visit_church_hill

City Council votes 7-2 to consider amending the Downtown Master Plan

02/10/2009 6:49 AM by

The RTD is reporting that City Council voted 7-2 to keep alive a series of controversial amendments, a possible boon for the proposed Echo Harbor development. The amendments will now be forwarded to the Planning Commission for consideration and then sent back to the council for a final vote.

The decision came despite an outpouring from residents who urged the council to keep the plan intact and river views protected. Richmond founder William Byrd II is said to have named the city after observing the James from what is now Libby Hill Park and being struck by similarities with the River Thames in the English borough of Richmond upon Thames.

“It’s as important as any view in the entire country,” said Joe Carr of Church Hill.

One amendment would designate the Echo Harbour site for future development with details to be determined. The Downtown Master Plan, adopted by the council last October, shows the site as a city park or a private development with public access to the waterfront.

James E. Ukrop, chairman of Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc. and First Market Bank, urged the city to move aggressively to buy the property and develop it as a park. “Future generations will look back and applaud our actions,” he said.

Can anyone clarify who voted for/against the measure?


TAGGED:

43 RESPONSES

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *