Richmond has a plan for downtown development that's ready for final consideration.

The Planning Commission voted 9-0 last night to send the Downtown Master Plan to the City Council, one year after an extensive public process that helped write the original draft.

Last night, the commission spent more than three hours in a final review and signed off on a series of changes, including some that bent to the wishes of landowners.

The plan's seven guiding principles remain intact, but the document provides flexibility in areas where it did not originally. For example, it contemplates development or preservation of Mayo Island and the riverfront property where the Echo Harbour condominiums are proposed. The original version suggested that both sites be acquired to expand public access to the James River.

The plan also encourages the state to appoint an architect to work with local governments on state construction projects and asks that Virginia Commonwealth University explore options for saving, rather than demolishing, the West Hospital. The original draft had used more forceful language.

Commissioner Beverley C. Lacy called the approved plan a mix of "visionary and pragmatic."

Jason James, a resident who has been supporting the downtown plan, said it's still a good document but not as good as it had been.

"Hedging on your vision is not the way I would go," he said. "On to the next stage of the battle, I guess."

Rachel Flynn, the city's director of community development, said she's pleased and respects that the plan has been changed with the input of landowners and others.

"It's only fair," she said. "If you say you're going to be inclusive, you need to be inclusive."

But Flynn said she is sorry the plan retreated on the recommendation to preserve Mayo Island and the Echo Harbour site. "Those are two very rare opportunities for the city to gain excellent access to the riverfront."

George Ross, who hopes to develop the Echo Harbour project despite community concerns about river views being blocked, left the meeting feeling like the plan did not respect his property rights.

"It sends a message out to developers and people wanting to do business with the city," he said.

Ross said he was hoping to get the kind of cooperation that the commission extended to NewMarket Corp. for development of its riverfront property near the Virginia War Memorial. Based on changes made last night, the plan calls for preserving the river view from the memorial but also defines a point of reference.

City Councilwoman Kathy C. Graziano, a member of the Planning Commission, said she is hopeful that the council will be ready to vote on the plan by the end of the year after two or three public hearings.

Envision Richmond, a coalition of groups that include the Partnership for Smarter Growth, the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the Richmond Association of Realtors, said it has collected nearly 1,000 signatures in support of the draft plan.

"It's a little upsetting to see the corporate interests chipping away bit by bit," said Sheila Sheppard, a member of Envision Richmond.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.