tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44419068090834821552024-03-14T06:34:49.885-04:00HISTORIC VARINAPromoting awareness of the Varina district's history and heritage, both rural and cultural. Inviting content concerning 'all things Varina' in Henrico County, Virginia.H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-81221665842227895542009-06-11T07:42:00.002-04:002009-06-11T10:16:49.454-04:00Henrico 2026 Vision Plan needs Revision- say residents representing all districts<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;">The current Comp Plan draft will endanger your health, raise your taxes, and destroy the environment...<br /><br />In considering whether to adopt this draft, the Henrico County Supervisors hold your future health, morals, safety, and welfare in their hands, <span style="font-style: italic;">and you do too.</span><br /><br />See what local residents are doing, and find out how you can help. The Board of Supervisors will hold a "work session" on July 14th, and then vote on adopting the plan in August, when most people are on vacation.<br /></span><br />Frank Thornton, Richard Glover, David Kaechele, Patricia O'Bannon, and Jim Donati could easily be called "career politicians". The word "entrenched" has been used plenty about them. They've been Henrico County, Virginia's Supervisors for longer, it is said, than any other BOS in the United States. Few doubt Henrico is fiscally managed by pros, the AAA Fitch ratings reflect that. But not everything is about economic development, and the county won't "die" if it desn't keep growing, as one Homebuilder's Association rep said in the TD last week. The common sense view concerning just what <span style="font-style: italic;">sound growth policy</span> amounts to has been questioned for some time now. That they've run amok and need to be checked is the word on the street among conservatives and liberals alike.</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Considering the current draft of the county Comprehensive Plan, many say the Supervisors, Planning Commission, and Planning Department are "stuck in the past." Official Statistics show that rampant growth in Central Virginia has now passed Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads in land consumption. Folks around here watch in horror as a 1980's style high-growth Comprehensive Plan, throwing open the gate for more sprawl and pollution moves closer and closer to being adopted.<br /><br />This ain't the 80's anymore, last time we checked. Things have changed, the economy has gone way south, hundreds of homes sit vacant, motgages are harder to get and people care more about the planet, thank the Lord- you're welcome Mother Nature. But Henrico's government still seems seized with the need for more- like "there aint no stoppin' us now".</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The most important things we can say about the Comp Plan are: </span></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />None of us here are against change- at all.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />All of us expect it. Well, some change. But as taxpayers we insist on the balanced and educated governance necessary to foster and ensure a safe and healthy amount of growth. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >None of us want to "stop all development".</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Development will happen. But those who spoke drove home the fact that the county's own statistic, that there has already been enough development approved to meet projected population changes up to and through the year 2026, is enough to show that. Enough housing already sits either unfinished, unsold, or foreclosed on already. Enough. Let's manage that. One obvious way to do that would be to set it up so Henrico remains a desirable place to live.</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />And best for last: None of us here want any farmer not to be able to sell their land, or "cash in their 401k" as some are calling their acreage.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />That is their right. Zoning is in place in currently farmed areas to allow for residential development, and if you own farmland or any land and want to sell it, whoever buys it can apply to raise the residential capacity from there.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />This is why the Zoning Process is in place. To allow the residents their own voice in our democratic process. Anyone who owns or buys land can apply to re-zone it. Again, that is why that process is in place, so that developers can apply- and it seems to work pretty well that way in their favor here, but this is supposed to give residents a chance to weigh in- instead of the Supervisors or Planning Commission deciding for them what will happen in their community (like this draft is doing.)<br /><br />But there's no reason to pimp that land out to be raped of its resources. Henrico sits on both the James and Chickahominy Rivers, and their watersheds and forests should be each of our responsibilities to preserve for future generations. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Henrico farmland defended</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nnLHy7OuUznYt9TTdhqmVnTJLeUWpsQk6vdEvaKj6R8ouSSrSfWMUxQwpxO5Tw2KZp2w7D3MBfM2_8DOEb2vP0JIy0AlGDHAvaalnUhpZbjoVzqZ6VQSq7BWrzSiAyDXqwvu3LX6ILw/s800/Henrico%20Va%20farmland%20defended.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 595px; height: 478px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nnLHy7OuUznYt9TTdhqmVnTJLeUWpsQk6vdEvaKj6R8ouSSrSfWMUxQwpxO5Tw2KZp2w7D3MBfM2_8DOEb2vP0JIy0AlGDHAvaalnUhpZbjoVzqZ6VQSq7BWrzSiAyDXqwvu3LX6ILw/s800/Henrico%20Va%20farmland%20defended.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Henrico farmer Steve </span></span><em><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Gallmeyer eloquently defended the need for both green-space and retaining Prime Agriculture as a Land-Use designation in the 2026 Plan. He also spoke of the need for Supervisors to support PDR/TDR Programs (Purchase or Transfer of Developmental Rights) now in place as nearby as Goochland and New Kent. Although Supervisors have received countywide requests for these programs for over ten years, they have never been adopted. Gallmeyer's family farms produce- sold at their stands locally, and also raises grain. </span><br /></em></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Our elected officials and the county staff whose salaries our tax dollars go to pay are supposed to serve the public. Foremost among their concerns should be our and health and safety. Guarding the health and safety of those of us who already live here. This plan does not support that. Period. It's obviously slanted to the tipping point to favor developers- instead of representing the current taxpaying residents who live here. </span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Serious traffic congestion, crime, wildlife habitat loss, dwindling farms, and a polluted watershed are becoming hallmarks of Henrico County- an area that still has a chance to make a turn-around and opt for a cleaner, greener future. Students attend school in trailers, are encouraged not to walk to school, and are shot and killed in their neighborhoods. Law enforcement is working harder and harder to keep up with more and more violent crime.<br /><br />Any more of this and it will be very difficult to keep marketing all of those empty and fore-closed McMansions and un-sold tract homes as being located in "safe and beautiful communities " with "great schools".</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Each Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission Meeting usually includes some award giving and back patting for all of the different reasons Henrico is "excellent", but look at the issues above and tell us that they have not been ongoing issues for years now.<br /><br />Locals from across the entire county had their last chance on Tuesday night to speak publicly about the plan now under consideration by Henrico's BOS, who have certainly not stopped our county from receiving the recent dismal marks given for our local air quality. Something needs to be done to better these leaders records.<br /><br />Water-rationing has become a regular occurrence here, strangely still not considered as a lacking resource in the projected population growth. Many aging communities are found without proper support services in Henrico. Transportation is more and more focused on multiple vehicle trips, and multi-car families- without our serious lack of mass transit opportunities being addressed in this plan. All of that aside, the general focus of county leaders still remains on growth. More, bigger, newer, better- build build build.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;">Looking at this meeting online, is it any surprise that out of the thirty-some folks from across Henrico who spoke about the Plan Draft, by far- most were against it and requested changes?</span><br /><br />Logical, well researched presentations were heard from college student and senior citizens alike. Three doctors spoke Tuesday night about the low air quality and lack of safe outdoor activity available to local children. Lawyers and land-use professionals focusing on the ramifications of the plan spoke about their grave concerns for the future of Henrico <span style="font-style: italic;">if this draft is adopted</span>.<br /><br />Sure there were a handful of people who probably got put up to saying how great the plan was- or how residents are responsible for preserving the character of their own communities themselves- even Henrico County Employees got up and touted the merits of the plan!<br /><br />A supervisor even told one gentlemean who spoke for the need of "safe-zones around schools" that the County does not encourage children walking to school! <span style="font-style: italic;">Liability anyone?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />This is probably why they recently came out with "Henrico does not support crossing Broad Street on foot. Or that flak about not wanting to spend money cleaning up park trails because Henrico doesn't encourage people to ride their bikes (liability again)...</span><br /><br />Also attending to speak were residents of Short Pump (who spoke of their sadness at what it has become), historians and preservationists (some were citizens appointed to county boards and committees), a UofR student who won our hearts pointed out (among many other well thought out points) that sprawl is destructive to our rivers...<br /><br />Residents who said they have been working on this for decades to keep Henrico safe and beautiful; farmers, residents, and cyclists who want--- Well Hell- see for your own selves- a link to the new-fangled streaming video is here for you to see these people in action. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">VIDEO OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PUBLIC HEARING HERE<br /></span><br /></span></div> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><a href="http://henrico-va.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=47"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Click here</span></a> and pull the video slider to the 38 minute mark to see an update from the Planning Department on where the 2026 Plan Draft now stands.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">That runs until the 1 hour and 1 minute mark. 1:01 is where the public comments begin. </span>The meeting which began at 7, got to the public comments on the plan at about 8, and ran long- until after 11.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />All of the public comments were and are worth watching, and a modern convenience to see from the homestead. We urge you to look at all the whole thing, but<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">IF YOU CAN ONLY LOOK AT ONE PART, START AT THE 1 HR & 48 MINUTE MARK<br /><br /></span></span> </div><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > <span style="font-weight: bold;">One of our county's most highly praised and award winning journalists, who is a professor in critical thinking and critical writing, Nicole Anderson-Ellis, who has studied and reviewed the Plan in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Style Magazine throughout its draft changes, reviewed the Plan as she would an assignment, and gave her best suggestions for the health, morals, safety, and welfare of our county's residents. Her review would be difficult to refute in any way.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />So why would these people from all walks of life, from all parts of the county come out in foul weather, to stay late on a weeknight to give their grave concerns over Henrico Governement's "vision" for our future? Because for their various reasons, most of them well founded, they all care deeply about where they live.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span></span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >What can you do?<br /><br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Please take the time to communicate with Henrico's Board of Supervisors that changes need to be made before this plan is adopted. Ask them to pause and re-draft this plan. None of us want to live our lives waiting in traffic, pay to foot the bill for further sprawl, or be endangered by ecological imbalances that can be avoided. </span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />1. Protect your home:<br /></span> Is the county planning to run a road through your property? Read the draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan. Especially check your property on the Land Use and Major Thoroughfare Maps. </span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > </span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This information is on file at county libraries and on-line: </span> <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan.htm">http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan.htm</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >2. Tell <span style="font-style: italic;">at least</span> two neighbors</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >3. Contact the Board of Supervisors:<br /><br />Board of Supervisors<br />Henrico County, VA<br />P. O. Box 90775<br />Henrico, VA 23273-0775<br /><br />Phone: (804) 501-4206<br />Fax: (804) 501-5361<br /><br />with suggestions including:</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > <br />* More resources for established neighborhoods, fewer new tax-draining subdivisions</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > * Keep "Prime Agricultural" on the map ("Rural Residential" is not the same)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > * Put new construction on in-fill land to protect our rivers, streams, and wetlands</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > <br /><br />* More bike and pedestrian transportation choices</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > * Encourage tourism; preserve valuable historic/scenic/agricultural resources</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > <br /><br />* Listen to the citizens' overwhelming mandate to protect rural landscapes</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > <br /><br />* Find more information </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://valcvef.org/partnership/Envision_Henrico.html">here</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > </span> <div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Further Reading</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Style Magazine:<br /></span> <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=9B6FFC446FF7486981EA3C0C3CCE4943&nm=Articles%2FNews&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=6F22F5F3EBEC4E698598EDB38230E889"><span style="font-size:130%;">Neighbors in Waiting </span></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />by Peter Galuszka</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />NBC- WWBT 12:</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=10498863"><span style="font-size:130%;">Henrico board to hold public hearing for vision plan</span></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >by Laura Geller</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Richmond Times-Dispatch:</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/HENR10_20090609-234201/272960/"><br /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:100%;" >Richmond Times-Dispatch:</span><br /><a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/HENR10_20090609-234201/272960/">Varina residents urge that growth be wise</a></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />by Katherine Calos</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Richmond Times-Dispatch:</span><br /><a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/opinion/op_ed/article/ED-ELLISOP05_20090604-185807/271836/"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Land Use: To Pave or Save Henrico's Farmland?</span></span></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >by Nicole Anderson-Ellis</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >SamPerry.com:</span><br /><a href="http://www.samperry.com/2009/06/draft-plan-2026-henrico-county.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Draft Plan 2026- Henrico County</span></span></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >by Sam Perry</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Bacon's Rebellion:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://baconsrebellion.com/2009/05/12/land-use-planning-from-the-bottom-up/"><br />Land Use Planning from the Bottom Up</a></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />by Charley Finley</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All excellent journalism- great job everyone,<br />thank you all so much.</span></span><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . </span><br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-57568342223356615592009-06-08T17:00:00.008-04:002009-06-08T18:04:33.123-04:00Henrico Comp Plan coverage- Turn on WWBT12 News at 6 Tonight- Last Public Hearing on the 2026 Plan tomorrow at 7pm<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Finally, the LAST "Public Hearing" on <span style="font-style: italic;">Henrico's 2026 Comprehensive Plan</span> will be held tomorrow night at 7pm at the Western Henrico Government Complex Board Room. If you care about Henrico's future, pollution, the watershed, or local green-space, you should attend.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The only time your voice doesn't count is when you don't use it.</span><br /></div><br />In a brief teaser for their related story on tonight's news at 6pm, local television Channel 12 called the Comp Plan a "work in progress". <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">So that means there's still room for change, right?<br /><br /></span>12 also let slip that Henrico County Planning Department Director Ralph Emerson "doesn't own a crystal ball- or his job would be a lot easier." Instead of this, the news is Emerson and his department use "current densities", "land use patterns" and "look at infrastructure." These factors show planners that "more people in one area" will drive the need for retail and service support there. If H.C. Planning also included Henrico residents suggestions they wouldn't need a gypsy fortune-teller. Try taking the public temperature- or listening to the taxpayers you represent- anyone? Hello?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">We see where "more people" live and say: concentrate the building there, please. Some building will occur county-wide, but it's been noted that there are enough projects on the books now to more than accommodate any projected residential growth in Henrico until 2026.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Want to learn more about what hangs in the balance if you don't get involved? </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">The Virginia Conservation Network</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> has provided a </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.vcnva.org/anx/index.cfm/1,93,1039,0,html/June-9-Henrico-County-Comprehensive-Plan-Public-Meeting">neat bulleted list</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> to get you up to speed.</span><br /><br />Channel 12's story at 6pm tonight is said to include coverage of both sides of the story. And why would there be more than one side? Because developers and those who support that industry remaining unchecked like to portray anyone concerned about Henrico's environmental future as "Anti-Development". It just aint so. None of us at HV have ever heard anyone in any of the county meetings we've attended say "all development must stop", only that it needs to be done with a sensitive vision for the sake our future.<br /><br />Coincidentally, the current Comprehensive Plan in Henrico has been titled "Vision 2026". We're still asking readers to encourage our elected leaders to open their eyes and include the vision of the people who live here.<br /><br />H.C. Planning may not have a crystal ball, but it shouldn't take hearing aids to include the the repeated requests of residents who have worked hard during the entire Comprehensive Planning process in their attempts to educate county planners and leaders about the need for green planning- still conspicuously lacking in the plan as it now stands. Discounted as ignorant farmers or crazy tree huggers, those who share our green vision for Henrico couldn't be further just that. e're just a bunch of tax-payers who care about nature, and want to be ensured it'll last a lot longer than the next latte in a styrofoam cup.<br /><br />Reader responses to pro-green journalism and editorial coverage of the 20206 Vision has continued to become more rabid of late. Snarling readers have attacked the last couple of environmentally concerned media bits, calling Envision Henrico members and others concerned about the future of Henrico's last remaining green-spaces and watersheds a handful of pretty creative names.<br /><br />Angered tree-haters providing write-in commentary have called locals concerned about Henrico's environmental future "idiot", "anti-growth crazies", "living-in-the-19th-Century cronies", "anti-growth-zealots", "hicks" and "eco-nit-wits" among other hilarious names.<br /><br />Similarly extreme comments that make poor rebuttals have also been posted locally, like: "Henrico officials realize that progress has to happen or the county will die." Die? My my... are we in <span style="font-style: italic;">that much</span> trouble? Funny- we keep reading about Henrico's AAA Fitch ratings. So we have to sell out our remaining green-space to bail the county out of the hole? News to us.<br /><br />As for the name calling, when the residents who show up at meetings on the Comp Plan include concerned and educated professionals in the fields of forestry, conservation, education, and the like, it becomes apparent that anyone responding so negatively in the local media is either a developer or has invested in the plan to tarmac the remainder of the county.<br /><br />So how come no-one who hates the environment or local history ever shows up in person to holler this stuff at any of the public meetings provided for this purpose? Maybe it's the same reason that the yellow game piece is usually the last color to be chosen.<br /><br />Now watch the news at 6 tonight on Channel 12.. and think about what which green matters to you in Henrico- it is the green that lines the pockets of developmental concerns, or the green that will provide clean air and water for future generations?<br /><br />Encourage your friends and neighbors to attend this one last meeting tomorrow, Tuesday June 9th at 7pm at the Western Government Center Board Room on Parham Road, and make your voice count.<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Get involved and read more here:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Richmond Times Dispatch: </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/opinion/op_ed/article/ED-ELLISOP05_20090604-185807/271836/">LAND USE: To Pave or Save Henrico’s Farmland?</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >by Nicole Anderson-Ellis</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Bacon's Rebellion: </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://baconsrebellion.com/2009/05/12/land-use-planning-from-the-bottom-up/">Land Use Planning from the Bottom Up</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >by Charley Finley</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >and the latest effort of a locally based Green-Building professional we can all get behind</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Green Modern Kits : </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://www.greenmodernkits.com/casa-ti1.htm"><span style="font-size:100%;">Why We Not Only Need To Have Prime Agricultural Zoning,<br />But Need To Viligantly Protect It </span></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >by Copeland Casati</span>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-39911393170519963052009-01-23T11:03:00.019-05:002009-06-05T23:40:49.622-04:00Press Reveals locals response to "Henrico, Va." Comprehensive Plan<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >...Will the Planning Commission "do the right thing"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >and allow residents input help shape Henrico's future?</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Local media and bloggers cover the issues as Henrico County's Planning Commission continues to consider the 2026 Comprehensive Plan, still in its 'draft' phase... </span></span><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Will the Commission act on comments made by residents who gave little praise </span></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">at last nights hearing? </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Will resident's repeated pleas for greener and more sustainable planning result in adaptation before the draft moves on to County Supervisors?