I was unable to attend Tuesday’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting, but thankfully 5th District City Council candidate Parker C. Agelasto supplied this meeting summary on his Facebook profile page:

Last night the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association met with nearly 30 people attending. There were two main topics of discussion: 1) VCU’s response to off campus misconduct by students and 2) Venture Richmond’s plan for an amphitheater between Tredegar and 2nd Street.

Lt. Donald Davenport was introduced as the new head of Sector 413 in the 4th Precint of the Richmond Police Department. His email is Donald.Davenport at RichmondGov.com. Officer Greg Fulton from VCU Police also attended. His email is gfelton atvcu.edu.

Officer Felton reported that VCU has contracted increased patrol of its MCV and Monroe Park campuses after recent incidents. He also explained a zero tolerance policy that VCU has implemented for student misconduct off campus. Residents are encouraged to call the university to report any illegal activities that involve students. All emergencies should still be reported to 911.

VCU’s emergency number is 804-828-1234 and non-emergency number is 804-828-1196. Officer Felton can be reached at 804-828-1209 or his mobile 804-301-5704.

Part of VCU’s zero tolerance policy for off campus misconduct is to address the issue directly with students through disciplinary action and to also instigate a complaint process with the property owner of apartments and houses. A similar initiative was started with the May/June move out period and holding property owners responsible for the debris left on streets and alleys.

Jack Berry of Venture Richmond presented their plans for a 3 acre lot west of the American Civil War Center and the new 2nd Street Connector, south of 2nd Street, east of the City property below the Lee Bridge and north of the CSX railroad tracks. It is a proposed gift by NewMarket Corporation with an estimated value of $3 Million. The transfer of property will include an easement requiring the property to be used and maintained for the public. Venture Richmond expects the property to serve as an amphitheater for concerts for the Folk Festival and Riverrock.

The plan does not call for any permanent structures and the proposed improvements include lighting fixtures and electrical boxes and landscaping. In preparing the site, NewMarket Corporation and Venture Richmond have proposed grading the property for better sight lines to the stage. This includes partial removal of the embankments as well as fill in the basin of the historic James River and Kanawha Canal.

Members of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association voiced concerns about the permitting process and wetland remediation. They also adopted a resolution opposing any permanent alterations to the James River and Kanawha Canal that was survey by George Washington and opened in 1785.

Lastly, an announcement was made that the ordinance for a Special Use Permit pertaining to the Victory Rug building has been drafted. It authorizes 18 units with only 8 off-street parking spaces. OHNA continues to have concerns about this high density and more importantly the lack of available parking for this many new residents.

I got a few choice comments from other residents who did attend the meeting:

One resident…

Jack Berry told a sob story about how we will lose the folk festival will if we don’t allow him to fill in the canal so he can create a giant auditorium complete with permanent lighting, water service, and electricity. He also admitted that he was the primary objector to the bike lane and sidewalks on both for the 2nd street connector– in order to minimize the footprint of the road

…and from another…

regarding the presentation at last night’s OHHA meeting and the proposed “filling in” the grade of the Canal – – any land disturbance greater than 2,500 sq ft requires the City of Richmond to review and approve a Grading Plan and Erosion/Sediment control study.

we don’t want this “oops” situation happen again, see below

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/oct/07/tdmet01-richmond-officials-say-newmarket-work-was–ar-1365435/

Although an online NWI map doesn’t show wetlands in the canal, a proper Survey may show the sensitive nature of this historic area.

if the City is seeing fit to spend $385,000 for a culvert it doesn’t make sense to bulldoze it this fall – we should request a survey

…and from another on a different topic…

Guys- I am amazed to find that the Victory lot on Albemarle, although a separate lot of record than the Rug Building, is listed on the assessors website as being R7 with a property class description of “apartment parking lot”. This is BEFORE any sup. R7 does not allow parking lots. We should appeal this obvious error.

we should also insist that since this lot is being developed into a single family house and is separate, that a separate sup be submitted for that individual lot and since it has room for off street parking, insist that it have 2 spaces. The house he is building could be sold separately and the lot of record is different from the Victory building. Wouldnt he have to consolidate lots in order to have both on the same sup? I find this highly irregular.

It is a terrible precedent to stray from R7 on a single family house that is separate plat from any other.

In addition, I wonder how many residents know we will soon have additional cannon fire pointed at us. Get ready for loud booms on Saturdays.