Remember Bay Oaks

Guest post by Chuck Taylor

In reacting to the recent Norfolk City Council action concerning the development of an apartment complex in the neighborhood of Roland Park, I must admit I am of two minds.  Of course, I am furious that the Council would ignore community desires and force a huge complex of multi-family units on a neighborhood of single family homes.  Of course, I am furious that in doing so the Council would ignore so many of its own guidelines for zoning and development .  And, of course, I am furious that Mayor Fraim and Barclay Winn would use such lame excuses as the need to work with THIS Developer lest we end up with something far worse.  Fraim and Winn would have you believe that the present zoning laws would attract a slum lord while the developer’s requested zoning changes for higher density, less parking, and less green space promote some sort of “luxury” habitat.  They would also have you believe that they have no power to change any future development choices.   These are the same people who revoked liquor licenses and leases for bars at Waterside in a fortnight, with no deliberation or judicial review I might add, … but of course their hands would be tied here.

I said I am of two minds, why is that?  Well, the simplest answer is that I see a petition coming that will  over turn the City Council’s decision; so no real harm will be done there.  But, I also see the end of Barclay Winn’s term as a member of City Council.  Councilman Winn and his silver spoon have graced the Council for far too long.  Whether it is his propensity to profit from City contracts or his tin ear when it comes to citizen’s complaints, he is simply a man who represents himself and his business friends, but not the general public.  He should have learned a lesson from the defeat of his good friend Randy Wright.  A few years back Mr. Wright believed that he was solely responsible for determining the development path for East Ocean View and in the process made promises to developers about the destruction of a small bit of open land, since named Bay Oaks Park, for their use and profit.  At the time Randy Wright cared little about citizen input, and believed both he and his business partners were immune to anger of those pesky citizens.  Well, we know how that story ended.  What is remarkable in this process is that Mr. Winn learned absolutely nothing from Randy Wright’s missteps, in fact, if this were a play, he would be playing Randy’s part line for line.

So if you must know, I am happy about the City Council’s decision, as I have every belief that it will be overturned and in the process we will have rid ourselves of one more dead branch on the tree of Norfolk City Government.  We need a City Council that is responsive to citizen’s issues and desires.  We need a City Council that understands that improving quality of life and maintaining our neighborhoods will go much further towards increasing our tax base, than quick fix apartment buildings destined to be havens for crime and neighborhood decay.  The 2010 elections began the process, but this Council vote proves how much further we have to go.