July 27, 2009
Council approves Union Hill zoning, Downtown Master Plan
City council tonight, at their last meeting of the summer, approved rezonign for Union Hill, adopted the final amendments to the Downtown Master Plan, and agreed to purchase the Lehigh Cement property on Dock Street.
- The meeting began with an Awards and Presentations Period. Jennifer Tillery from Armstrong HS and Victoria Jones from Franklin Military were recognized as outstanding students from RRHA communities. Franklin Military’s Kimera Davis and Michael Harrison, a rising senior at George Wythe, were recognized as 2009 Bank of America Student Leader winners. Davis and Harrison are 2 of 230 winners from 3,000 applicants nationwide.
- This was followed by approximately 90 minutes of entertaining speakers and the sharing of small details by councilpersons.
The portion of the Consent Agenda that was not continued was unanimously approved:
- Council unanimously approved Ord. No. 2009-127 “to authorize the
special use of 2700 Newbourne Street for the purpose of authorizing a
family day home located within a single-family dwelling“. - Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2009-135 “to rezone certain properties located in the Union Hill neighborhood, generally bounded by Q Street to the north, Jefferson Avenue to the south, North 25th Street to the east, and Mosby Street to the west, from the current R-7 Single- and Two- Family Urban Residential, R-53 Multifamily Residential, and B-2 Community Business zoning district classifications to the R-63 Multifamily Urban Residential and UB Urban Business zoning district classifications.”
Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2009-136 “to approve an amendment to the Master Plan for the purpose of changing the Land Use Plan for certain properties within the Union Hill neighborhood, generally bounded by Q Street to the north, Jefferson Avenue to the south, North 25th Street to the east and Mosby Street to the west, and to designate an additional “Mixed Use (Residential)†land use classification. ” - Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2009-142, making additional space available to Peter Paul Development Center.
The Regular Agenda, potentially more controversial, went as smoothly:
- Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2009-117 “to approve an amendment to the Master Plan for the City of Richmond to adopt additional amendments to the Downtown Plan”. A representative for the Echo Harbor developers spoke against this, reminding council that both the property is currently zoned M-2 (which allows for industrial development up to 300 feet high) and that their request for a Special Use Permit has been in process longer than the Downtown Master Plan process. City Council 5th District Representative Marty Jewell spoke in favor of development along the river and the current Echo Harbor proposal specifically. We have a Downtown Master Plan, folks.
- Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2009-153 “to authorize the acquisition of 3111 Water Street from Lehigh Cement Company LLC for the purchase price of $2,000,000 for the purpose of providing an open public
space and a public park along the river to complement the Virginia Capital Trail. (previously)
Lehigh Cement towers on Water Street
City Council will not meet in August.
31 Responses to “Council approves Union Hill zoning, Downtown Master Plan”
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This is a great victory for Union Hill, but it is only the first part of the plan for the neighborhood. The second step (hopefully) will be the establishment of an Old and Historic district. Thirdly, we will tackle creation of a parking overlay for Urban Business zoning districts to make it easier to attract neighborhood-oriented development in our commercial corridors along 25th and Jefferson. All three are a necessary part of the plan and will work together to help create the framework for the walkable, mixed use, mixed income neighborhood we have been working toward.
Bravo! Martin Jewell… please do something about Midlothian Turnpike and leave Echo Harbor alone.
Gee, you missed my “Duel with the Jewell”.
I heard Jewell has a fundraiser this week thrown by some developers.
Way to go Paul – you sounded like a huge scaredy cat last night calling Downtown the unsafest its been in years even though the data downtown completely contradicts almost everything you said. Hilbert and Jewell both took you to the woodshed as they should have. What evidence can you show other than you FEEL nervous and unsafe?
Re: #4…Marty has a fund-raiser Wednesday night, sponsored by the Ripp family, at Can Can…Ripp is a part of the proposed waterfront development with Echo harbour. He has about 31 yeses, about 25 no’s, and 663 did not respond.
