SHERWOOD FOREST CRIER July 10, 2010 Community Character Protection – Vote Result 4:1 in Favor! That's why there are those green "PC" (Planning Commission) signs around the neighborhood. Sherwood Forest neighborhood has been covered under the Community Character Protection Interim Measures for the past two years, and this protection expires August 2010. On June 22, the neighborhood voted by a margin of 4 to 1 (34-8) in favor of making the Community Character Protection overlay permanent by adopting the newly approved ordinance CC1 Community Character Protection District (click this link to see the entire ordinance). This ordinance is essentially the same as the current Interim Measures, so there would be no change from the current conditions. We would just be making them permanent. Next Steps Now That the Vote is In: The request now goes to the next scheduled Planning Commission meeting on Monday, July 12th. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers, corner of Laurel and Main Streets, 3rd floor starting at 5:15pm. The Planning Commission is required to make a recommendation to City Council for or against the request. The green "PC" signs you see around the neighborhood are to announce this meeting. City Council will hear the PC recommendation and entertain discussion of the overlay at a public zoning hearing on Wednesday, September 15th, at 10am. Text and map amendments to the City ordinance require a public hearing and two readings by City Council. Council may (and they have on occasion) combined the zoning public hearing with a first reading if there's not much discussion/dissension. The second reading is usually a week or two later. It's always a good idea to have neighbors at the Planning Commission and the City Council zoning public hearings to support the overlay ordinance, so please try to attend one or both meetings if you can. Read this article online at http://www.sherwoodforestneighbors.org/Article302.html If you have questions about this process please email Ed Tilden, President of the Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association at 530-2436, president@sherwoodforestneighbors.org or Amy Moore, City of Columbia Planning & Development Services at 545-3335, aemoore@columbiasc.net. Neighborhood Crime Watch Sherwood Forest has received reports of thefts and possible drug dealing/gang activity in the neighborhood. In one case, porch furniture was stolen at night while the victim was home. All neighbors are encouraged to get to know your neighbors, keep an eye out for suspicious activity, and participate in our Community Watch by being an observant "nosy" neighbor. Securing your own property, not leaving valuable items in view in your vehicles are good steps to preventing crime. If you have experienced a crime perpetrated against you or your property, report it immediately to the police by calling 911. To report suspicious activity, call 911 or the non-emergency number 252-2911 or our new Resident Patrol Officer MPO Timothy R. Baire (737-5895, trbaire@columbiasc.net). You may also wish to sign up for the Nixle notification service which is available on the internet. After you sign up and enter your address, you can choose to receive email or cell phone text message alerts from the Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association, the City of Columbia Homeland Security Department, the City of Columbia Police Department, the Columbia Fire Department, the Richland County Sheriff's Department and other agencies. This service is free. Sign up by accessing http://local.nixle.com/register/neighbor/12756/2d07d6a9340367fdcbbe24d491d35059/?ct=html or http://www.nixle.com National Night Out Tuesday, August 3, 2010 National Night Out is an annual crime prevention, safety and community-building event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). National Night Out is designed to: Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Sherwood Forest neighbors are encouraged to get out and meet your neighbors, walk the neighborhood, and get together with your children, neighbors and friends. The National Night Out Kick Off will be held on Monday, August 2 at 6pm at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, located at 1101 Lincoln Street. More information on National Night Out is available at http://www.nationalnightout.org/nno Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association Party! SFNA is planning a Block Party for August 20 or 21, or August 27 or 28. To volunteer or get more information, email social@sherwoodforestneighbors.org Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so dues are tax deductible! Please take a moment to download, print and fill out the Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Survey located on the neighborhood website, www.sherwoodforestneighbors.org. Please mail the form and your payment to our treasurer Rhett Bailey at 511 Kalmia Drive, Columbia, SC 29205. You may also fill out an online version of the survey and pay your dues online using PayPal or your credit card or bank account. Renewing members need not fill out the survey. Why should you join the SFNA? Find out here... Please add webmaster@sherwoodforestneighbors.org to your approved sender list in whatever email client or system you are using to make sure you are able to receive the Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association Crier! Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association, Inc. 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