THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 25, 1996 TAG: 9601250408
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Not wanting to ignore the needs of inner-city youth, the City Council Wednesday extended the planning period for the use of the former Navy Radio Transmitting Facility near Driver.
A proposal to redevelop the 597-acre site no longer needed by the Navy did not allocate any space for YES, a program aimed at getting youths interested in the media and entertainment professions.
The city, which is competing against two federal agencies for use of the land, used grant money to hire a consultant to consider residents' desires for the property.
The consultant suggested dividing the site among an Old Dominion University environmental education center, a Little League athletic field, a city park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. EDAW Inc., the Alexandria-based consultant, did not approve YES' application for a piece of the site, because the group's plans were not consistent with what the residents wanted, a city planner in charge of the project told the council.
``This plan was not the city's plan, it was not the city manager's plan,'' Planner Bob Baldwin said. ``It was what the people of the city wanted.''
But two council members called a special meeting Wednesday to promote YES' request for 50 acres for new headquarters and a summer camp dormitory. The council voted unanimously to give EDAW an estimated $15,000 to restudy the YES proposal.
``YES should be a part of this reuse plan,'' council member Richard R. Harris said. ``Suffolk and other areas can benefit.''
City officials have asked the Navy for a 90-day extension so they can rework their plan. It is unclear when the Navy will decide whether to give the land to the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife or the city.
The prized chunk of land, which has been up for grabs since 1993, has been a source of friction among city officials over the past two weeks.
Mayor Chris Jones told the council Wednesday that the consultant's proposal was based on the desires of Suffolk citizens. The residents wanted to keep the land for environmentally sensitive uses, he said, and an overnight dormitory would not be consistent with that plan.
Several council members, including Harris and Charles F. Brown, questioned whether the plan serves the best interest of the entire city.
``One of the greatest problems in our city is with our youth, especially those youth at risk,'' Brown said. ``The entire plan is based on education. . by CNB