Livable Memphis

The Unified Development Code Needs YOU!

 

This is your chance to voice your opinion on how the Unified Development Code can provide the tools for making your neighborhood a better place to live! Please make time to attend this very important public hearing. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS YOU!

The UDC will be reviewed at a special meeting of the Land Use Control Board this Thursday May 28 at 5pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 125 N Main Street.

You can download a copy of the UDC at www.memphis.code-studio.com.

You can review our UDC Pizza With Planners session from last month.

You can read more about form-based code here.

Check out the great article about the UDC and pedestrian friendly zoning in the Commercial Appeal.

Contact Tommy Pacello (phone 576-7196) at the Office of Planning and Development with any questions.

See you there!

Reinventing Government Listening Tour

Mayor A C Wharton, in cooperation with Shelby County Board of Commissioners Chair Deidre Malone and Memphis City Council Chair Myron Lowery, is asking the public to join in a county-wide conversation about how a unified, metro government could be more streamlined, spend tax money more effectively, bring our people together, and spark new economic growth.  WWW.reinventinggovernment.org is a website is designed to help provide information and facilitate this important conversation about our community's future.

Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Memphis and Shelby County, next session of the Listening Tour will be held on May 11, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the Millington Civic Center located at 8077 Wilkinsville Road.

The Leadership Academy is hosting another on May 27.

Phase II Public Meeting for Mud Island - Voice your support for a Skate Park

The Riverfront Development Corporation is hosting Phase II of its public meeting for the Mud Island River Park Land Use Study on May 12 and 14.

CLC member Aaron Shafer writes in:

"Skatelife Memphis is advocating for family friendly activities that will revitalize the Park with a premier skate park serving as the core recreational magnet. Other activities include a “awesome playground” and a water fountains/water spray park.  Skatelife places the skate park as the center piece because the activity appeals to a diverse group of users coming from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds. Most importantly, Skateboarding has one of the highest number of repeated outings of any outdoor activity which is a critical attribute needed for sustaining the vibrancy of the park. 

Memphis families, you are needed at these meetings.In the words of the group that is running the study “Public input is the foundation of this study,” said Traci Sampson, principal of The Consilience Group.  

Memphis rally behind this! This will affect the quality of life for future generations of kids growing up here."

Learn more about the meetings here.

Concerned about the cobblestones

Memphis Heritage is concerned about our historic cobblestone landing. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers recently released a public notice regarding a proposed plan of work for the historic cobblestone landing on the Memphis riverfront. Memphis Heritage encourages you to read this notice and to pay particular attention to the description of work.  This work includes restoration of damaged and poorly maintained areas of the cobblestones, which is needed.  However, it also includes other changes to the cobblestones which could potentially detract from its historic authenticity and impair its use as a public boat landing, including:

• construction of three 10' concrete walkways across the cobblestones from Riverside Drive to the water; and  
• construction of a sidewalk and rip rap embankment along the entire western side of the cobblestone wharf.

 Read more about the issue and view a sample letter to express your opinion on Memphis Heritage's website.

Give your opinion about Mud Island Redevelopment ideas

Take a minute to check out some ideas for Mud Island redevelopment and give your opinion on what our riverfront could look like.

CLC member and skateboarding advocate, Aaron Shafer writes in:

"Skatelife Memphis, and the Memphis skating community of skateboarders, rollerskaters and rollerbladers, are advocating for building a premier competition skate park on the south tip of Mud Island. In 2004, skateboarding replaced baseball as the number three national pastime among our youth. The activity only trails football and basketball. Help our Memphis youth by letting the Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC) know that you think a skate park on the Mississippi is a wonderful use for an area of land that has not been used for the past 100 years."

You can support their efforts - or just give your own opinion - in two ways.

Take this survey and attend  one of their public-input meetings.

Overton Park needs your voice

If you have not done so already, take a minute to read up on the City of Memphis' idea for a drainage basin on the open greensward in the center of Overton Park. Citizen's to Preserve Overton Park will keep you up to date on the situation.

