April 10, 2009
Public hearing set for amendments to the Downtown Master Plan
A public hearing will be held at the City Planning Commission meeting on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 6:00pm in Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall. The City Planning Commission will be considering a number of amendments to the Downtown Master Plan adopted in October 2008, including viewsheds, waterfront access, and development standards for the former Tarmac property (AKA “Echo Harbor”). [via]
10 Responses to “Public hearing set for amendments to the Downtown Master Plan”
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Anyone else planning to attend this?
I am planning on going if my day goes as planned.
This is a lot more important than the specials at Que Pasa – that thread has garnered more comments than this one has. Perhaps that means that folks in the neighborhood would rather make comments on a blog about a restaurant than show up at city hall…and try to keep changes from being made to the master plan…..
I’ll be there. One of the Planning Commission members said it was important to have many voices. They want to hear what we have to say.
I am expecting a big crowd with most of the usual suspects. Show up early to get on the speakers list or expect a long wait and yes, I plan to be there.
[...] Last night’s public hearing at the City Planning Commission meeting on possible amendments to the Downtown Master Plan got a little heated, according to the RTD: Director of Community Development Rachel Flynn flatly rejected a suggestion from a planning commissioner that her staff review plan language offered by the developers for the site along the James River east of downtown. [...] [...]
Here is the scoop. City Planner presented the amendments that are posted on the Downtown Master Plan site. Public comment was held – which was 90% on Amendment 4.49 which addressed the site of Echo Harbour. Nearly all of the pubic presenters were against the development of EH and just before they closed the public comment Echo Harbour lawyers (4 of them) suddenly presented new and amended plans for EH. They were shared only with Planning Commission folks only. The public has requested copies from EH and are waiting to see them in detail. Bottom line from the slides shown last night the buildings height has be somewhat modified but it still looks like a tall Carnival Cruise Ship parked on the Tarmac below Libby Hill and blocks the pubic’s access and view of the river.
Most amendments were then passed without any issues. Four were not and were discussed but the REAL discussions and debate took place and focused on amendment 4.49 addressing Echo Harbour. Some of the Commission felt that more time was needed, in lieu of the new plans just submitter by EH to review them and make a decision etc.
When the Planning talked about more time and for the City to work with EH folks Ms. Flynn directly and sternly confronted the Commission and denied that the City had not been working with EH right from the beginning. She said that any further meetings, work and debate on EH were not going to be helpful, “As we know what they want and we don’t agree and we have been over and over this”. She then called upon the commission to get on with their duties and made a decision, Yes or No and stop dragging this out and if anyone wanted to work with EH that they were free to do so but there was no purpose to do that as the EH design and desires were in total opposition the Downtown Master Plan and what the pubic want.
How can we contact the Planning Commission to voice our concerns as citizens? Is there an address or email we can use?
Curmedgeon,
Just one small point, which is not intended to disagree with your points. The Capital Trail, which will be open to the public, will run between EH and the river, thereby giving public access along that stretch.
On the point of further EH discussions, if that is really where Mrs. Flynn is, then bring the application to the CPC, with a recommendation to deny the special use permit. I think she probably has the votes, so long as she is not giving the commissioners and council the impression that she is not following process.
Well, you know my take on this- its the same ol’ ‘Leave No Developer Behind Act’ in action or nonaction as the case may be. Kudos to Flynn for standing her ground.
Scenic Virginia has the individual emails for Planning COmmission members.
Could not find right link, but there is this from City website:
http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/departments/communitydev/cpc.aspx