</span><br /></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Attendees reported<span style="font-weight: bold;"> there was little room or time for many more people to be heard.</span> The hearing began at 6PM and residents who spoke were limited to "two minutes". Some were cut off mid-sentence, but in the end were asked back up to testify for another "one minute" towards the hearing's end. </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I<span style="font-weight: bold;">f only two dozen people let the Commission know of their concerns, then what if 90 or more people had showed up- would it have been one minute? Or thirty seconds? Richmond City Council gives more residents more of a voice than that...<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">...and after years of repeating the same requests, will any of<br />residents suggestions ever make it into the plan itself?<br />Do you expect to see Open Government in action?</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's a good thing the Times-Dispatch published pretty much the same article online twice, because any coverage will help.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Two related online RT-D pieces are listed as:</span><br /></div><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/HENP23_20090122-233207/186426/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Preservation, smart growth urged in Henrico"</span></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >and</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/HENPGAT23_20090122-225805/186404/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Residents want Henrico’s history, landscape preserved"</span></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Plus...Channel 12 has some more here from the <span style="font-style: italic;">luscious</span> Tara Morgan:</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=9719089&nav=menu128_2"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Henrico residents weigh in on the county's future"</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">We understand Morgan's coverage of the meeting made WWBT 12's late night news, allowing residents <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Jane Koontz</span> and <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Nicole Anderson-Ellis</span> </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">an addition to the "two minute" rule.</span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WWBT's Morgan relayed both sides of the Comp Plan woes by including Anderson-Ellis' informed perspective against assurances from the county's paid Comp Plan consultant, Greg Dale.</span><br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Morgan quoted Dale who said: "What this plan attempts to do is to accommodate a forecasted growth of about twenty years in what we hope is a balanced and responsible manner,"</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >and again: "Dale says they want to avoid sprawl and encourage rural preservation. But some don't see it that way."<br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">HV responds:</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;">Planning for the future cannot "hope" or "attempt" to be "balanced". The Plan must be written to ensure that both the avoidance of sprawl and guidelines for rural preservation become constants in the planning for the future of the county.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The "hopes" and "attempts" Dale outlined are not visible in the current draft,<br />but further sprawl, traffic and higher taxes are.</span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;">How can Henrico claim they want to encourage anything but sprawl when the PC and BOS have thusfar responded to one of most repeated resident requests,"Developmental Rights programs" (PDR / TDR, to preserve open, forested and farmed lands) by responding like this:<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;">"</span><a href="http://www.henricocitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1397&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1910&hn=henricocitizen&he=.com"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Supervisors agreed that the time to implement such a program in Henrico is not now</span></a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;">"</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">???</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Folks, we are supposed to be planning for the next seventeen years right now, now is the time to include preservation options. Now.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >...We also hear the current draft will stop farmers and other landowners from putting acreage into conservation easements to protect </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >open </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >tracts into the future. This needs to change.</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The lovely Miss Morgan printed response from <span style="font-style: italic;">home-town favorite, brilliant writer and eco-advocate</span> <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Nicole Anderson-Ellis</span>. Ellis had the audience cheering and applauding as she read the Commission the results of their own 2005 Citizen Survey that have still not been put to use in the draft. This will help Henrico residents realize the Plan is not based on the scientifically administered survey that was taken to find out what residents wanted their futures to look like.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Further restriction on development, protecting rural areas, less growth, lower density, this is what your constituents say they want in effect this land use plan does the opposite," says Anderson-Ellis."<br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">HV cheers: </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">You Go Mama! Thanks for letting the record show that the results of the Survey our tax dollars funded are not yet been included in the draft. Now is the time for change.</span><br /><br /></span></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On to the Times-Dispatch- where <span style="font-weight: bold;">Melodie Martin's</span> editors have <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">finally</span> let her write something that isn't chopped up into fluff. Martin's articles detailed the testimony of an astounding FOUR Henrico residents. Out of 24 people who spoke, Martin included <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Jane Koontz</span>' quote:<br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Dense land-use categories should not be used to line the pockets of developers or large landowners. Our agricultural base is being depleted by targeted growth for Varina," Koontz said. "All Henrico taxpayers, including West Enders, are going to pay through the nose for the excessive growth targeted for Varina."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd13j3R8cquc3bGmestzSrxwWrssjd1siCeONasfN_h0MfCBfPXCmjVA5yBftZ1bjqUeXk7IrN4y20eHo0YjU1e0qG3Hh2P2p17HrxDVaTQ20nezmO-pNBKCOKoll3TN-HUn8JYRT42Ao/s1600-h/Gobble-Gobble.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd13j3R8cquc3bGmestzSrxwWrssjd1siCeONasfN_h0MfCBfPXCmjVA5yBftZ1bjqUeXk7IrN4y20eHo0YjU1e0qG3Hh2P2p17HrxDVaTQ20nezmO-pNBKCOKoll3TN-HUn8JYRT42Ao/s400/Gobble-Gobble.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294652818103189282" border="0" /></a><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Look. See? Please do something Smart</span></span><br /></div><span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Both of the RT-D's stories stated </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Michael Czekajlo</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, "who lives in the western end of the county, was among half a dozen people who bemoaned the county's reputation for being one of the least bikeable and walkable localities in the Richmond area."<br /><br /></span></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"As it is, I can't walk anywhere with my kids. I can't cross Broad Street from Target to go to Whole Foods, which is idiotic," Czekajlo said. "I think there is a general disconnect between the plan and the quality of life people want."</span> </div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">HV gives a big hat-tip to Mr. C:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;">Wow! Thanks to this West-End resident who took the time to attend (w</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;">e are betting he didn't walk) </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-weight: bold;">and present what so many have been saying. Not to mention his hitting the <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">quality of life</span> part head on. We want an exclusive. We would like to hear you and your childrens' take on this. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="mailto:historicvarina@gmail.com"></a><br /><br /></span></span> </div> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The two remaining comments Martin jotted down concerned historic preservation:<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Richard McNeil</span>, who serves on the county's historic preservation advisory committee, urged stronger protections for historic sites in the plan. County resident <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">A.R. Goodwin</span> cited records showing that 162 of 183 county-recognized historic sites and structures were destroyed between 1976 and 1998."<br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"We have a wealth of historic preservation areas and cultural resources in Henrico County. However, they are not protected by anything other than a lick and a promise," McNeil said."<br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The county must be hipper than we think to appoint McNeil to advise on historic preservation issues, we're hear he's well educated in local history and architecture.. but his phrase intrigued us in last night's online RT-D. Maybe he's a <a style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-lick-and-a-promise.html">British linguist</a> or an <a style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://www.sing365.com/music/Lyric.nsf/Lick-And-A-Promise-lyrics-Aerosmith/EAF81BA526098D354825686B00226C4F">Aerosmith fan</a>- either way, emails have related that though McNeil and others who commented sometimes had the Commission and audience laughing in appreciation, Goodwin cited the loss of over 80% of Henrico's historic resources.<br /><br />The Henrico resident complained that the statistics, suggestions for low cost <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">historic preservation</span> tools, and online petition she introduced to Supervisors last year were never recorded in that meeting's minutes.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looks like the petition can even be signed anonymously. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The study is a <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://kwhopson.googlepages.com/Henrico_Historic_Resources_Lost.pdf">.PDF</a> and </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">the petition a <a style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/henricohistory/index.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">website.</span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Citing the large number of losses recorded in '98, she asked why the county still has not included any real historic preservation guidelines in Comprehensive Plans since.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The need for preservation of history ranked high as a hearing topic; both RT-D articles allowed <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">history</span> and <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">preservation</span> to be included in the headlines.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Renowned local historian, <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Dr. Henry Nelson</span> (founder of the APHA, or Association for Preservation of Henrico Antiquities), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Fred Fisher</span> (of Westover Plantation), and The APVA's <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Sonja Ingram </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">also each requested that the Commission add active historic preservation planning to the draft.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Emails have come in to help us detail the requests and concerns of others who spoke, bringing the total close to thirty speakers. Local <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">cycling association leaders, members, and residents who love to bike</span> all spoke of their health and safety issues. Comments ranged from their inability to plan safe commuting routes to the amazement they get from those they tell that they pedal in Henrico regularly. "How did you get here safely?" one resident reported he is regularly asked. All called for the draft to include plans for safe routes to be adopted.<br /><br />Others in attendance took to the mike to repeat requests that have been recorded in the <a style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/comments.htm">2026 Comments Manual, now available online.</a> Several people asked for stronger wording than the "loose promises" included- asking that "might" and "could" be replaced by "will" and "should" where preservation is addressed in the draft. Numerous residents asked for active planning <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">protect and preserve the James and Chickahominy Rivers and their watersheds,</span> and the </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">the unique and renowned botanical site in Elko.</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Sheila Sheppard</span> of the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Partnership for Smarter Growth</span> and <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Envision Henrico</span> spoke about the rising <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">air pollution</span> currently affecting the daily lives of many county residents. She also told the Commission that continuing to encourage building farther into unpopulated areas would shift the focus away from <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">aging neighborhoods</span> with infrastructure already in need of maintenance and upgrade.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Reverend Martin</span> of the <a style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://www.newbridgebaptistchurch.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New Bridge Baptist Church</span></a> on Nine Mile Road relayed the planning needs of his congregation, saying many neighborhoods in the area had become "locked in" by new development and have no safe pedestrian routes. He went on to tell the Commission that that there were very few job opportunities for youths in his area, and coupled with the lack of <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">mass transit</span> this would continue to make it difficult for young people to gain the employment necessary to help build their futures.<span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"> (New Bridge Baptist's <a style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://www.newbridgebaptistchurch.org/history.htm">website</a> details the inspiring history of this church founded in 1864, as well as its promising plans for the future.)</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One specifically amazing case was brought up by resident <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Jeanne McNeil</span>, who told the Commission that she and her community have invested several years of work to successfully have their neighborhood rezoned from 'Industrial' to 'Residential'. Her family home is included on the Virginia and National Registers of Historic Places and several other homes in her immediate area are eligible. But even after her community has worked with the Planning Department, the 2026 Land Use Plan Map still suggests her neighborhood be designated for the development of future <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Office Space </span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(OF).</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Do readers see what's </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" >wrong</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"> here?</span></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >We all need to participate to hold the county<br />to their "goal" of including residents in the process.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**</span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**</span>*<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**</span>*<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**</span>*<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**</span>*<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >We thank all of the readers who sent<span> in their 'hearing notes'</span>, and<br />the press who covered the hearing for make this post possible. </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">The Planning Department is still accepting comments on the draft.<br />We encourage you all to pass this post on, and ask others to participate<br />by emailing their support of the topics addressed and any other<br />changes your area needs considered to <a style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="mailto:2026plan@co.henrico.va.us">2026plan@co.henrico.va.us</a></span><br /></span> </div></div> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Want to read more? Local writer and <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">OFFICIAL </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">'All</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Around Good Egg'</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">John Sarvay</span><br />has a post responding to RT-D's coverage of<br />the hearing's announcement on the January 22:</span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" href="http://floricane.typepad.com/buttermilk/2009/01/td-previews-henricos-comprehensive-plan.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"TD Previews Henrico's Comprehensive Plan"</span></a><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Check out Sarvay's Award Winning Local Blog: <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" href="http://floricane.typepad.com/buttermilk/2009/01/td-previews-henricos-comprehensive-plan.html">Buttermilk and Molasses</a></span> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">where he has also been covering the 'Richmond Regional Cultural Action Plan', he's the real deal, man. We leave you with his words:</span><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"What if newspapers started telling stories that mattered for the society<br />we're building, </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >instead of the one we're leaving behind?"</span></span><br /><br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-69676106424240053852009-01-20T08:45:00.000-05:002009-01-20T14:50:50.591-05:00HENRICO's FUTURE: traffic, tarmac and tree loss- Will it cost you not to get involved now ?<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">A Planning Commission Hearing that <span style="font-style: italic;">should</span> focus on our environmentally sustainable future will address plans for growth in Henrico until 2026. But will officials say there is no way to budget for these green necessities? Our answer will be<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl9OTY7zydCrvP1IdAGq2VOLSreogwO082EvtUMmsDPFLWfZCj3OOyeX4wOhzVtPBIqrbEtqQaIfsNn_1ozqIzjjL5r7oGPMuaE69jyTWjlxQfAr67_U7G_sw6jNWf090uyCC2sPNpDw/s1600-h/Henrico+VA_CantAfford2+Sprawl_butTHEYsay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl9OTY7zydCrvP1IdAGq2VOLSreogwO082EvtUMmsDPFLWfZCj3OOyeX4wOhzVtPBIqrbEtqQaIfsNn_1ozqIzjjL5r7oGPMuaE69jyTWjlxQfAr67_U7G_sw6jNWf090uyCC2sPNpDw/s400/Henrico+VA_CantAfford2+Sprawl_butTHEYsay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290525222679326642" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The first county "public hearing" to allow residents to speak out about </span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The 2026 Comprehensive Plan (draft) will be held on<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">THURSDAY JANUARY 22nd, at 6PM </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">in the Board Room of the County Administration Building </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">in the Government Center at Parham and Hungary Springs Roads</span><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br />If school redistricting boundaries have got you concerned, have a look at the <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >bigger picture</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">How many more years can our longstanding Supervisors be supported in this <span style="font-style: italic;">backwards-thinking land-gobble</span>?</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;"> There are incentives for revitlization of existing areas, but no real promotion of this important necessity. Haven't we all seen the traffic and crime results of massive growth?</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Or do these issues have us so busy we just <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">"don't have time to get involved?"</span></span><br /><br />As neighboring Chesterfield considers <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/CHES17_20081216-232608/153288/">windmills as an energy alternative,</a> and <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/PLAN151_20081214-230427/151076/">countering the dire effects that mass grading has on their watershed</a> (and the James, and the Bay,) consider the deaf ear that Henrico's officials have turned on resident's eco-minded 2026 planning input to date. There is noticeable concern, both East and West over Henrico's incessant need to grow. </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> While blog posts seem to have become the new version of the AP wire for many RT-D 'articles' of late, there are a few the local press has missed. Tied for our idea of the "Saddest Post" are blog entries showing what's happened in Short Pump in the recent past. If pictures are worth a thousand words each, these would be bottomless pages.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />TIE FOR THE SADDEST HENRICO BLOG POST:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Blog:OuterBanksMom</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://outerbanksmom.blogspot.com/2009/01/sadness-beyond-belief-tiny-rant.html"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">"Sadness beyond belief (a tiny rant)"<br /></span></a></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span><span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Blog:DownTownShortpump</span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.downtownshortpump.com/2008/09/19/john-rolfe-parkway-construction-in-full-swing/"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">"John Rolfe Parkway Construction in Full Swing"</span></a><br /><br />Great job bloggers- keep your coverage coming!<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">And if our readers still aren't concerned, maybe they need an eye exam...<br /><br />Which is better? </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >This?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lW7aO1jNdLrPAqyU_zWSCvOHxElVLX62upyrpRWrTNf9N1-v6W2lCKzUq5uali9jGg9XSPWoPXVqE2gxUI9lUUZI-QUnuEPdVNqz7iV1MZmzv6VSaCinuZgy0O2TObUZcjAUSx6SsCU/s1600-h/shortpump1987.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lW7aO1jNdLrPAqyU_zWSCvOHxElVLX62upyrpRWrTNf9N1-v6W2lCKzUq5uali9jGg9XSPWoPXVqE2gxUI9lUUZI-QUnuEPdVNqz7iV1MZmzv6VSaCinuZgy0O2TObUZcjAUSx6SsCU/s400/shortpump1987.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290543452943215970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br />OR This?<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNEQjZKqdSWyP7S5TzVrNQv6_RYvJkqIoD5k4jbzyKGL1CFgdCDxSSmzzE3rMQkLtLuvMHixygTXaDHcghRjCGdmSvw56PRNJAPT3H9UZ8fFlg7krT5AjcyEnGRRSxNK9vCJjVp3Q0B4/s1600-h/Henricofarm2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNEQjZKqdSWyP7S5TzVrNQv6_RYvJkqIoD5k4jbzyKGL1CFgdCDxSSmzzE3rMQkLtLuvMHixygTXaDHcghRjCGdmSvw56PRNJAPT3H9UZ8fFlg7krT5AjcyEnGRRSxNK9vCJjVp3Q0B4/s400/Henricofarm2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290544121105467458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">...If you need a clue, the replacement of farms with roads and parking lots can increase your taxes</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> just as much</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> as it harms the environment.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And which do you prefer...</span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">This?</span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMg2NkSHWX5fJ6C2kOXsY03paaGNrgmoEtfR_LGTfEDWbZypcj4PBGdV2gQCfM1jk1vZxtWd7ON9z0A7OnYsHnl9jPnWNUGVnEEJ6mApNseOoyC-R_vTQmNo2v6S0M6Qp5v12TEoMY_CE/s1600-h/johnrolfe9082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMg2NkSHWX5fJ6C2kOXsY03paaGNrgmoEtfR_LGTfEDWbZypcj4PBGdV2gQCfM1jk1vZxtWd7ON9z0A7OnYsHnl9jPnWNUGVnEEJ6mApNseOoyC-R_vTQmNo2v6S0M6Qp5v12TEoMY_CE/s400/johnrolfe9082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290547541110558002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">OR This?