The meeting began at 7:20 PM in the Rose Room of the Frazer Center.
Number of attendees: 18 (including guests) plus online.
Officers in attendance:
Carol Holliday, VP for Planning and NPU Representative
Jay Severa, VP for Finances
Beth Grashof, VP for Zoning
Joe Agee, President
City representatives:
Lt. Andrew Smith, 6th Precinct
Lt. Smith is returning to Precinct 6 after five years and a recent promotion. He reported that Atlanta’s crime rate is declining, while Lake Claire remains very low.
Officer Reports
Jay Severa:
Funds are coming in for the December Lake Claire Arts and Crafts Fair.
Current available balance: $6,265
Carol Holliday:
Announced the Freedom Park Conservancy fundraising program, including a special matching campaign supporting the next phase of the Freedom Park Wayfinding & Signage Project.
Beth Grashof:
See variance request below.
Announcements & Current Issues
Clifton Sanctuary Ministries
Kristi Painter, Executive Director, and Leslie Prince, Board President, presented on the Ministries’ support for formerly homeless men over age 35, including veterans. The men are housed at the Connecticut Ave. facility in Lake Claire. Donations of funds, work clothing, and food are welcome.
2026 LCN Officer Slate (Approved by acclamation)
President: Joe Agee
Treasurer: Jay Severa
Communications: Nancy Dorsner
Zoning: Beth Grashof
Fundraising: Pen Sherwood
Planning & NPU: Carol Holliday
Safety: Deanne Uroic
Environment: Melissa Pressman
Continuing Appointed Positions
Education Chair: Annsley Klehr
Editor, The Clarion: Beth Damon
Freedom Park Conservancy Representative: Carol Holliday
City of Atlanta Dept. of Films Representative: Jennifer Silver
Clifton Sanctuary Ministries Representative: Robert Bryan Davis
Proposed Donations for 2025 (Approved by acclamation)
Frazer Center — $1,000
Mary Lin Elementary School Partner — $1,000
Clifton Sanctuary Ministries — $500
Candler Park/Lake Claire Security Patrol — $500
Lake Claire Community Land Trust — $500
Freedom Park Conservancy — $300
Candler Park Conservancy — $300
Olmsted Linear Park Alliance — $300
Total: $4,400
Variance Request
The V-25-233 variance application for 1671 South Ponce was presented by Karen Soorikian and Mark Arnold. The request was to increase accessory structure floor area from 30% to 36% of the main structure.
Immediate neighbor concerns included:
• loss of trees
• water drainage into the Frazer Forest
• impact on nearby homes
• noise and lighting from a paddle ball court (not part of the variance request)
Due to these issues, a delay was recommended for a special December LCN meeting so further discussions with the owner could occur. Representatives for the variance agreed.
Next Meeting
The next regular LCN meeting is scheduled for January 15, 2026.
A special meeting in December will be called to consider the variance request for 1691 South Ponce.