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OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email announcement:

Good evening OHNA members,

I look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday at 7pm for our monthly OHNA meeting. This meeting will be Zoom only.

The Zoom link is provided below. This will allow for full remote participation.

I have attached to this email
1. the agenda for the 25 October meeting (also pasted in below),
2. the minutes for the September2022 meeting, and
3. the 2022 meeting schedule.

Thank you to everyone who donated raffle or silent auction items to our second annual fall festival this past weekend. An email will follow with thanks to all donors to this event. Thank you also to everyone who attended — it was a wonderful time.

We look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday evening.

Thanks,
Bryan

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 25 October 2022
7:00PM
This meeting will be by Zoom only.

Topic: OHNA Monthly Meeting – October
Time: Oct 25, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

(Contact ohnarva@gmail.com for Zoom link and info)

Welcome

• Treasurer’s Report

Community Updates:

1. Lt. Brian Robinson, City of Richmond Police Section Lt, 4th Precinct
2. Officer Luke Schrader, Police Liaison, VCU
3. Ms. Verenda Cobbs, VCU
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney

Updates:

1. Update on the fall festival, Saturday 22 October 2022

Continued Business

2. Proposed Amendments to the Richmond 300 Land Use Plan / Neighborhood Coalition Update
• This item passed unanimously by City Council on 27 June 2022
• The Planning Commission hearing on 18 July 2022 was informational only; no vote taken.
• Planning Commission voted on this issue at the 15 August 2022 meeting (1:30pm).
o Despite the fact that we had 47 letters in support, and none in opposition, and had several speakers in support, and none in opposition, the Planning Commission voted unanimously against our amendment.
o Next steps

3. Amphitheater planned for Tredegar Green.
· It is slated to seat 5,000 people and accommodate and additional 5,000 standing, as per our meeting with the developer’s representative. No additional parking is planned.
· When the previous amphitheater plan was proposed, the neighborhood raised questions about hours of operation, noise levels, and parking, none of which were ever answered.
o Applicant has not yet scheduled a meeting with OHNA

4. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the demolition of 708 China Street, and its replacement with a building.
· The Zoning Committee met with the applicant, and asked them to reconsider demolition and incorporate the historic building into their new construction
· The applicant has not yet come back to the neighborhood with a revision

5. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the construction of a two-family of 823 China Street, a vacant lot
· The Zoning Committee met with the applicant on 24 October 2022
· No recommendation yet. Still under discussion.

6. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the sponsorship signage to be placed around the field owned by St. Andrew’s School.
· The Zoning Committee met with the applicant. No recommendation.

7. Traffic issues along Idlewood at Cherry and Pine Streets
· There have been a number of recent accidents at these two locations.
· These two intersections suffer from poor visibility and the high speed of cars exiting 195 east onto Idlewood.

New Business

8. OHNA officer elections to be held at the 15 November meeting (moved up one week to avoid Thanksgiving)

Bryan Clark Green, President
David Cary, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Chris Hughes, Co-Vice-President
Harrison Moenich, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Meeting Tonight

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From email announcement:

Good evening OHNA members,

I look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday at 7pm for our monthly OHNA meeting. This meeting will be Zoom only.

The Zoom link is provided below. This will allow for full remote participation.

I have attached to this email
1. the agenda for the 27 September meeting (also pasted in below),
2. the minutes for the August 2022 meeting, and
3. the 2022 meeting schedule.

As you know, our amendment to the Richmond 300 plan was not approved by the Planning Commission last week. While we will talk about it at our next meeting, I just wanted to thank everyone who took the time to write a letter to the planning commission (we had 47 letters of support, and none in opposition), or took the time to speak in person or via Microsoft Teams at the planning commission meeting. While we were not successful last week, I want to thank each and every person who took the time to support this effort. The fact that we were not successful makes me no less grateful for your support.

We look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday evening.

Thanks,
Bryan

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 27 September 2022
7:00PM
This meeting will be by Zoom only.