CPOP's Naomi Van Tol posts:

If you want to learn more, the Vollentine-Evergreen Community Association will host a public meeting at their headquarters, 1680 Jackson Avenue, at 6:30pm next Wednesday, March 11, to discuss the issue of Lick Creek flood control. Representatives from the City of Memphis will be on hand to answer questions.

Whether you can attend the meeting or not, your written comments may be sent to Hugh Teaford at the City of Memphis Engineering division. His email is Hugh.Teaford@memphistn.gov and his address is 125 N. Main, Room 644, Memphis TN 38103.

Here are the key decision-makers to copy on your written comments:

Director Wain Gaskins
City of Memphis Engineering
125 N. Main St. Room 644
Memphis, TN 38103
Email: wain.gaskins@memphistn.gov

Director Cindy Buchanan
City of Memphis Park Services
2599 Avery Avenue
Memphis, TN 38112
Email: cindy.buchanan@memphistn.gov

Councilman Jim Strickland
Memphis City Council, District 5
125 N. Main, Room 514
Memphis, TN 38103
Email: jim.strickland@memphistn.gov

Congressman Steve Cohen
U.S. Congress, District 9
167 North Main Street, Suite 369
Memphis, TN 38103
Email via his website

Chickasaw Sierra Club is looking for earth day volunteers

The Chickasaw Group of the Sierra Club is looking for volunteers to participate in one of their earth day events on April 19 and 20. Here are a few options:

Shelby Farms (4/20) - contact Nancy Ream at (901) 759-9416. 

Memphis Zoo (4/19) - contact Julian Prewitt at (901) 292-1939. 

Wolf River Harbor cleanup (4/19) - contact James Baker at (901) 826-2448.

Support the Tennessee Bottle Bill

5 cents adds up!  The TN House of Representatives (on March 26) and the TN Senate (on April 2) will be discussing the Tennessee Beverage Container Deposit Act. The TN Bottle Bill will take advantage of a lost economic opportunity. Schools and churches can collect the 5 cent bottle deposit return as fund-raisers. A valuable bottle stays out of the landfill, our neighborhoods, and the natural environment, keeping Tennessee beautiful. Collected bottles inspire business opportunities for recycled products. Be sure to contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to support the TN Bottle Bill. Read about the details and find out who to call here.

McKellar Lake, Memphis (Photo by James Baker)

Neighborhood Livability Survey

We want your input! If you have 10 to 15 minutes, please take our Neighborhood Survey. Let us know how you feel about your neighborhood and the Memphis area. Your responses will help us better direct our work with government, nonprofits, and other organizations.

Click here to take the survey.

Wolf River Conservancy's Request for Letters to the Editor

Recently the Commercial Appeal wrote Sunday op-ed pieces re:
Memphis's lack of Greenways, Greenlines and Parks. We need your help
in responding with Letters to the Editor - to get the attention of
the political and business leadership of Greater Memphis.

Memphis is probably our last major city without substantial Greenways
or Greenlines or even bike lanes. We're told by experts that we could
have one of the finest park and greenway systems in America.

Help us demonstrate public support to "Green" our community so that
our political and business leaders will say, "Greenways need to be a
priority over more golf courses, swimming pools and community centers".

Please E-mail your Letter to the Editor to:
letters@commercialappeal.com

I"ve attached one that we wrote to provide ideas.Download Greenway_Letter_to_Editor_10_3_06.doc

Research also shows that Greenways also improve property values
within a half mile of Greenways. Applied to the 22 mile wolf river
greenway and the 13 mile greenline rails to trails corridor, they
could improve property values over 35 sq. miles of Memphis's older
neighborhoods. They also increase community pride, cohesiveness and
health.

It's past time folks - please write some letters and assist our
efforts. Thank you!

Keith Kirkland, Executive Director
Wolf River Conservancy
P. O. Box 11031
Memphis, TN  38111-0031
901-452-6500
901-452-6541 fax
www.wolfriver.org
wrc@wolfriver.org