DATE: Thursday, May 15, 1997                TAG: 9705150461

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   56 lines

POLITE QUESTIONS PROBE HORROW'S PLANS FOR NEW AREA PROJECTS

Rick Horrow faced a largely polite and receptive City Hall audience of about 100 in his first public attempt to persuade Hampton Roads to build a series of projects designed to improve the region's quality of life.

But if this first meeting was any indication, it appears that suspicion left over from the region's failed bid to land a National Hockey League team could be a significant problem for him to overcome.

The Hampton Roads Partnership hired Horrow for the next 12 months to put together a series of regional projects, including transportation improvements and perhaps a convention center and sports arena.

He says he will try to reach public consensus through more than 200 meetings with citizens and business and political leaders on what those projects should be and how they should be paid for.

Wednesday's forum, sponsored by the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations, was the first chance for the public to question Horrow. While most of the dozen or so questions were friendly, skeptics mentioned the arena deal between the Partnership and Charlotte businessman George Shinn.

``The Rhinos arena deal was the worst possible deal for the citizens of Virginia Beach,'' said former Virginia Beach City Councilman Robert Dean.

Though the $150 million arena would have been funded largely by arena revenues, the region's 15 cities each would have paid $1.50 per year per citizen for 30 years.

Moreover, because the region had less than two months to put the deal together to meet the NHL's deadline, the negotiating process was closed to the public.

``There was a lot of resentment, I think, on the part of citizens because of the way the process was managed,'' said Stephanie P. Stetson, a Virginia Beach resident who is executive director of Community Networking Association, a non-profit group that seeks to promote citizen input into government.

Stetson said she entered Wednesday's meeting skeptical about Horrow. But after his presentation, she sought Horrow out, shook his hand and praised him for making his first public meeting open to private citizens.

``They're going to hear more comments about the Rhinos as this process continues,'' she said. ``Initially, that's going to be a problem.

``But they're sending out a signal to the citizens that they are interested in what their issues out, whether it's quality of life or attracting business. It's up to the citizens now to get involved and make their wishes known.''

Some did Wednesday, quizzing Horrow on topics such as how the projects would be paid for and what projects would be involved. Urged one questioner: ``Forget these sports teams. Lets go after a world-class airport.''

Wally Erb of the Carolanne Farms Civic League questioned Horrow on the wisdom of calling the region Hampton Roads. Horrow was noncommittal on most questions, saying it's too early for him to come to any conclusions. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Rick Horrow was hired for the next 12 months to put together a

series of regional projects. KEYWORDS: CONSULTANT HAMPTON ROADS PARTNERSHIP

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