Please be aware while many of the thing that happened and were voted upon last night are good for Church Hill/Union Hill etc., the battle is not over, won or even really begun on Echo Harbour!
They have their influences over many of the City Council folks that chant the EH theme song at each and every Council meeting. They are also trying to minimize EH as only an issue for a few disgruntled Libby Hill and Libby Terrace folks and not a City, State and National view that need to be protected/preserved.
Right now it is nip-n-tuck and (in my opinion leaning for EH to be approved) We must keep the pressure on the members of City Council and keep our advocacy near and far from supportive groups and cooperative alliances alive … OR we will be seeing EH rise-up from the river before our very eyes. The real test is going to be the request to be filed and discussed on the zoning to allow EH to be built above the present 60 ft limit above the flood plain. EH won’t be able to survive or be viable at about 85 ft in the present descending slopping design from decreasing in height from West to East. Be prepared (Virginia) for something more along a revised 125′ to 150′ slopping concept, (that is really what they are shooting for but selling it now by minimizing the intended and desired ultimate outcome.
This is wrong but it is the strategy of EH to minimize and seduce the Council and public into some sort of compromise that disfigures our both our natural river view-shed and our Commonwealth’s one-of-a-kind heritage.
Sundagger,
Can you explain further what you refering to: “He has about 31 yeses, about 25 no’s, and 663 did not respond.”
[...] on the street is that, following the passing of the Downtown Master Plan, 5th District Councilperson Marty Jewell will be holding a fundraising party this Wednesday, hosted [...]
tiny, I could be wrong, but I think Sundagger gave the RSVP count for the fundraiser.
Correct.
Council Also appointed the special task Force studying the CAR processes.
City Council member: Bruce Tyler
Car Member: Mimi Sadler
DCD rep: James Hill
Realtor: Neville Johnson, Jr.
Rehab Archictect: Walter Parks
Citizen Members: Charles Peters retired city planner
Drew Carneal, retired city attorney
Robin Miller, developer doing projects in rehab neighborhoods.
Will be staffed by Steve Tayler of the city council staff
@Sean #5
I’m so glad you could get personal with this. It’s not about me or the stats. It’s about reality on the street.
You take the family test if you have one. Send someone you love, a Mom, daughter, girlfriend down Grace Street after dark. Actually I don’t recommend it. You should try it yourself.
I’ve lived here and worked to improve the area for 8 years. If I didn’t care I would just move away.
#12 David, thanks for that info. I think it sounds like a decent list. Charlie Peters used to be a decent guy when he was with the city. Will be interesting to see what the committee comes up with.
#13 Paul – what part of Grace Street? I’d walk down East Grace Street up here in the hill anytime, after dark. I would feel really safe in the blocks from 2200 to 2900. Are you talking about downtown on Grace Street? ‘Cause I would NOT want to walk down there after dark but I really don’t know of any stats of crime down there. If I went to the Carpenter Center, or whatever the newly renovated thing is called (CenterStage?) I don’t think I’d want to walk alone. Again, not sure why, perhaps perception, since I don’t have any stats from there.
Then how did what you say not square with anything else like crime stats being down years in a row? Are you saying it is scary to walk around? You said it made you nervous near the bus stops and crossing Broad toward Jackson Ward. If you are scared of people but they aren’t bothering you or other people then I’d say the problem is you and your perception, not crime on the street. Being scared of people and them robbing you or assaulting you are totally different things don’t you think?
@Sean You misquote me. I cross Broad all the time. I discussed two things, actual danger and the perception of danger. Both damage business, reduces jobs, revenue and drive away people.
No people on the streets is a lousy way to reduce crime. I spoke about gutsy people NOT from the city who were willing to brave Broad St and take their children to Theater IV. I also know lots of people will not go. You can’t count the customers who don’t show up.
