THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 29, 1995 TAG: 9511290409
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN WEINTRAUB, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
The City Council made it legal Tuesday to build tall buildings, wide sidewalks, and apartments atop offices, and vetoed drive-throughs, single family houses and car washes.
At least in an 87-acre tract around the Pembroke Mall.
These radical zoning changes are meant to help transform that area into a pedestrian-oriented Central Business District with offices, shopping, night-life and residences.
At the urging of developers and property owners, the council gave unanimous approval to the creation of a new zoning district that would encourage and allow these changes in the area bounded by Independence Boulevard, Constitution Drive, Jeanne Street and railroad tracks running north of Bonney Road.
City officials and business district supporters said Tuesday's vote pushes the 20-year-old project ahead significantly.
``This is an important rung on the ladder,'' said Thomas C. Pauls, comprehensive planning coordinator with the city's Planning Department, who spent most of the last year writing the zoning regulations. ``I'm pleased to see that it's passed this hurdle. I do think that there's strong hope for the future here.''
The new zoning district, the city's 35th, would create the legal framework to change the course of development, but it won't have any immediate impact. First, all of the 14 property owners in the area will have to agree to changes imposed by the new district.
Once that happens, any new building in the district would have to conform to design and development guidelines established by the district. Existing business that don't meet those standards could continue to operate, but might have some trouble expanding, city staff members said.
In other business Tuesday, the City Council heard comments from a handful of citizens who don't like the location the city staff has proposed for a new health and social services building. The residents, and one member of the General Assembly, said the departments do not belong on the site, on Rosemont Road just south of Route 44, because of traffic congestion.
``I can't think of a worse place to add an additional traffic light,'' said Del. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach. ``We need to take one more look at this particular project.''
The council already decided against its first-choice site, on South Independence Boulevard, because of complaints from residents of nearby Larkspur.
Two employees of the Social Services Department spoke in favor of the new site, saying that their clients are in need of a better facility. The departments are currently housed in a building on Virginia Beach Boulevard that the city staff has concluded is beyond repair.
On Dec. 12, the council will decide whether to go forward with the site or choose a new one. by CNB