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<br />
<br />June 13, 1977
<br />
<br />At a Public Hearing meeting of City Council held on June 13, 1977, there were present:
<br />
<br />Jack P. Barnes, E. Saunders Early, Jr., James W. Holley, Robert W. Wentz, Jr., R. T.
<br />Williams, City Manager, Gordon B. Tayloe, Jr., City Attorney.
<br />
<br />Absent: Richard J. Davis, Archie Elliott, Jr., Edward L. Oast, Jr.
<br />
<br /> Vice Mayor Wentz presided in the absence of Mayor Davis, and welcomed all visitors in
<br />attendance.
<br />
<br /> 77-198 - Z 77-14 - The following report from the Planning Commission was received:
<br />
<br /> "The Planning Commission was advised of action taken by City Council on December 14,
<br />1976 requesting a Joning study of the area northeast of the Western Freeway Bridge. This
<br />matter was discussed among members of the Commission during early 1977, and I was instructed
<br />to prepare an application in my name to rezone residual Residential R-75 at West Norfolk to
<br />Industrial M-1. This action will be referred to as petition Z 77-14 and was publicly heard bM
<br />the Commission on March 1, 1977. On May 4, 1977, the Commission resolved to instruct me to
<br />withdraw said application from any further consideration. This was done publicly.
<br />
<br /> Records~of the Commission public hearing, as contained in minutes of the March 1, 1977
<br />meeting, were routinely circulated among the Mayor and members of the City Council. It is
<br />clear that West Norfolk residents are aware of a transition from residential to industrial
<br />and are as concerned over an orderly transition as mre we at City Hall. West Norfolk repre-
<br />sents a small but stable residential community consisting of large old dwellings on small
<br />plots in which reside for the most part older citizens. This combination...large dwellings,
<br />small lots, scattered vacant parcels and retired residents...coupled with a network of wide
<br />streets and alleys possessing but minumum physical improvement, provides a set of unique
<br />problems. In my~opinimn,i~the Commission conducted a thorough citizen study of issues!.posed
<br />and was justified in its conclusion. For the time being, the City will retain its reactive
<br />posture insofar as rezoning from residential to industrial is concerned. However, Commission
<br />concern runs much deeper and centers on two important points.
<br />
<br /> First, is our municipal government prepared to cope with another possible transition,
<br />one which we have experienced too often and about which we are uncertain as to our codes
<br />enforcement control capabilities? West Norfolk could/~ay experience a transitional decline
<br />cycle if its large old homes are objects of real esta~speculation related to occupancy by
<br />low income families. Since City Council has discussed this problem, as associated with many
<br />other older neighborhoods, I shall simply reiterate my conviction that this aspect of codes
<br />enforcement has yet to be resolved to our satisfaction. Suffice it to say that if West Nor-
<br />folk passes through a cycle.of illegal conversion to occupancy by low income families, any
<br />thought of orderly transition to industrial usage may be Wishful thinking. Perhaps West
<br />Norfolk would be an excellent testing ground for a program of careful municipal scrutiny to
<br />preclude illegal conversion to low income occupancy.
<br />
<br /> Commission action action was taken after public hearings, visits to West Norfolk and
<br />study of material such as the attached staff memorandum. Rest assured that the Commission
<br />and your staff are pursuing these inquires in the context of Western Freeway construction,
<br />industrial encroachment and willingness on the part of affected residents to discuss imple-
<br />mentation of one Comprehensive Plan land use goal of a future industrial area at West Norfolk
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Barnes and seconded by Mr. H011ey, to concur in the recommendation of the
<br />Planning Commission, the petition to be withdrawn, was adopted by unanimous vote.
<br /> Councilman Etliott arrived at 7i35 p.m.
<br /> 77-199 - Public Hearing on rezoning, use permit application, a proposed amendment of
<br />the Zoning Ordinance and revision of the City Code section dealing with Flood Control:
<br />
<br />(a) Zoning Petition Z 77-16 - Petition of Albert Dail & Dail's:, Inc., by Attorney
<br /> Dean W Sword.
<br />
<br />Attorney Sword spoke for the petlitioner.
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Barnes and seconded by Mr. Early, the following ordinance was approved
<br />on first reading, and by unanimous vote:
<br />
<br />"ZONING AMENDMENT ORDINANCE Z 77-16"
<br />
<br />(b) Zoning Petition Z 77-17
<br />
<br />Petition of Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority:
<br />by Director of Development D. B. Cruce.
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Early and seconded by Mr. Barnes, the following ordinance was approved
<br />on first reading, and by unanimous vote:
<br />
<br />"ZONING AMENDMENT ORDINANCE Z 77-17"
<br />
<br />(c) Zoning Petition Z 77-18
<br />
<br />Petition of Lindsay R. & Susan A. West, by Agent Harold
<br />C. Beaver,
<br />
<br />Harold C. Beaver, Agent, spoke and discussed the permissible uses to C-2 and OR-75.
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Early and seconded by Mr. Barnes, to concur in the recommendation of
<br />the Planning Commission of 0R-75, the following ordinance was approved onilfirst reading,
<br />and by unanimous vote:
<br />
<br />"ZONING AMENDMENT ORDINANCE Z 77-18"
<br />
<br />
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