Minutes 02/27/1968 - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 27, 1968 ~AEREAS the Churchland Area Citizens Adviso~ Planning Committee now urges the Land Use Plan's adoption without modification, by the City Council; and IgHEREAS certain commercial interests desire to block the adoption of the Land Use Plan so that they may develop an ill-advised shopping area at Merrifields in the midst of a residential area contiguous to the new Churchland Junior High School site; WE, THE UNDERSIGNED CITIZENS HEREBY PETITION THE PORTSbiOUTH CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN WITHOUT}~ODIFICATION THEREBY ELIMINATING THE UNDESIRABLE CO)~¥IERCIAL THREAT FROM TIlE MERRIFIELDS RESIDENTIAL AREA. WE feel the proposed supermarket complex at the comer of Rivershore Road and Cedar Lane is incompatible with the City's new school to be built next door for the following reasons: 1. Inherent discipline problems arise from the proximity of a school to an "attractive nuisance" such as would be present in a commercial undertaking there. 2. Past experiences indicates child molesters$ dealers in porgography, narcotic pushers, and other undesirable elements, gravitate to available havens adjacent to public schools, and the elimination of this potential haven, by allowing the school site to be permanently "Neighborhoodu in character, would be to the best interest of all future students. 5. q~le traffic congestion created by the commercial area and the school site, particularly at school opening and closing, would create a hazardous situation, which would jeopardize the safety and welfare of all future students. 4, The selection of the school site was made with the best possible judgment of the school board, however, it was done without the counsel or any representation of or for the citizens of the area, and now we citizens wish to make their thoughts kno~m. WE further feel that this commercial establishment in our residential area would be detrimental to the value of our homes and disruptive of their quiet use and enjoyment for the following reasons: I. The titter and turmoil which would be created, in spite of the best possible intentions of the management, would disturb the Merrifield residents, particularly in the summer. 2. The stores and other facilities would inevitably become a gathering place for the Navy libertymen from ships at the Craney Island facility which now pass through the residential area enroute the city center. $. ?ne resident's children would be attracted to this commercial area which would lie on the other side of a relatively busy street which is not equipped with sidewalks or protected crossings, creating a safety hazard. 4. This proposed sh~pping center is not wellLlocated - it is not in the center of its area - and it will generate undesirable~traffic through the internal residential Merrifields and Edgefield streets as the area to the west is developed." H. L. Grmut, who presented the following: "We, the undersigned residents and property ownersfrom the Churchland, Twin Pines, and West Norfolk sections of the newly annexed areas fully support the recommendations -- of the Churchland Area Citizens Advisory Committee's Development Ptm~ of the Churchlandannex~tion area--as approved and amended by the Planning Commission on February 6, 1968. We believe that the plan as proposed will serve the best interest for the annexed area as well as the whole. We urgently request your approval of the said plan." Commander Albert Lowe, ~Vno presented the following: "We the undersigned, being residents of Armistead Forest, Do hereby petition the City Council, City of Portsmouth, Virginia: To accept the land Use Plan as submitted by the Churchland Citizen's Advisory Planning Committee" Robert Reed Zelma Rivin The following apoke against the amendment: J. S. Livesay, Jr., attorney George R. Walker Frederick Baule Motion of Mr, Knight that the report and the comprehensive plan be referred to a conference of Council was adopted, with one dissenting vote, that of ~r. Smith. The following reports from the City Manager were read: 68-56 - "I submit the at~ched ordinance and recommend it be placed on first reading. This appropriates $146,466.15 to cover invoices of the Portsmouth Fort and Industiral Commission on the Paceco crane, warehouse, e~c. The Port Commission has reimbursed the city for all of the funds that the city advanced to the Commission." On motion of Mr. Eastes, the following ordinance was approved on first reading, without dissenting vote: "AN ORDIN;aNCE TO APPROPRIATE $146,466,15 FROM THE GENERAL CAPITAL IMPROVFaMENT FUND TO THE PORTSMObrrH PORT AND INDUSTRIAL Co~qlSSION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTSMOUTIt MARINE TERblINAL" 68-57 - "I submit the attached ordinance and recon~end it be placed on first reading. Tkis appropriates $23,000.00 to construct a sewer between Beechdale Road and Claremont Drive. Londontown Manufacturing Company is increasing the size of their plant in order that they can employ additional personnel. It is necessary for them to increase the size of their sewer facilities; therefore, the necessity to construct this sewer ~ine. We are also adding additional pipe to this project in order that we can serve other properties in the area. I also recommend that the contract be mcarded to A. G. Pinkston Company, the low bidder."