Train Horn Wakes Neighborhood And Then Some

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Around 4 am this morning, Oregon Hill residents were woken up by a train horn. Now, since the neighborhood is very close to CSX train tracks that are along the Kanawha Canal on the old tow path, the neighborhood is very used to trains sounds and hearing a train horn or two. Usually, folks just roll over and go back to sleep. But this horn kept going off pretty much nonstop. Some called 911, fearing another emergency along the tracks.

But the neighborhood was not alone. Evidently the horn kept going for the train’s entire journey, as Fulton neighborhood residents and Williamsburg, VA residents were reporting it this morning also.

Unofficial reports say that an air valve was stuck and that is why the horn kept sounding.

Between this and the early morning trash trucks, expect a lot of bleary eyed neighbors today.

Trash/Recycling (Might Be) Tomorrow

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This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which hopefully means trash and recycling pickup. I say hopefully, because the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority has struggled to maintain its schedule due to a shortage of workers and has missed some pickups recently and had to reschedule. That said, as neighbors, we should do our best to help.

One tool that might help ameliorate the situation if pickup does not come is this online form:
https://cvwma.com/programs/residential-recycling/recycling-service-request-form/

Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news…The Virginia Mercury had a recent story about how state agencies are attempting to comply with Governor Northam’s executive order to phase out single-use plastics with an ultimate goal of eliminating their use by the end of 2025, while manufacturers and chemical companies are pushing back against regulation.

Meanwhile on the national level, as reported by Inside Climate News, President Biden’s infrastructure bill includes money for recycling, but the debate over plastics rages on – The industry sees bipartisan support for “sustainable” plastics, while environmentalists call that an oxymoron and say the funding will have limited impact.

Getting back to the local level, W. Cary Street and Belvidere Street have seen an increase in plastic litter as more fast food businesses have moved into the neighborhood. In other parts of the City, neighborhoods are directing parking permit money towards anti-litter programs.

The James River Association recently released 2021 State of the James, a biennial report card examining the status and trends of eighteen separate indicators across two categories, River Health and River Restoration Progress, that are interconnected and build on each other to achieve a healthy James River.
The overall health of the river has received a grade “B-” with a score of 61%. Although the grade for the James has remained in the B- range since 2015, the overall score dropped one point from 2019 and two points since the recent high of 63%.
Plastic pollution is the most common type of marine litter worldwide and a problem for Virginia’s rivers and streams including the James, threatening native wildlife and our marine ecosystems. Plastic does not biodegrade. Instead, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that persist in the environment and can work their way up the food chain to the fish that we eat. Virginians deserve plastic-free waterways, and we all have a role to play in accomplishing that goal.

Toys For Tots On Saturday

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Pine Street neighbor Stephenie Harrington is hosting the 16th Annual Toys for Tots Party,
Saturday, Dec 4th, at Basic City Beer Co.
It’s from 1:00pm-4:30pm (stop by anytime) and it is kid and dog-friendly.
Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys, sporting goods, books, games, art supplies for Richmond Fire Department distribution.
She is also collecting items for Richmond Animal Care & Control like leashes, new cat toys, gently used blankets and sheets.
“Blue Santa” and “Motorcycle Santa” will be making appearances.

Trash/Recycling (Might Be) Tomorrow

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This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which hopefully means trash and recycling pickup. I say hopefully, because the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority has struggled to maintain its schedule due to a shortage of workers and has missed some pickups recently and had to reschedule. That said, as neighbors, we should do our best to help.

One tool that might help ameliorate the situation if pickup does not come is this online form:
https://cvwma.com/programs/residential-recycling/recycling-service-request-form/

Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news…

There’s still a lot of public interest in a bottle bill…
https://richmond.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-for-nov-14-2021-bottle-bill-could-improve-recycling-in-virginia/article_5ca1c73d-3dfa-58a1-81ff-1afc477a4a12.html

There’s also a lot of hope and expectations for the recently passed infrastructure bill.

Recycling and waste groups say other infrastructure bill-related funding for recycling education grants could be “years” away. Advocacy groups are particularly focused on the infrastructure bill’s inclusion of the RECYCLE Act, which aims to improve residential recycling by authorizing up to $15 million per year in recycling education grants over five years, through 2026.

