The James River forms the wet backbone of the Richmond region, providing rocky shallows, wild, tree-lined banks and picturesque views.

Urban expert John Moeser calls the river "the single greatest physical asset that we have in the Richmond metropolitan area."

But not everyone agrees on the best ways to put that asset to use, and how to strike a balance between private and public interests.

Part of the debate over the future of the James River has centered on development along the riverfront, which is growing from the eastern edge of downtown Richmond into the Varina area of eastern Henrico County.

Moeser, professor emeritus of urban studies and planning at Virginia Commonwealth University and visiting fellow at the University of Richmond, thinks river development has been too piecemeal.

"We have already done great damage blocking off huge chunks of the river from public access," he said, an opinion shared by proponents of a strong government role to guide an overall vision for the riverfront.

"You have to be thoughtful about what we have, and figure out creative ways that people can get what they need while we continue to preserve those things that mark us as historic," said Leighton Powell, executive director of Scenic Virginia. She argues that preserving natural areas is vital to the region's economic future and should hold more weight than private development.

For others, however, private development must remain the key economic engine.

George Ross, whose R3 Development company wants to build a residential and commercial project called Echo Harbour, said he agrees with the goal of preservation. But as the riverfront develops, "it is imperative that a balance and diversity of uses are maintained," he said.

"Public and private financing is required to maintain the balance and diversity of riverfront projects and to achieve the most economical and beneficial financial results," he said.

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Several projects are under way or proposed that would have an impact on the riverfront in the coming years.

In Varina, two major developments -- the Town of Tree Hill, along state Route 5 south of the Village of Rocketts Landing, and Wilton on the James, farther south at state Route 895 -- have been zoned but not yet built.

Both call for an urban-style mix of homes, businesses and offices, and public access to the river through parks that are either publicly or privately owned.

Varina District Supervisor James B. Donati Jr. said river access has been a priority for county officials because there's minimal, if any, in western Henrico.

"That's the thing about both of these developments," he said of the Tree Hill and Wilton projects. "Many people drive by Tree Hill [Farm] and see the view. . . . They'll be able to [get access] with both of these developments."

Donati said he wants to pursue river access as development comes to other riverfront properties, particularly the Curles Neck Farm near the Charles City County line. He also cited a grass-roots push for the state to preserve about 350 acres along the Varina riverfront as a park.

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In Richmond, there's less consensus on how the north bank of the riverfront, just east of downtown, should take shape.

The draft Downtown Master Plan promotes public access along the riverfront, including on sites where Echo Harbour is proposed and at the adjacent Lehigh Cement Co. property.

Mayor L. Douglas Wilder has proposed building a marina at the Richmond Intermediate Terminal and buying the adjacent Lehigh property. The purchase also would accommodate the Virginia Capital Trail, a 50-mile recreational trail planned from Williamsburg to Richmond.

Last week, City Council members discussed budgeting $2 million for the Lehigh purchase and were split over whether the city or private developers should take the lead along the riverfront. Officials cited two private groups also interested in buying the 1.5-acre Lehigh site on Water Street.

City Councilwoman Delores L. McQuinn suggested including those parties in talks, but City Council President William J. Pantele said the city should buy Lehigh and provide a guiding hand for the entire eastern riverfront area so that both development and public access are accommodated.

"This is our shot to make the riverfront spectacular from the Canal [Walk] all the way out to Henrico," he said.

City Councilman Bruce W. Tyler said he sees no need for a rush purchase, in part because of the unknown costs of building demolition and site cleanup. "I feel like we're buying a pig in a poke."

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Bill Street, executive director of the James River Association, said the state has made much progress in the past three decades improving the environmental health of the James, which is the primary source of drinking water for about 2.5 million people within its watershed.

"Now the river is seen as a great asset," he said. "So we have got this considerable opportunity, but if we don't get a handle on some of the new threats that are facing it, we could lose a lot of the progress that we have made." The runoff of pollutants into the river is one of the major issues now, he said.

"As [the James] has defined our past, I think it will also define our future," Street said.

After 28 years as a caretaker of the natural areas along the James River, Ralph White is optimistic about the river's future.

"We have lots of volunteers doing lots of stuff" to improve the river and the public's enjoyment of it, said White, manager of James River Park System.

The fish are looking healthier, too. "Just before Earth Day [April 22], I was out and came across two fly fishermen," he said. "They told me this is most fabulous fishing we can imagine."

White also sees a "a sense of pride and ownership" of the James in the community.

What he hopes now is that the ongoing debate over development along the river will focus more attention on how Richmond-area residents can gain economically and socially from the natural allure of the James.

"I have seen little discussion about how the beauty of the river is going to translate into more money and more services for the public," he said. "One of the glaring failures in Richmond today is there is not a way to harvest the beauty of the river over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee." Contact John Reid Blackwell at (804) 775-8123 or jblackwell@timesdispatch.com.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.