THE NEWS DESK
The News Desk is a collection of news, notes and breaking items affecting the Fredericksburg community.
Approval recommended for site plan for new courthouse
BY ROBYN SIDERSKY
The Fredericksburg Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously recommended approval of the site plan for the new courthouse.
The proposed $35.4 million courthouse will be built at the corner of Princess Anne and Charlotte streets.
It will be three stories with a basement, have 55,155 square feet and take up about half an acre. The site is zoned commercial–downtown.
Commission Chairman Roy Gratz asked where the construction workers will park while they are working at the site.
Fredericksburg’s site development manager, Kevin Utt, told the commission that there will be a staging site set up for the courthouse materials and the construction workers.
Planning Director Ray Ocel reminded the commission that as early as Monday, the 200 block of Charlotte Street, which is between Caroline and Princess Anne streets, will become one-way.
Eastbound traffic will be restricted. At times, the street will close completely so materials can be delivered.
There will also be no on-street parking permitted while the work is being done.
Planning Commissioner Shawn Lawrence asked questions about where people will park once the courthouse is completed. He said he thinks there will be parking issues once there is more development over the next several years.
City staff couldn’t answer his question at the meeting, but acknowledged that the City Council had brought up parking as an issue as well.
City Attorney Kathleen Dooley wrote a resolution that formally acknowledged parking, the future of the current Circuit Courthouse and school capital projects as priorities, and the City Council approved it at its Sept. 18 meeting.
The Planning Commission also elected new officers for the next year. Gratz will continue as the chairman, Berkley Mitchell will continue as the vice chairman and Lawrence will be the secretary.
Planning Commissioner Susan Spears will give up her seat on the commission.
Robyn Sidersky 540/374-5413
rsidersky@freelancestar.com
This story has been corrected from an earlier version. Fredericksburg’s Site Development Manager is Kevin Utt, not Dave Utt.
