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287 <br /> <br />ORDINANCE: UTILITY RATES <br /> <br /> On motion by Ms. Slaughter, seconded by Ms. Daugherty, the ordinance entitled "AN <br />ORDINANCE AMENDING AND REORDAINING SECTIONS 31-56, 31-60, 31-61, <br />31-62, 31-153, AND 31-156 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, <br />1990, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO UTILITY RATES, DEPOSITS AND FEES" was <br />offered and carried over to the next meeting for consideration. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING: Mx'fENDING LAND USE PLAN FOR GROVE AVENUE FROM <br />OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL <br /> <br /> Mr. Gouldman explained that the proposed change to the Land Use Plan of the <br />Comprehensive Plan would change the designation for five properties on Grove Avenue from <br />office to residential. Mr. Gouldman stated that the Land Use Plan is a planning toot to be <br />used as a guide, including when zoning decisions are made and that the Plan is intended to be <br />"clear but general." <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. Eben Smith, 504/506 Grove Avenue, opposed the proposed amendment, stated <br />that he felt the existing boundary of Sycamore Street for office use was adequate, and noting <br />that the majority of homeowners on the block oppose the amendment. Mr. Smith stated that <br />if the Plan is amended he faces the loss of property value. Mr. Smith added that changing the <br />Land Use Plan would break with two decades of professional planning and advice. <br /> <br /> Ms. Camilla Tyng, 501 Grove Avenue, spoke on behalf of Mr. Allen Alterman, owner <br />of 505 Grove Avenue who was unable to attend the meeting. Mr. Alterman supported <br />maintaining the current land use designation and lek that changing the designation would <br />undermine a sound planning process. <br /> <br /> Mr. Doris Hall, 521 Grove Avenue, stated that she felt the Land Use Plan should <br />remain as it currently is. <br /> <br /> Mr. Downing Smith, a resident of Locust Avenue, stated that he fek the future of the <br />neighborhood is more important than the financial gain of a few people and that preserving <br />the homes on Grove Avenue for families was the best thing for the neighborhood. <br /> <br /> Mr. Ed Travis, 724 Locust Avenue and President of the Grove Avenue Neighborhood <br />Association, stated that he was only concerned about maintaining the current Land Use <br />designation for 504, 505, 506 and 521 Grove Avenue. Mr. Travis noted that all property <br />owners of these four properties are in favor of maintaining the current Land Use and most <br />adjacent property owners also favor maintaining the office designation. Mr. Travis stated <br />that a survey of the immediate affected neighborhood revealed 40 people to support <br />maintaining the current designation, 7 people supported changing to residential, and 4 people <br />had no opinion. <br /> <br /> Ms. Maria Chapel, 1029 Hazel Street, President of the Martha Jefferson Hospital <br />Neighborhood Association, stated that the neighborhood is a vital and healthy residential <br />neighborhood. Ms. Chapel stated that the Neighborhood Association executive committee <br />conducted a survey of 196 residents of the total 249 households in the neighborhood with the <br />following results: 137 supported changing to residential; 23 supporting maintaining the <br />current designation; and 36 had no opinion. <br /> <br /> Ms. Charlotte Self, 612 Lexington Avenue, supported changing the Land Use to <br />residential, noting that she feels the City as a whole needs to retain homes in the central city <br />area. <br /> <br /> Ms. Martha Smith, 506 Grove Avenue, stated that Grove Avenue has long been <br />intended to be a transition zone between office and residential and changing the designation <br /> <br /> <br />