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Open forum for green spaces plan

HAMPTON -- The self-proclaimed Green Space Gals got some publicity by calling for keeping condos off the beachfront at Buckroe, and now the city is reconsidering its plans.

But as the city prepares for a public hearing Tuesday night about the neighborhood's future, Buckroe residents remain divided.

Many homeowners in the area want the neighborhood cleaned up and say some city-led development can turn the area around. Intentional or not, critics say, the message from the group to reverse the city's development plans have misled some into thinking the city would wipe out every tree and blade of grass near the beach.

"I can't tell you the number of people who come up to me and say, 'How can you support a plan that wold put houses up where the pavilion is?' " said Amy Hobbs, a former president of the Buckroe Civic Association. "That's an out-and-out lie."

Hobbs and other members of the Buckroe Civic Association have played a leading role in crafting the city's master plan for the area, which the City Council adopted in March. She said many people aren't aware that it calls for preserving the park next to the beach, including the pavilion. The green space in question is simply grassy lots that are largely ignored by residents and often littered with trash.

One of the lots is the primary place for parking in the summer. The other is the home of the Bark Park, which would move to a larger space further inland if the city's plans are adopted.

But in recent months, the Green Space Gals - originally a trio of women who live near the beach - have protested relentlessly, gathering more than 8,000 signatures on petitions to save the green space.

They oppose building homes and condos on the roughly 10 acres of open land. Trish Ferraro, one of the original Green Space Gals, envisions some sort of urban park with trees, paths and benches along with perhaps coffee and ice cream shops.

"We want those lots to be developed as a city-wide attraction for tourists," she said. "We've been waiting for something spectacular on that area, not condos."

Bill Ernst, who like Hobbs is a past president of the civic association, also touts the idea of being able to enjoy a cup of java or a sundae lounging along the Chesapeake Bay. But for those places to succeed the community needs to grow - both in size and value, he said. "We can do nothing in Buckroe and the only thing we're going to be different in 40 years is homes that are 40 years older," he said.

Ferraro, Phyllis Flanders and Sandra Canepa have led the petition drive to persuade the council to build a bigger park near the beach rather than new homes.

Now the City Council has decided to delay the beachfront portion of the Buckroe Master Plan until the city can study how it blends with future development at Fort Monroe.

The unexpected decision to delay the process last month deflated Hobbs and her allies who initially felt betrayed by the City Council.

The city bought the land years ago with plans to develop the area, some of which once included an amusement park. Now the city needs to follow through on its long-standing commitment to develop the land in hopes of spurring an economic revival in the area, Ernst said.

Last week, during a private meeting with Mayor Ross A. Kearney II and City Manager Jesse Wallace, Hobbs said she was assured that the city intends to delay the plans only 60 to 90 days while city officials examine how Buckroe might fit with future development at Fort Monroe. Kearney told her no major changes are intended, Hobbs said. A study conducted on behalf of the city by Zimmerman Volk Associates concluded that there's a heavy demand for homes in Buckroe.

It recommends building enough homes, duplexes and condos to accommodate more than 400 new housing units in five years for the disputed grass lots and some neighboring property that's currently dominated by mobile homes.

Homes could sell for $210,000 to $450,000 while condos could range between $135,000 and $325,000, the study said.

Hobbs said she's willing to reconsider the type of development, but not whether there's development. The city needs to help generate activity that will increase the number of homeowners in the area and drive down the amount of crime and drug activity, she said.

"I would be absolutely thrilled if we didn't build a single a condo; however, we have to have some kind of movement," Hobbs said. "Everyone else is having big economic booms and Buckroe has remained relatively the same."