Final Clerk, could you please read the Chamber of Emergency Announcements?

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Thank you so much.

Well, it's just follow the agenda as is, but let's do the public comment period.

Is there anyone here that would like to speak about anything not on today's agenda?

Please approach the podium and state your name for the record.

Rich Saucer, SOUSCR.

Good afternoon, counselors.

When last I was before you in February, I talked with you about several big infrastructure projects, smart-scale funding requests, et cetera.

My concerns continue to be about the process for approving these.

The city, especially DPW, brings forward a lot of discrete individual projects without providing context on how these impact the larger neighborhood, the city as a whole, transportation grid, et cetera.

I know that certain council members have been pushing for more uh upfront detailed information, but so far I've seen little improvement.

For instance, in February, I questioned why the city was going forward with a request for state funding for the North South Bus Rapid Transit Program when there had been no comprehensive briefing or approval from this committee or council.

Fortunately, in April, you were provided a briefing.

However, it was severely lacking in justification and missed the big picture information.

As I had mentioned in February, GRTC's rationale for this 400 million dollar project has been skimpy.

The immediate service area of the projected route has only half the population that would normally justify such a project.

GRTC had said that upzoning under code refresh would significantly increase the population density.

However, in a May briefing, GRTC got ready to prevent present a contractor study that said that development on the proposed route had been downgraded and population wouldn't be as much as projected.

This was confirmed yesterday when Mr.

Vonk said that the next draft of code refresh would have less upzoning for the Chamberlain Avenue corridor.

In addition, GRTC in May said that their uh projections are probably a little high because they plan on continuing the Route One bus route to provide uh disability and elderly uh access to the existing routes.

So it looks like the 400 million dollars could be better invested.

I'm a supporter of strong public transit.

I took the bus here today, but I think that we need to resist, we need to uh do better, and also in in February mentioned the uh fall line trail.

I may have missed it, but I thought you had said that there was going to be a briefing from B D DPW to this committee.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

My name is Thomas Courtney.

I live adjacent to the VMFA Grove Avenue Storage Facility, and I want to provide a brief update on several unresolved land use issues affecting the surrounding neighborhood.

First, there are still pending zoning confirmation letter matters concerning the facility, including the proper zoning classification, the relationship between the approved plan of development, the certificate of zoning compliance, the certificate of occupancy, and the later site plan activity related to the artwork or VMFA Dream Wall installation.

Second, I have submitted a 311 notice regarding landscaping and maintenance deficiencies at the facility, which may indicate that the site has not fully transitioned into compliant operational status.

These conditions matter because landscaping, screening, access, and site conditions were part of the representations relied upon during the plan of development and board of zoning appeal process.

Third, there have been recent observations and a 311 report concerning apparent operational use of the facility before a temporary or final certificate of occupancy or final zoning sign-off has been publicly confirmed.

That includes individuals entering and exiting the facility in a manner consistent with office or storage operations and reports of loading or unloading activity not obviously tied to construction.

I'm not asking this committee to make a determination today, but I am asking that the city ensure the record is clear and that no operational use proceeds ahead of any required CO, CZC, zoning final or other applicable administrative processes.

Finally, I recently obtained information showing that the Department of General Services lease term for this warehouse facility appears to be materially shorter than the long-term institutional control premise discussed during zoning review by Mr.

Davidson and Mr.

Vonk and later addressed through the BZA proceedings.

My understanding is prior approval discussions referenced long-term commonwealth institutional control as part of the justification for treating the facility as an institutional accessory use.

The lease I now I have now seen appears to be a 10-year lease, which may not match that premise.

That is one reason the pending ZCL request regarding institutional use remains necessary.

30 seconds.

And I second.

Okay.

And when how far out are these this?

We can continue for 30 days.

Okay.

Okay.

The committee is voting on the motion to continue item one ordinance 2026 113 to the July 21st, 2026 land use housing and transportation standing committee meeting.

Mr.

Brighton.

Aye.