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June 24, 1980
<br />
<br />At a regular meeting of the City Council held on June 24, 1980, there were present:
<br />
<br />Richard J. Davis, Jack P. Barnes, Ben A. Beamer, Sr., E. Saunders Early, Jr.
<br />J. Robert Gray, James W. Holley, III, Edward L. Oast, Jr., Robert T. Williams,
<br />City Manager, Steven Lieberman, City Attorney.
<br />
<br /> In accordance with the call of the meeting, the regular meeting of the City Council was
<br />held in the Willatt Auditorium, Woodrow Wilson High School, at 7:30 p.m.
<br />
<br /> Rev. Winston E. Waugh, Pastor, Fellowship United Church of Christ, opened the meeting
<br />with prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to th~ Flag.
<br />
<br />Mayor welcomed all visitors in attendance.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Gray and seconded by Mr. Early, minutes of the called meeting of June 9, 19
<br />minutes of the Public Hearing of June'9, 1980; minutes of the regular meeting of June 10, 1980;
<br />minutes of the called meeting of June 17, 1980, to be approved as received, and was adopted by
<br />unanimous vote. 80-216
<br /> Mr. Thomas Mizell, representing the Disabled American Veterans, Cradock Chapter #41,
<br />presented Mayor Davis with a plaque in recognition of his faithful and devoted service to
<br />the citizens of Portsmouth.
<br />
<br /> 80-217 Mayor Davis presented a paperweight to Miss Kirsten J. Hund, as being the
<br />recipient of an outstanding award, "1980 Presidential Scholar".
<br />
<br /> 80-218 - Mayor Davis presented Certificates of Appreciation to following former
<br />members of Boards and Commissions:
<br />
<br /> Frank L. Kirby, Jr., Emergency Medical Services Advisory Commission; Daniel J. Hurley,
<br />Municipal Finance Commission; Lindell Wallace, Citizens Advisory Committee; gev. G. Daniel
<br />Jones, School Board; Elijah L. Jones, Mayor's Manpower Development & Employment Commission;
<br />Mrs. Shirley Winters, Mayor's Senior Citizens Commission.
<br />
<br />- UNFINISHED BUSINESS
<br />
<br /> 80-204 (g) Comprehensive Plan, designated CP-80-1, approved by the Planning Commission
<br />at the Public Hearing of June 9, 1980.
<br />
<br /> George D. Eastes, representing the Portsmouth Port & Industrial Commission and Portsmouth
<br />Industrial Development Authority, presented the following statement:
<br />
<br /> "A commitment of long standing precludes my presence at your meeting June 24, 1980.
<br />is my hope that you will permit this letter to be read and be made part of your minutes.
<br />
<br />It
<br />
<br /> A reiteration of our community's fiscal position would be redundant. Over the past sever.
<br />years the fact that 50% of our land is nontaxable has been made abundantly clear. The corre-
<br />sponding demand on our city government as to services -- be they schools, public works, social
<br />services, recreation or other has been dramatically demonstrated. Our immediate concern is to
<br />accommodate, adjust and respond to both factors. Our long range concerns should be directed
<br />to the future of our city with the objective of establishing a fiscal base to insure that the
<br />needs of our citizens will not merely be met but exceeded. Short range, personal consideratio:
<br />at variance with the goal must be deferred in the interest of the common good.
<br />
<br /> Generally speaking, the West Norfolk area of our city has been accepted as industrial.
<br />With the approval of the Refinery s~te that condition has been reinforced. The rezoning of
<br />the Beazley tract and adjoining tracts and parcels will establish the area as truly indnstrial
<br />and provide an opportunity for capital investment and employment which could and should help
<br />to convert our long range goals with realities instead of dreams. Corporate entities inves-
<br />tigating our community are aware of our fiscal constraints, our urban status, our unempl6yment
<br />and our neighborhoods and the proximity of any given site to residential ones. We a~e inter-
<br />ested in corporate citizens who will be proud of themselves and their community and -- as with
<br />private citizens -- that means living within the restrictions that are inherent in any area or
<br />community.
<br />
<br /> The Industrial Development authority and Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission re-
<br />cognize that their responsibility is to encourage the development of the broadest possible
<br />base of employment and largest possible capital investments. Our concern is that the needs
<br />of our 110,000 people are met and met on a sound fiscal basis. To that end, we have reviewed
<br />the Comprehensive Plan proposed by the Planning Commission, have made certain recommendations
<br />that have been accommodated, and urge that the plan -- as to industrial zoning and rezoning --
<br />be approved ~presented.
<br />
<br /> As Chairman of the Authority and Commission, this City has my pledge that the needs of
<br />the City as a whole shall come first, but in every case of location -- or relocation -- the
<br />needs and desires of the "neighborhood" will be considered. Signed by P. Stockton Fleming,
<br />Chairman"
<br />
<br /> The following citizens spoke in opposition of the Beazley Farm and adjoining property
<br />being zoned from Residential to Industrial:
<br />
<br />Samuel L. Ely, 4413 Templar Drive, representing Hatton Point Civic League, spoke and
<br />presented the following petition:
<br />
<br />
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