US INFRASTRUCTURE OF CAROLINA, INC.
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Meeting Date:
July 31, 2007
Location:
Piedmont Natural Gas (PNG) Cooking Technology Center
Time:
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Meeting Topic:
Public Involvement
Project:
York Cama NIP
City Project # 512-07-031
USI Project # 070201
Project Team Attendees:
Name
Lamar Davis
Sharon Sharpe
Tom Sorrentino
Chad Nussman
Jaya Dhindaw
Kent Main
Alberto Gonzales
Kathleen Drake
Meghan Makoid
Ramond Robinson
Bob Wilson
Alex Snider
Cirilo Saba
Affiliation
Engineering & Property Management (E&PM)
Neighborhood Development (ND)
Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT)
Charlotte Storm Water Services (SWS)
Planning Department
Planning Department
Planning Department
E&PM
CATS
CATS
USI
USI
USI
The City of Charlotte held a Public Meeting on July 31 at the Piedmont Natural Gas (PNG)
Cooking Technology Center, located at 4301 Yancey Road, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The purpose
of the meeting was to initiate the planning phase for the York Cama Neighborhood Improvement
Project (NIP) and solicit input from area residents regarding the most pressing needs for the
neighborhood in order to identify and prioritize infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks,
curb/gutter, etc.
The attached sign-in sheet includes the names and contact information of the citizens in
attendance.
First, Mr. Lamar Davis began the meeting at approximately 6:35 PM by welcoming the
attendees, introducing himself, and asked the City Project Team to introduce themselves. Mr.
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US INFRASTRUCTURE OF CAROLINA, INC.
Davis stated that the purpose of the meeting was to introduce the project to the citizens, present
the findings from the field inventory, and gather input from citizens.
Next, Ms. Sharon Sharpe took the floor and stated that the purpose of her presentation was to
provide an overview of the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP). She continued with a
detailed explanation of the program by stating the following:
 The City of Charlotte has been taking actions to revitalize, stabilize and maintain
infrastructure in established neighborhoods.
 The NIP consists of providing established neighborhoods with the minimum level of
infrastructure consistent with the needs and character of the area, addressing important
health, safety and appearance related infrastructure needs, and leveraging other public
and private investments in the area.
 The key program components may consist of: new curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm
drainage, wheelchair ramps, lighting, asphalt paving, landscaping, and neighborhood
participation.
 The NIP Selection Criteria consists of: Health & Safety, Leverage, Cost Effectiveness,
Quality of Life Study, Residential Future, Citizen Requests, and Geographic Location.
 The overall project implementation is about a four year process.
o Phase 1 – Planning (1 year)
o Phase 2 – Design (1 year)
o Phase 3 – Right- of- way acquisition (1 year)
o Phase 4 – Construction (1 year)
 After tonight’s meeting, US Infrastructure of Carolina, Inc. (USI) will compile all the
feedback received and develop alternatives. The next Public Meeting will be held in 3 to
4 months
Mr. Davis reminded the audience of the importance of writing all their comments on forms that
were given to them. Questions were received from the residents and are summarized later.
Next, Bob Wilson provided a brief description and purpose of the project, project limits, and
overall goals.
 He stated that the York/Cama Neighborhood is bounded roughly by South Boulevard,
Clanton Road, I-77, and Yancey Road.
 He stated that before the Public Meeting, USI performed a field inventory to identify
which streets had existing curb and sidewalk.
 Most of the streets in the neighborhood have no curb and gutter or sidewalk. The
sidewalk and planting strip shown in the photo on Freeland Lane is the goal for new
sidewalk in the neighborhood.
 He explained that USI serves the City as the engineering consultant
 He stated that USI will compile minutes from the meeting, analyze information and
develop alternatives as to how to address the resident concerns regarding the
neighborhood.
 He concluded his formal presentation by requesting that citizens ask questions related to
the project. A workshop with smaller groups will follow the presentations to discuss
specific issues/problems after the general question and answer period.
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US INFRASTRUCTURE OF CAROLINA, INC.
