Richmond council allows Stuart Avenue carport permit

A Richmond woman can keep street access to her carport on Stuart Avenue.

The City Council voted 6-2 yesterday to strike a proposal to revoke the permit allowing Roberta Crowell to build a driveway across a city sidewalk in the Museum District.

First District Councilman Bruce W. Tyler had proposed canceling the permit, citing safety concerns and the driveway's proximity to St. Gertrude High School.

The matter was scheduled for a vote at yesterday's 6 p.m. meeting, but a majority of council members agreed at their 3 p.m. session to strike the paper.

"I'm grateful that the process works," Crowell said after the vote. "I'm sorry it takes so long."

Crowell got her permit last summer and built her carport, drawing opposition from the Museum District Association. Representatives of the association have argued that Crowell could access her carport from the alley. But Council President Kathy C. Graziano said it would be "bad government" for the council to revoke a permit approved by the city administration.

"We have before us a citizen who followed the rules," she said.

Only Tyler and Councilman Charles R. Samuels, who represents the Fan District, supported moving forward. Tyler said the city administration erred when the Department of Public Works issued the encroachment permit because a building permit for the carport had been approved by the Department of Community Development.

He said the city had not issued a similar encroachment permit in the past 20 years when access from the alley has been available.

"This is an accident waiting to happen," Tyler said.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .