Good evening OHNA members,
I look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday at 7pm for our monthly OHNA meeting.
St. Andrew’s Church has kindly allowed us to use their chapel again. They have asked that we remain masked and socially distanced during the meeting. We will also make the meeting available by Zoom, for those who choose to join us that way.
The Zoom link is provided below (Editor’s note: Redacted, but email ohnarva@gmail.com to request it). This should allow for full remote participation.
I have attached to this email
1. the agenda for the 22 February meeting (also pasted in below),
2. the minutes for the 25 January 2022 meeting,
3. the 2022 meeting schedule,
4. our summary of the SUP application for 617 China Street, and
5. the owner’s SUP application for 617 China Street (application, plans, site plan, and ordinance)
We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow evening.
Thanks,
Bryan
Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 22 February 2022
7:00PM
Location: St. Andrew’s Church
Join Zoom Meeting
St. Andrew’s Church has kindly allowed us to use the church for this meeting.
They ask that all participants remain masked and socially distanced during the meeting.
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. Mr. Tito Luna, VCU Liaison
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney
Updates
1. Proposed all-way stops on South Pine Street have been installed
a. at its intersection with China Street (at Open High School) and
b. South Pine Street at its intersection with Albemarle Street
2. Proposed Amendments to the Richmond 300 Land Use Plan / Neighborhood Coalition Update
• Move Oregon Hill from Neighborhood Mixed Use to Residential land use category (Randolph is in this category).
o If Planning will not move Oregon Hill to Residential, then change the maximum height in the Neighborhood Mixed Use category from four stories to two stories.
• Remove the clause that allows taller buildings along major streets.
o Idlewood and South Laurel between VCU and Idlewood are designated major streets
• The amendments were continued by Land Use Committee. City Planning staff have recommended that no amendments be adopted.
• Councilmember Lynch has introduced our amendments separately.
5. Resolution of support for the creation of a new mural on the brick wall along Belvidere was submitted.
• The Public Art Commission did not accept out proposal, citing an issue raised by Parks and Recreation
• Neither the Public Art Commission nor Parks and Recreation will identify the issue
• I have a meeting scheduled with Parks and Recreation this week
Continued Business
1. VCU student party issues
• There have been several large, loud parties in the last few weeks. There are problematic, repeat issues in the 200 block of South Laurel, and the intersection of South Laurel and China streets.
• Report issues to both RPD and VCU. Keep track of: date, time, location, fraternity / sorority affiliation, names of individuals involved, names of landlords, etc.
• OHNA is setting up an online form to track problem party locations, so that we may follow up with RPD and VCU. We will keep a spreadsheet of problematic locations and fraternity / sorority locations, and regularly report this information to VCU.
3. Pleasants Park – unleashed dog-related issues
• When the City was petitioned to add gates, the intent was to make it safer for both dogs and kits, with the idea that the park would be shared.
• Complaints about unleashed dogs have gone to Parks and Recreation.
• City requires that all dogs in city parks be leashed at all times – this is not something that we as a neighborhood can change
• The only way that a dog park – an area for unleashed dogs – can be created is to go through the City process for creating them. It involves requesting use of city land, creating a non-profit organization that covers the cost of the fencing, regular maintenance, and maintains liability insurance for the area. A portion of Linear Park might be a potential location. This is now Barker Field, near the Carillon, was created and is maintained. Any volunteers to head this up?
4. 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
1. New SUP, 617-719 China Street
• SUP materials attached to this agenda.
• This SUP will be heard
o Planning Commission: Monday 7 March 2022
o City Council: Monday 14 March 2022
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
