2006-07-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Dr. Brown asked if the idea for a road through the industrial properties is a new idea, and Mr. Tolbert said the idea has been around awhile. Mr. Lynch said one issue is how we deal with the fact that we have a parkland zoning, and said it makes more sense for some areas to be zoned parkland. Mr. Tolbert said we may want to look at an institutional zoning designation. Mr. Lynch said that a couple of parks are delineated on the Land Use map as just being vacant. Dr. Brown said he would like to see how the cemetery zoning plays out citywide as well as other developable property. Mr. Jon Fink, Planning Commissioner, said that another issue is the suggestion to make Franklin Street one-way. Mr. Lynch said another alternative would be to not allow trucks. Ms. Hamilton said we should be careful that we are not creating a special exception in the Woolen Mills with commercial property and leave other neighborhoods on their own. Ms. Cheri Lewis, Planning Commissioner, said we should acknowledge what the neighborhood is asking for. She said she does not see a new road as a very easy solution. She asked how we can transition from a very intensive use and encourage industrial on the other side of the railroad tracks. She suggested going back to the neighborhood and asking what parts they would like to see rezoned to B-2, B-3 or mixed use, and asking business owners where they would like to move within Woolen Mills. Mr. Fink said he thinks market forces will drive this issue over a period of time. Mr. Lynch said a question is whether B-1 or B-2 zonings would be more extensively used and would create more traffic. He said he does not think we should say a new road will not happen. Martha Jefferson Area Neighborhood Mr. Tolbert said that Martha Jefferson Hospital is putting together a committee, which will include a Planning Commission representative, to look at the impact of their move to Pantops. He asked if there is an agreement that we need to focus attention on this and point out what the issues are. Mr. Tolbert said that the Hospital as well as the doctors offices are allowed by special permit. He said there is also concern about conversion of uses on the lower end of High Street. Responding to a question from Mr. Norris, Mr. Tolbert said that work has not started on redevelopment plans for the Hospital. He said Craig Barton will serve on the committee, and Martha Jefferson is open to working with the City. Dr. Brown said the focus is on opportunities for a walkable neighborhood with mixed uses. He said he thinks Martha Jefferson Hospital is being very thoughtful about the issue. Mr. Lynch said delineation of the neighborhood is an issue, noting that there are really two neighborhood associations, and said he thinks that needs to be straightened out. Mr. Tolbert said that for purposes of the Comprehensive Plan geographic areas were combined to make the process more manageable. He said staff could not work with 35 separate neighborhood associations. Mr. Lynch said he thinks it would be helpful to identify them separately.