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Committee forwards comp‑plan changes that identify 414 South Braddock as potential park amid eminent‑domain discussion
Summary
Staff asked the committee to forward comprehensive‑plan edits that restore omitted park images and explicitly add 414 South Braddock — a long‑neglected, fire‑damaged parcel previously found by a judge to be "unfit for human occupancy" — as a target location for a public park to align with council consideration of eminent domain; the committee voted to forward the changes to council.
Winchester City staff told the Development Committee on Tuesday they are proposing three related amendments to the 2022 comprehensive plan: restore images and maps that were omitted from the adopted document, add school property locations to park‑coverage maps, and identify 414 South Braddock as a target site for a future public park so the comp plan documents the public purpose should council later consider acquisition or eminent domain.
Staff recounted that the house at 414 South Braddock suffered a fire in 1984, was later stabilized by the city, and that a 2012 circuit‑court order described the structure as "an unsafe structure in imminent danger of collapse and unfit for human occupancy." Staff said the property has not been rehabilitated since the city‑led stabilization and remains blighted, and they argued that identifying the site in the comp plan is consistent with best practice when the city contemplates acquisition for a public purpose. "Council will be considering eminent domaining of this property," a staff presenter said when describing why the comp‑plan change is being proposed.
Committee members discussed map details (how park coverage circles relate to school properties), whether Hanley school grounds should be shown as public green space, and the narrow scope of the current comp‑plan amendment; one member noted the resolution before the committee adds the specific parcel to the comp plan. The committee voted to forward the amendments to council for consideration; one committee member recorded a dissenting 'nay' during the voice vote.
