Richmond's draft Downtown Master Plan is too specific in its proposals for privately owned property, critics told the city's Planning Commission last night. They said it more resembles a site plan than a vision.

"This plan does go one step too far," said Andrew Condlin, an attorney representing NewMarket Corp., which owns nearly 70 acres along the James River downtown, including the Ethyl Corp.

Jack Berry, executive director of Venture Richmond, a backer of the planning process that led to the draft, urged the commission to be realistic.

"I think a block-by-block reality check needs to be undertaken" if the commission is inclined to take seriously some of the draft's recommendations, such as encouraging development where portions of the Richmond Convention Center exist, he said.

The criticism contrasted with overwhelming support shown for the draft plan during the initial hearing on it last month. The draft plan calls for preserving historic buildings, preserved and expanded parks along the James River, two-way, pedestrian-friendly streets and the return of a trolley system.

Charles Macfarlane, a Shockoe Bottom resident and developer, said he is generally supportive of the draft. But he said the city should focus on repairing sidewalks, putting out more trash cans, adding more painted crosswalks, removing graffiti and pulling up parking-meter stands that have been out of use for nearly a decade.

"Do these things first," said Macfarlane, one of 50 speakers to address the commission during the three-hour meeting.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a work session to discuss the plan today at 10 a.m. on the fifth floor of City Hall. The commission will consider changes to the draft before forwarding it to the City Council for consideration, probably sometime in mid-spring.

There were signals last night that Virginia Commonwealth University officials already are negotiating revisions to the draft. The university has specific concerns about opening closed streets and the draft's call to preserve the old West Hospital and some other facilities, said Brian J. Ohlinger, VCU's associate vice president for facilities management.

Rather than focusing on specific buildings, Ohlinger said, the plan should look at "the jewel [that] is the health system."

"It's important that our facilities keep up with the research needs," he said. "At times, we cannot adaptively re-use a building."

Meanwhile, groups such as Historic Richmond Foundation, the James River Association and the Virginia Boat Club, as well as individuals, praised the plan last night. They lauded the vision of a pedestrian-friendly, urban city that promotes and even expands public access to the river.

"Please don't wall off our beautiful river," said Selden Richardson, president of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods.

The draft shows public parks on privately owned riverfront land, which has concerned the owners and some developers.

Laura Lafayette, a Richmond Association of Realtors representative, said the organization supports the draft as a "much needed, bold blueprint" for the region's core.

Released in late November, the draft was developed by the consulting firm Dover, Kohl & Partners with city planners, after work sessions that included members of the public.

Contact Kiran Krishnamurthy at (804) 649-6810 or kkrishnamurthy@timesdispatch.com.