CHESAPEAKE
The City Council voted 5-4 on Tuesday to try to acquire the right of way across five railroad crossings needed for Belharbour Station at SoNo, a $200 million mixed-use project in the middle of a largely industrial area.
The resolution allows the city to pursue eminent domain or condemnation actions if negotiations with the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad fail.
An attorney for the railroad and other speakers warned of a long legal battle over any condemnation actions, even though the railroad would still be able to use the crossings.
The development could have 240 apartments, 340 condominiums, office space and retail.
Some who opposed the project worried about putting residents so close to railroad crossings. City officials recommended installing gate systems that would reduce the chances of an accident at the crossings. Belharbour Station developer Paylor Spruill said he would pay for those systems.
Councilmen C.E. "Cliff" Hayes Jr., Bryan Collins and Dwight Parker supported acquiring the railroad crossings, as did Councilwomen Ella Ward and Patricia Willis.
Mayor Alan Krasnoff and Vice Mayor John de Triquet voted against the measure, as did new council members Debbie Ritter and Rick West.
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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They just don't listen
I agree with iqdou. These two need to go. P Willis wake up and listen to the citizens of Chesapeake. You gotta go.....
Megaman
I hate to admit it as I often disagree with you, but you are dead right!! These 4 need to go!! Remind people of this vote in 2 years!
Vote these people off
Ward,Willis,Parker,Collins are up for re-election in two years. Vote them out of office for a better Chesapeake. This vote should have every citizen concerned about the willingness of our city to take property from anyone they want, to further the wealth of a private developer. Something about this project smells fishy, there is more going on behind close doors than what we have access to. One year ago they were so concerned about moving residents out of South Hill because they were living in an industrial area, now it's ok to move future residents of Bell Harbor into an industrial area. This approval, is one of the most incompetent ones to date.
????????
Ella Ward and Patricia Willis......I don't understand why these 2 are on the Council.
Judy
The city is collecting PLENTY of real estate taxes from us -- the homeowners. I just got my mortgage statement and my escrow is short again! They need to better budget the money.
To this column writer --- quit referring to South Norfolk as SoNo.
What a Sad Day for Chesapeake
There you go again... 5-4 vote, but Ms. Willis was the flip vote.
People, think about this, "The resolution allows the city to pursue eminent domain or condemnation actions if negotiations (insert your name/property) fail." Is THIS what we want Council to be doing? The developers have us building MORE becuase the economy is doing great! RIGHT. Of course let's have MORE homes/business/etc... oppps, Council forgot to budget for the schools, roads, water, etc...
To the Left side of Chesapeake Council, wake up! 2010 isn't that far off and we will vote for sanity as we did in '08.
SoNo
The City of Chesapeake is so desperate to collect taxes from anywhere that they will sacrifice the quality of peoples lives.