RECENT COMMENTS

Planning Commission approves Union Hill rezoning, purchase of Lehigh Cement

The City Planning Commission at their bi-weekly meeting today unanimously approved Ordinance 2009-135 (PDF) which seeks to rezone the bulk of Union Hill to R-63 Multifamily Urban Residential and UB Urban Business. The Commission also voted unanimously in support of Ordinance 2009-153 to authorize the aquisition of the Lehigh Cement property at 3111 Water Street (adjacent to Echo Harbor) “for the purpose of providing an open public space and a public park along the river to complement the Virginia Capital Trail.”

The $2,000,000 purchase agreement gives Lehigh Cement three years to relocate, with the sale officially closing once Lehigh has moved. This purchase paves the the way for the demolition of the towers and the removal of the train track at this property and by Rocketts Landing.

Also on the agenda was Ordinance 2009-155 to aquire the portion of Byrd Street between 12th Street and Virginia Avenue from Reynolds Metal to reopen the street and reestablish the street grid in the area. This, too, was unanimously aproved.

The final local item up was Ordinance 2009-142, which makes 1716 North 22nd Street available for use by the Peter Paul Development Center. I left before this item came up for vote; it *had* to pass, right?

Approved ordinances will now go on to City Council for consideration.