</span></span></span></span><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHMyaICyebjg4TOfr_bn436d-6SPw4P-E2oEqcySZe3DajL96PWoL-UfIVTK9_igJQd0KVxJIGvYSpeEngRErk8oGjeiP4gPTn9SxDxJKw96GvhIpSSZVm33jUIT6i4RbeSjRgY2cgzs/s1600-h/johnrolfe9083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHMyaICyebjg4TOfr_bn436d-6SPw4P-E2oEqcySZe3DajL96PWoL-UfIVTK9_igJQd0KVxJIGvYSpeEngRErk8oGjeiP4gPTn9SxDxJKw96GvhIpSSZVm33jUIT6i4RbeSjRgY2cgzs/s400/johnrolfe9083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290549338019909682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">... because if you think </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">"that <span style="font-style: italic;">can't</span> happen to me"</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> or </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">"they won't put a road through my neighborhood,"</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> that's probably the same thing the folks above thought until the John Rolfe Parkway extension was proposed.<br /><br />Check the 2026 Land Use and Major Thoroughfare Plan maps (linked at right) for your area now. Even if nothing major is planned for your neck of the woods, the current plan can still cost you plenty.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Both of the posts "tied" above are cautionary tales, showing what can happen to our entire county, if residents don't make their opinions known. Take the opportunity to do just that by taking the time to speak to Henrico's Planning Commission about what you think is important for our future as a county. The Commission will hear locals speak freely about the draft of the Comprehensive Plan on January 22nd at 6pm.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >You can't be "too busy" to care about where you live.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is the plan that will determine <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">development patterns</span> in Henrico for the next seventeen years.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Topics to consider addressing are:</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;font-size:130%;" >* </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the lack of planning to preserve the environment and watershed,</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;font-size:130%;" >* </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">smart transportation planning to help cut traffic and vehicle trips,</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;font-size:130%;" >* </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the importance of including open-space preservation,</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;font-size:130%;" >* </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">saving what remains of our county's history,</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;font-size:130%;" >* </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the future of our drinking water supply</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">.... the list goes on. But you can always</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;font-family:arial;" >review posts from our archives for other ideas.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;font-family:arial;" >It's free, and open for your review</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">all day, all night, 365 days a year</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So remember, when they tell you about </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">"budget cuts"</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span>and<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">the lack of funding available</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> for planning that Henrico remain a safe and desirable place to live, it's a matter of where your tax dollars are spent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Issues like a funding line item request for repaving the Belmont Golf Course parking lot and fixing the course itself, totaling FIVE MILLION DOLLARS?</span><br /><br />During a county "work session" in February 2006, while discussing Henrico's Capital Budget, County Manager Virgil Hazelett reported that the Belmont Golf Course had put in a request for 5 million dollars to increase the number of parking spaces available at the facility and to make improvements at the golf course. Yep, word for word:<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">February 2006 Work Session minutes-<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">line 290:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: normal;">"In addition, Belmont Golf Course has a request for <span style="font-weight: bold;">5 million dollars</span>. All we say is its to fill up the holes that Mr. Archer creates out there, but it is to increase the number of parking spaces available at the facility and to make improvements at the golf course."</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">No telling how much was actually spent at Belmont for the turf repair and tarmac.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Anyone want to dig up the final Belmont Golf Course parking and course improvement totals?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">The 2008 budget for Henrico was A BILLION DOLLARS ...yet there are no funding options available to preserve open-space or assist farmers in keeping their land in production before development gobbles up all of the remaining fields and forests in Henrico?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Press coverage has shown parcels "redesignationed" on the 2026 Land Use Plan Map may remove some local's rights to put acreage into 'conservation easements'? The county won't respond to requests to create ways for farmers and silvaculturalists to preserve their own land? </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And this is "OK?"</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Henrico residents already face 'water rationing' every year, and no one wants to question this new plan that will allow for thousands and thousands of more homes to be built here?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Clammer for Trader Joe's and other fresh foods purveyors has been high in the West End, but do we all need to keep paying for interstate trucking to transport our healthy ingredients while polluting the atmosphere and driving up the price at the market check out?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">When the county spent taxpayers dollars to ask residents what they wanted in preparation to create the current comp plan draft, Greenbelt creation was a topic that ranked high among citizens who participated in the "2005 Citizen Survey." The results showed</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">"There was some support for creating a storm water utility that could be integrated into a larger Greenbelt/Greenway system of open spaces, parks and naturally preserved areas. Overall, <span style="font-style: italic;">60% of the respondents supported doing so</span>."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Yet <span style="font-weight: bold;">no</span> Greenbelt or Greenway planning exists <span style="font-style: italic;">that we can see</span> in Henrico's current plan for the future ... unless they're saving that to show us 'later'.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">So when anyone tells you there's "no funding available" for preserving agricultural and forested lands, or creating ordinances to ensure tree preservation,<br /><br />Study multi-modal transportation options, or new ways to encourage mass transit as bus routes face budget cuts,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">-or "no way to plan" for the protection of remaining historic sites from encroaching development, you can always give them the same argument they're using to promote the need for further sprawl:</span><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFpiM_HSB41p-HLdx9Owqde61JCIjg2kih1Kii76VTDXVnBB6H0_tuKi5rGRvGc5FHXAw-zF9UIRcuRa-T-KFyK02LABOFRxfH0Fb2sJOMTjhReOIRzlXFygLvlYJeE5ADioP-_LsHZc/s1600-h/shortpump1987.jpg"></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl9OTY7zydCrvP1IdAGq2VOLSreogwO082EvtUMmsDPFLWfZCj3OOyeX4wOhzVtPBIqrbEtqQaIfsNn_1ozqIzjjL5r7oGPMuaE69jyTWjlxQfAr67_U7G_sw6jNWf090uyCC2sPNpDw/s1600-h/Henrico+VA_CantAfford2+Sprawl_butTHEYsay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl9OTY7zydCrvP1IdAGq2VOLSreogwO082EvtUMmsDPFLWfZCj3OOyeX4wOhzVtPBIqrbEtqQaIfsNn_1ozqIzjjL5r7oGPMuaE69jyTWjlxQfAr67_U7G_sw6jNWf090uyCC2sPNpDw/s400/Henrico+VA_CantAfford2+Sprawl_butTHEYsay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290525222679326642" border="0" /></a></div></div></span></span></span>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-40803780187621184982009-01-15T09:48:00.000-05:002009-01-15T09:49:02.290-05:00Rural Route 5 Threatened -Last Meeting Tonight- P-7-08 - will Henrico County care?<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >If you've ever driven the "scenic route" when traveling east through Varina, you know Route 5 provides a beautiful and bucolic drive. All of that may begin to change tonight, when Henrico Supervisors vote to support or deny a 130' cellular tower that would be visible from the historic Virginia Byway. Some of the shots in the HV banner above are seen from Route 5.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpnATWmvS3iYQLwKOu7lRCTjmdiBAIqEuyjefWgdl7X0P-cht2B5YkPl4l-UReNuGShyphenhyphenH5eEiGBwKygPApriW5E99cEwMd_M78BI0I5Gkd3wh7WACa-y367PMSJINbL5QRHFTFRCR3U8/s1600-h/HENRICO+HISTORY+Route+5+help.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpnATWmvS3iYQLwKOu7lRCTjmdiBAIqEuyjefWgdl7X0P-cht2B5YkPl4l-UReNuGShyphenhyphenH5eEiGBwKygPApriW5E99cEwMd_M78BI0I5Gkd3wh7WACa-y367PMSJINbL5QRHFTFRCR3U8/s400/HENRICO+HISTORY+Route+5+help.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291529330390049314" border="0" /></a>"Indeed, the nearly 3,000 miles of roads on the state-designated Virginia Byways program, designed to highlight areas of natural beauty and historic significance, are almost exclusively in rural areas," according to January 29th <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/E-RIVR29_20081228-213732/163607/">RT-D coverage</a> of Richmond's </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">south of the James </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Riverside Drive", the road that City Council will soon vote to protect through the program.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">But 5 is already a Virginia Byway, a rating that was given to focus the rural setting and historic beginnings. Will that really help here? Residents watch each planned change for signs of the County promised "high quality" development standards.</span><br /><br />Route 5 diverges from Old Osborne Turnpike just past the still quiet driveway to Tree Hill Farm, cutting inland from the James on its way towards Williamsburg. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Also known as "New Market Road" in part of Eastern Henrico, t</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ourists driving, riding, and cycling through Richmond's historic sites follow the centuries old road past protected civil war battlefields, and farms still threatened by the lingering promise of sprawling development.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Chapter 7 of the Henrico's 2026 Comprehensive Plan draft describes the road like this: </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"New Market Road Corridor"</span></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >"New Market Road (State Route 5) is the earliest roadway connecting the City of Richmond to Williamsburg. The corridor has generally maintained its rural character and contributes to the rural visual identity of the eastern portions of the County. The roadway itself is currently maintained by the Commonwealth of Virginia."</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Since last May the cell-tower proposed right off of 5, (near Midview Road) has been deferred, and gone through public meetings, and deferred again. In December one public meeting experienced what a local called a "cute little wrinkle." The problem arose from the fact that only those in support of the tower's erection showed up at a scheduled County meeting about the tower. Those in opposition didn't get the notices in time.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">Is this "a selective mailing tactic/strategy whereby attendance at "community" meetings is manufactured to favor one side of an argument?" as one native says they had to wonder. Or a normal bulk mailing problem with the postal service?</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This mishap reportedly left County representatives virtually scratching their heads... wondering how on earth this could have happened.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />While looking for answers our crew was told to "read through enough Planning minutes and you'll notice that it's a recurring theme... Planning says they do more than they're required to by law". But similar lags and glitches happen with alarming frequency in the Planning notification process, not everyone has the internet and the postal service does their best.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />The way we understand these cases are supposed to go down is that the cellular provider applying for the tower location is asked to provide alternate locations for the tower in question. But when we tried to find out what the alts for this case are,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> we still don't know.<br /><br />P-7-08, as the Route 5 case is called has been deferred at least 6 times if not 8. We lose track because there is sometimes a weeks long lag before information from some meetings is released. This should change sometime in February when Henrico Supervisory and Planning Commission meetings are scheduled to be available as live-streaming video up here on the world wide web.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Apparently the case report for P-7-08 originally asked that the County be notified of other sites the company has considered to place the tower. These were presumably offered up, but are (for some reason) not included in the report. This is the kind of detail that residents look for. Where else could this go? County staff is reported to have mentioned something to the effect that once that information had been given to the County, they were (automatically!?) satisfied. But there is no mention of alternative locations from the reports we found. After this long that should be known by all involved. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Somehow this doesn't sound very much like Open Government...</span> </div></div></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The cellular company representatives were reported to have been asked by opposing residents for a list of alternate sites at the various meetings. Eventually, during one of their presentations, they apparently put up a list of names of a few surrounding property owners in the vicinity they said they'd contacted, but that's it. </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4MHWLReWGgH5f3IX1kUvubwWAixh_Vhz8UmYgyO0_RndCFvdbNf1xIZ5qYmS0a9Rm6yYCGuv6gfOnRTud_WrParMthGr8z7Ze3TKJZNwjo3zQxQryt5IiMFw-YqGCYXcTnJYaqFVTkQ/s1600-h/Route+5+and+Midview+Road.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4MHWLReWGgH5f3IX1kUvubwWAixh_Vhz8UmYgyO0_RndCFvdbNf1xIZ5qYmS0a9Rm6yYCGuv6gfOnRTud_WrParMthGr8z7Ze3TKJZNwjo3zQxQryt5IiMFw-YqGCYXcTnJYaqFVTkQ/s400/Route+5+and+Midview+Road.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291462148613566786" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"And that's the extent to which anyone in the county verifies any of that?" a longtime resident asks, "Does this seem fair?"</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />More from the residential base: "The erratic thought process behind supporting the need for towers is and has been clear. Also the idea that splatter painting them will make it look like a cloud- like they'll become invisible... ridiculous."</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The cellular tower issue will appear in many more backyards, in Varina and across the Henrico, soon (happening already, actually). But it was somehow absent from the minds of all those attending the Henrico Theater Comp. Plan meeting last September 15th in Varina. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><br /><br />The whole communications tower subject needs feedback at the upcoming Planning and Supervisory hearings on the 2026 Comprehensive Plan.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Back in the area surrounding the historic roadway we heard "We're all going to die unless this tower passes, since [they say] we need it for 911 calls...that's the recurrent theme now... No info, strangely, on actual numbers of dropped 911 calls in the neighborhood, or elsewhere..." one resident related.<br /><br />Sarcasm is an obvious side effect of their dismay: "Plus, "it's invisible"" - "we won't know it's there", and</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> "the tower will blend (completely) into the landscape</span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >," some say they have been told again and again.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">Maybe we should request some </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);" href="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/08/tower/source/2.htm">blimps</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">? Or a </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);" href="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/08/tower/source/4.htm">water tower</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">?</span><br />...the bottom line is, we think this is all wrong for 5.</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">People could talk about this for hours, it's all gone on so long now, but nobody wants to be named:</span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > "Do you really believe that reasoned arguments, supported with real data, work with anyone at the planning or supervisory level? Based on examination of archived minutes and personal experiences watching cellular cases, and sitting through a few meetings, I haven't found that they do."</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Another Henrico cellular tower case called </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >P-16-08</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> ended oddly </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">last Fall</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, after an unknown number of deferrals. The case was in the Chamberlayne Farms area of the Fairfield District.<br /><br />An area resident asked if they could speak for a minute after the cellular representatives had made their final presentation. The wish was granted, which is pretty magical, because usually residents are told upfront that there is no "rebuttal" allowed. Henrico residents can tell you:<br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Fighting for your neighborhood "rights" usually goes this way:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Opposing residents speak 1st- the applicants speak 2nd, the end."<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >(But how can they allow one requested rebuttal and not all?)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Following the company rep's final word the resident (rumored to be a member of the press- unless the name is a coincidence) is said to have asked Officials if cell towers were 'Utilities' (like the power company) or if they were service providers (like 'Pizza Place'). The resident learned the answer was "service provider". Next question for those in charge was if a cell tower was a "by rights development". We understand the answer was "no". Decision was deferred for the time being.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />That tower was proposed to go into the vacant corner of a strip mall fronted by a large oddly shaped parking lot, in a residential area where houses faced the location from across a street in between.</span> </div></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />At the next meeting when neighbors returned to hear the outcome, Supervisor</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Thornton was given the floor, and after saying something about the area being a residential neighborhood, he went on to say something like: "inappropriate at this time".<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The case was </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >P-16-08. The tower was denied.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />While attempting to understand the logic behind that denial, we could never quite get to the bottom of it.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reasoning of the BOS shoot-down of the Chamberlayne Farms case remains unclear, based on Mr. Thornton's vague response...but we ask<br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> </span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >if it's "inappropriate at this time" to place a cellular tower<br />in a shopping center, in a well developed<br />Fairfield neighborhood,<br /><br />then why is is any more appropriate to place a tower<br />in clear view of Route 5, which Henrico<br />recognizes as a "Scenic Corridor"?<br /></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In a desire for understanding of how this got this far, we put out the word, people dug for facts, and learned enough to share this information about the 'Midview' case with you.</span> </div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />A Henrico County staff report concerning the Route 5 case can be found here</span> <a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2008/nov08/p-7-08.pdf" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2008/nov08/p-7-08.pdf<br /><br /></a> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's pretty long, but it's listed to give disclosure to the best extent possible. We understand that while the Midview area tower near Route 5 was originally supposed to be disguised to look like a 130+ foot pine tree, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">P-7-08's proposal</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> has now been changed to look like a 'stealth pole' (a giant pole painted to look like the sky around it.)<br /><br /></span> </div> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You can read the whole thing, but here are some of the facts printed in November:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">• </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >This request is not consistent with a County preference for locating towers in areas not zoned, planned or utilized for residential purposes. In addition, the proposed location would have significant visual impacts on residential dwellings and the Route 5 corridor, which is designated as a Scenic Corridor in the 2010 Comprehensive Plan.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">•</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Based on the information provided by the applicant, the proposed 134' high communications tower would negatively impact adjacent residents as well as the scenic value of the Route 5 corridor. Staff recommends denial of this request.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">•</span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >While recognizing the need for wireless services in growing areas, the proposed height and close proximity to existing and planned residential development could impact surrounding uses.</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">•</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >The tower would also be visible along New Market Road (State Route 5). This road is noted as a Scenic Corridor in the 2010 Land Use Plan, and the tower would be located approximately 1,200 feet from the roadway. The County's Siting Policy for towers (Siting Policy "i") states that no tower shall be located within 1,400 feet of Route 5 unless an acceptable stealth tower design is utilized. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">•</span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Siting Policy a: Towers in areas zoned or planned for residential uses are strongly discouraged.</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">•</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Siting Policy i: No tower shall be located within 1,400 feet of Route 5 unless an acceptable stealth tower design is utilized.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">• </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Based on GIS, Waters of the U.S. and/or hydric soils are present (indicating possible wetlands) Corps of Engineers and DEQ permits may be required.<br /><br /></span></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">•</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Topography and Land Characteristics Adaptability: Information submitted by the applicant indicates the presence of Resource Protection Area on the property, impacting the area available for the placement of the proposed t</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >ower.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">*</span> * <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">*</span> * <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">*</span> * <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">*</span> * <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">*</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >If Comprehensive Planning suggests parts of our county are protected, but these suggestions aren't used, then what are the guidelines for?