Stakeholders have long said the bill’s funding for recycling projects shows the Biden administration recognizes recycling as critical to national infrastructure, but they say the true litmus test will be in how successfully the EPA actually rolls out the grant programs the bill promises.

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email announcement:

Monthly Meeting Agenda

Tuesday 16 November 2021
7:00PM

Location: St. Andrew’s Church
St. Andrew’s Church has kindly allowed us to use the church for this meeting.
(Zoom meeting info redacted; Please email OHNA at OHNARva@gmail.com if you need that information.)

They ask that all participants remain masked and socially distanced during the meeting.
We ask that invited guests limit their presentations to no more than 5 minutes.
We ask that questions, comments, and suggestions be kept to no more than 3 minutes.
This meeting will be recorded.

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. Mr. Tito Luna, VCU Liaison
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney

Updates

1. Proposed all-way stops on South Pine Street at its intersection with China Street (at Open High School) and South Pine Street at its intersection with Albemarle Street
· The paper has been submitted.

2. New no parking area around stop signs at Pine and China (Tuesday 9 November), and Pine and Albemarle Streets (Monday 15 November).

3. Proposed Amendments to the Richmond 300 Land Use Plan / Neighborhood Coalition Update
· Move Oregon Hill from Neighborhood Mixed Use to Residential land use category (Randolph is in this category).
· If Planning will not move Oregon Hill to Residential, then change the maximum height in the Neighborhood Mixed Use category from four stories to two stories.
· Remove the clause that allows taller buildings along major streets.
o Idlewood and South Laurel between VCU and Idlewood are designated major streets
o The amendments were continued by Land Use Committee. City Planning staff have recommended that no amendments be adopted.
o It was continued, yet again, to Tuesday 16 November 2021.

4. Updates on 105 and 116 South Laurel SUP Applications
· Both applications were heard at the Planning Commission on Monday 4 October
· We supported the SUP for 105 South Laurel Street, as per OHNA vote. This project was on Council’s 9 November agenda.
· After agreeing at the OHNA meeting to place a preservation easement on 103 South Laurel Street, the applicant later reversed course and refused to place the easement. It was agreed to as a condition of the neighborhood supporting the SUP. I asked the Planning Commission to delay the SUP to allow us to work with the applicant to meet the conditions that they agreed to, or to make such an agreement a condition of their motion. We lost, unanimously, despite letters from adjacent landowners objecting to applicant’s refusal to do what they agreed to do. I do not see this paper on Council’s 9 November agenda.

5. New SUP, 617-719 China Street
· We should see this at our December meeting.

Continued Business

1. Sculpture for Pleasant’s Park, by local artist Mickael Broth (image at the end of the agenda)
· The sculpture will be installed in Pleasant’s Park.
· The artist has offered it to us for $600; OHHIC has offered to donate $300, at our last meeting, OHNA was authorized to provide up to $300 for the purchase, and to seek donations to augment the cost.
· We can accept donations here at the meeting with our Square account!
· The artist has offered to help with installation
· If approved, we will begin the process of location approval with Parks & Recreation and the Urban Design Committee.

2. VCU student party issues
· There have been several large, loud parties in the last few weeks. There are problematic, repeat issues in the 200 block of South Laurel, and the intersection of South Laurel and China streets.
· Report issues to both RPD and VCU. Keep track of: date, time, location, fraternity / sorority affiliation, names of individuals involved, names of landlords, etc.
· OHNA is setting up an online form to track problem party locations, so that we may follow up with RPD and VCU. We will keep a spreadsheet of problematic locations and fraternity / sorority locations, and regularly report this information to VCU.

3. Potential dog park in the linear park

4. Bulletin board for Pleasant’s Park

5. Holly Street Playground cleanup to be scheduled for December. We are trying to put together a date, and will let everyone know once it is settled. We will focus on clearing brush just beyond the south and west fence lines.

New Business

1. OHNA officer elections.

The Next OHNA meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm Tuesday 28 December 2021. Please note that the meeting is a week later to avoid conflict with holiday-related travel. That meeting will be held in person with the Zoom option; the location will be announced later — hopefully, it will still be St. Andrew’s, and a link will be sent separately.

Bryan Clark Green, President
David Cary, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Chris Hughes, Co-Vice-President
Harrison Moenich, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer