Downtown Master Plan hearing gets passionate
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. [...]
“We’ve been talking with these developers for three years,” she said of USP Rocketts. “We don’t agree.”
The commission will vote on May 4 on the final amendments.
Go, Rachel Flynn! I suggest all developers realize the current circumstances; new housing development is not needed especially if they will jeopardize what makes Richmond the beautiful historic city it is.
This link reflect CNBC’s highest rental Vacancy, Richmond is #1.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29350086?slide=11
Good for Rachel Flynn for holding her ground on that point. What happened during the hearing was that for about an hour citizens, including many from Church Hill, and representatives of ACORN and PSG, got up there and criticized the idea of developing the site, though one or two people did make brief statements saying we should give Echo Harbor a chance. Then the development firm had four representatives in a row go up and speak (3 minutes each) and present a bunch of diagrams about their plan, claiming it would allow public access, wouldn’t block view etc. This revised plan was apparently handed to the commission just yesterday afternoon. So they would allow a public-access sidewalk by the water, overshadowed by these huge buildings. Basically they are trying to run around the Downtown Master Plan process and change things on the back end.
The delaying of a vote on the amendments looked to me like an effort to make the decisions and or have the discussion in a setting when there would be fewer members of the public present.
I think it’s time for those who support the plan and the idea of preserving the river for the public to really get organized and raise a ruckus on this.
Regardless of your support or opposition to this project I think you have to admire a city employee (in this case Flynn) for being honest in a very public setting and standing on principle.
Good for Rachel Flynn! It is truly impressive to see Ms. Flynn stand up to protect all of the hard work and the vision that emerged from the comp plan update process. Imagine what could be accomplished if a few more of our government leaders had such courage!
Agreed- Way to go Rachel. If only everyone can be so straight forward… Think of all the time and money that saves taxpayers.
Go Rachel! A few members of the Planning Commission are clearly in the pocket of the developer – eh! Mr. Poole?
Now is the chance to build a Richmond everyone can enjoy and bring tourist dollars and county dollars back to downtown. Build condos for a few wealthy Washingtonians (who will commute a couple of times to week) and you’ll get something like Georgetown. Rachel we’re behind you. Thank you for you Irish Integrity. You Go, Girl!!!!
Preserve the river? HA i know the river and nobody ever went down to that part of the river, the only thing that hung out at that part of the river was garbage. Only a fool wants the govt. telling private developers what to do with private property. The govt. couldnt plan its way out of a wet paper bag. Rachel Flynn gets on my nerves, reminds me of a communist party member, i hope city council gets rid of her!
Rachel Flynn was the cities best investment on how the future of Downtown Richmond should look like but trust me she has plenty more battles ahead with Good ole boys who play hardball so support her not just give her props because it is far from over
We must stop all development and kill any ideas for improvement. That’s essentially what the huge sign hanging from the wall at Velvet says, and that place has been such a great addition to the community. Have you seen the search lights? So pretty.
[...] how City Council seems to be closing ranks against the city’s planning director Rachel Flynn for for her flat rejection of amendments to the Downtown Master Plan that benefit the Echo Harbor : Critics of the process say those remaining amendments stem from [...]