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Petersburg council adds, then approves master development agreement ordinance for 801 South Adams Street
Summary
The Petersburg City Council convened a brief closed session and then approved an ordinance authorizing a master development agreement that allows the city manager to negotiate conveyance of city-owned property for the 801 South Adams Street project; Council member Cuthbert voted no, citing vagueness and lack of city attorney input.
The Petersburg City Council voted to add and adopt an ordinance authorizing the city manager to negotiate a master development agreement with a selected developer for conveyance of real property related to the 801 South Adams Street project.
Council members approved a motion to add the ordinance to the agenda, and later approved the ordinance itself. The adoption motion was moved by Vice Mayor Hill and seconded by Council member Myers. Council member Cuthbert objected and voted against the ordinance, saying the language was too vague and that the ordinance was drafted without input from the city attorney. Other council members voted in favor, and the motion carried.
Before taking the votes, the council convened a closed session under the Virginia open-meetings statute (Virginia Code § 2.2-3711) to discuss acquisition and disposition of real property for a public purpose, the award of a public contract involving expenditure of public funds, and matters related to the performance, assignment or appointment of a specific public officer. The council certified on the record that the closed-session topics were discussed and returned to open session before adding and voting on the ordinance.
The ordinance authorized the city manager to negotiate a master development agreement with the selected developer and to carry out conveyance of city property for the 801 South Adams Street project; the transcript does not specify the developer's name or the specific terms, sale price, timelines, or contingencies. Council member Cuthbert said he would vote against adoption “because the language of the ordinance is too vague and consequently is gonna get the city into legal trouble” and argued the city attorney had not been consulted. Other members expressed support for moving the project forward; the motion passed.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance to authorize a master development agreement for conveyance of real property related to the 801 South Adams Street project — Moved: Vice Mayor Hill; Second: Council member Myers; Vote: Yes 5 (Jones, Myers, Westbrook, Vice Mayor Hill, Mayor Perrin), No 1 (Council member Cuthbert); Outcome: approved.
The transcript does not record further details such as the selected developer’s identity, the sale or lease price, or an implementation schedule. After the vote, a speaker identified as “Mister Mayo” thanked the council for keeping the project moving and said the public had spoken in favor of advancing the project. The council then adjourned.
