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117 PUBLIC Mr. Andrew Zebarjadi, representing the Baha'is of Charlottesville, presented Council with a statement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, entitled "Two Wings of a Bird," which concerns the equality of women and men in the United States. PRESENTATION: RIVANNA RIVER FESTIVAL AND DUCK RACE Ms. Kay Slaughter, organizer of the Rivanna River Festival, announced that the Second Annual River Festival and duck race will be help on Saturday, May 8th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Towe Park. Ms. Slaughter thanked County and City staff for their assistance. Ms. Kathy Garstang, a member of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Junior League, said that "Quackin' for a Cause," the duck race sponsored by the League, will be held during the River Festival and will provide funds for the League's community projects, and their signature project, the Shelter for Help in Emergency. Ms. Garstang said that the Festival will feature environmental displays, crafts, performers and the duck race. PUBLIC HEARING: AUTHORIZING SALE OF CITY PROPERTY ON ELLIOTT ORDINANCE: AVENUE TO VIRGINIA LAND COMPANY Mr. Satyendra Huja, Director of Strategic Planning, explained that the proposal is for the City to donate land to be used for Region Ten Community Services Board's Blue Ridge House and to sell two parcels of land to Dr. Charles Hurt of Virginia Land Company at market price. Mr. Huja said that the proposal is conditional on Virginia Land developing a single family Planned Unit Development (PUD) (with a minimum of 1,200 square feet per unit) on the property, in combination with property already owned by Virginia Land, rather than duplexes or other uses that would be allowed by right. Mr. Huja said he has met with some of the adjacent property owners to discuss the proposal, and noted that Region Ten has agreed not to pursue tax exempt status for Blue Ridge House. The public hearing was opened Mr. Eugene Williams, 620 Ridge Street, commended Council for supporting the Blue Ridge House, but questioned whether adjacent property owners were notified about the public hearing. Mr. Williams said he thinks the sales price of 75 cents a square foot is too low and will lower property values on adjacent properties. Mr. Williams said he thinks the project should be revisited. Mr. Kenneth Martin, 222 Lankford Avenue, President of the Ridge Street Neighborhood Association, explained that the Ridge Street Task Force discussed the proposal at length at least two years ago. Mr. Martin said that the Task Force was concerned with what could be built on the property by-right because of its B-2 zoning. Mr. Martin said that Ridge Street Neighborhood Association has also met with Region Ten twice. Mr. Martin said that the Ridge Street Neighborhood Association endorsed the project because they felt it dissuaded concerns about commercial development on the property. Responding to question from Mr. Caravati, Mr. Martin said he previously circulated approximately 350 flyers about the proposal in that area and the residential part of the proposal was discussed by the Ridge Street Task Force. Mr. Toscano asked if the covenant requiring a minimum size of 1,200 square feet for the units was discussed by the Neighborhood Association, and Mr. Martin said that the Task Force had discussed it and felt that was the minimum size for the income level they would like to attract. Mr. Martin noted that more concern was expressed about the closeness of units to each other.