</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Write in and tell us your thoughts.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And again people, this is not a newspaper. We don't sell ads,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">we blog about things that concern us that might be of interest</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">to the people who follow this site.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">"Public" information isn't always easy to find.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">If you know something </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">we missed </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">let us know.</span><br /><br /></span></span></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-20299657464190331322008-12-18T15:59:00.014-05:002008-12-18T18:24:20.688-05:00Local News: The sent in, the scraped up & the repackaged for holiday gifting..<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXwcPnpDoatZZxKfgfRttgJWjd1R4dWg9S3e80bzFQy1_SWWUHc2lNnqYpEGxI1ISMMyh46o7ld4wkd5RVjBBj3vpr_QDgUw4LBsD2yahk7rpGQbMJjQg5x74oFrcyIsik-p8zj7lB7w/s1600-h/localfodder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXwcPnpDoatZZxKfgfRttgJWjd1R4dWg9S3e80bzFQy1_SWWUHc2lNnqYpEGxI1ISMMyh46o7ld4wkd5RVjBBj3vpr_QDgUw4LBsD2yahk7rpGQbMJjQg5x74oFrcyIsik-p8zj7lB7w/s400/localfodder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281238039071127602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > While local television and print media anchors and reporters keep receiving the unfortunate news of 'no-gigness' as poorly timed holiday surprises, you can still count on us </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >at </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">HV</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > for all the news that's fit to print, <span style="font-style: italic;">and more.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-weight: bold;">We'll try not to focus on all of the violent crime and craziness that looks to be leading the season, but </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-weight: bold;">Gol-Dang!!</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-weight: bold;"> There's a lot going on around these parts!</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">*</span><span style="font-size:180%;">*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">..................</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">..................</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">..................</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">..................</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Petition for Preservation of Historic Resources in Henrico Makes the Rounds</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />From </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://nearwestendnews.net/2008/12/15/petition-for-preservation-of-historic-resources-in-henrico-makes-the-rounds/">"The Near West End News"</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> via HV reader "Amy"</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Posted by Jonah_H at 6:34AM under RVANews-news</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"We are passing along this petition from a NWEN reader in Henrico. Check it out, I know I’ll be signing: You may know, Henrico Co.s 2026 Comprehensive Land Use Plan is in its final draft stages. In over 3 yrs, they have received input from only 365 individuals. That’s less than .12% of nearly 300,000 residents. This is an outreach failure on their part. Instead of revitalizing existing urban areas in need of repair/activity, Henrico Admin encourages developing currently vacant areas, and at cost to the taxpayer. They aren’t effectively assessing increased traffic into the city from the east end. Nor is there consideration for impact on farming, natural and historic resources. From a 1976</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> county publication listing the county’s historic resources, over 88% have been destroyed. This petition, with Historic Preservation as the platform, requests an extension to adoption of the plan pending further public involvement. They are still taking public comments."</span><br /></div><a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/henricohistory/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/henricohistory/</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >An HV Reader sent in this <span style="font-style: italic;">historic hot tip</span>. Thanks Amy! We see an HV Green Leader Award under someone's tree this year!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Richmond Ranks Low Among Historic Travel Destinations</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />From </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/historic-destinations-rated/north-america-text/30">"National Geographic"</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> thanks to Mister Edwin Slipek, Jr. of </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=EB6870EF592540EFA31153BCE309B90D">Style Weekly</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />"Virginia: Richmond historic area</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Score: 61"</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Richmond has great resources but has done a terrible job of protecting them. Downtown is depressed and unsafe. The battlefields are surrounded by subdivisions. Historic demolitions have destroyed much of the city's unique character. In terms of its historic offerings and their upkeep, Richmond is a jewel, although it doesn't score high on the tourist circuit. The city is doing a fair job of coordinating the various 'islands' of attraction—downtown, Fan District, Shockoe Slip, Church Hill, etc.—but needs to package the whole thing better. The outlook is good, however, since its location and access rate are high. The riverfront revitalization is engaging and offers good services."</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cuts in GRTC bus routes on table tonight</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />From the <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/local_govtpolitics/article/GRTC18GAT_20081118-060803/117259/">"Richmond Times-Dispatch"</a></span><span id="article_font" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Published: December 18, 2008</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"People will have one more chance tonight to talk about proposed changes in GRTC bus routes. The informal town meeting will be the third and last community forum conducted by GRTC Transit System on a proposal to eliminate up to nine bus routes in the Richmond area. The meeting is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Richmond City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall at 900 E. Broad St.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">John M. Lewis, chief executive officer of the transit system, will lead the discussion with an explanation of the comprehensive analysis that GRTC completed this year of its operations. The review, combined with high fuel prices and budget limitations, prompted GRTC to propose the elimination of nine underused routes. The route are: #11-Laurel/17th Street; #13-Main Street/Church Hill; #16 Westhampton; the Lunchtime Express; #20-North Side; #22-Hermitage; #61-Broad Rock Shuttle; #67-Chippenham Express; #65-Stony Point Fashion Park/VCU/Wal-Mart Express."</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Richmond slave jail’s foundation found</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />From the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/SLAV18_20081217-212925/155991/">"Richmond Times-Dispatch"</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />by Melodie N. Martin<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Hidden for more than a century, the courtyard of round, gray stones and other remnants of Lumpkin's Slave Jail lay exposed yesterday in the corner of a Shockoe Bottom parking lot. Archaeologists have spent the past four months digging 8 to 15 feet down to uncover "an amazingly intact urban complex," which included brick foundation walls, said Matthew R. Laird, principal investigator with the James River Institute for Archaeology in Williamsburg. The dig recovered thousands of period artifacts, including ceramics, glassware, bottles, a shoe and animal bones."</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Longtime Richmond TV personalities laid off</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />From the <a href="http://www.starexponent.com/cse/news/local/article/longtime_richmond_tv_personalities_laid_off/26437/">"Star-Exponent"</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Three of the most familiar on-air faces at WWBT-Channel 12 have been laid off. Longtime sports director Ben Hamlin, anchor Gene Lepley, and Henrico and Hanover counties reporter Rob Richardson are among the seven employees from several departments whose jobs were eliminated Wednesday because of the economy." </span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Plan riles Philip Morris</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />From the <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/TOBA18_20081217-204716/155875/">"Richmond Times-Dispatch"<br /></a></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial;">"Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's proposal to double Virginia's cigarette tax is unfair, the nation's top tobacco company said yesterday, but public health groups called on state lawmakers to quadruple the tax to $1.20 per pack. "We think it is unfair to single out one industry to bear this tax burden," said Bill Phelps, a spokesman for Henrico County-based cigarette maker Philip Morris USA."</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ex-Va museum worker sentenced for artifacts thefts</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />From the <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VA_MUSEUM_THEFTS_VAOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">"Associated Press"</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) -- A former archivist who admitted stealing Titanic items and other artifacts from the Mariners' Museum will spend four years in a federal prison. Lester F. Weber had pleaded guilty in June to mail fraud, theft from the Newport News attraction and filing a false tax return. The 46-year-old Weber was sentenced Weds. in U.S. District Court in Newport News. Federal prosecutors say Weber and his wife, Lorie E. Childs, sold the stolen artifacts on eBay for $169,959 between 2002 and 2006. Childs was sentenced Wednesday to 15 months in prison for her role in the scheme."</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Own a Piece of Henrico History- Historic House for Sale</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />From <a href="http://listings.listhub.net/pages/CVRMLS/2831608/?channel=zillow">"Zillow.com"</a> via HV reader "Cuckoo"</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />"1st time on market in 20 years. All this & MORE on 2 PRIVATE acres in the West End WOW! OWNER FINANCING POSSIBLE!"</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Historic circa 1820 Henrico Home for Sale:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Penick House" 4815 Belle Glade Dr Richmond VA 23230</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,568 sq ft</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For Sale: $414,950</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >An HV Reader sent in this hot historic tip. So thanks go out to the <span style="font-style: italic;">little bird</span> that told us.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><br /><br />"Delivering Dung? Mailing Feces Is Legal, State Says"</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Straight from the source of all the best local poop </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=AC3CF7D17EC146B98E77A76E2714607A">"Style Weekly"</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />by Chris Dovi</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"“Sending poop … probably constitutes the transport of hazardous materials through the mail,” says Tom Lambert, a legal specialist for the agency. A fair assumption, but U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Cathy Boule offers this advice for committed gift givers, loaded with such holiday cheer that they just can’t hold it: “The bottom line is, yes [poop] can be mailed, but there are a lot of restrictions and guidelines that have to be followed,” Boule says. “We have strict guidelines.”"</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /><br />Henrico school officials to discuss laptop program, class sizes</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/education/article/HENRGAT18_20081218-062008/156545/">"Richmond Times-Dispatch"</a><br /></div><span id="article_font" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Published: December 18, 2008</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Henrico County school officials will discuss possibly reducing some class sizes at a work session this afternoon.Also at the afternoon session, board members will discuss the county's laptop initiative. Henrico is in the final year of a four-year contract with Dell Computers to supply laptops to high school students. It plans to post a request for proposals by the beginning of next year and have a contract to replace them by the end of this school year. The School Board also will have its regular meeting at 7 p.m."</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">[RT-D] "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Reader Reactions</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Posted by (<span style="font-weight: bold;"> dklee </span>) on December 18, 2008 at 1:12 pm"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"If they separated the west end from the east end, Henrico will have plenty of money to give every student 2 laptops. East end is a joke and an open wound for henrico. I say the west end should vote to form their own county."</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">*</span><span style="font-size:180%;">*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.......................</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.......................</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.......................</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The material above all came in from the links shown. Thanks again for the reader write-ins, they're always welcome!<br /><br />If you have an opinion concerning 'dklee''s take on the East End, please visit the Richmond Times-Dispatch link provided, and take it up with 'dklee' there.<br />Nuf said?<br /><br />Our sympathies go out to the gig-free, we're all working double shifts<br />with our fingers crossed.<br /><br />Keeping you informed gets tougher and tougher to fit in-<br />but we'll keep trying, County.<br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br />*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >*</span></span><br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-22494340209913908252008-12-11T07:25:00.001-05:002008-12-11T07:25:00.180-05:00Powhatan County's identity has a foot in the past<p style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="story_title"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">History brings big bucks in Va., but so does working as a consultant for billion-dollar-budget counties like Henrico. Tough to track scent in the cold- but the whiff of cash is aloft as some local leaders stand up to plan for the future of their past. Don't let it all blow away.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="story_title"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even with the economy south and in the wake of local press lay-offs, the </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Richmond Times-Dispatch </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">has <span style="font-style: italic;">again</span> revamped their online presence. "The paper" still manages to cover <span style="font-style: italic;">some</span> uber-local news through associated spin-off subpages- like <span style="font-style: italic;">Powhatan Today</span>. PT hit the target in Henrico yesterday by linking Powhatan's consultants to our county's current comprehensive plan.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="story_title"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="story_title"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >ch- ching ! ch- ching ! </span></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOlvkfCv4jYN1Tt8gcQYfy26m9PSbhFNCNtv6lK_e0wyOVDJLf5A-80cKKsEXHAeL5QagyLmM5cNFwWWnkFr9RGbKf7JdbipVohoBY3hMdtwEseLuw8tBNFgkABRnFaibhVagcKAFOYQ/s1600-h/ch-ching.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOlvkfCv4jYN1Tt8gcQYfy26m9PSbhFNCNtv6lK_e0wyOVDJLf5A-80cKKsEXHAeL5QagyLmM5cNFwWWnkFr9RGbKf7JdbipVohoBY3hMdtwEseLuw8tBNFgkABRnFaibhVagcKAFOYQ/s400/ch-ching.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278388203643961986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">M D-C</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"> follows the money </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">to Powhatan</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">County</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >psst! history pays, Mr. Dale</span><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="story_title"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">McBride Dale-Clarion, yep- the same Ohio consulting firm working on Henrico's current Comprehensive Plan has tripped a little west to Powhatan, to ask big questions, like<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="story_title"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >How important a consideration is </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="story_summary" >“the effort to maintain and restore historic sites?”</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Related <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Powhatan Today</span> coverage hit the T-D's front page with this headlining statement:</span><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" class="story_title"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><br />"County leaders: historic preservation must be part of new comprehensive plan"</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" class="story_title"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>By Michael Copley<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" class="story_title"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>(Powhatan Today) Staff writer<br /> <span class="story_summary">Dec 10, 2008 </span></p> <span class="story_summary"><p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">"Consultants Greg Dale and Roger Walden of McBride Dale Clarion, met with the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission last Thursday to discuss the visions, goals, and objectives of the new comprehensive plan for the county. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">The county has hired McBride Dale Clarion to help in drafting the new document. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">As stated in the report given to county representatives, the goal of the new comprehensive plan is to ensure Powhatan is a place where “You can see the stars at night, be in touch with the land, and yet be able to work, live, play, shop, and learn without having to leave the county.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Specific ways of developing, with a mind for keeping Powhatan rural yet prosperous, were debated Thursday evening. At least one aspect of the new plan drew a strong reaction from the Board and Planning Commission members. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Dale asked the group how important a consideration was “the effort to maintain and restore historic sites.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">There was what appeared to be stunned silence in the library conference room. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">“[The history] is part of what makes us what we are,” </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.powhatantoday.com/index.php/news/article/carson-tucker-to-speak-at-st-james-chapel-about-early-huguenots-in-powhatan/9469/">Carson Tucker</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> said plainly.</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">It was clear at that moment, that for all the debatable issues and opinions, the people elected to serve Powhatan County are passionate and clear on the issues that matter most to them."</p><p style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.powhatantoday.com/index.php/news/article/county-leaders-historic-preservation-must-be-part-of-new-comprehensive-plan/">get your <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Powhatan Today</span> coverage here</a><br /></p><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="story_summary"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So was Dale asking a trick question? Only time will tell in Powhatan. One thing's for certain, he sure has changed his tune since he countered Varina resident's overwhelming call for developmental rights programs (TDR and PDR to preserve farmland) in September by hissing: </span></span><a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/09/henrico-hears-varina-but-will-county.html"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span>"Do you really want to raise taxes?"</span></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> or perhaps Copley's only hit the tip of the ice-berg.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wonder how MD-C scored the Powhatan gig? Maybe their wives came down to visit from Cincinnati.. maybe they all went out looking for "the country" on a Sunday drive and <span style="font-weight: bold;">couldn't find any out near Glen Allen</span>. Or perhaps they want their business to <span style="font-style: italic;">sprawl</span> all over Central Virginia?</span><br /><span class="story_summary"><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span><span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Let's see now... looking around- Chesterfield County preservation planning has won awards. That county was tapped by none other than 1st Lady Laura Bush for inclusion in the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.preserveamerica.gov/PAcommunity-chesterfieldCntVA.html">Preserve America</a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">program, making Chesterfield eligible for million$ in grant$ and other preservation funding. Yes- million$.</span></span></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span><span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> So where do we stand around here?</span> </span></span></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Listening to the clock tick...<br /><br /><a href="http://64.233.169.132/search?q=cache:zEBo_VzQuqcJ:www.powhatanva.gov/vertical/Sites/%257B12C8808F-C3AA-4B38-AACE-82C7ED6CDACF%257D/uploads/%257B3C31EB01-D7AD-4B1F-ABD8-5410665BAA33%257D.PDF+mcbride+dale+clarion+preservation&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us">pulling down the zipper on powhatan planning</a><br /></span></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-59430434157340392122008-11-30T19:01:00.006-05:002008-11-30T20:51:51.624-05:00Local Press exposes Henrico planning shortcomings<div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Supervisors agree now is not the time to help farmers and other land owners protect their land from future development.</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;">What?</span> Isn't the 2026 Plan supposed to guide land use for the next 18 years? So much for looking ahead.</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-size:180%;" >* * * * * * *</span></span></div></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This post covers the latest actions of Henrico Supervisors as reported by The Henrico Citizen and a nice Style Weekly track-back to a big Comp Planning issue: </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >“The law says people have a right to develop their property,” by asking 'but does the law say people don't have the right to choose not to develop their property?'</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Take a moment here to think about your children or grand-children's future, when there may be no sources for locally grown produce. In a future when there may be no natural forests, or large open tracts of land to filter the pollution that's a known byproduct of sprawl.. which can happen because <span style="font-style: italic;">now is not the time to plan for the future</span>?</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-size:180%;" >* * * * * * *</span> </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Henrico Citizen" started the holiday giving season early- with real in-depth coverage of the latest county Comprehensive Plan happenings. Finally. Local press goes where our state's number one newspaper won't.</span> </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">H </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.......</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">U</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.......</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">R</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.......