Questions and Comments
Following are questions from attendees and responses provided by the project team members:
One citizen wanted to know if the notification was sent to everybody in the neighborhood.
Yes. Meeting notices were sent to everyone in the neighborhood and surrounding area
Another citizen voiced concern regarding the channel and marsh area behind properties between
E. Cama Street and E. Peterson Drive that is undeveloped for years but still remains private
property. What can the City do about it?
If this area receives runoff from a City street, it may qualify for assistance from Storm Water
Services (SWS). SWS does work on private property, but only when requested for qualifying
problems.
Another citizen voiced concern that only Ellenwood Place, Yorkshire Drive, and Freeland Lane
were improved recently but not the entire neighborhood.
These streets received new sidewalk (curb also on Freeland Lane) to provide access to the
Scaleybark Station for the South Corridor Light Rail Transit. The York/Cama Neighborhood
was included in the 2006 bonds approved by voters. The project is funded, and we are here to
learn what type of improvements are needed in the neighborhood.
One citizen said that she had a card stating that the City is going to contact her for drainage
installation. Would you shed light about it?
City staff will check on this and respond.
At approximately 7:10 PM, the audience was invited to split into groups to discuss specific
concerns regarding the neighborhood. Representatives of the City and USI worked with each
group. Each group was provided with a map of the neighborhood showing the existing sidewalk
and curb and gutter found on each street (if any). Also, an aerial photo was provided. The groups
were asked to mark the maps and highlight areas where sidewalk, curb, etc. was needed. Also,
any other concerns should be noted on the maps and/or comment forms.
The groups met for about 30 minutes, and then presented their findings to the overall group. The
following comments were received from each group and are presented as recorded in notes taken
by project team members or as shown on the group’s map:
Group 1:
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Storm drainage problems were noted along E. Cama Street, E. Peterson Drive, and the
backyard channel in this area.
Want curbs throughout to keep water from running off into yards.
Want lighting on E. Cama Street and E. Peterson Drive.
Want sidewalks on E. Cama Street and E. Peterson Drive.
Concern about the creek between E. Cama Street and E. Peterson Drive. The channel is
overgrown and breeds mosquitoes.
Want speed humps on E. Cama Street and E. Peterson Drive – traffic too fast.
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US INFRASTRUCTURE OF CAROLINA, INC.

South Tryon Street has flooded at the pipe crossing (low point) between Cama Street and
Peterson Drive as recently as one year ago.
Group 2:
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Need speed humps on W. Cama Street.
Want sidewalk on W. Cama Street, Stegall Street, Sarah Drive, and Bowman Road.
Want curb on all streets.
Concern about unsafe and damaged sidewalk near Johnny Dollars (3918 South Tryon
Street).
Bus shelters needed on South Tryon Street near Bowman Road and W. Cama Street (lots
of bus riders) on both sides of the street.
Want a brick neighborhood entrance sign (“York Road Park”) at W. Cama Street and
South Tryon Street. The neighborhood once had a sign here, but it was removed years
ago when road work was done.
Want to replace lighting with solar lighting to avoid aerial lines.
Broken street light at 532 Bowman Road.
Code Enforcement Issues. – businesses working out of homes, etc.
Storm drainage problems on streets as marked on the map are listed below:
o Street floods at the corner of E. Peterson Drive and S. Tryon Street.
o Yard and street flooding occurs at 531 Bowman Street.
o Yard and street flooding occurs at 516 and 522 W. Cama Street. Storm drainage
system clogs, creating water backup.
Utility system concerns:
o Sewer lateral clogged at 306 E. Peterson Drive, but it was recently repaired.
o Water meter has sunk down into ground at 543 Bowman Street, and street water
ponds there.
o A hole was dug to replace a fire hydrant at 532 Bowman Road but never properly
filled.
The groups provided valuable input for improvements needed within the neighborhood. The
project team will review and evaluate the comments received through the group presentations
and individual comment forms. The next Public Meeting will be held in three (3) to four (4)
months.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:10 PM.
The above represents our understanding of the topics discussed. Please notify us immediately at
704-342-3007 or sabac@usi-eng.com of any questions or comments.
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