Council gives final approval to downtown master plan

Earnest Thomas of Richmond cast a line into the James River near the site of the proposed Echo Harbour development.

By: Luz Lazo | Times-Dispatch
Published: July 28, 2009

The Richmond City Council last night gave final approval to changes to the city's downtown master plan.

Council members voted 9-0 to approve the amendments, which will guide decisions on development and public access along the eastern riverfront.

The master plan has been in the works for two years, and officials have been dealing with changes since October.

"This master plan is a great vision for our city," Council President Kathy C. Graziano said. "Hopefully it will direct us in the right direction. But it is a plan."

Key amendments say the city should:

Secure waterfront access and trail right-of-way rights. If this hasn't happened previously, those rights should be provided by developers at the time of any public or private development on a canal or riverfront property.

Designate the Lumpkin's Jail site as a civic area. Instead of putting the site up for development, as in the original master plan, the site could now be turned into a "development that interprets the African-American historical experience, such as a visitor center or viewing stations."

Have the authority to close alleys and sell streets when a development requires it.

The master plan gives the eastern riverfront of the James River an "urban center area" designation that says the property can be used for mixed-use development, with buildings limited to four to six stories.

Echo Harbour, a condominium, hotel and office development proposed for the riverfront east of downtown, has proposed building heights ranging from six stories to about 10 to 12 stories.

The developer, however, can still seek a special permit to carry out the plan, which has met strong community opposition over its impact on river views from Libby Hill Park.

The council last night also approved an ordinance authorizing purchase of the 1.6-acre Lehigh Cement Co. property, just southeast of the Echo Harbour site, for use as open space and a park with the Virginia Capital Trail.

The $2 million sale would not be final until the city conducts a report detailing all costs associated with the purchase, remediation and development of the site. Under the agreement, the city must do so within six months.

Councilman Bruce W. Tyler questioned the city's delay in performing the study of the property.

"You are asking the citizens to pay for a property and you don't know what's in there," Tyler told city staff members. "I think it is important to discuss the total package and not just the purchase price. . . . I am concerned about how much money we will be spending."

The downtown master plan recommends purchase of the property. The city-owned Intermediate Terminal site is east of the Lehigh property. Together, both sites would offer almost a quarter-mile of riverfront property and could be a key link to the Capital Trail, a 55-mile recreational path being built between Richmond and Williamsburg.

Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or llazo@timesdispatch.com.