Planning Commission

Ms. Hall led Planning Commission through the edits page by page, allowing commissioners to suggest any additional new edits. She continued that the Table of Contents would be changed upon completion of all edits. The Comprehensive Plan will continue to be reviewed every 5 years as required, and there has been a paragraph added in chapter one to reflect this. Chapter 1 comments: Mrs. Levenson-Melvin stated that on page 4 the Brick House’s correct name should be “Old Brick House”. Ms. Hall clarified that in order to include more recent data in the Comprehensive Plan, the new edits contain 2018 data from the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS differs from the Census in the data collected, and has a larger margin of error, however, 2020 Census data will not be available until 2022. Mr. Hartson stated that on page 6 “the population will remain flat” sounds negative and suggested rephrasing as “population will stabilize”. All commissioners agreed to this change. Mr. Hartson disagreed with statements on page 7 and thought the City was getting more than slightly diverse. He stated that it was his understanding that the schools were 50% minorities. Mr. Fisher explained that was only the case for one of the elementary schools in the City, but that as a whole, it is not 50%. Mr. Hartson also brought up that part of the diversity is the result of military families moving to the area as Colonial Heights has the best school district in the Tri-City area. Ms. Hall explained that the poverty level reporting format has changed. Mr. Hartson asked if the federal definition of family has changed. Mr. Fisher stated that he was unsure whether it had been changed since 2012. Chapter 3 comments: Ms. Hall identified updates that were made to maps due to rezoning. Mr. Hartson asked if there was a zone that is identified for lofts above retail. Ms. Hall replied that duplex and multi-family use types both allow for housing above commercial. He asked what could be done to make Pickwick Avenue a mixed-use area. Ms. Hall explained that the Boulevard Business District already accommodates mixed-use, and that there are existing apartments above some of the businesses. Mr. Hartson asked if a new objective of revitalizing Pickwick Avenue could be added to page 24. Ms. Hall stated that the objective might suit the goals and objectives in Chapter 4, and that they would revisit after reviewing the changes from Chapter 4. Chapter 4 comments Mrs. Hamilton stated that on page 25 she took issue with the number of renter- occupied properties listed. She believed there was a much higher increase than 1%. She stated that it was her understanding that there was no way to track it outside of the rental inspection program, and there are existing illegal subdivisions throughout the City. Mr. Hartson agreed, and asked if there was a limit to the number of Page 2 of 5