eight (8) inches high and less than one hundred feet from any abutting open street or less than 100 feet from any adjoining property line containing a structure or within fifty feet of any occupied dwelling. The nuisance defined here shall be cleared and cut not less than three inches in height.
  
• A place of growth of poison sumac, poison ivy or poison oak.
• An open place of stagnant water where insects tend to breed.
  
• Any concentration of combustible items such as mattresses boxes, tires, garbage, trash refuse or other objects of like nature.
  
• An open place of collection of garbage, food or animal waste. An exception is a properly maintained compost pile or storage of animal waste for purpose of fertilizer.
  
• Any items of furniture, appliances or other metal products kept in open places.
  
• Any condition obstructing the natural flow of branches, streams, creeks, ditches or drains.
  
• Nuisance vehicle violation.
  
• Any other condition declared to be a danger to public health, safety, morals and general welfare of inhabitants of the City.
  

STREETS AND PUBLIC WAYS
STREET OBSTRUCTIONS AND ENCROACHMENTS
SIDEWALKS and RIGHTS-OF-WAY

• It shall be unlawful to place any box, bag, crate, stand, frame, vehicle or other obstruction for a longer period than necessary for loading, unloading, moving or transporting the same.
  

EXCEPTIONS

• Approved garbage cans, at the times and places designated by ordinance for pickup by City Sanitation..
  
• Special permit for construction, dismantling and other purposes provided by ordinance.

OTHER

• It shall be unlawful to play any game of any description or to throw any stone or other missile upon the streets and sidewalks. It is also unlawful to play such games or throw such missiles in any private lot or public place in any such manner as to annoy or injure or constitute a nuisance.
  
  
  
• It is unlawful to use streets, sidewalks, gutters as a drain to carry off any water that has been used or any other noxious fluid of any description.
  
• It shall be the duty of all occupants or tenants of improved property and owners of vacant property to keep sidewalks, parkways and gutters clean and to cut, sweep and scrape as necessary to keep sidewalks clean and free from weeks, grass, snow, ice dirt and trash, as well as, the gutter next to and along each sidewalk open and free from obstruction for the full width of their respective fronts.
  
• The property owner shall maintain in good repair and safe condition, the sidewalk and driveway abutting his property.
  
• No person shall throw, drop or deposit any waste on streets, sidewalks or rights-of-way