The City Council on Tuesday held a first reading on a state grant for conservation of open space around the White Mill. Acceptance and appropriation of the grant requires a budget amendment.
The City of Danville has applied for and been awarded $500,000 from the Department of Conservation and Recreation through the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation for conservation of the open space around the White Mill. The funds are provided to protect and guarantee access to open space around the White Mill through a conservation easement.
As part of the White Mill development, the City of Danville is planning to develop the land surrounding the White Mill for various quality of life amenities, including the extension of the River Walk Trail, a Whitewater Channel and redevelopment of the White Mill Bridge which crosses the river.
By accepting these funds, the City agrees to keep the open spaces open and accessible to the public in perpetuity.
A first reading is an introductory step to give the public notice of pending action. The matter will be voted upon at the next regular meeting of the City Council.
In other matters, the City Council voted to:
- Remove requirements of curb and gutter on all new public roads.
- Eliminate the curb and gutter requirement in the subdivision ordinance and create a subsection for the streetlight requirement.
- Rezone 16.57 acres of undeveloped property on Churchview Drive to prepare for future development.
- Appoint Morgan Clarke to the Planning Commission.
- Reappoint L.G. "Larry" Campbell, Jr. Sherman M. Saunders, and Lee Vogler, Jr. to the Staunton River Regional Industrial Facility Authority.
- Accept and appropriate a state grant to continue litter prevention and recycling activities. The grant is in the amount of $14,536.
- Accept and appropriate a grant to establish a real time crime center and implement an integrated ballistic identification system. The grant is from the Virginia Department Criminal Justice Services in the amount of $741,024.
- Accept a donation of facility improvements by the Danville Science Center. The Danville Science Center, Inc. paid for renovations at the old Southern Railway administration building, located at 657 Craghead St. As this is a City-owned facility, the Science Center would like to formally gift the value of the completed renovations to the City for accounting, audit, and insurance purposes. The cost of the work totaled nearly $1.2 million.
Also, Mayor Jones issued a proclamation for “International Business Appreciation Day” on Sunday, Feb. 12. The proclamation recognizes that nine countries are represented within the city limits and bordering business parks.