If you’re interested in digging in and see what amendments were proposed and accepted to the city’s master plan, download the pdf version here.One change you may have already heard about:

Where property lies within a designated 100 year floodplain, the height recommendations (i.e. number of stories for the character Area should be calculated from the top of the floodplain, not from the actual ground level…

which will allow for taller buildings along the river. Other changes address stormwater management, a serious hot topic when it comes to development in Shockoe Bottom.

The City should continue its efforts to improve the stomr water management throughout Shockoe Bottom and in the upper watershed by encouraging innovative private and public solutions…that complement the work already done by the City.

I gotta be honest, I know this is kind of long-term and the 1,000 foot view is necessary but it’s a little hard to grasp in all it’s far-off abstraction. Are there folks out there who could explain a little more the ways we’ll feel this plan in a more immediate way? Or is it just a “guiding principle” type of doc?