City Council Gets Closer to Redistricting Preference

The Fredericksburg City Council received one last primer on a total of five redistricting options under consideration in advance of a planned vote on local redistricting. In a work session held at City Hall last night, members of the city's zoning office reviewed the proposed redistricting options. Despite the primer, the City Council was reluctant to throw its weight behind a single option, but a consensus seemed to emerge around two of the options. As such, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley will be crafting two legislative redistricting options to be discussed in a public hearing at the next City Council meeting. 

Currently the City Council appears to be leaning towards Option 1 as presented earlier in the year or a modified option 2. 

Since then, members of the City Council and the city's zoning office have been going out into the community to try and generate feedback from residents over the proposed redistricting options. Last night, members of the City Council received a breakdown of public opinion sent in to City Hall over the redistricting options. 

Three new proposals, based off of redistricting option 2 have also emerged since then, labeled options 2A-C. 

Option 2A would see Ward 1 lose Normandy Village to Ward 2, the Altoona subdivision, Huntington Hills and an area on the west side of Route 2 southeast of Hazel Run to Ward 3, and cede all of the area north of Fall Hill Avenue to Ward 4. Ward 3 would lose the Fairview neighborhood to Ward 2 and would seen the area bound by Hanover, Charlotte and Weedon streets and Lee Avenue as well as the Fredericksburg Industrial Park ceded to Ward 4. Ward 4 would also gain five blocks on the west side of Charles Street between Fauquier and Ford streets. 

Option 2B would see Ward 1 lose Normandy Village to Ward 2. The Altoona Subdvision, the western half of Huntington Hills and an area on the West Side of Route 1 southeast of Hazel run would all go to Ward 3. All of the area north of Fall Hill Avenue would be in Ward 4. Ward 3 would lose the Fairview neighborhood to Ward 2 and the Fredericksburg Industrial Park to Ward 4. Ward 4 would lose four blocks between Charlotte Street and Hanover Street from Lee Avenue to Prince Edward Street and five blocks on the west side of Charles Street between Fauquier Street and Ford Street. 

Option 2C would see Ward 1 lose Normandy Village to Ward 2. The Altoona Subdvision, the western half of Huntington Hills and an area on the West Side of Route 1 southeast of Hazel run would all go to Ward 3. All of the area north of Fall Hill Avenue would be in Ward 4. Ward 3 wound lose Fairview to Ward 2, the east side of Huntington Hills, Idlewild Estates and the southern portion of the Westmont Neighborhood. Ward 4 would lose five blocks on the west side of Charles Street between Fauquier Street and Ford Street.