Minutes 12/10/1974 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Beard: "There,s a resolution that I would like the Planning Director to read, if he would please." Mr. Moore: "WHEREAS, this City Planning Commission for more than a decade has sought to advance a metropolitan core concept dubbed "OPERATION AMIDSHIPS" (as endorsed by City Council on March 26, 1963) via which our historic original settlement area along the Elizabeth River, between the U. S. 'Naval Shipyard and the U. S. Naval Hospital, would be regenerated and returned to a viable urban state commensurate with pre- vailing conditions in the Hampton Roads community; and WHEREAS, relative to the community adjacent to the U. S. Naval Hospital, this Com- mission did on June 18, 1963, recommend to City Council approval of document "CP-1-63" titled "Northside Neighborhood Land Use Plan" (VA R-22-GN), which paved the way for the Olde Towne Conservation Project, the Park View Urban Renewal Pro- ject and the Northside Redevelopment Project, themselves the subject of several subsequent reviews and approvals in terms of compatibility between project propos- als and overall land use-transportation network patterns embodied in our Compre- hensive City Plan; and WHEREAS, this Commission did on November 19, 1963 present to City Council a doc- ument titled "SOUTHSI~DE GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL PLAN"f which provided an initial outline for long-term action programs to restore the community adjacent to the U. S. Naval Shipyard and subsequently generated housing such as Madison Village, improvements such as Thomas Jefferson playground, road and drainage pro- jects such as those embodied in Effingham Street extension and the Effingham Urban Renewal Project; and WHEREAS$ all subsequent proposals related to possible ways and means for regene- rating the Southside Neighborhood have been submitted to and reviewed by this Commission in the process of providing advice for City Council; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH 1. That this Commission endorses the use of Community Development funds to advance regeneration of the oldest part of our city between the U. S. Naval Hospital and the U. S. Naval Shipyard and recognizes in such action priorities a continuation of programs deemed essential to the future welfare of this city and its inhabitants and in turn the metropolitan con~uunity of which we are an integral part. 2. That this Commission accepts and endorses proposed amendments to the Northside Redevelopment Project and the Park View Urban Renewal Project as essential to the success of these major undertakings in the regeneration of Northside Neighborhood, and thus as worthy of Community Development program funding. 3. That this Commission again recognizes the need for a major drainage project along Gander Creek in Southside Neighborhood and deems this worthy of Community Development program funding pursuant to established Comprehensive Plan objectives. 4. That this Commission recognizes a critical need for additional housing in South- side Neighborhood and accepts Southside Redevelopment Area No. 1 as a means toward that end, as compatible with Comprehensive Plan land use and zoning concepts and as worthy of Community Development pro~ram funding. 5. That this Commission recognizes a critical need for additional employment op- portunities in proximity to the inhabitants of Southside Neighborhood and for ad- ditiona! development of the City tax base, which supports human services essential to the neighborhood, and accepts Southside Urban Renewal Area NO. 2 as a means to- ward these ends, as compatible with Comprehensive Plan land use concepts and as worthy of Community Development program funding. 6. That this Commission recognizes a need in preparing future elements of our Community Development grant program to continue our efforts on behalf of an up- dated overall plan for Southside Neighborhood. Mr. Beard: "Thank you, Mr. Moore. Is there anyone on the Commission who wishes to make a motion in regard to this resolution?" Mr. No~an~:z"I move for adoption of this resolution." Mr. Gallette: "Second." Mr. Beard: "Is there any discussion? Ail those in favor, signify by saying 'Aye'. Those opposed, 'No' The motion is carried." Mr. Wentz: "Thank you, Mr. Beard. Ladies and gentlemen, if I may make one final comment. The putking-together of this Community Development-Plan, working under Federal programs, is an extremely tedious and ...proposition that involves many hours of work by the staff of the Housing Authority and the staff of the city's ad- ministration, and I again want to compliment Mr. Horton, Mr. Moore and Mr. Frye for the professionalism and expertise that they have exhibited in putting this plan together. Each member of the Planning Commission, the Housing Authority, and the City Council are very excited about this plan, but we are very humble about the decisions that we have to make. My first experience in public life was with the School Board and I know the Superintendent of Schools told me on occasion that he could never be absolutely sure~ or absolutely satisfied, that the decisions he makes are the right ones until many years down the road, he