Category Archives: government

Previous Canal Bridge Gone/2015 UCI Road World Cycling Race Looms

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The previous canal bridge made from utility poles is now gone.

It is great to see people using the new canal bridge. (Though some jerk did dump a bucket of silver paint on it that had to be pressure washed off it). The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association may eventually throw a party to celebrate the new bridge. After all, its important to remember that it was that organization that secured the funding for it.

At the same time, one wonders how this plays into other riverfront planning. Evidently there are some high level meetings happening regarding Richmond 2015, the organizing committee charged with putting on the UCI Road World Championships.

Richmond 2015 has already come up with a course but will not disclose what it is for now. Officials say they want to work out contingencies before approaching affected communities.

The races will be disruptive to some residents because of road closings and the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to descend on the city.

But honestly, what is happening with the proposed ‘2nd Street Connector’? According to sources, C. Wayne Taylor’s questions are STILL waiting on answers from the City’s Economic Development Department.

Meanwhile In Northern Virginia…Move To Amend!

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From announcement:

Here is the work that Northern Virginia MTA has done:

Resolutions on overturning Citizens United v. FEC and combating the undue influence of money in politics passed Saturday at the Virginia 8th and 11th Congressional District Democratic Conventions. The resolutions call for the Constitution to be amended to establish that: (1) Corporations should not be entitled to the same Constitutional rights in our elections as people and should have only the powers and rights granted to them in state and federal law; and (2) Money is not speech so federal and state governments have the power to fairly regulate, without infringing the freedom of the press, any political contribution or spending. NOVA MTA helped prepare the resolutions and strongly advocated their passage.

The resolutions will help build support for passing a similar resolution at the State Democratic Convention on June 2, 2012, which in turn will help build support for passing MTA resolutions in municipalities in northern Virginia and elsewhere across the Commonwealth.

The Move To Amend movement may start small here, but it has potential to join other states’ efforts and become a reckoning force in the next few election cycles.

Lots of Meetings Early This Week

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I already mentioned the water pollution meeting on Wednesday, but there are a few other important meetings this week. Tonight the City’s anti-poverty commission seeks public feedback. While the meeting is in Gilpin Court, it would be interesting to include an Oregon Hill perspective. Tuesday, there is the monthly Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting, but earlier the GRTC Task Force’s Macro Subcommittee will meet-

From City press release:

Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force has established and will hold two subcommittee meetings

All residents are invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT The Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force has established and will hold two subcommittee meetings. The subcommittees include: the Macro Subcommittee, which will focus on long range transit planning issues, and the Services Subcommittee, which will focus on bus users’ service issues.

The purpose of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System. The meeting is free and open to the public and all residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

The two Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force Subcommittee meetings will be held as follows:

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Important, Nearby, Water Pollution Public Meeting This Wednesday

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From Virginia Conservation Network announcement:

You may be aware that over 10,000 miles of Virginia’s rivers and streams are considered unhealthy. Virginia is required to ensure its streams and rivers are clean, and develop a clean-up plan for waters that don’t meet those standards. Recently Virginia has developed one of these plans and will host a meeting to get your input on Wednesday, May 23rd from 2 to 4 pm in Richmond

(ed. at VCU!)

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Boards and Billboards

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Supposedly, the following ordinance will be put up for vote at the City’s Planning Commission meeting on Monday:

Ord. No. 2012-74 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To amend and reordain City Code §§ 114-402.2, concerning permitted accessory uses and structures, 114-620.5, concerning division of lots to accommodate existing dwelling units, and 114-1040.3 concerning additional exceptions granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals, for the purpose of discouraging the use of the special use permit process by expanding the special exceptions available under the zoning ordinance.
(Planning Commission, Monday, May 21, 2012, 1:30 p.m.)

One interpretation of this is that Mayor Jones has introduced the ordinance to expand the authority of the Board of Zoning Appeals. It allows for additional sign height except for billboards. Will the next step be to add billboards?

This ordinance is one that caused blogger C Wayne Taylor concern in the past. Last year the BZA decided 32 cases and only denied 3.

Anyone following the latest proceedings in the illegal Mayo Island billboard saga?

4th Precinct MPACT Meets Tomorrow Evening

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The Mayor’s Participation, Action, & Communication Team for 4th Precinct meets tomorrow evening.

From announcement:

PLEASE JOIN MPACT and THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION and COMMUNITY FACILITIES
TOMRROW!
Thursday, May 17, 2012 @ 6PM
Linwood Holton Elementary School
1600 W. Laburnum Ave.

As we embark on another fun filled summer and children begin their summer vacation it is important that they have constructive activities to partake in. It is just as important that parents are also able to enjoy the season with their children through other family activities and events.

Please join MPACT and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to hear about these events and activities. Some of which include upcoming summer programs, this year’s Summer Camp Program, pool schedules, and Movies in the Park.

