City Council approves new Stony Point apartments, moves forward with Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard

November 26, 2013; 6:40 AM • by John Murden

City Council approved a new apartment project adjacent to Stony Point Fashion Park, rejected a proposed funding model for the city schools, and reversed a Commission of Architectural Review ruling on Monument Avenue. In addition, next steps were taken in support of the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard Project and the Virginia Capital Trail Project.

— ∮∮∮ —

NEW APARTMENTS FOR STONY POINT

Every development project needs to be weighed on the “impact on the neighborhood, the property rights of the owner, and economic impact on the city,” said Representative Graziano (4th District), leading Council in unanimous support of an apartment complex adjacent to Stony Point mall.

Council voted to allow proposed changes to the Stony Point Community Unit Plan which will allow a 282-unit apartment complex at the location. For more than a decade, the land in question has been slated for office, retail, and restaurant use.

Opponents of the changes expressed concerns over the amount and density of the housing, the impact of water run-off, and increased traffic along Cherokee and Huguenot roads. Members of several nearby civic associations reminded Council that the current, allowed use had been approved in 2001 with community support.

Those in favor of the changes to the Stony Point CUP describe the project as helping to support the regional mall and say that there will be no connectivity between the development and existing suburban neighborhoods. John Girardi of the Cherokee Area Neighbors stated that there has been no developer interest for use as office space in the years that the property has been available as such.

— ∮∮∮ —

FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS

By a vote of 6-3, Council voted down a proposed ordinance designating funds from the sale of surplus Richmond Public Schools property and real estate tax revenues from those properties to a school fund instead of the city’s general fund.

Representative Mosby (9th District) voiced skepticism regarding the lack of a plan of how the money would be spent. Representative Graziano (4th District) stated that removing the money from the general fund would reduce Richmond’s debt capacity and lower the city’s ability to support the schools.

“There is a major disconnect between what we are spending our money on” and the educational achievements of students, said Ellen Robertson (6th District), giving voice to what seems to be a lack of faith in the school system held by at least a few members of City Council.

“I’m opposed to basically anything that this body does,” said perennial Council gadfly Chris Dorsey during the public comment period.

— ∮∮∮ —

CAR REVERSAL ON MONUMENT

City Council voted 8-1 to reverse a Commission of Architectural Review decision denying a certificate of appropriateness for replacement dormer windows on a house located at 2200 Monument Avenue.

Dr. William Streicker, owner of the house since 1980, called the CAR decision “overreaching and intrusive” but was open to a compromise solution involving reinstallation of at least part of the original windows. Mary Jane Hogue of the Historic Richmond Foundation spoke in support of CAR, and also lauded Streicker’s willingness to work towards a solution.

— ∮∮∮ —

TRANSPORTATION

Council authorized the acquisition of permanent and temporary easements that Central Virginia Investments / Rocketts Landing, LLC has at 4400 E. Main Street, 4500 Old Main Street, and 4804 E. Main Street. The easements along the abandoned Norfolk Southern/CSXT rail line provides a route for a section of the Virginia Capital Trail and will allow the bicycle and pedestrian trail to extend to the eastern city limits along the former rail line. The Richmond portion of the trail is expected to be completed by June 2014.

Council also authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to both accept funds in the amount of $40,000 for the purpose of funding the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard project, and to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the development and administration of the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard project.

— ∮∮∮ —

RECOGNITION, AWARDS, AND APPOINTMENTS

Officers LaTosha Lewis and Reynaldo Perez were recognized for their community service for shutting down a shooting incident in Shockoe last year.
November 2013 is declared to be Richmond Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
December 2013 is declared to be Richmond AIDS Awareness Month.
The Renewal Projects, “a community-based service organization providing a safe, nurturing, educational environment for high-risk individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS,” was recognized and celebrated by Council.
Council President Samuels awarded a 10-year pin to Ellen Robertson for her decade of service on City Council.
David Long was appointed as a Member At-Large of the Community Criminal Justice Board until November 11, 2015.

— ∮∮∮ —

APPROVED

The following items were approved:

3. Ord. No. 2013-211 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To transfer and appropriate funds in the amount of $394,855.00 from the School Planning & Construction project in the Education category within the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 School Budget for expenditure by the School Board for technology purposes in accordance with the technology major classification for the purpose of providing for the installation of specific technology infrastructure and equipment in the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School.

4. Ord. No. 2013-214 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) – To amend and reordain Ord. No. 75- 309-302, adopted Dec. 15, 1975, as most recently amended by Ord. No. 2010-200-187, adopted Oct. 25, 2010, pertaining to the “Stony Point Community Unit Plan,” for the purposes of (i) authorizing multi-family residential, office, restaurant, and retail uses in Northern Map Section L, (ii) amending the 2009 Development Plan and the 2009 Development Summary, and (iii) amending the Development Standards and Conditions.

