1992-06-25(II) - Laserfiche WebLink

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167 The public hearing was opened. Mr. Vandever stated that he felt this was an important issue, with strong feelings on both sides and requested that speakers respect other opinions on the matter. Ms. Sonja Casero, representing the Fry's Spring Neighborhood Association, stated that the Association could not recommend selling the property for any high density project, and expressed concern about the time constraints which did not give enough time to make a recommendation. Mr. Stuart Harper, 109 Thomas Drive, and Amos Heller, presented a bag of trash which they had collected from the site on Shamrock Road and stated that they felt a group home would be a better use of the property. Mr. Harper stated that he felt more time was needed to discuss the matter and recommended that consideration be given to only allowing the group home rather than both the group home and the duplex to reduce the density on the site. Mr. Heller recommended that a stop sign be installed near the site and the police monitor the street for traffic violations. Mr. Thomas Spicer, 2208 Wayne Avenue, stated that he had helped former City Manager Seth Burnley purchase the property in question to be used to straighten out the curves on Shamrock Road and felt that consideration should be given to using the property for that purpose. Mr. Spicer stated that Mr. Burnley had told him that if the City ever sold the property he would be given the opportunity to purchase it. Mr. Spicer added that he has spoken to a University of Virginia administrator about the possibility of using the west wing of the former hospital building for persons with AIDS and urged Council not to rush into a decision. Ms. Emily Dreyfus, 1201 Little High Street and Director of the Aids Support Group (ASG), stated that ASG currently has a caseload of 98 persons, 65 being City residents, and felt that providing a group home was a better use of public funds than keeping people inappropriately in a hospital. Ms. Dreyfus stated that the time constraints were unavoidable. Ms. Dreyfus added that keeping the trees on the property was a high priority. A large number of persons in the audience stood in support of the group home at the request of Ms. Dreyfus. Ms. Audrey Kocher, 253 Shamrock Road, supported efforts to integrate all people into the community, but requested that Council delay action to allow more study and to look at the traffic concerns. Ms. Sue Newman, 229 Shamrock Road, stated that there had been too little time to investigate the impact of the proposal and she opposed the project. Ms. Newman questioned whether accident records on the street had been investigated and expressed concern about the City taking on problems of the entire region. Ms. Newman expressed concern about the process and asked Council to be visionary and pro-active and to look for a better facility for all AIDS victims. Ms. Nina Barnes, 12 Gildersleeve Wood and a member of the Executive Committee of the Jefferson Park Avenue Neighborhood Association, stated that the Executive Committee was unable to support or oppose the proposed project due to insufficient information. Mr. Harry Cook of Mulberry Avenue, stated that people opposed the project due to the process and expressed concern that the funding would not be adequate to construct the building. Mr. Cook questioned taking action to approve higher density when Council recently downzoned in the area. Mr. Cook questioned who will care for the people with AIDS when they become very sick.