The 4th of 6 scheduled neighborhood-specific meetings on the Downtown Plan took place tonight at The Jackson Center Building (501 North 2nd Street). The 2-hour meeting included an overview of the process so far, the plan as it pertains to Broad Street and Jackson Ward, and a lively Q&A session.

Rodney Poole of the City of Richmond Planning Commission began the meeting with an overview of the process as of yet. He recounted the meetings over the summer, and the circulation of the draft plan and public comment sessions. He also mentioned that a focus meeting on “form-based zoning” will be scheduled for the near future, and that reiterated that the intent is to implement the plan so it will be a document actually used as a vision for the city.

Next up was Brooke Hardin, with a 25-minute or so overview of the foundations (PDF) of the current plan and its recommendations for the city and Broad Street & Jackson Ward (PDF):

• traditional city - pedestrians, 2-way traffic, shared parking, transit
• river - protect views, rescue mayo island, enhance centerpiece
• urban architecture - reform regluations, focus on design
• variety and choice - diversify land uses, building types, incomes, transportation options
• green - parks, street trees, architecture
• history - commit to preservation, new architecture worthy of context
• mixed income - economic diversity, attainable housing, goods/services for persons of all incomes

Hardin also gave credit to the Historic Jackson Ward Association’s input on aspects of the plan (ensure that the community has input throughout the process; more trees).

Hardin’s presentation was followed by a (for the most part) thoughful and informed Q&A session; summarized mostly faithfully if a bit lazily:

Q: How does this plan get integrated into economic development plans?
A: There are recomendations concerning capital improvements for the Coliseum (for example). There are also incentive programs that can be brought into play.

Q: How do we make certain that the coming work small and minority businesses?
A: The plan itself doesn’t do this, except as a plan that will be of use for all of the city services.

Q: Greenspace - St. Josephs Memorial Park — East side of 700 block of 1st Street. Some community work already done: church members developed the property with maybe a promise by the city to get involved, can the city step up and assist any more quickly?
A: We will see if we can reinvigorate the conversation with Parks and Rec.

Q: What can we do to ensure that Broad is not a dividing line?
A. Streets like 2nd Street will encourage north/south movement.

Q: (Hardin) What are problems for small businesses?
A. (community) Parking requirements for small businesses, too many bus stops that are each too long, too many laoding zones. It is difficult to attract folks to a business; we can not rely on foot traffic alone. There are businesses that would like to move away from the high rents of Carytown, but there is a lack of finished retail space (much is left unfinished).

Q: What will happen on the current surface lots?
A: New buildings, with parking on the interior. We need parking, but we don’t need dead space.

Q: The call to get rid of busses is racist. We can’t have a city without transportation.
A: The folks weren’t calling to eliminate busses, but to deal with the physical impact of the bus stops.

Q: Have you though about a light rail system?
A: Yes, this is seen as the next stage of either a trolley, or more likely as the successor to a Bus Rapid Transit system. Money will be invested in BRT and this will give an idea of consituency, demand for use.

Q: Jackson Place is dead. What is the plan for Jackson Place?
A: The plan calls for mixed use. When the plan was drawn, this was stil a viable development. This is still seen as an appropriate development for that location.

Q: Emphasis on near-term of fixing sidewalks, lights, fixing pavement? Please?!?
A: Asked for a show of hands, room was near unanimous in agreement.

Q: Can the plan control/inform the design as big developments come in? (ie Phillip orris, which turns its back on the city)
A: Thinking about expansion of City Old & Historic Districts. Also the imlementation of a Design Overlay for certain areas.

Q: Can the parking requirements by square foot for businesses be reduced/elimated? As it is, we’re paying for spaces that never get used, and there are empty lots at night that aren’t being used.
A: The plans calls for shared parking. Trying to make zoning smarter, such as R-63 with eleimated the parking requirements for certian size/types of businesses. This process in ongoing in certain areas already (6 or 7 blocks north of Leigh/Jackson); we can look at other areas.

Q: You say mixed use. I don’t see much retail coming to Broad Street; what can we do to actually encourage more retail?
A: The plan’s main idea is to encourage infill development. Streets that are a priority for storefronts have been a target of zoning. The plan can’t really offer this much control, but a Design Overlay or City Old&Historic can.

The remaining 2 meetings are:

• James River (River, Island, and Riverfront) - Tuesday, February 19th (6-8PM), at the Main Street Library (101 East Franklin Street).
• City Center (VCU Med Center, Capital Area, Biotech Park, and Central Office District) - Wednesday, February 20th (6-8PM), at City Hall (5th Floor Conference Room)