I lived downtown for years without this level of paranoia. I don’t need a statistic to tell me when I am not safe and a statistic is not going to prevent you from being a victim. I live, shop and work here, but I get tired of watching my back.
We lose money, people and businesses everyday to the suburbs. I would like to see that change. The status quo is not good enough.
@CRD #14 Yes, Grace Street downtown. You make my point for me. People who stick together are safer, but that is not exactly chamber of commerce stuff.
“Come downtown, stick together, you’ll probably be alright.”
I’d like to shoot a little higher than that.
I’m confused Paul. Are you saying crime is down because there are fewer people on the streets and that is why the stats lie? Are all those people like you that haved moved down there are staying in?
According you you, when crime rates were higher you felt safer and now it is the opposite and you are paranoid at night. By your very admission stats won’t keep you from becoming a victim yet the stats that actually record who is a victim of crime show FEWER victims.
How can people be afraid – city residents or not – when the Empire has shows that are near capcity on three nights a week and they exit after dark? Same for Comfort and 27, etc. Do they run to their cars after?
I know lots of people who won’t go to Short Pump because they can’t stand suburbia – not everyone avoids the city because of crime or the perception of it.
Your logic is like a drunk driver – all over the road and dangerous.
#12/David:
Having read some of your other comments, you seem to be a person of some insight. With this CAR task force configuration can we expect a tightening up of the guidelines with more precise language that protects our districts or a loosening of them to erode our districts even further?
Other than Carneal, none of these folks live in an OHD and many of them are current or former city employees. what happened to the assurance from Council that this would be a task force of the people? Looks like politics as usual to me, especially with the number of people on this task force who’s purse strings could be directly affected by any decisions they make.
Laura,
What follows is my opinion, only. This is a task force about CAR, not for CAR. I think the goal was to transend personalities. Council seems to be looking at a broader perspective than just the O & H districts. We are one city, and the good for one should be a good for all. If I am not mistaken, only one is a current city employee, and he is a stautory choice, i.e., selected to represent DCD, by Mrs. Flynn. I hope the task force leans toward precision, makes recommendations that strengthen the process, while making it transparent and fair. If I were involved, for instance, I would recommend that any member of CAR must disqualify if an issue arises from the O & H District in which they live. I believe Mr. Tyler indicated that he wanted some meetings in August, so it would be worthwhile to ask to be put on the notification list for meetings (clerk’s office), Again, personal opinion.
@Sean,
Sorry my logic confuses you.
I have spoken to Theater IV people and they know they are losing customers. I don’t know their attendance statistics, but they do.
If you don’t think people are afraid to come downtown, you are sticking your head in the sand. Talk to the business owners. See if they are satisfied.
You can have your stats. They don’t do me any good where I park.
hey sean…did you know that one of the conditions of empires a.b.c… is that they cant have music upstairs. cause the vcu cops dont have enough of a budget to take care of the actual capacity of the entire building…….so when you say full capacity …lets be real…what ?did you move here last week? i lived in j.w. back when you were listenin to reo speedwagon. either your a homowner who doesnt want his property value goin down or your a hippie with good intentions who needs to zip it…
#19:
Thanks for the reply. I would agree with you on precision.
Task force members: one current DCD employee, one CAR member, one Councilman – all public servants. One former city attorney, one former director of DCD, one developer, one architect who works for developers and a real estate agent.
What’s wrong with this picture? Where are the people who bought into these districts, who worked hard for them, who live in them, who’s livelihoods won’t be affected by their decisions on this task force?
For the record, I did not formally apply to the task force, so I was not eligible to serve. But, I know many qualified, thoughtful and level-headed residents of the OHD’s who did apply, and who are not considered “personalities.” Where is their voice?
Went to Empire Theater last Friday night and then again on this Sunday afternoon.
