|
Richmonders know that I am a full-fledged supporter of preserving the last three riverfront properties along the James River for public use. My plan and vision is to complete the Richmond section of the Virginia Capital Trail, build a marina for public use and tall ship festivals, and develop a riverfront park for all Richmonders to enjoy year-round.
The public has cried out for its City government to protect this last stretch of open riverfront and I have heard your call.
City Council has not.
Council now indicates a desire to sell these properties to private developers and forbid the creation of a City-owned public marina.
Council seems to prefer - and has been quoted in various news stories that all three tracts of land might be better off in the hands of private developers to do as they see fit - leaving citizens with little hope for public access to the Downtown banks of the James River.
For the 7th time, Council has continued my proposal to pursue the purchase of the 1.6 acre Lehigh Cement Company property in order to complete the Virginia Capital Trail. Council's latest delay concerns how the ordinance will define a "public park."
Chapter 26 of the City Code prohibits the City from selling land once it has been designated as a park, which is why Council wants to retain the option of selling a portion of this riverfront land to private developers.
Council has delayed action on this matter for six months. At the last two Council meetings:
May 12: City Council amended my legislation to remove any reference to a proposed adjacent marina - which has nothing to do with trying to purchase the Lehigh property. My proposal merely authorizes the City to begin formal negotiations with the Lehigh company. Council still would have to sign off on any proposed purchase agreement.
May 27: Council spent 45 minutes debating what the City should do with the land and added new language so they can later decide how much of the property to designate as a park and how much could be sold to private developers.
In this video clip, Councilman Bruce Tyler refers to the possibility of leaving only a 12-foot wide path for bicyclists to enjoy the Capital Trail, while potentially selling the rest of the land to private developers.
Since that meeting, the City Attorney suggested to Council to meet behind closed doors - "in closed session" -- to provide legal advice on what Council could do with the property. However, I believe the public has the right to learn what Council members are thinking.
My goal is to develop all of these riverfront properties - for the public. These tracts of land could become one of the crowning jewels in a park system that is already the envy of many other cities and loved by so many of our outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Other cities such as Charleston, Louisville and Portland have created incredible riverfront parks. Our Council members and others have visited these cities and always talk about how we should emulate their successes.
Now, as we face the last opportunity to preserve and develop a masterpiece within our own park system, Council members have chosen to further delay my proposal and altered the language so that part of the land might be sold at a later date.
Council also is amending my proposal in order to terminate plans to build a public marina. This marina would virtually pay for itself through utility hook-up fees paid by The Village at Rocketts Landing.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is nearing approval of a joint permit that will allow for the City's first-ever public marina as well as the Rocketts Landing private marina. This joint permit enables the two marinas to share operational costs such as a harbormaster, rest rooms and other amenities.
Interestingly, one of the little-noticed additions Council made to the ordinance on May 12 prohibits the City from developing a marina:
"No obligation or payment of public funds shall be incurred or made for the development of a public marina on or adjacent to the real estate described in this ordinance."
Council's own argument in meetings has been they want to leave options open to see what developers may offer for this and surrounding land - yet this now prohibits the City from exercising any options on land it currently owns!
Curiously, there is no restrictive language by Council that applies to the other property adjacent to Lehigh: the proposed Echo Harbor condominiums. This potential development is represented by Councilman Tyler's architectural firm, as shown on the company web site.
With all this, it seems clear to me that Council's "vision" for this riverfront property is the following:
· Council will do whatever it can to leave plenty of wiggle room for private developers on the Lehigh tract, which might leave only a small part for the Capital Trail for bicyclists, walkers and others to enjoy.
· Council favors what it calls "responsible development," such as private-sector-only development that might include a large condominium complex allowing perhaps only 200 dwellers to enjoy the riverfront land, while also spoiling a historic riverfront view.
· Council wants to prohibit a public marina that can be integrated into a riverfront park for use by all citizens. Instead, Council seems ready to allow a privately-owned marina that might only benefit a nearby development, such as Echo Harbor.
Allowing a few special interest groups and contributors to take the last stretch of accessible riverfront - over the will and the wants of the people - is not a vision, but merely more "business as usual" that favors the "fortunate few."
The James is our river, and we have done an incredible job in recent years of cleaning it up and once again making it the heart of our City. You have already told City government that you want the natural preservation of our riverfront for all to enjoy.
You and I share this vision to preserve our river.
Contact your friends and all Council representatives before the next meeting June 9 and tell them while their vision may add up for them, it does not add up for the City, its citizens, or our future. |
