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195 <br /> <br />decisions if properly educated and felt that conservation <br />districts would be overly regulatory. <br /> <br /> Rev. Doyle Thomas, pastor of Zion Union~Baptist Church, <br />noted that the issue before the public tonight was whether <br />there is public support for Council to be given enabling <br />legislation to further investigate establishing conservation <br />districts. Rev. Thomas stated that he represents 185 <br />families who are church members, many of whom live in the <br />neighborhoods adjacent to West Main Street, who are in favor <br />of the City having the authority to determine its own future. <br /> <br /> Mr. Harry Henderson, 313 6th Street, S.W., stated that he <br />felt the Council's role was to serve the needs of the City. <br /> <br /> Ms. Jane Foster, 6 Gildersleeve Wood, supported the <br />Charter amendment, which she understood would give Council the <br />authority to hold further public discussion on creation of <br />conservation districts. Ms. Foster added that she did not <br />feel conservation districts would create many changes in <br />neighborhoods. <br /> <br /> Rev. Bruce Beard of First Baptist Church on West Main <br />Street~ stated that the vast majority of over 300 members of <br />his church felt that the City should have the right to <br />determine what happens in our community and that the decision <br />should not be left to those in Richmond. <br /> <br /> Mr. John Gaines, 214 9th Street, N.W. and a member of <br />the West Main Street Task Force made the following <br />observation: creation of conservation districts would slow <br />but not prevent encroachment by the University of Virginia <br />into neighborhoods~ restrictions would not apply to other <br />areas of the City) and 10th and Page and Fifeville <br />neighborhoods are being considered for conservation districts. <br />Mr. Gaines questioned the need to rush to have the Charter <br />amendment approved. <br /> <br /> As there were no further speakers the public hearing was <br />closed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter, in response to Mr. Gaines' comments, <br />stated that the University of Virginia has voluntarily agreed <br />not to encroach into the neighborhoods, but noted that the <br />creation of conservation districts would help preserve the <br />neighborhood once private development begins in the area. Mr. <br />Slaughter stated that neighborhood preservation was the number <br />one concern discussed during meetings on potential development <br />of West Main Street. Ms. Slaughter stressed that the Council <br />would not create conservation districts in neighborhoods <br />unless the residents of those neighborhoods favored such <br />action. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano stated that Council is committed to citizen <br />participation and neighborhood preservation. <br /> <br /> On motion by Ms. Daugherty, seconded by Mr. Toscano, <br />the Council members present voted unanimously to (1) reaffirm <br />and ratify their December 6, 1993 Council resolution <br />requesting a Charter amendment giving the City enabling <br />legislation to create Neighborhood Conservation Districts, and <br />(2) ask the General Assembly again to act favorably on said <br />amendment, now in the form of House Bill 93. Rev. Alvin <br />Edwards, due to illness, was the only Council member absent <br />from this meeting. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br /> Rev. David Poist, Rev. R. A. Johnson, Rev. Bruce Beard, <br />and Rev. Doyle Thomas, representing local clergy, concerned <br />citizens, and the City, Albemarle County and University Police <br />Departments, asked for Council's support and endorsement of a <br />gun buy program, "Goods for Guns," which will offer ~100 <br /> <br /> <br />