Minutes 03/24&25/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 24, 1981 On motion meeting recessed. APPROVED - ~?......~ City C 1 e f~/L/~/ March 25, 1982 The Portsmouth City Council reconvened March 25, 1981, for the purpose to consider of a coal exp6~iing facility. for a meeting held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a resolution of concern relative to the developmel The following were present: J. E. Johansen, Ben A. Beamer, Sr., J. Robert Gray, Gloria O. Webb, Morton V. Whitlow, G. Robert House, Jr., City Manager, Steven Lieberman, City Attorney. Absent: Jack P. Barnes, Edward L. Oast, Jr. 81-113 On motion of Mr. Whitlow and seconded by Mr. Gray, the following resolution was adopted, and by the following vote: mA RESOLUTION OF CONCERN RELATIVE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COAL EXPORTING FACILITY IN THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA. WHEREAS, the Governor of Virginia has proposed legislation which will be considered at a special session of the General Assembly of Virginia in April 1981, which legislation would empower the Virginia Port Authority to acquire property located in the City of Ports- mouth by eminent domain proceedings for the purpose of constructing and operating a coal exporting facility, and port related facilities; and WHEREAS, the Virginia Port Authority has indicated an interest in the site located in the City of Portsmouth commonly known as the refinery site which represents the last remainin site of substantial size which the City of Portsmouth can offer for expansion of its tax base to the relief of its private home-owners and residents; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Portsmouth has great concerns relative to the possibl environmental impact on the quality of life that will result from the development and oper- ation of a coal exporting facility in the City of Portsmouth; and WHEREAS, a committee appointed by the Mayor of the City of Portsmouth has studied the proposed coal facility and submitted certain points for consideration by the City Council; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Portsmouth adopted a resolution at February 24, 1981 relative to the proposal by the Governor of Virginia and Authority; and a meeting held the Virginia Port WHEREAS, no detailed feasibility or engineering study that addresses the economic and environmental impact~of the proposal for the Portsmouth site have been made; and WHEREAS, the financial viability of the proposed development and the ultimate long necessity of the construction of additional coal exporting capacity in Virginia has not been established; and WHEREAS, other potential sites for a coal exporting facility exist in the~.Hampton Roads area which will not have the economic or environmental impact of the proposed site and on which financial viability studies have not been made. NOW~ THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia: (1) That the Council of the City of Portsmouth is opposed to the development of the posed coal exporting facility in the City of Portsmouth, Virginia. (2) That the Council of the City of Portsmouth request that the General Assembly defer action on the proposed legislation pending completion of detailed feasibility and environmental impact studies that adequately address the environmental and economical concerns raised. (3) That if the General Assembly determines that the interest of the Commonwealth of Virginia overide the concerns of the Council of the City of Portsmouth and the interest of its citizens to the extent that a coal facility will be located within the City of Portsmouth the Council requests that the General Assembly adopt amendments to the proposed legislation that would provide for the following: