University of Virginia Library

Commission Workshop To Review
University Ave. Widening Complaints

By LAURA HAMMEL

A City Planning
Commission work session will
be held today on the proposed
widening of University Ave.

"At the workshop we will go
through the whole list of
complaints," said Judy Walke,
spokesman for the City
Planning Commission. "We will
start with the intersection of
McIntire St. and Ridge St. at
Vinegar Hill and take it step by
step all the way up to Emmet
St."

"Hopefully we will be able
to make recommendations to
the conceptual design by doing
it in this manner," Ms. Walke
added.

According to Ms. Walke, the
Planning Commission hopes to
complete their final review of
this problem at the workshop.

However, bylaws prohibit
any formal vote at a work
session. Consequently, the
Planning Commission will take
a final vote Jan. 9 unless a
special meeting is called earlier.

Final Consideration

Once the Planning
Commission's formal
recommendation has been
decided, the result will be
forwarded to the City Council
for final consideration. City
Council will not act on the
recommendation for two or
three months.

"Personally, I think the
Planning Commission will
render a favorable decision
after the public workshop,"
commented Bill Huyett,
Student Council secretary.

'Withdraw Their Support'

"However, in the event that
it isn't favorable," Mr. Huyett
added, "we want the Board of
Visitors to withdraw their
support."

The Student Council passed
a resolution Tuesday to ask the
Board to withdraw support of
the widening of University
Ave.

In addition, Council
President Jim Rinaca and Vice
President Larry Sabato will
present Council's position to
the Buildings and Grounds
Committee Feb. 1 or 2.

Pertinent Information

The Buildings and Grounds
Committee will consider
pertinent information and then
draw up a resolution on the
Board's stand.

The Board will consider
Council's resolution at its
meeting Feb. 2.

The Barracks-Rugby-Preston
Association, a newly formed
community action group, has
decided to lobby against the
increased traffic funneled into
the intersection.

Association Requests

The association wants City
Hall to lower the speed limit
from 35 to 25 mph, provide
sidewalks along major roads
and crosswalks at major
intersections, and limit trucking
traffic, according to the
association's acting President
Vincent W. Uhl.

Mr. Uhl foresees community
action groups springing up
throughout the city to deal
with specific problems in other
neighborhoods.

"Local groups such as this
one are usually concerned
about local problems," said
City Manager Cole Hendrix.
"But they can also provide a
projected viewpoint on long
range issues.