</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">R</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.......</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">A</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.......</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Y</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.......</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">!</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">..</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8PIKfXhZDxcE6cCmqosnMjDO1UzdYo9FMGpT16CUGq6w6yEW1eS8sMY-BGKr5RNoVNPzJP3F1qX05z9u2eEyAD1XB0mPJjivsBGtzvqqJp4myvDQwdJ6Ipgpq1Mek15vtd-kWEs_VYQ/s1600-h/Henrico-Citizen_sheds_light.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8PIKfXhZDxcE6cCmqosnMjDO1UzdYo9FMGpT16CUGq6w6yEW1eS8sMY-BGKr5RNoVNPzJP3F1qX05z9u2eEyAD1XB0mPJjivsBGtzvqqJp4myvDQwdJ6Ipgpq1Mek15vtd-kWEs_VYQ/s400/Henrico-Citizen_sheds_light.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274495274084371746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You can read the whole Henrico Citizen article </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.henricocitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1397&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1910&hn=henricocitizen&he=.com">Officials Review Draft of 2026 Plan</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> yourself, </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">but in this here post, we'll </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tal1.htm">talk turkey</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> about the meat of the Citizen's coverage... with that fine periodical's work in green, followed by our crew's responses.</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-size:180%;" >* * * * * * *</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Citizen</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> "Henrico planners have been working for more than three years to craft a draft version of the document, which represents the county’s vision for future land use, road systems, parks and open space. The existing Comprehensive Plan was last updated in its entirety in 1995; the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors use the plan as a guide when voting on land use issues."</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HV:</span> Three years is an awful long time, considering what still needs to be done...And the county continues to call the Comp Plan a "guide". The official "Comprehensive Plan FAQ" states the plan cannot re-zone your land, but HV posts have pointed out that the Plan will change the accepted use for your land raise your taxes.<br /><br />Local case studies show that this is not usually something that can be changed. Read about higher taxes and land use designations <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/05/read-about-henrico-countys-future.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/02/varinas-future.html">here</a>, and earlier this month, <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/11/chesterfield-nixes-downzoning-back-to.html">here</a>.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Citizen:</span> "During a joint work session with the two bodies Nov. 12, Planning Director Joe Emerson said that officials had received 365 comments from the public during the process, with about three-quarters relating either to the purchase or transfer of development rights (PDRs and TDRs) or the need for more bicycle and pedestrian facilities."</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">HV:</span> Good grief! 365 comments in three years? Something's wrong with this picture.<br /><br />If over 3/4 of those resident's comments ask for programs to preserve land, or bicycling and pedestrian plans, shouldn't officials respond with action?</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />If residents ask Henrico to make bicyclists and pedestrians safer, and the county refuses, what happens when people get hit by cars in areas that could have been adapted to provide residents a safer passage?<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citizen:</span> "Members of Envision Henrico, a citizens group that seeks to preserve county land and history, contend that the county hasn’t been proactive in its attempts to inform, educate and solicit feedback from citizens about the plan. They believe that hundreds more comments are necessary in order to gauge the public’s true opinions about the plan."</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HV:</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At least we aint alone in worrying about what's going on around here. Looks like these folks are still working hard to make the public aware. Keep it up!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citizen:</span> “[W]e believe that outreach to the community and public input has been inadequate given the potential impact on landowners, taxpayers, neighborhoods, history and environment of the county,” group officials wrote Nov. 10 to the Board of Supervisors and other county officials."</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HV:</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">No contest. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citizen:</span> "But Emerson told the two bodies Nov. 12 that county officials had undertaken “numerous efforts” to reach the public since 2005, including a citizens’ survey, an internet site devoted to the plan and proceedings, press releases and frequent updates on the county’s cable TV access channel, among others. Envision Henrico members point to one of the results of the survey that showed 71 percent of respondents were unfamiliar with the Comprehensive Plan as proof that Henrico has work to do."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">HV:</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Alright- here we go with the "numerous efforts" line. (This one causes a large amount of chatter over here).<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It don't matter what the county has done, if it aint working. Do more.<br />It obviously aint working.<br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Refer back to <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/10/henrico-county-willfully-neglecting.html">HV 10/27 post</a>, where the HV crew met to compare the 106k dollars spent on Henrico's "Zip Code Campaign" to the 2,300 dollars spent on advertising the Comp Plan in the last three years.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citizen:</span> "At last week’s work session, board members discussed the possibility of re-examining the PDR issue, which they considered in 2003 before rejecting. Though they advised staff members to prepare a report about existing programs, <span style="font-weight: bold;">supervisors agreed that the time to implement such a program in Henrico is not now</span>."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HV:</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Not now?</span> If the county is currently planning our future for the next two decades, then when are they planning to preserve land? In 2026, when there's nothing left to worry about preserving?<br /><br />Out of the suggestions Henrico received, the Citizen reports high numbers requested a PDR program is made available, and the Board just says no? What about those resident's rights, huh?<br /><br />How can Henrico reps keep hollering about "property rights" without providing these rights to the folks who own and live on the land and want to keep it undeveloped? This kind of planning will succeed in squeezing taxpaying landowning folks right on out of the picture.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citizen:</span> "Through PDR programs, localities permanently preserve undeveloped land (typically farmland) by buying the development rights from landowners, who otherwise might be inclined to sell to developers. Such programs exist in nearly 20 states and are considered popular because they provide a steady stream of income to the landowners (usually over a period of time) while allowing them to remain on their property and pass it down to family members."</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HV:</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What the venerable Citizen missed here, is that </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">no one is asking Henrico to buy their land. </span><span>Other</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"localities" could "permanently preserving undeveloped land" here, "by buying the development rights". So some other area that wants to build more where they are, could buy the rights of Henrico landowners who don't want their land developed.The real story:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Residents are asking for these programs to be made available. This means: residents are asking for these programs to be <span style="font-style: italic;">recognized by our county</span>. PDR and TDR programs are funded each year by the State of Virginia. There are also a whole bunch of different ways to do this. Many areas have come up with creative ways to support these programs, but those are areas where the officials listen to their constituents. Henrico residents are asking the county look into it, but our officials are saying no. Again.<br /><br />Between 2000 and 2003, petitions asking for PDR and TDR programs in Henrico were submitted to county officials. Documents with over 600 signatures from Henrico residents were given to Mrs. O'Bannon, the Tuckahoe District Supervisor. She and County Manager Hazelett met with petition sponsors, some of whom belonged to the local Sierra Club chapter. Residents from these groups attended many county meetings, sometimes making comments supporting the need for these programs- <span style="font-weight: bold;">until...</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">those residents were politely asked "not to come back", because county officials would not support these programs.</span><br /><br />Residents are still asking, and it looks like Henrico is still saying no.<br /><br />If you want to learn more about how these programs work, <a href="http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/">VDACS- The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services <span style="font-style: italic;">has the answers</span>.</a><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citizen:</span> "But Henrico would need to develop a funding source in order to implement such a program, and the tight economy means that would be difficult.“Realistically, you don’t have a source of funds probably for the next two to three years,” County Manager Virgil Hazelett told the board and commission."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HV:</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Again,the State of Virginia provides funding each year, <span style="font-style: italic;">and even if</span> all realistic funding sources were 2-3 years out, or even an unrealistic decade- <span style="font-weight: bold;">these programs should remain a possibility for Henrico landowners</span>. PDR/TDR programs are legal and popular in Virginia, and are a right that should not be removed from county residents. If the Comp Plan goes through without including this, it will not be a possibility in 2-3 years.<br /><br />Does anyone really think this will</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > be remedied by retroactive amendments to the comprehensive plan on a case-by-case basis? </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Better ask Santa now. Start writing.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citizen:</span> "Some landowners in the county have taken creative approaches to preserving land. Tuckahoe District Supervisor Pat O’Bannon cited two examples of residents of her district who voluntarily zoned portions of their property as conservation districts, which reduced the value of the land and, consequently, their taxes."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HV:</span> Mmmm, "creative approaches". What Mrs. O'Bannon is still completely missing is that new "Land Use Designations" proposed in the Land Use Plan Map now in draft, <span style="font-weight: bold;">will remove resident's rights to apply for and get conservation easements</span>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Maybe Mrs. O'Bannon didn't read Style Weekly's coverage of this topic, </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=9B6FFC446FF7486981EA3C0C3CCE4943&nm=Articles%2FNews&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=A6027907447F490AA0EDD95765C50FFA">"Where the Grass is Greener"</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, that included:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Style Weekly- July 16th, 2008:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >"</span>"Jernigan is equally pragmatic: “The law says people have a right to develop their property.” Of course, the law limits that right through zoning and permitting and land-use plans. And when asked about the limits Henrico’s proposed plan would put on property owners’ right to get conservation easements, Jernigan voices surprise. “So if it shows SR1 [suburban residential 1], you can’t put it in conservation?” he asks. “I’ve never heard that. I’d like to find out about that.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Donati, a self-proclaimed “property-rights guy,” suggests that the problem can be remedied by retroactive amendments to the comprehensive plan on a case-by-case basis. He cites examples of exemptions the Board of Supervisors passed to allow high-density development in parts of Henrico where it conflicted with the comprehensive plan.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Such a gesture of support from the county would satisfy the law, Reed and Wilson agree. And some counties have amended comprehensive plans to accommodate easements, though it’s a lengthy process requiring two public hearings. Neither Henrico or Chesterfield has ever made such an exception for an easement."<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >"</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">HV:</span> For more on this, read </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=9B6FFC446FF7486981EA3C0C3CCE4943&nm=Articles%2FNews&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=A6027907447F490AA0EDD95765C50FFA">"Where the Grass is Greener"</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> from Style Weekly, or HV's post: </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/07/summer-blockbuster-turf-war-depicted-in.html">"Turf War depicted in Style"</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citizen:</span> "Henrico County itself owns 7,845 acres of land in the county – about 55 percent of which is vacant or being used for recreation or parks, Emerson said. In addition, the National Park Service and Civil War Preservation Trust own more than 1,000 acres in Henrico, all of which are preserved as open space."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HV:</span> Who is "Henrico County, itself"? Isn't that <span style="font-weight: bold;">us</span>, the taxpayers? Didn't our tax dollars buy that land too? But we can't decide what will happen to County land <span style="font-weight: bold;">or</span> the land we own privately? This could be read to mean the county is not preserving open space, but the two groups above are.<br /><br />How many readers are sick of the term "vacant land"? Farmland and forests are not vacant, and do not cause Henrico residents taxes to rise. What does cause tax hikes is when county officials decide it is necessary to extend water, sewer and other infrastructure into "vacant" areas. That will raise all of our taxes.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citizen:</span> "Emerson told the board and commission that the draft plan has addressed a number of issues relating to pedestrians and bicyclists, such as encouraging sidewalks and bicycle paths with new development. But he said the board could add to the 2026 plan a countywide bicycle plan to encourage the construction of bicycle lanes on county roads, either with all new roads only or with renovation projects as well."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HV:</span> Didn't the article say cycling and pedestrian paths are one of the top two requested items sent in by residents? The Board </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"could</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">" add a bicycle plan? <span style="font-style: italic;">What about "will?"</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Citizen:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> "Planning officials will revise the plan and present it to the Planning Commission during a 6 pm work session Dec. 11 at the Glen Echo Building at the county’s Eastern Government Center.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">They </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/tentative">tentatively</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> hope to hold one or several public hearings in January prior to the eventual consideration of the plan by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, which holds ultimate decision-making authority."</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >For details or to read the Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan, visit </span><a style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan.htm">www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan.htm</a>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-32417666810930222592008-11-18T13:09:00.005-05:002008-11-30T22:07:58.085-05:00WTVR6 to cover Vanishing Virginia- tonight and tomorrow<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Local Richmond Channel 6 will cover</span> "Virginia Vanishing" on November 18th and 19th. </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Tuesday night at 5:30 and 11 PM, and Wednesday at 5:30, <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">the series Morning Anchor Greg McQuade has spent</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > several months on will show the effects development and sprawl are creating on our state.<br /><br /></span><span id="plV3149942" clipid="3149942" headline="Virginia Vanishing Part 1" videotype="V" adtag="News" launchpageadtag="Search Results" duration="377067"><a href="http://www.wtvr.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3149942&h1=Virginia%20Vanishing%20Part%201&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=377067&LaunchPageAdTag=Search%20Results&activePane=info&rnd=40809030"><img src="http://wtvr.images.worldnow.com/images/static/video/gfx/icon_video.gif" border="0" height="17" hspace="2" width="18" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.wtvr.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3149942&h1=Virginia%20Vanishing%20Part%201&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=377067&LaunchPageAdTag=Search%20Results&activePane=info&rnd=40809030">Virginia Vanishing Part 1</a><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.wtvr.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3151197&h1=Virginia%20Vanishing%20Part%202&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=293067&LaunchPageAdTag=Search%20Results&activePane=info&rnd=66894616"><span id="plV3149942" clipid="3149942" headline="Virginia Vanishing Part 1" videotype="V" adtag="News" launchpageadtag="Search Results" duration="377067"><img src="http://wtvr.images.worldnow.com/images/static/video/gfx/icon_video.gif" border="0" height="17" hspace="2" width="18" /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Virginia Vanishing Part 2</span></span></span></span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">In related news, 390 Acres in Henrico County began the path toward their ultimate preservation.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />This would not have happened without the hard work and dedication of our Governor, Tim Kaine, </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, and state Sen. Ed Houck, D-Spotsylvania</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >- we appreciate </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >James Lighthizer and</span> <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><a href="http://www.civilwar.org/landpreservation.htm">CWPT</a>'s support.</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > Thank you gentlemen!</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Standing as further evidence that rarely except through State, Federal, and private actions, are historic places and open land in Henrico spared development.</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > </span></div><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/112008/11182008/425800/index_html?page=1">BATTLEFIELDS GET HELP</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Virginia awards grants to protect 15 Civil War battlefields, including Chancellorsville and Brandy Station"</span><br />Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star By CLINT SCHEMMER<br /><br />"Virginia stepped forward yesterday to help save portions of 15 Civil War battlefields from encroaching development. <p style="text-align: justify;">The commonwealth will provide up to $5.2 million to front-line private groups defending Civil War battlefields--including Chancellorsville and Brandy Station. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Preservationists must come up with $10.4 million to get the 21 matching grants awarded by the state Department of Historic Resources.</span> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> The resulting total, $15.57 million, would be one of the largest sums earmarked for Virginia battlefield preservation in decades.</p><div style="text-align: justify;">"I am pleased that we are able to join with these private organizations to save important open spaces and cultural landscapes while we still have the opportunity," Gov. Tim Kaine said of the initiative yesterday.<br /><br />"Battlefield protection preserves Virginia's historic as well as its natural landscapes. It is an integral part of my administration's goal to protect 400,000 acres of open spaces by 2010."<br /><br />Tapping the state's Civil War Historic Site Preservation Fund, established by the General Assembly in 2006, the department's grants will save 1,571 acres.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">The money comes not a moment too soon, as Virginia and conservationists race to preserve some of the nation's most threatened hallowed ground from urban and suburban growth.</span><br /><br />The grants will save key parcels by enabling private organizations to buy parcels or obtain easement rights on land that will stay in private ownership. Those deals will enlarge or join together previously protected battlefield tracts."<br /><br />"The 15 affected battlefields lie in the counties of Amelia, Appomattox, Culpeper, Frederick, Hanover, <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Henrico</span>, Louisa, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Spotsylvania.<br /><br />The sites' military histories are varied, including significant Union and Confederate victories as well as the scenes of horse-mounted battles, such as Brandy Station in Culpeper County--where the largest cavalry fight in North American history was waged.<br /><br />"These purchases will allow us to secure places with the power to connect us and future generations to the lessons of a defining period of our history," said Kathleen S. Kilpatrick, director of the Historic Resources Department."<br /></div><br />"The aid comes as groups across Virginia slate events for the Civil War's sesquicentennial, which begins in 2011." <a href="http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/112008/11182008/425800/index_html?page=1">read more</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The battlefields saved in Henrico are:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Glendale Battlefield, Henrico County-</b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> In June 1862, General Robert E. Lee's army attacked the Union line and surged eastward hoping to isolate half the opposing forces. However late in the day Federal reinforcements counterattacked and held the line. Lee's best opportunity to trap and destroy the Union army was lost. The Civil War Preservation Trust is purchasing four parcels totaling <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">87.5 acres</span> within the core area of the battlefield. One parcel includes a study area of the First Bottom battlefield, while another one connects to land at Richmond National Battlefield Park on Malvern Hill, resulting in nearly three miles of contiguous protected areas. All four parcels are adjacent to nearly 362 acres</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> of the battlefield already saved by the CWPT.