Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email message:

Dear Oregon Hill neighbors:

I just received the message below from RJ Warren of the Clerk’s Office, regarding the proposed demolition of 708 China Street (ORD. 2023-090). It appears that there will be a motion tonight to continue it to the 24 July meeting. As mentioned below, if continued, there will be no opportunity to speak to the issue.

“Consideration of ORD. 2023-090 is scheduled to be continued to July 24, 2023 City Council Meeting. This continuance will be addressed by Council tonight during review of amendments to tonight’s agenda. If continued, there will be no opportunity for public hearing this evening, as the public hearing will take place July 24, 2023. You are still welcomed to join tonight’s meeting virtually in the event that Council decides not to continue ORD. 2023-090 and instead consider it this evening.

I will go ahead and sign you up to speak virtually regarding ORD. 2023-090, at the July 24, 2023 Council meeting.”

Just wanted to update everyone. In any event, our Tuesday evening OHNA meeting will be held as advertised — no continances on our end.

Thanks,

Bryan

Earlier announcement:

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 27 June 2023
7:00PM
This meeting will be held by Zoom, at the link below.

Topic: OHNA Monthly Meeting – June
Time: Jun 27, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
(Editor: link and other details redacted. Please contact OHNA at ohnarva@gmail.com if you need them)

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 (Nathan Hiddle)

Updates:

1. Amphitheater planned for Tredegar Green.
· It is slated to seat 5,000 people and accommodate and additional 2,500 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.
· A meeting was held for Oregon Hill neighbors by the project representatives on Tuesday 13 June at 6pm.
· Preston Lloyd was invited to this meeting, but not confirmed.
· At the end of the meeting, we will have a 30-minute block for discussion of the Amphitheater project.

2. 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 item is scheduled for the Monday City Council meeting 26 June 2023. It is on the consent agenda.
3. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for 601 ½ South Pine Street, and its replacement with a building.
· The applicant is proposing to divide the parcel and to construct a new, two-story, two-family detached dwelling which will face China Street.
· The applicant had a first meeting with the zoning committee. A presentation and recommendation will be brought to an upcoming OHNA meeting. The item is not yet scheduled for the Planning Commission.

Continued Business

4. Speeding / traffic issues on Idlewood.
· A letter was sent on 25 April 2023 to Councilmember Lynch (as the resolution passed at the 24 April 2023 OHNA meeting) asking for a variety of speed control measures on Idlewood, including speed tables.
· Ask Councilmember Lynch for an update.

5. A volunteer has agreed to head up a committee looking into locations for a dedicated dog park in Oregon Hill and addressing the various city requirements for such an undertaking.
a. Any other volunteers?

6. Traffic issues along Idlewood at Cherry and Pine Streets
· There have been several 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

7. Holly Street Playground cleanup
· We will poll attendees of the meeting for potential dates.
· Open High School has offered volunteer time with students needing volunteer hours (to be undertaken during school hours– the playground might be a good opportunity.

8. Susan Barrett wants to organize a neighborhood picnic in the Holly Street Playground.
· Let’s discuss potential dates.

9. Any new items?

Amphitheater Discussion
10. Amphitheater discussion. Ideas that have been suggested by neighbors include:
· Regular meeting with neighborhoods and owner/operator to discuss ongoing issues and developments.
· Dedicated number to contact during events in the event of noise issues.
· Five drop-off lanes for Uber *
· Use East entrance *
· Add a bus / shuttle stop for the amphitheater at the East entrance.
· Formal, signed MOUs with parking decks in area for use during events*
· Events cut off at 10:00pm as does Brown’s Island (6-9:30pm)
· No fireworks, or low-noise fireworks
· The amphitheater operations could fund, through on-going donations to an Oregon Hill park fund
· The City should fund parking study during first season of events to verify parking performance (collect license plate number, verify where they come from) data collection.
· Ask amphitheater operations to provide tickets to raffle off for neighbors to attend events

Bryan Clark Green, President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Mike Matthews, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer

Primary Voting Today

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Democrats – Sen. Lamont Bagby (Richmond) and Katie Gooch — are vying for the party’s nomination in the 14th Virginia Senate District

The district stretches from Richmond’s border with western Henrico into the eastern part of the county. It extends from Lakeside down to South Richmond, including Manchester. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, nearly 79% of the district is made up of voters from Richmond.

Gooch is the director of the Pace Center, described on her campaign website as “an inclusive, multicultural student community at Virginia Commonwealth University supported by the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church.” She is an ordained United Methodist Pastor.

Bagby, chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, served in the House of Delegates before replacing Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) in the Virginia Senate. While he’s technically considered an incumbent, he’s running in a different district than the one he did when winning McClellan’s seat.

Polls will be open for the June 20 primaries from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. People in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Virginians have already been casting ballots for the primaries as the early-voting window opened on May 5.

Virginians need to show an accepted form of ID to vote, but it doesn’t have to include a photo. Those without an ID at their polling place can sign a confirmation statement or vote using a provisional ballot.

Oregon Hill’s voting location has been moved from Clark Springs Elementary to the VCU Commons.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

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This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup.

Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If it seems like pickup did not happen, use this online form:
https://cvwma.com/programs/residential-recycling/recycling-service-request-form/

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

City Council Rams Through Casino and Amphitheater Proposals

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Last night City Council ignored citizen concerns and rammed through two proposals.

From RichmondBizSense.com:

Councilmembers unanimously approved a performance grant agreement for the planned Richmond Amphitheater on the riverfront near Tredegar, and almost unanimously approved ordinances authorizing agreements that set the stage for a potential second referendum in November on Urban One’s proposed casino in South Richmond.

From Virginia Business magazine:

Some residents of the nearby Oregon Hill neighborhood have opposed the venue or sought to delay it, however, saying they were not given adequate input about cutoff times, noise and parking. The venue does not include parking, but as part of its agreement with the city, the amphitheater will be required to submit a parking plan annually to make sure to make sure existing parking is used and that venue attendees are not parking in residential neighborhoods.
“We feel like there’s no reason to rush this through in a week after negotiations have been taking place for probably a full year,” Charles Pool, a representative of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council, told council members during a public comment period Monday.
Stephanie Lynch, who represents Richmond’s 5th district, said a meeting is planned for Tuesday to address remaining recurring concerns about the amphitheater.

Shooting At High School Graduation At Altria Theater

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A just graduated high school student and his father were shot and killed Tuesday when a gunman opened fire in Monroe Park following Huguenot High School’s graduation ceremony at the Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, near Monroe Park and Oregon Hill.

The 19-year-old shooter was taken into custody. He had multiple firearms.

The motive for the shooting, which injured at least five other people, remains under investigation.

Open High school posted this message in response:

We are heartbroken for our RPS family and all of Richmond. Stay safe and keep your loved ones close.

Trash/Recycling Pickup On Thursday

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Due to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, Oregon Hill’s trash and recycling pickup will be on Thursday this week instead of Wednesday.

Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If it seems like pickup did not happen, use this online form:
https://cvwma.com/programs/residential-recycling/recycling-service-request-form/

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news, NERC’s MRF Values Survey Quarterly Report for the period January – March 2023 showed a slight downward trend in values, with a -2% change from the previous quarter for values without residuals1, and -2% change for values with residuals. This is the 16th report in NERC’s series of quarterly reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. The report includes information from ten states: Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.