6. Ord. No. 2013-225 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) – To amend Ord. No. 64-111-110, adopted May 20, 1964, as previously amended by Ord. Nos. 64-225-212, adopted Sept. 14, 1964, 64-271-255, adopted Dec. 28, 1964, and 64-296-65-12, adopted Jan. 27, 1965, which authorized the construction of a building located at 700 East Main Street and the office use thereof, for the purpose of authorizing the use of the building for uses permitted in the underlying zoning district, upon certain terms and conditions.

7. Ord. No. 2013-227 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To declare that a public necessity exists for and to authorize the acquisition by gift from Central Virginia Investments / Rocketts Landing, LLC of permanent and temporary easements on the properties identified as 4400 East Main Street, 4500 Old Main Street and 4804 East Main Street for the public purpose of the construction of the Virginia Capital Trail Project.

8. Ord. No. 2013-229 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $69,883 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Justice Services by $69,883 for the planning and implementation of evidence-based principles and practices in the City’s community corrections programs.

9. Ord. No. 2013-230 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $40,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works’ Bike Sharrows / Lanes project in the Transportation category by $40,000 for the purpose of funding the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard project to optimize travel for bicyclists and pedestrians on Floyd Avenue between its intersections with North Laurel Street and North Thompson Street.

10. Ord. No. 2013-231 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the development and administration of the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard project.

11. Ord. No. 2013-232 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To amend and reordain City Code § 74-70, concerning alternative forms of security, for the purpose of reflecting amendments to Va. Code § 2.2-4338 allowing acceptance of a cashier’s check in lieu of a bid, performance or payment bond.

12. Res. No. 2013-R250 (Patron: All Members of Council) – To endorse, for the City of Richmond, legislative proposals set forth within the document entitled “2014 City of Richmond Legislative Proposals for the Virginia General Assembly;” to request the Richmond delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia to take legislative action consistent with and in vigorous support of such recommendations; to support other legislative action recommendations and to encourage other organizations and individuals to support such recommendations. (Amended)

13. Res. No. 2013-R251 (Patron: President Samuels) – To approve an expenditure in the amount of $1,550 from the Council Districts Funds for the Second District to pay the Department of Information Technology for the printing and mailing of the Second District Winter 2013 District Newsletter.

14. Res. No. 2013-R253 (Patron: All Members of Council) – To encourage and support participation in the “Love Lights” program for the 2013-2014 year, with the display lasting until January 1, 2014.

24. Ord. No. 2013-224 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To amend Ord. No. 2013-66-80, adopted May 28, 2013, which (i) accepted a program of proposed Capital Improvement Projects for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and the four fiscal years thereafter, (ii) adopted a Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and (iii) determined a means of financing the same, to amend the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing (i) revenues from general obligation bond borrowings by $4,152,386, (ii) the appropriation to the Transportation Projects project in the Transportation category by $3,452,386, and (iii) the appropriation to the Sidewalk Projects project in the Transportation category by $700,000 and to amend the Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and the four fiscal years thereafter by (i) decreasing revenues from planned general obligation bond borrowings in Fiscal Year 2016-2017 by $1,952,386, (ii) decreasing the planned appropriation to the Transportation Projects project in the Transportation category in Fiscal Year 2016-2017 by $1,452,386, (iii) decreasing the planned appropriation to the Sidewalk Projects project in the Transportation category in Fiscal Year 2016-2017 by $500,000, (iv) decreasing revenues from planned general obligation bond borrowings in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 by $2,200,000; (v) decreasing the planned appropriation to the Transportation Projects project in the Transportation category in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 by $2,000,000, and (vi) decreasing the planned appropriation to the Sidewalk Projects project in the Transportation category in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 by $200,000 for the purpose of accelerating funding for necessary street and sidewalk paving and repair projects.

25. Ord. No. 2013-228 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To authorize the issuance of general obligation public improvement bonds of the City of Richmond in the maximum principal amount of $4,152,386 to finance the cost of school projects and general capital improvement projects of the City for the following purposes and uses: construction, reconstruction, improvements and equipment for public schools; construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipment for various infrastructure needs, including traffic control facilities, streets, sidewalks and other public ways, bridges, storm sewers, drains and culverts, and refuse disposal facilities; participation in redevelopment, conservation and community development programs, including the construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipment for targeted public facilities included in these programs; construction, reconstruction, improvements and equipment for public institutional, operational, cultural, educational and entertainment buildings and facilities, including but not limited to the theaters, parks, playgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and museums; acquisition of real property therefor as appropriate; and the making of appropriations to the City’s Economic Development Authority (“EDA”) to be used by the EDA to finance capital expenditures or to make loans or grants to finance capital expenditures for the purposes of promoting economic development; and authorizes the Director of Finance, with the approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City, to sell such bonds for such capital improvement projects, to provide for the form, details and payment of such bonds and to authorize the issuance of notes of the City in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds, and to authorize the issuance of taxable bonds, for the same purposes and uses, in the same maximum principal amount and payable over the same period as such general obligation public improvement bonds.

26. Res. No. 2013-R202 (Patron: President Samuels, By Request) – To reverse the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review which denied a certificate of appropriateness for replacement dormer windows on a house located at 2200 Monument Ave.