</span><br /><br /><b style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Malvern Hill, Henrico County-</b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, this July 1, 1862 battle was the sixth and last of the Seven Days Battles of the Union's Peninsula Campaign. Gen. Robert E. Lee launched a series of disjointed assaults on the nearly impregnable Union position on Malvern Hill. The Confederates suffered more than 5,300 casualties without gaining ground. Despite his victory, Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan withdrew to entrench at Harrison's Landing on the James River, ending the Peninsula Campaign. The Civil War Preservation Trust's purchase of </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >178 acres</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> in the core and study area of the Malvern Hill and Glendale Battlefields will secure the site of a historic house and road, and the area where Confederate Gen. John B. Magruder supervised his troops while under fire. Due to significant development in the immediate vicinity of Malvern Hill, the area to be acquired is at high risk for single family, residential development. </span><br /><br /><b style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">First Deep Bottom Battlefield, Henrico County-</span> </b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This July 27–29, 1864 battle was part of the Siege of Petersburg. During the night of July 26 and 27, the Union Army II Corps and two divisions of Gen. Phil Sheridan's cavalry under the command of Maj. Gen. Winfield Hancock crossed to the north side of James River to threaten Richmond, diverting Confederate forces from the impending attack at Petersburg on July 30. Union forces abandoned efforts to turn the Confederate position at New Market Heights and Fussell's Mill after Confederates strongly reinforced their lines and counterattacked. During the night of July 29, the Federals re-crossed the river, leaving a garrison to hold the bridgehead at Deep Bottom. CWPT's purchase will preserve </span><b style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">125 acres</b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> entirely within the core area of the battle, specifically a historic farm that was the scene of the heaviest fighting, where total casualties surpassed 800. Because of extensive recent development in the area, this is the only sizeable portion of the July 28 battlefield that can feasibly be saved.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Click </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;" href="http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/112008/11182008/425800/index_html?page=1">here</a><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > to see the complete list of 15 Civil War battlefields receiving preservation grants announced Monday by the Virginia Department Historic Resources.</span>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-10020161666926754412008-11-18T08:15:00.000-05:002008-11-18T16:08:15.859-05:00Chesterfield Nixes "Downzoning" Back to Ag- Current Henrico Planning will raise taxes too<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Henrico states 2026 Comprehensive Plan changes won't "rezone" your land, but local news shows a different pattern altogether. Higher taxes could soon be coming your way, because planning in agricultural areas will have an effect on all districts.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/2026faq.htm">Henrico Comp Plan FAQ </a>asks and answers the question.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Will the Comprehensive Plan rezone my property?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">No. The Comprehensive Plan only recommends future land uses. Any changes in zoning would still require public hearings by the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors."</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4hgH-bWplrdJVmBi8H8hDCr7zQJAF2rm6jPKEtQUrQsnG9V4hwAxGfgzMdp7qIJjzvl-qbiBBmn_7KNHdpsGwJPqRwuST05MxBU_WXiTDIovf2_5bQmlr4c93wU2ZnkA4ENoiakpiiI/s1600-h/whose+will+we+stand+on.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4hgH-bWplrdJVmBi8H8hDCr7zQJAF2rm6jPKEtQUrQsnG9V4hwAxGfgzMdp7qIJjzvl-qbiBBmn_7KNHdpsGwJPqRwuST05MxBU_WXiTDIovf2_5bQmlr4c93wU2ZnkA4ENoiakpiiI/s400/whose+will+we+stand+on.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268239676214322130" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >But Chesterfield Observer coverage shows that a county's Comp Plan is much more than the <span style="font-weight: bold;">loose set of guidelines</span> Henrico has been selling ours as. </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Changes made to "Land-Use Designations" can raise landowners taxes and start a series of events that could actually create patterns for much more poorly planned future developments. </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Once new designations are adopted, many counties will not allow what they call "downzoning" back to agricultural use.<br /><br />If the FAQ tells us the Comp Plan won't change zoning, how could this be irreversible? Wouldn't it be the same in Henrico as shown in Chesterfield?<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >So WHY in this economy, with the the real estate and building markets at an all time low, would anyone want their land to hold a higher 'Land Use Designation"?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >So you could sell your land at rock-bottom prices?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Or be guaranteed to pay higher taxes?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This aint rocket-science folks.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >If you choose to sell your land in the future, the buyer could always apply to re-zone at that time. And in case you haven't noticed- our friendly Henrico Supervisors and Planning Commissioners are usually happy to help a developer.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Even though the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/2026faq.htm">Henrico County Comprehensive Planning FAQ</a><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > points out that Comp Planning </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >can't "rezone" your land, it actually can. Read how this has happened right next door in Chesterfield.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Chesterfield Observer</span><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2008/1112/home/002.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Story_Headline">"Branner Station faces uncertain future"</span></span></a><br />November 12, 2008<br /><strong><span class="Story_Byline">By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER </span></strong><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">"The owner of the 1,614-acre Branner Station site is now looking to sell the property. An agent for Thomas Company LLC, which owns the site, met last week with a potential buyer, but the company won't say who is interested or when a decision might be made. Acting on behalf of owner Nina Shoosmith, agent Sonny Currin declined to give details. </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> Asked if one option is to downzone the property back to agriculture as has been speculated, Currin said, "I don't have any comment on that." </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" > Properties zoned agriculture pay the lowest tax rate. If the property keeps its current residential zoning, real estate taxes will be far higher. </span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> The Chesterfield Planning Department is cool to any revision of the rezoning passed late last year when HHHunt committed to building an offsite road network estimated to be worth $130 million as part of its proposed Branner Station development. The zoning plan included a north-south road connecting to Chestertown Road and then Route 288 and an east-west road to Interstate 95. </p><p style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> "The staff would not support a rezoning back to agriculture <span style="font-style: italic;">because it wouldn't be consistent with the county's comprehensive plan</span>," said Planning Director Kirk Turner.</span> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Turner is also concerned about any plan to break up the parcel and sell it off into smaller developments because the county would likely get the same number of homes without the needed road improvements and land set aside for public facilities. Turner said that was his impression of what happened when the county allowed Greensprings development to split after Investor Management Group went bankrupt. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> The 1988 Greensprings rezoning called for 2,300 single-family homes on 1,300 acres north of the Swift Creek Reservoir. In 1995, the late Bernard Savage amended the rezoning for land along Woolridge Road which extends between Genito Road and Old Hundred Road and now includes the Edgewater community. While the amended rezoning did include some road improvements, the county lost right-of-way for the Powhite Parkway if it is ever extended. In 2002, Doug Sowers received approval for similar amendments for the other portion of Greensprings. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Late last month, HHHunt suspended its plans to buy the Thomas Company property and build Branner Station with 2,449 singlefamily homes, 1,331 condos and townhouses, 908 apartments, 300 assisted living units and 470,000 square feet of office and retail development over about 20 years. One of the premier builders in the Richmond metro, HHHunt has built Charter Colony (1,800 homes) in Chesterfield, Wyndham (2,600 homes) and Wellesley (800 homes) in western Henrico County and other planned communities. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> But when HHHunt requested an extension of its contract to purchase the land, the Thomas Company declined. With a housing slowdown and tightening credit, HHHunt Vice President/General Manager Dan Schmitt said the company couldn't move ahead at this time, but with a three-year investment so far, he hoped HHHunt could in the future. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Though Branner Station was rezoned on a controversial 2-1 board of supervisors' vote, a group of citizens continues to fight the development. The Bermuda Advocates for Responsible Development has focused on the road network outside the community that might displace 100 families where the eastwest road connector is planned to Interstate 95. The county's thoroughfare plan has the road going near Carver Middle School and Harrowgate Elementary School. HHHunt was doing engineering studies when it ceased work on the project."</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nice work Mr. Pearson!<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">So there you go. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Henrico is following the same pattern right now.</span><br /></p><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Property can be given a higher density "Land Use Designation", be bought, the economy bottoms out, no building goes on, and TAXES ARE HIGHER.<br /><br />Henrico's current "Land-Use Plan" draft will also remove residents right to place their land in "conservation easements" in many areas of the county.<br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />If the draft is adopted, you can't "go back". </span> <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Not if it's better for the environment,<br /><br />Not if it would create less sprawl... </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >not.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Because once the big machine gets rolling, there is no reverse.</span></span><br /><br /></div></div><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Write your </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/supervisors/">Supervisor</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> today, and tell them why </span><br /><br />"This is wrong for Henrico."</span></span><br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-10340758141072259902008-11-05T15:11:00.034-05:002008-11-05T17:24:26.837-05:00Varina District "Unofficial" 2008 Election Results by Precinct (..Henrico too)<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As a 'Special Feature' we're providing some links and images that will allow readers to check out the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2008/07261AFC-9ED3-410F-B07D-84D014AB2C6B/Unofficial/00_087_s.shtml">"unofficial" Henrico results</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> of the 2008 Presidential Election.<br /><br />Each Varina District Precinct's "unofficial results" are shown below. Just scroll down and click your precinct's image for a closer view.<br /></span><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our focus is on the Varina District, so if you live in Brookland, Fairfield, Three-Chopt or Tuckahoe, click the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2008/07261AFC-9ED3-410F-B07D-84D014AB2C6B/Unofficial/00_087_s.shtml">main link to results</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> to see your district's precinct results.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Henrico's Precincts:</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0eH10EzEduwItkPcdI_KgU-ZCl08CK4W-K9D-1kpxymWFdq4bRWNjXDWnrDo37fT8ieR2WBAny9GC7j-mGdOTa4cSnbJGTOQ444W_bQ772n4XWzXVDQLPtIpCxa41So6h4_9lAVEpzg/s1600-h/HenricoPrecinctMap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0eH10EzEduwItkPcdI_KgU-ZCl08CK4W-K9D-1kpxymWFdq4bRWNjXDWnrDo37fT8ieR2WBAny9GC7j-mGdOTa4cSnbJGTOQ444W_bQ772n4XWzXVDQLPtIpCxa41So6h4_9lAVEpzg/s400/HenricoPrecinctMap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265298323288206194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A helpfully </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/registrar/cpmaps07.htm">interactive verison of the map above</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> is available via the Henrico Registrar's Office, if you want to check out your own precinct all close-up and personal, and learn your own boundaries.<br /><br />The Registrar's version allows users to mouse-over each precinct to see its name, and each one can be clicked to bring up an expanded close-up in a separate window. This is of use to residents from all 5 Henrico Districts who want to see themselves on the county map, and understand their surroundings.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />As of November 5th, 2008 the following "unofficial results" were given for each of the Varina District, Henrico County,Virginia Precincts:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu1i5XwLqN8rVIWIP1TGzo3szZz3VM3LVKguDUTedAq0Lm_nXFZyLozrtPnkztlrVy_JnDXnzIUNsQ1hcrsKIp3JXnl6tEoERn1av9HtJi38K9lvPN8go8UVjF9pB42WqUn4EhPpB8MI/s1600-h/501Antioch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu1i5XwLqN8rVIWIP1TGzo3szZz3VM3LVKguDUTedAq0Lm_nXFZyLozrtPnkztlrVy_JnDXnzIUNsQ1hcrsKIp3JXnl6tEoERn1av9HtJi38K9lvPN8go8UVjF9pB42WqUn4EhPpB8MI/s400/501Antioch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265288905157531730" border="0" /></a>501 Antioch (click to view larger)</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A1ADyXmEhBsJ89EScyxU7w_UzTv5QgmXDbK5BB_bp0oWl6EH_dPnZY06h4J9yWHjlsfeTZjkZzCAnxE0KfuFYprjaXQCtz98HixFT3ZX0RtGInsJNWf4RvjZFMuklYI2jGNpLDcyqu4/s1600-h/502CedarFork.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A1ADyXmEhBsJ89EScyxU7w_UzTv5QgmXDbK5BB_bp0oWl6EH_dPnZY06h4J9yWHjlsfeTZjkZzCAnxE0KfuFYprjaXQCtz98HixFT3ZX0RtGInsJNWf4RvjZFMuklYI2jGNpLDcyqu4/s400/502CedarFork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265289268002331506" border="0" /></a>502 Cedar Fork <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymYkMfnl7HEo0NIPYkpmOckjJ7AkejHaLE1Ze6Vtcant3awGyeVZ8x0N3EJe6osS1SAUpuq_bTHFBh8ffLEyOdrsNLc3ugD2pAJggyxd9hK1eNSGNFlDuEPB5-oG0ltFDedQxWhus2Kw/s1600-h/503Chickahominy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymYkMfnl7HEo0NIPYkpmOckjJ7AkejHaLE1Ze6Vtcant3awGyeVZ8x0N3EJe6osS1SAUpuq_bTHFBh8ffLEyOdrsNLc3ugD2pAJggyxd9hK1eNSGNFlDuEPB5-oG0ltFDedQxWhus2Kw/s400/503Chickahominy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265289374753633410" border="0" /></a>503 Chickahominy <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WQ75YrWOqnDVX5EHRpD0Presf1WTctgX-vLXgQDWY75xBSlndNMSe16xFQeNr2n_II8eE9yoCMtCwxhkFsFPYupAV6d4HEx0TnPIuPYKHlDW7nKCm6pQQ5W2c8OXtB098fuGzDQpMJU/s1600-h/504Donahoe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WQ75YrWOqnDVX5EHRpD0Presf1WTctgX-vLXgQDWY75xBSlndNMSe16xFQeNr2n_II8eE9yoCMtCwxhkFsFPYupAV6d4HEx0TnPIuPYKHlDW7nKCm6pQQ5W2c8OXtB098fuGzDQpMJU/s400/504Donahoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265290142453121730" border="0" /></a>504 Donahue <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdBHUrBAzjIkXKUQ0-h6GoMQAyCosA-qAYoMRdokd1OnNULllhi6x5RT5tUUQ4oFFnQD5oPQwRkXeKAlVvm68bptx__uGjzgWNa5i9Rln867q6AKAQbPSI0ATuXmAWqIi_MKfcM_chhw/s1600-h/505DoreyPark.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdBHUrBAzjIkXKUQ0-h6GoMQAyCosA-qAYoMRdokd1OnNULllhi6x5RT5tUUQ4oFFnQD5oPQwRkXeKAlVvm68bptx__uGjzgWNa5i9Rln867q6AKAQbPSI0ATuXmAWqIi_MKfcM_chhw/s400/505DoreyPark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265290330692453010" border="0" /></a>505 Dorey Park <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuospK-sNXqgTgeOASbFKWHQvD4PYj0y-Lqjh-R2nsjBR9dM_zOxiqtKb7Bwak9ud1C8fNKwlpWzYEgLWb89z8BOJskexu0yK_77D0G6Pl3Cd1sLsrBdPz9JgFEDoD1-nZ-e9U59gxYs/s1600-h/506Eanes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuospK-sNXqgTgeOASbFKWHQvD4PYj0y-Lqjh-R2nsjBR9dM_zOxiqtKb7Bwak9ud1C8fNKwlpWzYEgLWb89z8BOJskexu0yK_77D0G6Pl3Cd1sLsrBdPz9JgFEDoD1-nZ-e9U59gxYs/s400/506Eanes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265290466620857570" border="0" /></a>506 Eanes <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSVlo8keZYiXsaiCJ4azLR5djqSgwf9LfvghYGelXveRxN37h0DVHeXyJ-6y7EvZ_lllMhXqMO7VYtDjevjxxd9K7cN0lMw8X94IcnrrT4BnaNzaHtR6M3YeXxoc1KQMyJ-gnlmE33jE/s1600-h/507Elko.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSVlo8keZYiXsaiCJ4azLR5djqSgwf9LfvghYGelXveRxN37h0DVHeXyJ-6y7EvZ_lllMhXqMO7VYtDjevjxxd9K7cN0lMw8X94IcnrrT4BnaNzaHtR6M3YeXxoc1KQMyJ-gnlmE33jE/s400/507Elko.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265290676163635570" border="0" /></a>507 Elko <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64pIZzryhX357_bHzi3vNJZrxNC3znnHrfulGggYJ8PJ7qLxviqDTGLqNX3q-oJD638ZdHeHfwtjL724OcrxHrSD3xcdhfO7rnw-Qo0xwvFaIdtVvE6TtaIJPZKvXet5Py5JHUBf4Gnw/s1600-h/508HighlandSprings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64pIZzryhX357_bHzi3vNJZrxNC3znnHrfulGggYJ8PJ7qLxviqDTGLqNX3q-oJD638ZdHeHfwtjL724OcrxHrSD3xcdhfO7rnw-Qo0xwvFaIdtVvE6TtaIJPZKvXet5Py5JHUBf4Gnw/s400/508HighlandSprings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265290819842221602" border="0" /></a>508 Highland Springs <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_BnoFv83nZpWmdxBRmFx5CAadTQ2ZtwC6XSM1fVu0W-ElnNVKRRzrzkD8BvfXG1pA3XCulw89YOAm0GTM4J2Ez9qa8Zd214hLFTftWsi1IKus053M_u9GpbsvdDr1uQNmskGf-Uxy2M/s1600-h/509Laburnum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_BnoFv83nZpWmdxBRmFx5CAadTQ2ZtwC6XSM1fVu0W-ElnNVKRRzrzkD8BvfXG1pA3XCulw89YOAm0GTM4J2Ez9qa8Zd214hLFTftWsi1IKus053M_u9GpbsvdDr1uQNmskGf-Uxy2M/s400/509Laburnum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265290974258884434" border="0" /></a>509 Laburnum <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqiMm6cno1Q1jpMGkmzO66E5-qstr4_sal3CgYt6CIhoBhmKUypcy-87r9rbKyws2fHF-S280LzmBiOoMY_873jvy1UudEATguA6cCKMTPc9j_ekaLP5KUHsxzc9W8srZHBNkjveVebI/s1600-h/510Masonic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqiMm6cno1Q1jpMGkmzO66E5-qstr4_sal3CgYt6CIhoBhmKUypcy-87r9rbKyws2fHF-S280LzmBiOoMY_873jvy1UudEATguA6cCKMTPc9j_ekaLP5KUHsxzc9W8srZHBNkjveVebI/s400/510Masonic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265291223398480930" border="0" /></a>510 Masonic <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WD_AiYK2jm8jIyBHqudjtOtMACBXf3yadUOZI4BZ2uZ-JGnjMwzTcb9wizx7tHYaF6FzFA_ePpHAaelE-EgPNY57WbTp_kHmrQayPgxeE75El-_5A4ZxfDCeosxo6dztdDfpK9YXMdM/s1600-h/511Mehfoud.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WD_AiYK2jm8jIyBHqudjtOtMACBXf3yadUOZI4BZ2uZ-JGnjMwzTcb9wizx7tHYaF6FzFA_ePpHAaelE-EgPNY57WbTp_kHmrQayPgxeE75El-_5A4ZxfDCeosxo6dztdDfpK9YXMdM/s400/511Mehfoud.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265291363725442018" border="0" /></a>511 Mehfoud <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqujnqu1UrnaWwJGJx_VcZMvv1-NSq-RjkSCSCxA9RXbWFO5xXyZbRVjTKtuMuNfOoyr0V7L5n20UZ6UOGpcIx7TiqDXFrDwdC8hkHZZDrvO3YR8EysYTVIz_epZj9kiuLSHNRNN6O0Ik/s1600-h/512Montrose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqujnqu1UrnaWwJGJx_VcZMvv1-NSq-RjkSCSCxA9RXbWFO5xXyZbRVjTKtuMuNfOoyr0V7L5n20UZ6UOGpcIx7TiqDXFrDwdC8hkHZZDrvO3YR8EysYTVIz_epZj9kiuLSHNRNN6O0Ik/s400/512Montrose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265291524553120914" border="0" /></a>512 Montrose <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJUszbPh8AemYCes3f5K1L5qBiFmas7n8yEWeel2FcG9fnnJ-y9ee095cSPBFr5d-EL2yeiEf8wGob2RlFLfBytZ41EPjpct62MPZFQIiDVlXXsW9_feAb9wp9Nu0nGd8YeIzsQanyI4/s1600-h/513NineMile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJUszbPh8AemYCes3f5K1L5qBiFmas7n8yEWeel2FcG9fnnJ-y9ee095cSPBFr5d-EL2yeiEf8wGob2RlFLfBytZ41EPjpct62MPZFQIiDVlXXsW9_feAb9wp9Nu0nGd8YeIzsQanyI4/s400/513NineMile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265301315618934418" border="0" /></a>513 Nine Mile <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuWXeng1tYudFkq3YMFxG5uUIMXkKxVfSHOXvrT4v0zcaoiUWrR1C0nIpB8Ra5rd0RKCLDz323ID4B6YSyoS7xK7gs54s8dDNXs9j5LYzLfzsHhg71cEA254EpohgyxpCAoCGp6Hk3Ms/s1600-h/514Pleasants.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuWXeng1tYudFkq3YMFxG5uUIMXkKxVfSHOXvrT4v0zcaoiUWrR1C0nIpB8Ra5rd0RKCLDz323ID4B6YSyoS7xK7gs54s8dDNXs9j5LYzLfzsHhg71cEA254EpohgyxpCAoCGp6Hk3Ms/s400/514Pleasants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265291654394208530" border="0" /></a>514 Pleasants (click to view larger)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpVacifIq-V4SuF-YyPkIq7mHVYjSJd8kyDrBEHRQ9kf_4FAeMHcf6C3m2Q2hKRnomJxLBQ3AVuYcIfItakjEXj1mrBe6rzb1OqDcn6QvlDX9tMP0u1mTHit-VL9pEQUb7Gg4ywGGclY/s1600-h/515Sandston.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpVacifIq-V4SuF-YyPkIq7mHVYjSJd8kyDrBEHRQ9kf_4FAeMHcf6C3m2Q2hKRnomJxLBQ3AVuYcIfItakjEXj1mrBe6rzb1OqDcn6QvlDX9tMP0u1mTHit-VL9pEQUb7Gg4ywGGclY/s400/515Sandston.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265291781378828050" border="0" /></a>515 Sandston <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwisF-MeYa4aOIFSYVTEXyvgtyIkXTMzQ_pmc_2NWn_JWnWvxYO66UtCiD8Hw6HGYt9H7XesPefHde1G0bAlteWjfrJO4LLQrCkq9hzPQKDbJw4_5L1-9GcHCFeSZDoyVJnrbdfYmms0/s1600-h/516Sullivans.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwisF-MeYa4aOIFSYVTEXyvgtyIkXTMzQ_pmc_2NWn_JWnWvxYO66UtCiD8Hw6HGYt9H7XesPefHde1G0bAlteWjfrJO4LLQrCkq9hzPQKDbJw4_5L1-9GcHCFeSZDoyVJnrbdfYmms0/s400/516Sullivans.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265291984440369618" border="0" /></a>516 Sullivans <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HWIn0YDQwlkqebb5mgylu0PPXr5XSYlWxku85r_WEQwRw_vDcaLiU7-LDjyFLROkJaS7ZtoYZDFfnHl23x-UoXXlKGk0lhf5u3Go2XFZi4NXVrdkQ1pbe5XVNoJKRE6kIbiYX_IzPd0/s1600-h/517TownHall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HWIn0YDQwlkqebb5mgylu0PPXr5XSYlWxku85r_WEQwRw_vDcaLiU7-LDjyFLROkJaS7ZtoYZDFfnHl23x-UoXXlKGk0lhf5u3Go2XFZi4NXVrdkQ1pbe5XVNoJKRE6kIbiYX_IzPd0/s400/517TownHall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265292152274349954" border="0" /></a>517 Town Hall <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbgmKU-Q5jHzUwU2WbvXZqGTpt7wjBdH-LWg89AroxQq4OHGZGgZdJD0iH53zr-2SexwzkIL5Thw8VM7mrQsDP25HzolRvvI9XegNLQ9qZkl6QoUJNF13gKzI80NwgzhdJ8pD-pB57gU/s1600-h/518Whitlocks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbgmKU-Q5jHzUwU2WbvXZqGTpt7wjBdH-LWg89AroxQq4OHGZGgZdJD0iH53zr-2SexwzkIL5Thw8VM7mrQsDP25HzolRvvI9XegNLQ9qZkl6QoUJNF13gKzI80NwgzhdJ8pD-pB57gU/s400/518Whitlocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265292351757782418" border="0" /></a>518 Whitlocks <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_MPmGK0U_rRDdOInv5MSP78P9QikYCsYzkQ2JdeIs2EgSQfum_rN4L0gNDrEbn8vsTcmWVJmOMneO0FzZlnmIxWOgw-dIlD4_kzqs7zN_A7CthugMdRVhg2yOBBCB8VUMv17_xOG1bI/s1600-h/519Rolfe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_MPmGK0U_rRDdOInv5MSP78P9QikYCsYzkQ2JdeIs2EgSQfum_rN4L0gNDrEbn8vsTcmWVJmOMneO0FzZlnmIxWOgw-dIlD4_kzqs7zN_A7CthugMdRVhg2yOBBCB8VUMv17_xOG1bI/s400/519Rolfe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265292499444080546" border="0" /></a>519 Rolfe <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSs1m9WHOsLiQsqfq1USzRhxsI8HSm3YN7O9WzY4vqlCeSgaweq6Pkodprjwi9FWOJ3HsblQmCThlcZCSfrmHOdsRv9tcl6MG0xRRvlh5Mghyphenhyphenj_6PxvSsHGJZ83dHwOKqS0AsljQ22Ks/s1600-h/AbsenteeDistrict3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSs1m9WHOsLiQsqfq1USzRhxsI8HSm3YN7O9WzY4vqlCeSgaweq6Pkodprjwi9FWOJ3HsblQmCThlcZCSfrmHOdsRv9tcl6MG0xRRvlh5Mghyphenhyphenj_6PxvSsHGJZ83dHwOKqS0AsljQ22Ks/s400/AbsenteeDistrict3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265292653013002562" border="0" /></a>District 3 Absentee <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(click to view larger)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9psoWpFCq8-zqqqhHZQdNYAyryZNZqktJtbpJU2a6-Skjz1oJFlsW_wv1dfv1Q1EX8ohSPAL3wsjHoLJ6JGyfl0we4DnCM1x9gOts6IYg_kEVtn1bV8lpSIDRs4d0N2UBVvVYmODHUrw/s1600-h/MSNunofficialVA08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9psoWpFCq8-zqqqhHZQdNYAyryZNZqktJtbpJU2a6-Skjz1oJFlsW_wv1dfv1Q1EX8ohSPAL3wsjHoLJ6JGyfl0we4DnCM1x9gOts6IYg_kEVtn1bV8lpSIDRs4d0N2UBVvVYmODHUrw/s400/MSNunofficialVA08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265292916160294274" border="0" /></a>This map borrowed from MSNBC.com We promise to return it some day.<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Varina Antioch Cedar Fork Chickahominy Donahoe Dorey Park Eanes Elko Highland Springs Laburnum Masonic Mehfoud Montrose Nine Mile Pleasants Rolfe Sandston Sullivans Town Hall Whitlocks 2008 General Election Elections Biden McCain Obama Palin Henrico Election Precinct Precincts Results </span><br /></div></div></span></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-26287548059322566762008-11-01T07:02:00.004-04:002009-01-12T20:27:55.683-05:00HENRICO'S FUTURE...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's Varina’s Future too-<br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The future of our county is <span style="font-style: italic;">quietly</span> being planned <span style="font-style: italic;">without</span> reflecting residents input<br />concerning the need for agricultural "developmental rights" programs..