THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 12, 1994 TAG: 9408110154
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Two acres on the northeast corner of High Street and Cedar Lane, given to the city some years ago, will be sold to a developer for two residential lots.
City Council voted Tuesday to convey the land to Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which will sell it to Towne Development Corporation for $45,000.
The land was given to the city by the late Joe Garner. A grove of trees on the corner of the parcel will be left standing as part of the terms of the sale. Building setbacks will be 45 feet and 50 feet from the existing streets.
Deed restrictions will prohibit the two lots from future subdivision, City Manager V. Wayne Orton said.
Towne Development Corp., which has built single-family dwellings in Larkspur, Willow Breeze, Hosier Oaks, Siesta Gardens and Armistead Forest.
The land is located across Cedar Lane from Coleman Nursery. Residents of the area historically have fought to protect the corner from commercial development. Some years ago, Garner attempted to get his land rezoned for a supermarket. After several proposed projects for the corner met citizen opposition, Garner donated the land to the city.
In 1985, Robert M. Stanton, then president of Goodman Segar Hogan, wanted to build a Williamsburg-style shopping center on the corner occupied by Coleman Nursery and the adjacent property that is now the site of the YMCA.
His request to rezone the property from residential to commercial was denied by the Planning Commission after neighbors protested. Stanton subsequently withdrew his application.
A year later, the YMCA announced plans to relocate from downtown High Street to the vacant site next to Coleman. The YMCA is permitted under the city's residential zoning and residents did not fight it.
Coleman Nursery has continued to operate on the corner. Green Acres Presbyterian and St. Andrews Lutheran Church are located across High Street at the intersection. MEMO: Appointments to city boards and commissions:
Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority: Lee E. King and
Tyrone Hines
Municipal Finance Commission: Deborah S. Hundley
Parking Authority: Deborah S. Hundley
Museum and Fine Arts Commission: Byron P. Kloeppel
Partnership for Urban Development: David Tynch
Parks and Recreation Commission: Sherman Holland III
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Commission: Adelaid Crute
Southeastern Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program: Wayne Sprinkle
Board of Building Code Appeals: Carroll E. Davis and William H.
Hargrove
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL by CNB