Topic: OHNA Monthly Meeting – September
Time: Sep 27, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

(Editor’s note: Zoom link and passcodes redacted. Please email OHNA at ohnarva@gmail.com in order to receive those items)

Welcome
• Treasurer’s Report

Community Updates:

1. Lt. Brian Robinson, City of Richmond Police Section Lt, 4th Precinct
2. Officer Luke Schrader, Police Liaison, VCU
3. Ms. Verenda Cobbs, VCU
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney

Updates:

1. Update on shooting, Monday 5 September 2022
2. Update on the fall festival, Saturday 22 October 2022
· If you would like to volunteer in any capacity, please email ohnarva@gmail.com
3. Meeting with VCU and Randolph on 6 September 2022

Continued Business
4. Proposed Amendments to the Richmond 300 Land Use Plan / Neighborhood Coalition Update
• This item passed unanimously by City Council on 27 June 2022
• The Planning Commission hearing on 18 July 2022 was informational only; no vote taken.
• Planning Commission voted on this issue at the 15 August 2022 meeting (1:30pm).
o Despite the fact that we had 47 letters in support, and none in opposition, and had several speakers in support, and none in opposition, the Planning Commission voted unanimously against our amendment.
o Next steps

5. Amphitheater planned for Tredegar Green.
· It is slated to seat 5,000 people and accommodate and additional 5,000 standing, as per our meeting with the developer’s representative. No additional parking is planned.
· When the previous amphitheater plan was proposed, the neighborhood raised questions about hours of operation, noise levels, and parking, none of which were ever answered.
o Applicant has not yet scheduled a meeting with OHNA

6. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the demolition of 708 China Street, and its replacement with a building.
· The Zoning Committee met with the applicant, and asked them to reconsider demolition and incorporate the historic building into their new construction
· The applicant has not yet come back to the neighborhood with a revision

7. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the construction of a two-family of 823 China Street, a vacant lot
· The Zoning Committee met not yet met with the applicant

8. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the sponsorship signage to be placed around the field owned by St. Andrew’s School.
· The Zoning Committee met not yet met with the applicant

9. Proposal to replant the Idlewood traffic circle.
• The city has creatively applied a layer of red mulch to the traffic circle

10. Recurring issues with fireworks from rental property near Pine and Albemarle streets.

11. Traffic issues along Idlewood at Cherry and Pine Streets
· There have been a number of recent accidents at these two locations.
· These two intersections suffer from poor visibility and the high speed of cars exiting 195 east onto Idlewood

New Business
12. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the construction of a two-family of 823 China Street, a vacant lot
· The Zoning Committee met not yet met with the applicant

13. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the sponsorship signage to be placed around the field owned by St. Andrew’s School.
· The Zoning Committee met not yet met with the applicant

14. Any other new business?

Bryan Clark Green, President
David Cary, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Chris Hughes, Co-Vice-President
Harrison Moenich, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer

OHNA: Meeting Schedule, 2022 Fourth Tuesday of each month
Zoom information to be sent before meeting, while meeting remotely
Tuesday, 27 September 2022
7:00pm
Tuesday, 25 October 2022
7:00pm
Tuesday, 15 November 2022
7:00pm [moved up one week to avoid Thanksgiving]
Tuesday, 27 December 2022
7:00pm

Please Send An Email/Letter For Oregon Hill

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Dear Oregon Hill friends,
On Monday, Aug. 15th, the Richmond City Planning Commission will vote on a wonderful amendment to the master plan that will simply acknowledge what we all know: that Oregon Hill is a Residential neighborhood, Please send a short note in support of this master plan amendment, which has already been unanimously approved by City Council.