<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawLxPhnYttcjwQpmk_BI_apV-SO1q7dHBpp3JkgiUMGf-uNiB-Y8T17LjZMIBmT-j3aICgx6QvWCWjp2X_52XBtT0NRlWwMCe_MafHb7n-kmuI_Svgji-zrX337dZk8ThPiSEkUA8zU4/s1600-h/PECbumpersticker.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawLxPhnYttcjwQpmk_BI_apV-SO1q7dHBpp3JkgiUMGf-uNiB-Y8T17LjZMIBmT-j3aICgx6QvWCWjp2X_52XBtT0NRlWwMCe_MafHb7n-kmuI_Svgji-zrX337dZk8ThPiSEkUA8zU4/s400/PECbumpersticker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200088117556965538" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Let your <a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/supervisors/">Supervisor</a> know now!<br />The 2026 Comprehensive Planning "process" is not complete<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >without in depth focus on resident's planning input.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />"Best Practices" does not mean</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> planning</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><br />behind closed doors</span><span style="font-size:100%;">.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >...IF YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY, THEN DON'T SUPPORT COUNTY OFFICIALS AIMS TO MAKE HENRICO AN <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">URBAN ENVIRONMENT</span>.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >On November 12th, 2008, Henrico County's Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > will 'review' input given thus-far by residents on the 2026 Comprehensive Plan "draft".</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This is the plan that has been created by county officials and their paid consultants to set the pattern for how Henrico will grow during the next 18 years. </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Never heard about the plan?</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Not surprising,</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />because our <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">officials have put forth only the minimum effort required by law</span> (plus a<br />tiny bit more... say $2,300) to educate residents that the Comprehensive Plan exists.<br /><br />Even though Henrico's <span style="font-style: italic;">scientific</span> "2005 Citizen Survey" showed<br />71% of those polled didn't even know what the "Land-Use Plan" is.<br /><br />Shouldn't a survey result like that <span style="font-style: italic;">show</span> the county that they need<br />to tell residents what they're <span style="font-style: italic;">up to</span>?<br /><br />Did you know that Henrico's "Zip-Code Campaign"<br />cost the county over 106 thousand dollars?<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >And $2,300 is all they'll spend out of the 2008 <span style="font-style: italic;">one billion dollar Henrico budget</span> to advertise and educate us about the plan for our county's future?</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Does this make it seem like they want us to know about "their" plan?</span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >So we're encouraging Henrico residents to let our county officials know that</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >None of us moved here to watch every square<br />inch of Henrico become "developed"</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br />None of us moved here to watch<br />bulldozers destroy forests and farmland<br /><br />There is enough traffic already, focus on the need for alternative<br />and mass transit prior to encouraging more development, please.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Henrico contains many "aging neighborhoods" that deserve attention and repairs- <span style="font-weight: bold;">prior</span> to the county focusing on further aiding developers to "build-out" farmed and forested areas.</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Current residents 'quality of life' deserves as much attention as those who aim to keep developing Henrico <span style="font-style: italic;">for profit</span>. (Isn't our environment worth more than that?)</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >If all of our neighboring counties <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> the City of Richmond each involve their residents in planning.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> So </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">WHY hasn't Henrico</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">?</span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:100%;" >Let your </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/supervisors/">Supervisor</a></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:100%;" > know that the current "2026" Comprehensive Planning "process"</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:100%;" >is not complete without residents participation.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...any resident of Henrico can voice this concern- whether you live in Varina or not- because the decisions Supervisors are making will affect all Henrico residents.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> And if you don't care about the environment, then what about your taxes?<br /></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >because farmed and forested tracts in Varina actually keep<br />other districts taxes <span style="font-style: italic;">lower</span>... got your attention now? </span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">*</span> want a free bumpersticker like the one above?<br />want to find out about the future of your taxes<br />in Henrico? read on.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This May 2026 Comp Plan meetings began. Henrico did only the minimum to advertise them, so don't be surprised if you didn't hear about them.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Please take the time to educate yourself and neighbors about Henrico's current <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/02/2026-plan-review_01.html">2026 Comprehensive Plan 'draft'</a>, which suggests the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">urbanization</span> of many green areas in Henrico.<br /><br />To find out if your neighborhood would be affected, look at the 2010 and 2026 Land-Use and Major Thoroughfare links in the right column. Compare the two and see the changes being desined for your area (without your input).<br /><br />You can get up to speed by reading this blog, <a href="http://valcvef.org/partnership/Envision_Henrico.html">joining 'Envision Henrico'</a> (it's free) and spreading the word to other Henrico residents. Tell them our future depends on it.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ask yourself: how much "development" is too much? Because</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >the future of our county is <span style="font-style: italic;">quietly</span> being planned <span style="font-style: italic;">without</span> reflecting public input.</span><br /></div></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" >* * * * * * *<br />Some Stats:<br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2004 Department of Environmental Quality reports made public the fact that many Henrico watersheds have high <a href="http://www.deq.virginia.gov/tmdl/">'tmdl'</a> counts.<br /><br />In Varina, they reported that <span style="font-weight: bold;">over 60% of the watersheds are polluted</span>.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Similar patterns exist in other Henrico districts. Non-profits and residents have been volunteering to change this for several years now.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We need </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >County planned</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > watershed cleanup programs started</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > now.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Henrico currently has no ordinances planned to prevent "light pollution". One solution would be a simple as requiring all exterior lighting in new developments and businesses to be down-turned to face the ground.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Henrico County has still not taken the opportunity to join the Cool Cities- </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/coolcounties">Cool Counties</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> campaign, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Other surrounding areas have, but not Henrico.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">'Cost of Community Services Analysis' or 'COCS' (which Henrico should make public, under the Freedom of Information Act) show that each acre of open-space, forest or farmland requires less tax burden for the creation of necessary infrastructure, than each acre of residential, commercial, or industrial-use land does.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"></span><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Each acre of </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">residential, commercial, or industrial-use land requires <span style="font-weight: bold;">additional financial input from the county</span>. That means Henrico has to spend more than each tax dollar which residents pay into county coffers to support development than to preserve open-space, forested or farmed land. This may be the reason behind <a href="http://www.henrico.com/chinese_index.html">the county's marketing itself as a prime location for business developments to be built by the Chinese</a>.<br /></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">OPEN SPACE IN HENRICO HELPS KEEP RESIDENTS TAXES LOW.<br /></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But as outlined in the Richmond-Times Dispatch on April 9th, 08, in <a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/henrico.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-04-09-0175.html">'Development Debated at Session'</a>. The article subtitled <span>"Speakers, supervisors <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">offer explanations</span> about growth impact"</span>.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">County officials 'explained' that they don't ask developers to pay 'proffers' (like other counties) which would help foot the bill for local infrastructure (schools, roads, firestations, etc) made necessary by new development, because instead:<br /><br />Henrico plans to keep revenues rising by supporting more and more 'economic development'. If developers don't 'pay in' to support the infrastructure needed for each 'housing unit' they build, then doesn't that mean development is increasing your taxes? Don't let them fool you.<br />Yes it does.<br /></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sure- we all need jobs, but do you want commercial and retail establishments to be built IN your neighborhood? What about high-rise buildings?</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Because those are among the guidelines for growth that the 2026 Plan 'draft' will set for <span style="font-style: italic;">many areas of Henrico</span>.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">..this list could go on and on, but <span style="font-style: italic;">if</span> you clicked the 'Varina's Future' tab above to find out what <span style="font-style: italic;">you can do</span>, check out <a href="http://valcvef.org/partnership/Envision_Henrico.html">Envision Henrico</a>. They aren't asking for money. It's free and takes little effort on your part. You could sign a petition, or attend the upcoming Henrico Comprehensive Plan "hearings". Voice your support for a sustainable future.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Get involved in keeping Henrico the kind of county you would want your children and grandchildren to live in in the future.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you have no children or grandchildren, then come share some of your time, and help us build a brighter future- while surrounded by like-minded residents who will be happy to meet you.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanks for your time. Now: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">talk with your neighbors,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/supervisors/">call or write your district Supervisor</a> asap, and help spread the word!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">* * * * * * * *</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >again...IF YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY, THEN DON'T LET THE COUNTY BECOME AN <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">URBAN ENVIRONMENT!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >...and if you'd like a bumpersticker like the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >"Farmland Lost is Farmland Lost Forever"</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >one shown above, click here to visit </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;" href="http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/farmlandbumper">The Piedmont Environmental Council</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >(the sticker is free, just sign up for PEC environmental email alerts- and you'll feel great about your small part in protecting our Virginia's environment)</span><br /></div><br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-14166362000377135612008-10-27T15:17:00.001-04:002008-10-28T03:37:35.145-04:00Henrico County- willfully neglecting residents planning input ?<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > County spends 106k on 'Henrico Zip', and next to 'ZIP'</span><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >on publicizing the 2026 Comp-Plan</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >-the plan that will decide the fate of our county into the future-<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSkzfQe7u4C8CtyhK-LTk3YWrd63BcPIZtvPJaEtsABmBV2GXc2VaE4fZ7683zF1y5wq8ApYIOSr9iNKAXKPYaHA1CrM7KxiojEhP8fmSfD4ua3uFvFgiFxdLnCmUMERfx2t9uzO4LjQ/s1600-h/open-process.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSkzfQe7u4C8CtyhK-LTk3YWrd63BcPIZtvPJaEtsABmBV2GXc2VaE4fZ7683zF1y5wq8ApYIOSr9iNKAXKPYaHA1CrM7KxiojEhP8fmSfD4ua3uFvFgiFxdLnCmUMERfx2t9uzO4LjQ/s400/open-process.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262105229851392898" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As reported by Melodie Martin in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch, the financial figures are close to correct. Henrico's Zip-Code campaign costs total over 106,000 dollars, and advertisement for the Comprehensive Plan was at a little over 2,300 dollars as of last week.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Henrico has spent 46 times more on their 'zip-code campaign' than on advertising the Comp-Plan. 46 times more (in what, under a year -vs- what has been spent making the Comp Plan 'public' in three years? or is it five now?)</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Couldn't some of that 5 million dollars 'saved' by the zip code changes be spent on publicizing the need for resident's involvement in their own futures?</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Read about it in Virginia's number one newspaper:</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-27-0083.html">"More public input urged on land-use plan<br />Henrico group wants residents more involved in shaping of proposal</a> "<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><br />By MELODIE N. MARTIN TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">if you want </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">part of the story</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">..</span><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's not just the 'land-use plan, Ms. Martin. And not just "</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >some</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> residents", or "Henrico group" as keeps being written. The number of interested parties continue to grow as residents find out about what they have quietly been excluded from. What about an RT-D Poll?<br /><br />The press only falls a little short of covering the whole story. If this was really accurate it would be good reporting.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />What's wrong with the RT-D coverage? Well- Martin got some numbers together, but the 2300 dollars mentioned wasn't just money spent on promoting Henrico's Open-House meetings held in May to teach residents about the current "land-use plan".<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ms. Martin: the Comp-Plan in Henrico covers much more than just 'land-use'. It also includes transportation and rec&parks/open-space planning. It will be used as the pattern for planning our county for the next 18 years. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So it's not just about "some meetings last spring", as you wrote. It's about Henrico not educating residents about planning for the future of our entire county.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The 'Zip vs. ZIP' numbers came right from Henrico County itself, too. Looks like all that took was a resident writing in to ask. (We shoulda thought of that ourselves.) Hat-tip to that moxiefied lady- and those who took the time to spread that news around, and- OK, thanks to Ms. Martin- for putting it right up front.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here's the deal: over the weekend HV got email stating the 2300 bucks is the total amount Henrico has spent publicly</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> promoting the Comp Plan to date. Alotta phone calls ensued. We were writing a group post when the RT-D story broke today. (golly- scooped by the RT-D- we must be slipping.)<br /><br />Hard to believe HC only spent 2300, because the "2005 Citizen Survey" must have set the county back some dough, but then- that's money wasted anyway, because it's obvious Henrico Planners haven't used those survey results in writing the plan either.<br /><br />And, um, that survey said that </span><a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/03/knowledge-of-comprehensive-plan-low.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"71% of Henrico residents who responded to the survey on which future planning in Henrico is based said they were not familiar with the "Land Use Plan"."</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If Henrico spends only 2300 dollars to "get the word out", do you think that number will change?<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">How can you tell that residents are not interested in being part of planning for their own future if they don't even know that planning has been going on?<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What about covering the Comp-Plan on Henrico's TV channel? Wouldn't that be cheap?<br /><br />Instead of entertaining us with regurgitated national news feeds, or covering pet-adoption and small-town 20th century history... what about educating residents about our county's future, and THEIR PLACE IN IT?</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Henrico's Comprehensive Plan is the equivalent of Richmond's "Master Plan". The Master Plan received front page coverage time and again from the RT-D and involved input from thousands of city residents. Involved meaning "planners based the plan on what residents asked for."<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This also isn't just about Lynn Wilson, and her concerns (which she has right to, by the way). There are plenty of other Henrico residents who have an opinion about this. But coverage is making it look like she's the only one who cares. Would you like a list of people to write about?<br /><br />The sign in sheet from any of the county meetings usually has some Henrico residents names on it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you listen to what residents say in public meetings, and write down their names.. you can </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">contact them and ask what they think too! That's sorta the definition of reporting, huh?</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />At this point in the 'draft' process- as Henrico resident Lynn Wilson aptly pointed out in Martin's short work, there aren't any residents at the table with Henrico Officials and county planners. Those extra chairs have been filled by developers.<br /><br />Those extra chairs our tax dollars pay for. The "Comp Plan draft" (that doesn't reflect Henrico residents concerns) that our tax dollars pay for is being created <span style="font-style: italic;">for and by people</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">who may not even reside in Henrico.</span><br /><br />To create profit for developers with the assistance of our "pro-development" elected officials.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What about creating a committee of residents? It could be weighted for the areas in which most change is proposed. Like the 'scientifically administered 2005 Citizen Survey', which didn't reflect residents from such areas- so um, the results aren't really scientific are they?<br /><br />We hear residents can still take that survey on the Planning Website, so go for it!<br /><a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/2026survey.htm">CLICK HERE</a> to be involved in your own future.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />So why don't RT-D's editors reckon Henrico Planning warrants coverage? Hard to say- but for weeks at a time the only coverage the Varina District gets is either from sports scores or violent crime.<br /><br />There's a big story here- if the paper would just listen.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Psssst! RT-D: Henrico comprises a large portion of the 'Richmond Region'.. your own excellent writer Will Jones used to cover that. Ask him, he understands environmental impacts, sprawl, pollution, and all of the other issues our local government should be addressing during the current lull.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Hopefully, during the time between now and the Supervisors/Planning Commission 'review' of residents input, people across Henrico will take the time to contact their supervisor and let them know: Comprehensive Planning should not be done behind closed doors.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<br /><br /></span> </div> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/supervisors/">Contact your Henrico Supervisor today</a>, tell them you want to know more about Comp-Planning, and ask that your input be made public record while you're at it.. ask that your letter or email be read in the upcoming November "review of residents input."<br /><br />You should cc: <a href="mailto:manager@co.henrico.va.us">Virgil Hazelett</a> (our county Manager) and the</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="mailto:mmartin@timesdispatch.com">Melodie N. Martin</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> too.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">Maybe then you could be involved in your favorite past-times </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">without feeling so danged guilty</span></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-12237571206966400312008-10-17T06:45:00.002-04:002008-12-11T01:04:55.673-05:00SHAME, SHAME!! Henrico Ignores Request for Further Public Comp Planning Meetings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0txmvIRddMwpO3krwcss3dSSNSJsXFrtdXZSTZlLBIkcOLKya4krsUTVFIBHackuUKJ3QTn6th9wgBmcwqoXkAUVhqLhElV1pIHb54WCyI6cIqwui5WpMifU1dnP-5-WTqBjp4zODo5w/s1600-h/redflag_right.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0txmvIRddMwpO3krwcss3dSSNSJsXFrtdXZSTZlLBIkcOLKya4krsUTVFIBHackuUKJ3QTn6th9wgBmcwqoXkAUVhqLhElV1pIHb54WCyI6cIqwui5WpMifU1dnP-5-WTqBjp4zODo5w/s400/redflag_right.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258209700319306338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1Xfv51_MHhTPUTRJNkM1xnRyeL8-8gmO_kJI2G6hp1JPSVw9xoId0HgutG3Ol5kp2ITuFfzV98PbgKO2s43C_HE2sxtG5crLjcwUE0zRrL0R6rY9TKua8v6PmTa1MD1hWT4kKA952TE/s1600-h/redflag_left.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1Xfv51_MHhTPUTRJNkM1xnRyeL8-8gmO_kJI2G6hp1JPSVw9xoId0HgutG3Ol5kp2ITuFfzV98PbgKO2s43C_HE2sxtG5crLjcwUE0zRrL0R6rY9TKua8v6PmTa1MD1hWT4kKA952TE/s400/redflag_left.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258209406243334386" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Care about the future of Henrico County?</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /></span></span> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span><span>After the 250+ turn-out at Varina Town Meeting on September 15th, <span style="font-weight: bold;">instead of responding to Varina (and Henrico) resident's requests for further public inclusion in the Comprehensive Planning process, Henrico officials<span style="font-style: italic;"> remain silent.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...just in case you didn't know, Henrico County is in the midst of re-writing our county's "Comprehensive Plan", the land-use, transportation and recreation plan that will guide Henrico's growth for the next 18 years.<br /><br />During the past year, residents from across the county have attended meetings, written letters, made phone calls, passed out flyers, and tried to educate their friends and neighbors about the importance of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan.<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It is actually Henrico's "job" to encourage citizen-involvement and public process, but as Henrico officials have repeatedly been quoted as being "pro-development", county planning disclosure and public education have been slim at best.