Minutes 05/25/2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 25. 2011 WHEREAS, the City of Portsmouth owns three properties totaling approximately 7.5 acres that collectively form the site of the former Port Norfolk Elementary School; and WHEREAS, the properties are the subject of a Memorandum of Intent executed between the City and a prospective developer, Hull's Creek Properties, LLC ("Developer"), dated July 7, 2010 wherein the City stated its desire to have the properties developed for a beneficial and taxable use that contributes to the quality of life, and the Developer stated its desire to develop the property in accordance with the City's goals; and WHEREAS, all due diligence contemplated under the Memorandum of Intent has been completed by the developer; and WHEREAS, the Developer has worked in good faith with community representatives and the City Planning Department to develop a plan that has been substantially revised from its initial concept to include a smaller number of housing units, some with larger lots, and significant reservation of reservation of property for open space or wetland restoration; and WHEREAS, a Sale and Development Agreement between the Developer and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (EDA) has been negotiated; and WHEREAS, the terms of a proposed Cooperation Agreement will permit the EDA to convey the subject property to the Developer and will also define the division of the sales proceeds between the City and the EDA. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia that the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a Cooperation Agreement with the EDA containing terms substantially similar to those recited above." Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Randall, Whitehurst, Wright Nays: Cherry, Edmonds 11 - 215 - Adoption of a resolution concerning relocation of Portsmouth City Jail. Vision Principle: Bold New Directions. Background: . The Portsmouth City Jail has been located on the downtown waterfront for approximately forty years. While there may have been reasons to locate it there at the time, the continued existence of the jail at this location is against the public interest at the present time. While there have been intermittent discussions and considerations of relocating the jail in recent years, there has never been a concerted effort to do so, and City Council has never made a formal policy determination concerning relocation. The jail occupies part of a multi-use complex known as the "Civic Center." The remainder of the Civic Center is occupied by various Portsmouth courts and support facilities. The courts and support facilities will be relocated in the near future to a new judicial complex, leaving the Civic Center vacant save for the jail. Once the jail is relocated and the Civic Center becomes completely vacant, it can be demolished and made available for private, taxable development. Discussion: . The resolution includes an official policy determination by City Council that the jail should be relocated. . The City Manager is directed to explore alternatives by which the jail could be relocated. . The information to be developed by the City Manager shall include all relevant locations, financial considerations, operational considerations, and also the development potential of the Civic Center site, once the jail is relocated. . The City Manager shall report to City Council from time to time about the status of his study of the matter.