http://alabamahillasswwwociation.com/

April 19, 2011Volume 4, Issue 2

Alabama Hill

Special Interest Articles:

• April Neighborhoodmeeting

•

Great Veggie Recipe!

Individual Highlights:

MNAC ReportCity InfoAHA Membership Form

Association

Newsletter

Join us at Bloedel-Donovan Pavilion on

Tuesday

May 3rd at 7 PM

for our nextAssociation meeting.Our keynote speakerwill be Ken Oplinger,President/CEO of theBellingham/WhatcomChamber of Com-merce & Industry. Kenis going to share withus some of his viewson how the Waterfrontdevelopment should take place – ideasnot necessarily in agreement with theCity of Bellingham or the Port. Comefind out what Ken’s vision for theBellingham Bay will look like.Also on the docket is our Vice Chair DeanHaskins who is going to tell us the lateststatistics on our neighborhood housingmarket sales, buys and foreclosures.Come and get a sense of what thehousing market is like in our little corner ofthe world.As always, refreshments will be on handas well a sampling of this month’s recipefrom our culinary patron Nancy Allen.What better way to spend a nice spingevening in the park than to spend a littletime with our neighbors and find outwhat’s going on.Hope to see you there!

☺

Chairman:

Larry Nicholas647-2315

Vice Chair:

Dean Haskins733-2800

Secretary:

- vacant -

Treasurer:

Jim McLeod734-5127

Past Chairman:

Doug Bestle734-2272

MNAC Rep:

Jimmy Kelsey715-3053

AHA Area A (NW) Rep

Brian Walker671-8258

AHA Area B (NE) Rep

Michael Eisenberg734-3615

AHA Area C (SW) Rep

Steve Potvin734-5384

AHA Area D (SE) Rep

Nancy Allen922-0256

Next AHA QtlyMeeting is TuesMay 3rd7 PM Bloedel-Donovan

Spring Quarterly Meeting - 2011!

Tuesday – May 3rd

–

Bloedel-Donovan Pavilion – 7 PM

alabamahillassociation.com

Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli

from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics by Ina Garten

Alabama Hill Association

Page 2

Using healthy broccoli is easy winter orsummer with this delicious dish. Roastingthe broccoli with garlic and Parmesangives this dish great flavor. Enjoy!

May

Recipe



4 to 5 pounds broccoli



4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced



Good olive oil



1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt



1/2 teaspoon freshly ground blackpepper



2 teaspoons grated lemon zest



2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice



3 tablespoons pine nuts (optional)



1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesancheese



2 tablespoons julienned fresh basilleaves (about 12 leaves)

1. Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks,leaving an inch or two of stalk attached to theflorets, discarding the rest of the stalks. Cut thelarger pieces through the base of the head with asmall knife, pulling the florets apart. You shouldhave about 8 cups of florets.2. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan largeenough to hold them in a single layer. Toss thegarlic on the broccoli and drizzle with 5 tablespoonsolive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roastfor 20-25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tipsof some of the florets are browned. Check after15-20 minutes.3. Remove the broccoli from the oven and immediatelytoss with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon zest,lemon juice, pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hotand ENJOY! Leftovers make a great addition toomelets, sandwiches, or just as a delicious side dish.

Page 3 of 4

City+ Beat

Bellingham Planning Directorappointed

Mayor Dan Pike announced on April 11th hisdecision to appoint Jeff Thomas as Bellingham’sPlanning and Community Development Director.Thomas has served as the city’s interim directorsince former director Tim Stewart resigned inspring 2010.“Jeff has served us well in multiple roles,” Pikesaid. “He has proven to be an effective leaderwho works well with the public, local businesses,other City departments and the City Council. Hehas demonstrated he can effectively manage thecomplexities of community planning andpermitting and be an agent for change andprogress. I am grateful for the many ways he hasadded value to our team, and for his willingnessto serve as director.”ThePlanning and Community DevelopmentDirector is appointed by and reports to theMayor, while working closely with theBellingham City Council. The department alsoworks directly with theCity’s 25 neighborhoods,the citizenPlanning Commission, and is leadingthe process this year to complete an update of theCity’s Comprehensive Plan

MNAC News Last Meeting held 3/16/11– Jimmy Kelsey, our Rep

After approving a statement of support for some form ofrental property licensing and inspection program at theFebruary meeting, MNAC carried on at its March 16

meeting with its job of reviewing neighborhood planproposed amendments. For the record, mine was one offour votes opposing that support statement. My view: Whycreate another section of government bureaucracy whenthere are sufficient laws on the books to address fire andother safety issues in rental housing? If current citygovernment is not doing the job sufficiently well, does itmake sense to create more such government?The first item on the March agenda was a presentation byDirector Susan Marks of the Bellingham-Whatcom CountyCommission Against Domestic Violence. Susan reporteddata showing approximately 500 domestic violence arrestsin Bellingham for 2009, and another 800 calls toBellingham Police on incidents in which physical violencecould not be proven. The organization has information forvictims, families and friends on available resources andsupport in our area and encourages anyone involved indomestic violence situations to contact them forappropriate referrals. Susan can be reached via email tosmarks@dvcommission.orgor by phone at 360 312-5700.MNAC members next discussed timing of the work on the10 chapters of the Comprehensive Plan Update beingrevisedor newly written. One new chapter is to address theenvironment and the other economic development.Bellingham Planning & Community Development staff areworking on the revisions. A key step in the update processis neighborhood input and both MNAC and COB Planning& Community Development seek opinions of allneighborhoods. Attend the next Alabama Hill Associationquarterly meeting May 3

and bring your thoughts on ourneighborhood plan. Plans may be reviewed athttp://www.cob.org/services/neighborhoods/index.aspx MNAC also discussed an update on a SunnylandNeighborhood Association proposal for changing thetemporary zoning of property on the south side of Sunsetwest of James, a former Transportation Departmentproperty sold over 4 years ago, and which the owner wantsto develop. When the property changed from publicownership to private the “temporary zoning” wasautomatically assigned by the City. Sunnyland NA feels it istime to remove the “temporary zoning.” The subject area issurrounded by primarily single family residential and isidentified on the Sunnyland Neighborhood Zoning map asArea 8.http://www.cob.org/documents/gis/maps/zoning/ sunnyland-color-zoning.pdf

The key issue is lot size within the approxi-mately 4 acre parcel. The neighborhood as-sociation prefers a lot size of 6,250 squarefeet while the owner is requesting smaller lotsof 3,600 s.f., allowing of course, more homes.The property owner and neighborhood assoc-iation must reach an agreement before thezoning change can proceed.