At no time was I scared or uncomfortable in the area. Also go to Art Walks and feel fine. However, if this is such an issue, as you state, then you need to energize a grass-roots citizen and community solutions to the issue. More police etc doesn’t really make the neighborhoods safe…it is citizen and resident attentivness, involvment and engangement. You can fault or shame City Council to make a difference – as most of them don’t live downtown. All politics and turning crime around is really a positive or negative results which are generated locally….very locally to the issue or problem, (not at City Hall or police HQ).
Just an observation, but seems a bit suspect when Baskerville has numerous jobs around town, and City Council is amending the master plan, has their hand in CAR reform, Echo Harbor, etc..
I’m not sure what you mean by your last sentence. Downtown is very local to me. I am already engaged. No one thing is going to improve this. I’ve never put forward simplistic solutions, but sometimes simple things make a difference, better lighting, better law enforcement, parking, transportation.
The truth is that everyday restaurants and businesses and lose money because are reluctant to do come downtown. It is an invisible tax everyone pays. Pretending that isn’t a problem doesn’t make it go away.
I can’t believe that anybody who lives in Church Hill doesn’t believe crime isn’t a serious problem. If you don’t then nothing I say will change your mind.
On the CAR track of this issue, One member is tied to the development community…Tyler.
In the second, Charles Samuels and his wife had a law practice that was often at odds with developers, or at least development projects. Third District is a state employee involved in housing production. No ties to developers, and often professionally at odds. Fourth District, a retired lobbyists for non-profits with no development ties. In the Fifth, a councilman who will go where the wind blows, In the sixth, a council member who is anti-developer, unless it is non-profit or socially oriented. In the Seventh, a retired community activist with no ties to developers. In the eighth and ninth, two enigmas…except that Conner has never voted against a development proposal since he has been on council. But in terms of the last sentence in #24…of course council has its hand in…it’s the ultimate policy-making body in the city…who else would make the decisions? Remember, Monday night when council voted on the CAR amendments, the attorney for Echo Harbour spoke against the amendments, and was unanimously voted down. Tyler has already announced that he is conflicted out if and when Echo Harbor comes before the council. Don’t forget a bit of charter information. If the ultimate deal requires the city to transfer any land, or any development right to the land, it takes a 3/4 marjority. I can understand the Ch frustration that council won’t do what you want…they often don’t do what I want either. But politically speaking, you are a minority bloc in your district, and a minority bloc in the city…it’s called democracy.
Sundagger, #26, it would help if you identified the people you are listing who represent different districts. I agree with you on Chris Hilbert re. 3rd, but not Ellen Robertson re. 6th (she IS 6th, right?!), and certainly not Betty Squire re. 7th, she has so far ‘deferred’ to whatever Delores McQuinn wanted her to do, and we all know that McQuinn is in developers pockets.
I used to believe that Marty Jewell, 5th District, would vote for his constituents, but no more, not after Oakwood.
Reva Trammell, in my humble opinion, is one of the few who really and truly listens to her constituents and seriously works to better her district.
Assuming people knew…always dangerous.
First District: B ruce Tyler
Second: Charles Samuels
Third: Chris Hilbert
Fourth: Kathy Graziano
Fifth: Marty Jewell
Sixth: Ellen Robertson
Seventh: Betty Squire
Eight: Reva Trammel
Ninth: Doug Conner
May I respectfully suggest that you look at voting records, not rhetoric. Squires has cast one “McQuinn” vote, on Oakwood Heights. Trammel has voted unan imously virtually with Jewell, prodevelopment.
“Trammel has voted unan imously virtually with Jewell, prodevelopment.”
That was my point, with Baskerville(Tyler) leading the pack)
And before everyone starts their attacks, not saying anything’s wrong with that, just an observation
[...] newly Council approved Downtown Master Plan recognizes Oregon Hill as a historic neighborhood that deserves Old & [...]
[...] newly Council approved Downtown Master Plan recognizes Oregon Hill as a historic neighborhood that deserves Old & [...]