CPPC 01-10-05 Meeting MinutesNotes of CPPS Meeting January 10, 2005, 7:30 p.m.
Item 1— Rural Areas Study
Senior Planner Susan Eddy updated the subcommittee on the status of the Rural Areas
Study. The study was a discussion item at the January 5th PC meeting and will be a
discussion item at the BOS meeting on January 12th.
Planner Eddy also summarized the response of the Top of Virginia Building Association.
This organization supports a density change to 1:5 for the first 100 acres and 1:10 for the
portion over 100 acres. The TOVB is strongly opposed to a rezoning.
Mr. Phil Lemieux, the TOVB representative on the subcommittee, answered questions on
the group's position. The subcommittee agreed that the TOVB would need to speak at
the public meetings and hearings in order to impact the process at this late date.
Several members of the public were in attendance and spoke at this time.
Mr. McDonald was critical of the TOVB proposal as it impacted the largest farms, which
are the most profitable. He also criticized the tables in the RA Draft Plan as they were
not current. Planner Eddy explained that these were Department of Agriculture statistics
that are only gathered every five years. Mr. McDonald was also critical of the road
buffers as he considered them unnecessary and wasteful of land.
Mr. Greg Hewitt spoke on the error of conducting an RA study before a UDA study. He
also disagreed with protecting conservation resources. He would encourage building
houses on steep slopes and floodplains and keeping the best land for agriculture.
Mrs. Danita Hewitt spoke in support of banking development rights if a phasing option is
selected.
Mrs. Claire Boyd was critical of a rezoning which she saw as too political, too expensive
and fraught with legal problems.
CPPS Member Pat Gochenour suggested that all springs in the County be identified.
Chairman Light said this could be a recommendation of the RA study. There was no
further discussion on this point.
Mr. Gary Oates, a local surveyor, presented a list of design features he would like to see
in the Rural Areas.
Mr. Mike Artz, also a local surveyor, presented a list of design features he would like to
see in the Rural Areas.
The meeting ended at 9:10 pm.