Laserfiche WebLink
4 <br /> <br />REPORT <br />: SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR DREDGING STUDY RFP <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said that because the City will be paying the majority of the cost of the <br />dredging study, Council wanted to make recommendations about the composition of the <br />selection committee. He said Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority has recommended the <br />following to be on the committee: Gary Fern, Mark Graham, Tom Frederick, Chuck <br />Kent, Judy Mueller, Lauren Hildebrand, and Marty Quinn. He said he would also <br />recommend adding Rus Perry, a local architect, and Rebecca Quinn, a water resources <br />consultant to the committee. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown made a motion to recommend to the Executive Director of the Rivanna <br />Water and Sewer Authority that the following individuals be asked to serve on the <br />selection committee for the dredging study request for proposals, in addition to those <br />already identified by the Executive Director: Rus Perry and Rebecca Quinn. Mr. <br />Taliaferro seconded the motion and it was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. <br />Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Noes: None. Absent: Mr. Huja. <br /> <br />ORDINANCE <br />: REZONING 814 HINTON AVENUE FROM R-1S TO <br />NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR <br /> <br /> Mr. Brian Haluska, Planner in Neighborhood Development Services, explained <br />that a joint public hearing was held in May by Council and the Planning Commission. <br />He said the Planning Commission voted four to two to deny the rezoning request, with <br />traffic, parking and noise being the main issues. <br /> <br /> Mr. Andrew Sneathern, attorney for the applicant, asked people in the audience in <br />support of the rezoning to stand, and many stood. He said the neighborhood commercial <br />corridor zoning was created with the intent of having walkable residential and <br />commercial neighborhoods. He said the property is next door to Belmont BBQ with no <br />buffer between the two. He said his clients are proposing to increase the length of the <br />commercial zone. He said concerns expressed at the public hearing included noise and <br />parking from existing businesses and added commerce. He said he thinks the benefits of <br />the rezoning outweigh the concerns. He said his clients are offering to create a buffer <br />that addresses the sound issue and will limit the number of customers in the restaurant. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said concerns expressed at the public hearing and in subsequent e- <br />mails included fears about new traffic and activity in the alleyway. <br /> <br /> Mr. Sneathern said his client has no intention of using the alleyway for deliveries, <br />parking or trash. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Norris, Mr. Haluska said that proffers are <br />legally binding. He noted that it will take years for the zoning in Belmont to come into <br />compliance because of the uses there before zoning or new restrictions. Mr. Haluka said <br />proffers stay with the property if the owner changes. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris asked if it is a legitimate concern that allowing this rezoning would <br />create a precedent, and Mr. Haluka said the rezoning is based on this property, and each <br />property is unique. He said Council has to decide where to draw the line between <br />commercial and residential. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said that this property was held up as the “whipping boy” for other <br />things happening in the neighborhood. He asked what more can we do to address <br />neighborhood concerns about noise and traffic. <br /> <br /> Mr. Haluska said the noise ordinance can be reviewed and the traffic engineer can <br />look at traffic issues. He said the Belmont Neighborhood Association is beginning to <br />deal with larger issues in the neighborhood. <br /> <br /> Ms. Edwards said the public hearing was painful for the applicant, and she <br />expressed concern about how well prepared they were by staff for the process, and if they <br /> <br />