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2007 SESSION

074385402
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 658
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 9, 2007
Designating the panoramic view of the James River from Libby Hill Park in Richmond, Virginia, as a Historic Viewshed in Virginia.
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Patrons-- McClellan, Armstrong, Bulova, Eisenberg, Englin, Hall, Jones, D.C., Lewis, Marsden, McEachin, O'Bannon, Peace and Ware, O.; Senator: Marsh
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
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WHEREAS, William Byrd, the founder of the City of Richmond, was familiar with Richmond-upon-Thames in England and the view of the River Thames from Richmond Hill; and

WHEREAS, William Byrd witnessed the panoramic view of the James River and its remarkable similarity to the viewshed in England’s Richmond-upon-Thames; and

WHEREAS, historians believe that in 1733 William Byrd named Richmond because of this similarity of the scenic panorama along the James River to the view in Richmond-upon-Thames; and

WHEREAS, the scenic view in Richmond-upon-Thames is recognized as a great landscape icon of England and was the first and only view to be safeguarded by an Act of Parliament, the Richmond,  Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act, 1902; and

WHEREAS, a historic plaque located at Richmond-upon-Thames in England refers to the beautiful viewshed’s role in the naming of Richmond, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the panoramic view of the James River from Libby Hill Park is recognized as a great landscape icon in both the Commonwealth and in Richmond, its capital city, and was designated by a plaque as “The View That Named the City” by the mayors of Richmond and Richmond-upon-Thames on March 18, 2006; and

WHEREAS, the panoramic view of the James River from Libby Hill Park in Richmond possesses scenic, historic, and cultural significance that extends far beyond the capital city, attracting visitors from around the world; and

WHEREAS, the City of Richmond is currently undertaking efforts to preserve the historic panoramic view of the James River from Libby Hill Park; and

WHEREAS, being of such vital importance to the history of Virginia and its capital city, the panoramic view of the James River from Libby Hill Park belongs to all of the citizens of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate the panoramic view of the James River from Libby Hill Park as a historic viewshed, which should be preserved, unencumbered and unobstructed for all of the future generations of the Commonwealth to enjoy; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates shall prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Queen Elizabeth II, who will visit the Commonwealth of Virginia in May 2007 in conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.