RECENT COMMENTS

Vote On Riverfront Plan Delayed

Yesterday the Planning Commission decided to hold off approval of the Riverfront Plan until September 3rd. The two biggest sticking points were the Libby Hill viewshed and Mayo Bridge.

On the viewshed from RTD:

Of particular concern for several speakers was the USP Echo Harbour site, which sits between Great Shiplock Park and Lehigh Cement on the northern shore of the river. The plan envisions a mixed-use development there, though it notes “costly technical hurdles” and “concern that floodplain development will potentially block views of the river from surrounding hills.”

The Mayo Bridge issue is so very, very Richmond I can only shake my head. Apparently all the parties involved hadn’t really discussed what they were going to do to the bridge. On the plus side they discovered this before work began. Quote below is from RTD.

And representatives from Richmond’s Public Works Department pointed out that the plan, presented by the city Department of Planning and Development Review, calls for a three-lane replacement for the nearly 100-year-old Mayo Bridge while the Public Works Department has been working on plans for a four-lane structure.

The seeming disconnect between the two city departments took Planning Commission members by surprise.

“I am somewhat baffled,” said Planning Commission Chairman Melvin Law. “Why is this issue just being brought to light?”

Also check out Phil Riggan of Richmond.com’s take on the proceedings which brings up the issue of changes to Route 5.