OHNA Letter for Victory Rug

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From the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association:

Ms. Lory Markham
Planning Department
City of Richmond

Dear Ms. Markham,

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA), on April 24, 2012, at its regular monthly meeting reviewed the Special Use Permit submitted by Guy Blundon for the proposed project located at 407 South Cherry Street and 811 Albemarle Street.

Both 407 S. Cherry Street and 811 Albemarle Street are within the R-7 zoning for the neighborhood. The Zoning Administrator determined that under the current zoning four to six apartments would be acceptable in the former Victory Rug Cleaning building.

OHNA corresponded with Mr. Blundon before he closed on the property, and welcomed the owner to two meetings of our association. In this correspondence and during the meetings, we shared our serious concerns with Mr. Blundon over aspects of his proposal. We were very disappointed to receive the plans and find that our major concerns were disregarded.

The membership of OHNA unanimously voted to strongly recommend against approval of the Special Use Permit as submitted.

We are dismayed that Mr. Blundon ignored our concerns regarding density and submitted a proposal for several times the acceptable number of apartments in this building.

We are also dismayed that Mr. Blundon submitted a plan in which 811 Albemarle Street is used for a parking lot. Even worse, he has proposed a driveway onto this parking lot from Albemarle Street, which would be very detrimental to the character of this historic block at the entrance to Hollywood Cemetery. The parking proposed for this lot does not even appear to be functional; all of the spaces are for compact cars and the aisle dimensions proposed are not even adequate for compact cars.

We are pleased that Mr. Blundon, the owner of the property, is proposing a historical renovation of the Victory Rug building with historic tax credits, and we urge the owner to submit a new application in line with the current zoning for the properties that would not be detrimental to the historic neighborhood.

We urge the city planning staff to recommend against approval of the Special Use Permit for 407 S. Cherry Street and 811 Albemarle Street as submitted. We believe that a revised project that takes into consideration the concerns listed above could be an important asset to the community.

Thank you for consideration of this request.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Hancock
OHNA, President

Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force Meets Thursday

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From City press release:

All residents are invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT The Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force will hold a meeting. The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System. The meeting is free and open to the public and all residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

WHEN Thursday, May 10, 2012
4:00-6:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Department of Economic Development
Richmond Main Street Station – 3rd Floor Conference Room
1500 East Main Street; Richmond, Virginia 23219
(PARKING: Free parking is available on the west side of the building by using the Franklin Street Entrance and using the lot below the Interstate. When facing the Train Station from the Franklin Street Entrance, make a right and park towards the Clock Tower end. When facing the building from the parking lot, the entrance door to the Richmond Department of Economic Development is located on the right of the building.)

WHO Members of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force

CONTACT For more information, please contact Councilman Bruce W. Tyler, Richmond City Council, West End 1st District, at 804.357.6007; or bruce.tyler@richmondgov.com.

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OHNA Letter for 349 S. Laurel

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From the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association:

Ms. Lory Markham
Planning Department
City of Richmond

Dear Ms. Markham,

At the April 24, 2012 meeting of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA), we considered the Special Use Permit requested by Nolen Blackwood for 349 South Laurel Street. The neighborhood association voted to support the Special Use Permit with the following two stipulations that were agreed upon by the applicant:

1). Only one dwelling unit would be permitted on the property in addition to the business use of the first floor of the building.
2). No alcohol sales would be permitted on the property

Mr. Blackwood is requesting the Special Use Permit to allow a retail/commercial use on the first floor of the building. Historically, there was a storefront on the first floor of 349 S. Laurel, and this use would be in keeping with the historical function of the building. Corner storefronts were a common feature of 19th century neighborhoods, such as Oregon Hill, and OHNA has encouraged the use of these storefronts by neighborhood-friendly businesses.

The building at 349 S. Laurel Street has limited parking, other than a two car garage on the property that will be dedicated to the one residential unit above the commercial space. Although adequate parking is of great concern in the Oregon Hill neighborhood, in voting to support the Special Use Permit, we considered the special nature of the business proposed as the tenant of the first floor of the building. A bicycle shop is the proposed tenant, and it would, to some extent, cater to clientele traveling by bicycle. A bicycle store at this location should encourage more bicycle transportation in the neighborhood. We note that the proprietors of the proposed bicycle shop live only a half block away, on the 400 block of S. Laurel, so minimal staff parking will be required. Furthermore, by agreeing to the stipulation that there will be only one dwelling unit permitted on the property, the owner has reduced the possibility that a large number of occupants would have vehicles.

Thank you for your consideration of the comments of OHNA concerning the proposed Special Use Permit at 349 S. Laurel Street. We would encourage you to approve the Special Use Permit and to permanently incorporate the two agreed upon stipulations above into the Special Use Permit.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Hancock
OHNA, President
April 25, 2012