Below is a draft letter for your consideration, and please feel free to elaborate on your love of Oregon Hill, which has been a Residential neighborhood for over 150 years. Send your comment to: PDRLandUseAdmin@richmondgov.com

Dear Members of the Richmond Planning Commission,
I urge you to support the common-sense amendment to the master plan (agenda item CPCR.2022.094) that would designate the future land use of the Residential R-7 zoned area of Oregon Hill as Residential. Oregon Hill’s master plan amendment (2022-R033) has already been approved by the unanimous vote of the Richmond City Council.
Within Oregon Hill’s R-7 zoning, 99% of the buildings are two-story Residences. The two- story Residential future land use designation is appropriate for Oregon Hill and will allow the Oregon Hill neighborhood to continue to thrive.

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME and ADDRESS

‘Richmond300’ Amendment For Oregon Hill At City Council

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If you don’t know the background, you may want to read previous posts here and here.

Remember that City Council passed the ‘Richmond300’ plan over a year ago, during the holidays when most people were pre-occupied with family matters, in a pandemic emergency, during which the Virginia Attorney General called on municipalities to suspend all non-life-threatening business, and specifically land-use issues.

Also remember that City Council voted for this despite opposition from many different parts of the City, but especially from this neighborhood, which has taken part in the process from the beginning, put up with bad online ‘presentations’, and has consistently asked for changes in the plan.

Most importantly, remember City Council passed it with the promise to amend it.

Some neighbor’s statements:

http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2020/nov/05/oregon-hill-neighborhood-open-speculation-destruct/

https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/opinion-let-us-succeed/Content?oid=16786088

Now, here we are in 2022, and Councilperson Lynch has put language in anan amendment resolution before City Council, on the agenda for this coming Monday meeting.

It may decide on whether this historic neighborhood survives in the long term.

The City administration promised that it would be easy to amend the Richmond 300 master plan, and it is important for the city to keep this promise! The Richmond 300 committee ignored the request of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association and our City Councilor Stephanie Lynch that Oregon Hill be designated with a RESIDENTIAL future land use designation.

RESIDENTIAL future land use conforms to Oregon Hill’s current R-7 zoning that we fought hard to achieve. The Mixed-Use designation would undermine our R-7 zoning because an aim of the master plan aims to change zoning to match the future land use designation.
RESIDENTIAL future land use designation matches the function of 99% of the homes within our R-7 zoning and is consistent with the function of the dense historic neighborhood.
RESIDENTIAL future land use designation has a 1-3 story height limit that conforms to the R-7 zoning with a 35′ height limit, while the Mixed-Use designation has a much higher height limit of 2-4 stories and even higher on major streets like Idlewood and Laurel.
RESIDENTIAL future land use designation would encourage Special Use Permit applications to conform the existing R-7 zoning.
RESIDENTIAL future land use designation was approved for our sister neighborhood in Randolph, with which Oregon Hill has much in common.
RESIDENTIAL future land use designation promotes a cohesive neighborhood of families living in Oregon Hill, while the taller Mixed-Use designation would encourage developers to demolish Oregon Hill homes for dormitories for students at the adjacent Virginia Commonwealth University.
RESIDENTIAL future land use designation does not discourage the adaptive re-use of corner storefronts which have always been encouraged in Oregon Hill.

It’s also worth noting that there is no question that renovating and retrofitting a building has significantly lower upfront carbon emissions than demolishing and replacing a building. Oregon Hill residents who have worked hard for historic preservation over decades are fully supported by environmental reasoning.

City Council meets at 6 pm, on the second floor, at City Hall, 900 E. Broad St.

5th District Town Hall Meeting On Thursday

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Councilmember Stephanie Lynch is hosting an IN PERSON meeting at the Byrd Park Round House.
The meeting agenda includes many representatives of city departments who can answer citizens’ questions.
– Department of Public Works – Deputy Director Gail Johnson
– Department of Public Utilities – Deputy Director – Acting Stephen Morgan and Capital Project Manager – Bill Boston
– Parks & Rec – Capital Projects Deputy – Nissa Dean

It is scheduled to begin at 6 pm and it also includes an online Zoom webinar component for those who cannot attend in person.

For more information, here is the link to the FaceBook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/792912882068751

The meeting email notice included Lynch’s logo: