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?

The next phase of the downtown planning process features smaller neighborhood breakout groups. Tonight’s session focuses on Manchester and Blackwell. Everyone is invited to The Bankuet Place (the old Mechanics & Merchant’s Bank in Downtown Manchester) 1129 Hull Street, from 6-8PM.

Of additional local interest may be the James River-specific session on February 19, 6PM, at the Main Library, 101 E. Franklin St.

The next public hearing on the downtown Master Plan will be held tomorrow night, January 15, at 6:30pm in City Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall. As we mentioned before, while not directly related to our neighborhoods, a strong downtown is a win-win for everyone. The Westover Hills branch of the library should have a physical copy of the draft of the plan, should you wish to bone up on things in a non-electronic format.

If you’re looking for more info, John Sarvay is the go-to guy on all things related to the downtown plan. We also welcome any attendees who wish to share their impressions of the hearing and/or the plan itself.

Today at noon, the city will unveil the first draft of the new downtown master plan. Though the focus won’t directly impact the Forest Hill corridor, it’s still an important exercise for the city as a whole. The plan will be available for review on the City Website, all Richmond Public Libraries locations, Community Centers, and City Hall rooms 110 and 510.