Proposed lodging facility at Fort Lee spurs City Council to request additional time for public comment

A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 120 DAYS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED LODGING FACILITY AT FORT LEE WHEREAS, the City of Petersburg has supported and is appreciative of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s decision to expand Fort Lee, which is the region’s primary economic contributor; and WHEREAS, it is proposed that a 15-story lodging […]

September 3, 2009; 9:24 PM • by mari

A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 120 DAYS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED LODGING FACILITY AT FORT LEE

WHEREAS, the City of Petersburg has supported and is appreciative of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s decision to expand Fort Lee, which is the region’s primary economic contributor; and

WHEREAS, it is proposed that a 15-story lodging facility with an initial capacity of 1,000 rooms, potentially expandable to 1,700 rooms, be constructed on a 26-acre site on post at Fort Lee; and

WHEREAS, the construction of the proposed lodging facility may have significant adverse economic impacts on the City’s and region’s businesses, in particular the hospitality sector; and

WHEREAS, the current public comment period on the construction of the proposed lodging facility closes Monday, September 7, 2009; and

WHEREAS, the City Council and area residents and businesses have expressed interest in making comments on the construction of the proposed lodging facility; and

WHEREAS, the City Council and area residents and businesses feel that the current public comment period does not provide the sufficient time to understand fully the impacts of and make substantive comments on the proposed facility; and

WHEREAS, the Petersburg City Council believes that it is appropriate that area residents and businesses have ample opportunity to review the impacts and comment on the proposed construction of the proposed lodging facility.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Petersburg that the Council hereby respectfully requests the Environmental Management Office, Directorate of Logistics / Directorate of Public Works, Fort Lee, Virginia, to extend the public comment period on the proposed construction of a lodging facility at Fort Lee for an additional 120 days.

Approved this 1st day of September, 2009.

______________________________
Nykesha D. Jackson, Clerk of City Council