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2007 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 658
Celebrating the panoramic view of the James River from Libby Hill Park in Richmond, Virginia.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 30, 2007
Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2007

 

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; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly celebrate the panoramic view of the James River from Libby Hill Park in Richmond, Virginia, for its historic and critical association with the early development of the City of Richmond and its connection to Richmond-upon-Thames; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That this resolution shall not affect local land use approvals with respect to this view; and, be it

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