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339
<br />
<br />August 25, 1981
<br />
<br />At a regular meeting of the City Council held on August 25, 1981, there were present:
<br />
<br />J. E. Johansen, Jack P. Barnes, Ben A. Beamer, Sr., J. Robert Gray, Edward L.
<br />Oast, Jr., Gloria O. Webb, Morton V~. Whitlow, G. Robert House, Jr., City Manager,
<br />Steven Lieberman, City Attorney.
<br />
<br /> Rev. H. A. Hunderup, Jr., Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church, opened the meeting with prayer
<br />followed by the Pledge of Allegiance To the Flag.
<br />
<br />Mayor Johansen welcomed all visitors in attendance.
<br />
<br /> Motion Of Mrs. Webb and seconded by Mr. Gray, minutes of the called meeting of August 10,
<br />1981; minutes of the Public Hearing of August 10, 1981; minutes of the reconvened executive
<br />session of August 11, 1981; and migutes of the regular meeting of August 11, 1981, to be
<br />approved, and was adopted by unanimous vote.
<br />
<br /> 81-306 - Public Hearing on UP 81-14, Petition pf the Portsmouth Port & Industrial Commis-
<br />sion, by M. Shawver Associates, Ino., Option Holdey, for a use permit to operate a coal load-
<br />ing facility on property zoned Industrial M-2, was held:
<br />
<br />The following spOke-in favbr 6f the petition:
<br />
<br /> Michael K. Imperial, 1264 Glyndon Drive, Va. Beach, ~Va., President of Mi Shawver As'soc.
<br /> Q£sNorfQlk, and Interim General Manager of Portsmouth Coal Terminal.
<br /> R. Charles Gentry, Attorney, 1300 19thSt., ~shington, D. C., representing Portsmouth Coal
<br /> Terminal.
<br /> Thomas T. Wishart, 1625 K Street, N.W., Washington, D. C.~ Project Manager for Ports-
<br /> mouth Coal Terminal. ~
<br /> E. S. Wilkes, 6718 Valley Lake Drive, Raleigh, N. C., Supt. rom SCLRR Company, presented
<br /> the following letter from The Family Lines Rail System, Industrial Development Department
<br /> 500 Water Street, Jacksonville, Fla~. to Mayor Johansen, August 20, 1981:
<br />
<br /> "At its August 25, 198!, Portsmouth City Council will consider granting a use permit to
<br />Portsmouth Coal Terminals for the operation of a S-year 4 million ton per year export
<br />at Pinners Point. Naturally, Seaboard Coas% Line Railroad has kept apprised of developments
<br />this project as this Railroad, as a common rail carrier, will be called upon to serve the site
<br />if the use permit is granted.
<br />
<br /> Relative to the rail traffic that will be generated by this project, we are fully aware
<br />of Portsmouth's concern over potential traffic blockages at key intersections, particularly
<br />during peak traffic hours in the morning and evening. Additionally, we are aware of some
<br />sermous questions relative to access to and traffic flow within the Marine Terminal area.
<br />Realizing that there is basis for these concerns, Seaboard has given considerable attention to
<br />its existing and projected train movemen%s through these vehicular sensitive areas and we
<br />continue to do so with view of minimizing the impact of such movements on. vehicular traffic
<br />th extent practicable. It is impossible to guarantee that some disruption will not occur;
<br />ever, our intent is to operate our trains in such manner so as to cause the least possible in-
<br />convenience .to vehicular traffic at the several key intersections and to over ~the road comm
<br />emanating from Portsmouth Marine Terminal.
<br />
<br /> Seaboard Coast Line Railroad has a long history of operating successfully in Portsmouth
<br />and in no small part is the success of our activities dependent upon a cooperative relations
<br />with municipal offidials and the citizenry. Certainly we wish to perpetuate this mutually
<br />beneficial relationship and will undertake all reasonable operating measures designed to
<br />traffic problems that may refult from this project. Signed by J. R. LeGrand,Vice President,
<br />Industrial Development'~
<br />
<br />Jesse A. Dent~ Jr., 4085 Oak Hill Drive, College Park, GA, Port Operations Manager for
<br />Bortsmouth Coal Terminal.
<br />Robert D. Coleman, 1111 N. 19th Street, N.W., Arlington, VA, representing Energy g Envir¢
<br />mental Analys~s, Inc.
<br />Dr. Robert B. Jacko, P.E., 2530 Shagbank Road, W. Lafayette, Ind., Environmental Enginee~
<br />ing Consultant to Portsmouth Coal Terminals.
<br />Robert E. Porterfield, 330 County Street, President of Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.
<br />(See Exhibit 81-306)
<br />Peter Eustis, 4753 Rivershore Road, Chairman of Portsmouth Port & Industrial Commission.
<br />(See Echibit 81-306)
<br />Raymond Turner, 526 Bunche Court, representing Portsmouth Port g Industrial Commission.
<br />(See Exhibit 81-306)
<br />George D. Hastes, 300 Park Road, representing Portsmouth Port g Industrial Commission.
<br />Fred T. Mathews, Jr., 1313 High Street, President of Tower Toyota Dodge.
<br />Charles B. Whitehurst, Crawford g High Streets, President-elect of Portsmouth Chamker
<br />of Commerce. (Seee Exhibit 81-306)
<br />P. Ward R~binette, Jr., Crawford & High Streets, representing Central Fidelity Bank.
<br />James W. Dunn, P. O. Box 70, Executive Director of Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce,
<br />presented the following statement for Milton M. Phillips, President of Downtown Portsmouth
<br />Association:
<br />
<br /> "The Board of Directors of the Downtown Portsmouth Association voted 8 to 0, with one
<br />abstention, to endorse M. Shawver Associates, Inc. application for a use permit to build a
<br />loading facility at Pinners Point.
<br />
<br /> ~he Board feels that the project is environmentally sound.
<br />needed revenue for the city.
<br />
<br />It woulJ generate jobs and
<br />
<br />The Board respectfully requests Council's approval of a land use permit."
<br />
<br />
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