The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) will be holding an online meeting on Zoom tomorrow night, August 23, at 7 pm.

(Editor’s note: if you need the Zoom meeting log-in information, please contact OHNA at ohnarva@gmail.com

From meeting announcement:

Welcome
• Treasurer’s Report

Community Updates:

1. Lt. Brian Robinson, City of Richmond Police Section Lt, 4th Precinct
2. Officer Luke Schrader, Police Liaison, VCU
3. Ms. Verenda Cobbs, VCU
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney (Nathan Hittle)

Updates:

1. Amphitheater planned for Tredegar Green.
· It is slated to seat 5,000 people and accommodate and additional 2,500 standing, as per our meeting with the developer’s representative. No additional parking is planned.
· When the previous amphitheater plan was proposed, the neighborhood raised questions about hours of operation, noise levels, and parking, none of which were ever answered.
· A meeting was held for Oregon Hill neighbors by the project representatives on Tuesday 13 June at 6pm.
· Preston Lloyd was invited to this meeting, but not confirmed.
· At the end of the meeting, we will have a 30-minute block for discussion of the Amphitheater project.

2. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the demolition of 708 China Street, and its replacement with a new building.
· The item has been continued once again and is now scheduled for the Monday City Council meeting 11 September 2023. It is on the consent agenda.
· 708 China Street was demolished last week.

3. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for 601 ½ South Pine Street.
· The applicant is proposing to divide the parcel and to construct a new, two-story, two-family detached dwelling which will face China Street.
· The applicant had a first meeting with the zoning committee. A presentation and recommendation will be brought to an upcoming OHNA meeting. The item is not yet scheduled for the Planning Commission.

Continued Business

4. Speeding / traffic issues on Idlewood.
· A letter was sent on 25 April 2023 to Councilmember Lynch (as the resolution passed at the 24 April 2023 OHNA meeting) asking for a variety of speed control measures on Idlewood, including speed tables.
· Ask Councilmember Lynch for an update.

5. A volunteer has agreed to head up a committee looking into locations for a dedicated dog park in Oregon Hill and addressing the various city requirements for such an undertaking.
a. Any other volunteers?

New Business

6. Noise issues from Brown’s Island / neighborhood parties on Saturday night August 19
· The concert on Brown’s Island went much later than usual, until 11pm
· It was a very loud night in the neighborhood
· Is it true that because the Council changed the infraction from a criminal one to a civil one, and the RPD ticket tablets do not contain a category for this, no tickets for noise ordinance violations are being issued?
7. Holly Street Playground cleanup
· We will poll attendees of the meeting for potential dates.
· Open High School has offered volunteer time with students needing volunteer hours (to be undertaken during school hours– the playground might be a good opportunity.

8. Any new items?

Amphitheater Discussion
9. Amphitheater discussion. Ideas that have been suggested by neighbors and raised during our June meeting include:
· Regular meeting with neighborhoods and owner/operator to discuss ongoing issues and developments.
· Dedicated number to contact during events in the event of noise issues.
· Five drop-off lanes for Uber *
· Use East entrance *
· Add a bus / shuttle stop for the amphitheater at the East entrance.
· Formal, signed MOUs with parking decks in area for use during events.*
· Events cut off at 10:00pm as does Brown’s Island (6-9:30pm).
· No fireworks, or low-noise fireworks , or drone displays.
· The amphitheater operations could fund, through on-going donations to an Oregon Hill park fund
· The City should fund parking study during first season of events to verify parking performance (collect license plate number, verify where they come from) data collection.
· Ask amphitheater operations to provide tickets to raffle off for neighbors to attend events.
· Reorient the stage to the west, point stage uphill towards Ethyl building.
· Revisit noise ordinance, increase fine for large commercial venues.
· Add trash cans in neighborhood to head off additional litter after events; there are no public trash cans left in the neighborhood.
· Added bus stop / Pulse stop on Belvidere
· Could we request moving along new LED street lights or maybe they’d be interested in helping move the Belvidere mural idea along
· Restrooms – what is plan for public restrooms not just at facility, but around it.
· What is security plan for concert nights?
· Fines for noise ordinance
o In the present form of the noise ordinance fines start at $100.
o Are fines the only consequence of the noise ordinance?
o Is it true that because the Council changed the infraction from a criminal one to a civil one, and the RPD ticket tablets do not contain a category for this, no tickets for noise ordinance violations are being issued?
· Items marked with an asterisk (*) have already been raised by Councilmember Lynch with the project proponents.
ADD

Bryan Clark Green, President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Mike Matthews, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer