1999-11-01 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

226 Ms. l~dchards said she respects Ms. Daugherty's position and the benefits to be gained from the proposal, but she feels the City needs to develop a policy about what types of land to develop. Ms. Richards said she feels the problem with the choice is that the land is not designated in the Comprehensive Plan for development and designating it now for development changes the rotes in the middle of the game. She said tt~ Housing Strategy should be refined as part of the Comprehensive Plan to designate what is appropriate to develop. She said she has been supportive of selling other public land, such as the CSX property and Meadow Creek treatment site, but she thinks it is an issue of trust and citizens having coincidence ha the City, and she cannot support the exchange, even though she thinks it is a very worthwhile project. Mr. Cox said he is heexing from the community that they value their parkland, and he feels that figures highly in the marketing plan of the City. Mr. Cox said he feels there are plenty ofdevelo_pable opportunities in the City, ~ it should be made clear that parkland is not for sale. Mr. Cox suggested that a process be put in place to put deed restrictions on all parks so such a proposal will not happen again. Mr. Cox said he will vote against the proposal. Mr. Caravati said there is value in the proposal that increases the amount of parkland by five times, Mr. Caravati said the issue is whether the proposal significantly deprives or enhances the use of the property, and he thinks it enhances it in the long-term. The proposal will allow greater city-wide access to the. remainder of the parkland and will add land at Riverview Park. Mr. Caravati cautioned Council to he careful ofabsolmism. Mr. Caravati said he does not see this proposal as precedent setting and he ~will vote for the proposal. Mr. Toscano noted that the proposal to sell parkland requires four votes to pass and it is clear that it will not pass. Mr. Toscano said this proposal is not an easy call and he prefers to focus on the bigger picture and the need to increase housing. Mr. Toscano referred to the issue of reversion and the future of the City, and the concerns that precipitated its discussion: loss of diversity in the schools; increased numbers of families ha need; and the financial situation of the City. In response to these concerns, Council concluded that three things had to be done: 1) get control of City expenditures; 2) increase economic activity to bring in more revenue (both of which have been done); and 3) diversify our housing stock. Mr. Toscano said he feels that has to be done in order for Charlottesville to sur~Ave as a city. The housing stock is not available so it has to be created, and the City has to find a way to create those opportunities on other sites. Mr. Toscano said that he will vote against the proposal because the property is designated in the Comprehensive Plan as parkland. Mr. Toscano commented on the process, part of which he feels was. botched, and expressed concern about statements that have been made throughout it, including comments about the developer and appraisals of the properties which were untrue. Mr. Toscano said he hopes that down the road there will be a c-harette on that lard that will involve citizens cRy-wide, not just the adjacent neighborhoo& Mr. Toscano said he hopes Council will keep their eye on what they are trying to create. Mr. Caravati agreed that the public portbn ofme process was ie,/tially botched, but feels that it has worked for the last four momhs, and many citizens had the opportunity to comment on the proposal The ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR THE EXCHANGE OF REAL PROPERTY AND TO AUTHORIZE HE CONVEYANCE OF SUCH PROPERTY LOCATED tN PEN PARK TO STAN AND JUDY TATUM," which was offered at the September 7t~ meeting, was denied by he following vote. Ayes: Mr. Caravati, Ms. Daugherty. Noes: Mr. Cox, Mss. Richards, Mr. Toscano. Mr. Cox asked ifthere is any interest in buying the 15 acres of land for Riverview Park. Mr. Cox suggested that there be a neighborhood initiated process to make the Pen Park property more accessible, and said he hopes that adjacent residents are all the more motivated to do that. Mr. Cox said he would like the process to begin to reclassify the zoning of ali parkland in the City.