Minutes 04/12/1966 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 12, 1966 66-90 - "This is to advise the Council that arrangements have been made with Commonwealth Metals Limited for the continued use of the boat ramp at Pinners Point. We have also submitted an application to the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries for funds to assist in the construction of a boat ramp at City Park. As soon as we have been advised by the Commission, we~are planning to proceed with the constrmction of this ramp at City Park." Motion of Mr. Johnson to receive as information was adopted, without dissenting vote. 66-91 - "At the last meeting of City Council a petition from residents on Smithfield Road concerning drainage was referred to me. Representatives Sf the Public Works Department inspected this condition on Friday, March 25, 1966. They reported that the condition is bad but is not caused by anything the City has or has not done. Practically all of the yards in the area are six or more inches lower than the crown of the street pavement. There was a rain on ~rch 24, and the water was running into the ditches, but appeared to be leeching into the ditches from the ground, with the water table near the surfaces of the yards. City maintenance crews have been out and cleared all the ditches to help correct this condition. The Public Works Department will now make an engineering survey with regard to the installation of a storm drain to take the water away. This storm drain is estimated to COSt S15,400.00." "Regarding the petition received by the City Council at their meeting Tuesday, March 22, !966, that was dated Sunday, March 15, 1966, from the residents on Smithfield Road in the section between Victo.r,y.~ Blvd. and southeasterly to the 01d Deep Creek Blvd., regarding the bad drainage conditions in the area. On Friday, March 25, 1966, Mr. Charles M. Troxell, 2608 Smithfield Road, one of the names on the petition in your office and was referred to this office. We made an appointment with him to meet at his home between i1 a.m. and 12 noon on this day March 25th. We arrived there about 11:15 a.m. and he drove up in just a few minutes. He impressed me as being a very reasonable and understanding gentleman, he is employed by the Westinghouse Electric Co. It is a bad condition not caused by anything that has or has not been done. Practically all the yards are in the area are 6 inches or more lower than the c~own of the street pavement and have been since the homes were erected. It is a bad type of soil in the yards to absorb moisture and particularly from a septic tank standpoint. There was a fairly heavy rain the day previous on March 24th, possibly a half-inch and there was not an accumulation of water standing in the yard ditches or the ditches in the street. Water was running, but it appeared to be leeching into the ditches from the ground, the water table now is near the surface of the yards. Mr. Troxell wants the City to do anything that will better conditions in the area and naturally so. He suggests and seems to think that if the City Forces would clean the trash out from all the existing ditches in the area that this w~dld be a great help. We agree with him regarding this, but there are some of the ditches on privately owned property that will have to be cleaned out to give relief that do not front on Smithfield Road and the owners may object to City Forces coming on their land opening up old drain ditches for the benefit of others. /~nis is a conjecture on my part, we can start and if there are objections we may have to stop. Here is another alternative if found feasible hut will cost some money. An 18 inch storm drain with the necessary appurtenances, catch basins, manholes, etc., could be installed, if after extensive engineering~tudies are made, it is found practicable. The estimated cost for this would be $15,400.00. It is conceivable that not in the too far future this area may be a very desi~ah~industrial or commercial area. There are now located in reasonably close proximity the Rental Uniform Service, Community Bus Company, Supak and Sons Manufactul-i~gZ Corporation and others nearby on Victory Blvd.. If this should come about the land pattern would change and the improvements n~a~M be a loss." Mr. Charles M. Troxell, was adopted. adopted, without dissenting vote. Motion of Mr. Barnes Motion of Mr. Barnes to suspend the rules to hear from to receive the report as information was 66-92 - "At the last meeting of the City Counci], a petition was referred to me with reference to ~urbs and gutters on Hanbury Avenue. The Public Works Department has submitted the following information to me: Hanbury Avenue varies in width from 50 feet to 50 feet, according to the city records. The block from Deep Creek Boulevard to Bluegill Avenue is 50 feet wide; from Bluegill to CoverTerrace is 40 feet wide; from Cove Terrace to Raven Street is 40 feet wide; and the block from Raven Street to George Washington Highway varies in width at several places from $5 feet to 50 feet, with approkimately half of it 30 feet wide and half of it 55 feet wide. The Virginia Department of Highways and the City of Portsmouth's standards a~e a minimum width of 50 feet for all streets, tf the improvements are to he made, the necessary land to make a continuous 50-foot street in the same aligBment will be required. This being the case, the property owners on Hanbury Avenue should dedicate the necessary additional land requi~ed~ for the 50-foot right-of-way to the City without cost. This was done by property owners on Sandpiper Drive, Truxton Avenue~ Rodman Avenue and others.