Minutes 09/28/1965 - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 28th~ 1965 Z-65-26 Petition of Attorney Donald C. Kilgore to rezone property described as follows: Beginning att~outhwest corner of Deep Creek Boulevard and Elliott Avenue; thence southeast approximately !50' along the western right-of-way line of Deep Creek Boulevard; thence southwest approximately 156' to a point; thence southeast approximately 95'; thence west approximately 111'; thence south approximately 27'; thence west approximately 150' to the eastern right-of-way line of Beacon Road; thence northwest along said line approximately 178' to the southern right-of-way line of Elliott Avenue; thence northeast along said line approximately 415' to the point of origin; from Residential R-75 to Commercial C-2. The Commission unanimously resolved to recommend disapproval of this application on grou~ds that sufficient land for local business purposes is already zoned to serve this neighborhood and that any such enlargement of commercial would only serve to the detriment of the entire area." Motion of Mr. Johnson that.the City Clerk be requested to advertise for public hearing on October 26th, 1965, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 65-256 - The annual report of the City Planning Commission for 1964-65 was presented. Motion of Mr. Eastes that it be received as information and that the Council commend the planning Commission for this pplendid report, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 65-257 - The following communication from C. E. Grant was read: "During the time that J. Davis Reed was May~r of Portsmouth, an ordinance was passed which prohibited the throwing of handbil at doors. To prevent these advertisments cluttering the streets, it was (as the writer remembers) required that such things must be placed in an envelope and put under the door. While the enclosed doesn't bear a store name, it is obvious that it was gotten out by the store indicated. At this time, there are six of these bills in the hall of this apartment. Two have been picked up, one sonsigned to the trash basket and the other, sent to you. Gentlemen, are ordinances made to be forgotten? Thank you for your attention." Motion of Mr. Johnson that the 'City Manager inform Mr. Grant that there is no ordinance requi~ing hand bills to be placed in envelopes, and that any ordinance regulating this type of activity would be unconstitutional, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 65-258 - "One of the items at the regular monthly meeting of the Portsmouth Recreation Advisory Board was the receipt of a copy of a petition submitted by some residents of the downtoWn s~ction of our City. The petition, which we understand will be submitted to City Council, is to establish a centrally located playground in the downtown area north of High Street. Just such a project has long been under consideration by the Board. In o~r letter of July 18, 1965, the Board recommended ~o Council, at that time that it be authorized to investigate the possibility of designating unused property in the City Limits for use as neighborhood recreation areas. ~ith the assistance of the Recreation Director these areas would be equipped and staffed, if necessary, and used as neighborhood playgrounds. As of this date, no reply.*has been forthcoming from our letter. Further, the Board feels that if Council would act favorably on this recommendation that such netitions as presented by Mrs. Riley would be unnecessary. We should like a reply to our letter of July 18th advising the Board of the feelings of the Council. While attention has been devoted to upgrading our athletic facilities and park areas, it is the consensus of the Board that the area of Neighborhood Playgrounds is a most vital facet of our recreation program. ~ith this thought in mind we shall be looking forward to an early reply.? On motion,,~u~es were suspended to hear from John A. MacKenzie, who presented the following petition: "We the undersigned, residents of the downtown section of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, respectfully petition your honorable body to establish a centrally located playground i~ the downtown area, north of High Street, in the City of Portsmouth; .Virginia. This request is made for the following reasons: 1. The former playground located in this area at the foot of Washington Street, Portsmouth, Virginia, was u~d~fpr the construction of Crawford Parkway and to make way for a commercial building site. Many of the residences in the area north of High Street have small yards - and - in many instances - the yards are non-existent. There is a heavy flow of traffic over the streets in this area, creating a real hazard for the children who are forced to play on the sidewalk. 2. The increasing density of apartment houses in this area makes the need of a playground for children of paramount importance." Motion of Mr. Johnson that this matter be brought to the attention of the Recreation Adiisory Board and that the Board and that the Board be asked to find an appropriate site for downtown recreation and report back to the Council as soon as possible, was adopted, without dissenting On motion adjourned. City Clerk