</span><br /><br />The HV team has received emails from residents who cannot access the comprehensive plan online (due to large file sizes,) and many have also complained that the few public meetings that have been held were under-advertised, or that residents received notices by mail days after meetings took place. Yet thousands of tax dollars were spent on the "Zip Code War".<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Bottom Line: </span><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Henrico County is only meeting the minimum requirements for "public inclusion" in this all-important planning process. Land-use, Transportation and Open-Space planning should reflect the desires of local residents, not just developers and elected officials. Residents have been polled, written letters, sent in petitions and requests, and participated with suggestions, without any noticeable impact.</span><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, it's our residents' job to "keep the ball rolling"<br /><br />PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR RESIDENTS' INCLUSION<br />IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS<br />BY CONTACTING YOUR SUPERVISOR.<br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...In light of Richmond City Council's unanimous passage of the city's "Master Plan" last Monday night, Henrico County is left looking like <span style="font-style: italic;">the underdog</span> for sure.<br /><br />Richmond's Master Plan was broadly advertised and most public meetings were "standing room only". Planners seemed amazed that residents begged continued inclusion, which by the way, they were given. Residents suggestions and desires were openly discussed and written right into each draft of the Plan.<br /><br />Richmonders got what they wanted for the future of our capitol by remaining included, but in the city, planners and council persons welcomed, invited, and adopted this valuable input.</span> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />The key points requested by Cap-Dwellers are not at all different from what Henrico residents have asked for- and been ignored. The large crowd that gathered Monday at City Hall repeated their support and praise of Richmond City Planners inclusion of strong planning supporting:</span></span> </div><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><br />• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Focus on the James River; for public access and conservation of the ecological gem that residents love</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Further revitalization of neighborhoods, as past planning has been so successful</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Continued preservation of Richmond's valued architectural and historic assets</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A Tree Planting Program to keep the city cool and green</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and over, and over:<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Support for protection of the Libby Hill Park 'view-shed' (the view of the James River that caused William Byrd to name what is now our Capitol after England's Richmond on the Thames)</span> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yet in Henrico, we have......... <span style="font-style: italic;">MORE DEVELOPMENT</span><br />Are you surprised?</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In September, to address this 'oversight?', a committee of Varina property owners met with Supervisor James B. Donati, Jr., and asked that current county design of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan (draft) actually "involve" the public. </span></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What a novel idea! Including local residents in the future of their own county? The last Varina Town Meeting was used for this purpose. To find out what happened, read our<br /><br /></span></span> </div><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" > September 16th post:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/09/henrico-hears-varina-but-will-county.html">Henrico Hears Varina, But Will The County Listen?<br /><br /></a></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Long story short, about 250 residents packed the Henrico Theatre on a weeknight, with little forewarning, and over 80 stayed until after 10pm to have their comments heard. A groundswell of support for the issues important to our District's future were given (again) by residents, who concurred during a work-group exercise:<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Preservation Planning and Follow-Through is needed for:<br /><br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" >• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Our District's ecological assets: fields, forests, and watersheds through open-space planning, and the creation of PRD, TDR, and Easement Programs. Don't remove our land rights!<br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br />•</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Varina's rural and agricultural character, through proper land-use and transportation planning</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Strong ordinances needed to protect Historic Sites and Structures, Archeological Sites, Cemeteries and Battlefields</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >That Henrico follow through on prior promises to create buffered scenic corridors: 'The James River Corridor', 'The Osborne Turnpike Corridor' among others.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" >• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Repeatedly requested Cycling and Pedestrian Path Network, to keep residents and tourists safely off the shoulder of our roads<br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Planning for and the creation of:<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" >• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Infrastructure (schools, roads, sewers, fire-support, libraries, and parks) which need to be addressed PRIOR to further development<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" >• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Evaluation of, and additions to Varina's long neglected school systems</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" >• </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Mass Transit systems, to stave off the traffic disaster now occurring in the West End</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />• </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Addressing existing problems which have been repeatedly promised and yet not acted upon, including existing drainage, school, and roadway problems.<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >But how will these requests be met in the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Draft?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Or will they be addressed at all?</span><br /><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In early October, a committee of Varina residents and landowners contacted our supervisor and asked <span style="font-weight: bold;">again</span> for more public meetings to address the 2026 Comp-Plan Draft.<br /><br />The result? We've all called around, asked questions and have heard- that weeks have passed and there has been <span style="font-weight: bold;">no response</span>.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What will become of Varina in the future? Why do you choose to live here? Remember, when you hear the words "Land Rights", that developers <span style="font-style: italic;">should be held to sustainable requirements</span>. </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Land Rights" should apply to the current residential base too. Sprawl is not inevitable, as county studies show. Responsible action can be taken to address our environment and the protections our historic and agricultural resources warrant. Residents of all Henrico districts would benefit from the planning necessary to preserve out valued assets.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tell Henrico Officials:<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >"</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >DON'T 'SHORTPUMP' VARINA!</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;">KEEP VARINA BEAUTIFUL<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DON'T LET THEM TELL YOU THAT PRESERVING OPEN-SPACE<br />WILL "COST" OTHER DISTRICTS,<br />OR RAISE EVERYONE'S TAXES...<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">IT'S A KNOWN FACT:</span><br /><br />OPEN SPACE COSTS ALL RESIDENTS AND THE COUNTY<br />LESS IN SPENDING PER TAX DOLLAR<br />THAN THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT<br />HENRICO COUNTY OFFICIALS OPENLY SUPPORT.</span><br /></span></span><br /><br />Please pass the word now.</span><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-15418014613555191642008-10-02T06:23:00.003-04:002008-10-17T13:16:01.701-04:00Recession, Secession, Regression: Henrico will recede further from forward-thinking neighbors, if left unchecked<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpX55XHMTCx9zG53b9YVNsalR_LrjmSB5aVd1YDhyphenhyphen1ESsMDIcY1R9ab9EjLRUntKZ40Zy4QvCaF0ZCsCsfOjIQ7rTDWD3410M-1L9iPDejyN0WHEyh6Va46vQ8uD9-fBEzVVov8wOufU/s1600-h/Henrico_Eco_Integrity.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpX55XHMTCx9zG53b9YVNsalR_LrjmSB5aVd1YDhyphenhyphen1ESsMDIcY1R9ab9EjLRUntKZ40Zy4QvCaF0ZCsCsfOjIQ7rTDWD3410M-1L9iPDejyN0WHEyh6Va46vQ8uD9-fBEzVVov8wOufU/s400/Henrico_Eco_Integrity.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252977824085757170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So much news- so fast. How will Henrico officials keep up with how far behind they're causing the county to fall? </span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As hard as it may be to believe, residents care more about quality of life than Fitch rates when they choose their homes.</span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First off, last Wednesday "Virginia's own" Governor Timothy Kaine paid a visit to "a Henrico Farm" (which our moles report to belong to a Mr. Nelson. Hat tip to you, Sir,).</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Standing in Henrico soil, Kaine announced the findings of a farm-fresh Va. agri/forestry study. The work on paper was issued by a fair fellow, Terrance Repphan of UVA's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, and showed that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">agri/forestry industries in Virginia had an output of $79 billion in 2006 and supported more than a half-million jobs in the Commonwealth.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some pretty accurate <a href="http://www.richmondregional.org/Draft_Map_Set_080408.pdf">maps</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> were released recently by the <a href="http://www.richmondregional.org/Publications/reportsdocs.htm">RRPC</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, graphically detailing among other things, the current state of land-use in the within the Richmond region.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu5LPJuXomdfqGWn27ett7Qel307mgtdNplbd6LWd46sMy-XxCLh1YPh_z_m9hVp5HDlUGBiLJ-Yir3bH6x3gPXj6-I8eDa5rmrGsaN0Maq-hbnsrjHxPuJz_5UmCOnaFcNiev_eisl8/s1600-h/Urb_Rico.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu5LPJuXomdfqGWn27ett7Qel307mgtdNplbd6LWd46sMy-XxCLh1YPh_z_m9hVp5HDlUGBiLJ-Yir3bH6x3gPXj6-I8eDa5rmrGsaN0Maq-hbnsrjHxPuJz_5UmCOnaFcNiev_eisl8/s400/Urb_Rico.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258171486452647778" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Feeling a little (eh-hem) GRAY? Further evidence of the need to support open-space, preserve farms and forests, create tree canopy retention ordinances, <span style="font-weight: bold;">preserve what's left</span>.<br /><br />Gray shown denotes 'urban' areas which have grown far too much to keep ignoring... far too much for the results of the 2005 Henrico Citizen Survey to be swept under the rug..</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Residents of Henrico have been asking our elected officials, their consultants, their planners, for some 20 odd years now to look ahead in terms of land-use. See the yield and stop signs being waved. Well gas prices are up, there 'aint no mass transit to speak of here, and if you look around. you'll see you can't stifle residents concerns for much longer, without some serious questions being asked.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Whiplash! Send your neck braces to Henrico County!</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">...or have their heads even turned? Perhaps they just don't "get" the news?</span><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >As mentioned in today's RT-D article on the "secession", "Mail sent to county government offices should use this address:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Henrico County, P.O. Box 90775, Henrico, VA23273-0775."</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you're having a hard time keeping up, these links are guaranteed to help:</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Henrico <span style="font-style: italic;">secedes</span> from Richmond mailing address today"</span></span><br />Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008<br />Richmond Times-Dispatch<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>(no byline, so blanket thanks for that verb)<br /><br />"Henrico County mailing addresses that use Richmond, VA, will switch today to Henrico, VA. The county will implement a new address for residents, businesses and other entities."<br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-01-0170.html">read more here</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Public hears about land-use plan</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Among new proposals... is suspending growth in western area"</span></span><br />Monday, Sept 22, 2008<br />Richmond Times-Dispatch<br />From the dust-free keys of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wesley P. Hester</span> (whom we thank sincerely)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Chesterfield County)</span><br /><br />"Among the new proposals discussed last night is establishment of a <span style="font-weight: bold;">"growth management boundary"</span> in the western portion of the plan area. Within that boundary -- generally north of Beach Road and west of state Route 288 -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">residential development would be suspended until schools, transportation and public safety can better accommodate growth.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Some residents said the county staff seemed reluctant to incorporate <span style="font-weight: bold;">levels-of-service standards</span> in the plan for roads, schools and public safety <span style="font-weight: bold;">as requested by the Board of Supervisors.</span><br /></div><br />The standards would <span style="font-weight: bold;">require that developers address the impact of new homes before building.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">While planning staff, school administrators and fire-rescue officials have voiced support for the concept, they have suggested <span style="font-weight: bold;">it should be implemented on a countywide basis and not in isolation.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Planning Director Kirk Turner conceded that the standards likely will be part of the finished Swift Creek product.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"There's no doubt in my mind that levels of service will be included in this plan," he said."</span><br /></div><a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-05-22-0173.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">read more here</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-size:130%;">*</span>It's also interesting to note here, that as of August 13th, 2008, suit has been filed against the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors.<br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" id="ctl00_articlePlaceHolder_article1_lblEntry"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" id="ctl00_articlePlaceHolder_article1_lblEntry">"Eleven property owners on Mt. Hermon and Lacy Farms roads have sued the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors over the newly enacted Upper Swift Creek Plan (USCP) adopted six weeks ago to control growth and phosphorous runoff into the Swift Creek Reservoir."<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> "</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" id="ctl00_articlePlaceHolder_article1_lblEntry">...The suit called the published notices prior to the plan's adoption "defective and failed to meet statutory requirements [for] applicable notices and give reasonable, fair and required notice under Virginia law." The suit alleges the notices did not identify the affected plan area and notify property owners of whether their properties might be impacted."</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Where the Grass is Greener</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the region’s big land grab, property owners are discovering that when it comes to protecting their land, there are other forces at play. ."</span></span><br /></span>Style Weekly Cover Story<br />July 16, 2008<br />From our own fair <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nicole Anderson-Ellis</span> (too bad she's "taken" already.. Mmmph!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">"Between 1990 and 2006 Henrico County lost 16 percent of its residual farms and forests — <span style="font-weight: bold;">what the county calls “vacant land.”</span> ...<br /><br />...“People want this,” he continues. “They want to preserve our rural heritage.” At public hearings on the new plan, the only opposition to the conservation district was “that it should go further,” Hodges says, “that we haven’t set aside enough.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Henrico County residents seem to feel the same. </span>“I’ve never had anybody come up to me and say I’m happy they put that new subdivision up,” says Ray Jernigan, chairman of the Henrico County Planning Commission.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">In 2005 the county conducted a survey in which 82 percent of respondents said they “support further restricting or managing new development in rural areas.” This value is reflected in county planning documents’ frequent references to “preserving rural character,” but concrete steps to preserve green space are hard to find, and county officials speak of suburban sprawl as a natural and unavoidable process.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And when asked about the limits Henrico’s proposed plan would put on property owners’ right to get conservation easements, (Ray) Jernigan, (chairman of the Henrico County Planning Commission) voices surprise. “So if it shows SR1 [suburban residential 1], you can’t put it in conservation?” he asks. <span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />“I’ve never heard that. I’d like to find out about that.”</span></span><br /></div><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17349">read more here</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >HOW CAN THIS BE? THE CURRENT CHAIR OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSION DOESN'T KNOW THE COMP PLAN WILL MAKE IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR HENRICO RESIDENTS TO PUT THEIR OWN LANDS IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS?</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Developing the Dead<br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >As counties face rapid suburban development, there’s one hurdle that can come back to haunt — backyard cemeteries."</span><br />September 24, 2008<br />Style Weekly<br />by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Amy Biegelsen</span> (note our appreciation)<br /><br />"Rachel Lipowicz, who specializes in locating unmarked cemeteries, says developers often must build around them.<br /><br />As suburban counties swell with new roads, new houses, new strip malls and schools, farms and fields are becoming subdivisions. Of the many hurdles such growth presents, perhaps the most sensitive — and trickiest — is how to deal with long-forgotten, and often unmarked, cemeteries.<br /><br />That word, “preservation,” is telling. Like historic building preservationists that challenge new development in the city, the historical society has become integrated into the county’s zoning process. The Chesterfield Planning Department keeps the society in the loop on new projects by sending it plans for land that may harbor burial sites."<br /><a href="http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17785"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">read more here</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Associated Press</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >"Study: Va.'s farms, forests generate big dollars"<br /></span><span class="mainartdate">09.24.08</span><br />By <span style="font-weight: bold;">Steve Szkotak </span>(with our many thanks)<br /><br />RICHMOND, Va. -<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">"A University of Virginia study of farming and forestry found the two had a total economic impact of $79 billion in 2006 and supported more than a half-million jobs in the commonwealth.<br /><br />The study identified agriculture's share of the $79 billion as $55 billion, up from a 1998 estimate of $36 billion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The $79 billion figure does not include agritourism and horse events, which have the potential to add several billion dollars, the study said. It does not include recreational hunting and fishing or commercial fishing, a growing segment of the Virginia economy."</span><br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/24/ap5465785.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">read more here</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span><br /></div></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"500,000 in Virginia Work in Agriculture, Study Says"<br /></span></span>Thursday, September 25th, 2008<br />(with our thanks to)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Julian Walker</span> of<br />The Virginian-Pilot<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">"Their report estimated that the two industries provide 500,000 jobs in the state, <span style="font-weight: bold;">more than 10 percent of the available labor force.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;">While the numbers sound impressive, other figures raise alarms about the future vitality of the state's farm and forestry businesses. Virginia had more than 8.5 million acres of farmland as of 2007 but 200,000 fewer acres than in 2000, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Total wooded acres are declining after decades of reforestation efforts in Virginia.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kaine, who announced the U.Va. study's findings Wednesday, set a goal to conserve 400,000 acres of undeveloped land, including forests, during his four years as governor. The state should meet that goal and "make some headway back against development pressures that are taking land out of operation," Kaine said."</span><br /></div><a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1567595/500000_in_virginia_work_in_agriculture_study_says/index.html?source=r_science"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">read more here</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Virginia Farms and Forests have Huge Impact on Economy"<br /></span></span><span class="title" style="padding: 2px;">September 24, 2008</span><br />Props to <span style="font-weight: bold;">19News wcav-tv</span> (where charlottesville news comes first)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">"These numbers were good news that the Governor was talking about. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">But, he also pointed out that land continues to be consumed by suburban sprawl. Taking away tens of thousands of acres away, which was previously used for this natural resource production</span>,"</span> said Terry Rephann, the lead researcher in this study conducted by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Governor Kaine also said that there are challenges that lie ahead for the industries, but <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">they can be dealt with by installing proper land preservation policy and research."</span></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/home/headlines/29719104.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">read more here</span></a></span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF553IrvPWf7PAFp12Ss9QfxAQvmDY_Rw8m_EmSHVkVlUrT7mwM41u6glHFiUnQj-I0ihHKi8bVVtpQ1b4vpVXVPldHB-n6_MK9Zs76TITCzhjFaZe9h7kgwVOp0YyZwrDdbGgFWVlZpU/s1600-h/EcoIntegrityMapKey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF553IrvPWf7PAFp12Ss9QfxAQvmDY_Rw8m_EmSHVkVlUrT7mwM41u6glHFiUnQj-I0ihHKi8bVVtpQ1b4vpVXVPldHB-n6_MK9Zs76TITCzhjFaZe9h7kgwVOp0YyZwrDdbGgFWVlZpU/s400/EcoIntegrityMapKey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252980617356187314" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >So stop for a minute and take a look around: at Governor Kaine's recent announcement, at how other areas deal with sprawl, at the list of requests you might usually ignore, and you'll notice:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >It's time to listen.<br /></span><br /></div></div></div></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-46864226266332891472008-09-16T07:31:00.017-04:002008-09-17T17:51:32.086-04:00Henrico Hears Varina, But Will The County Listen?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXqODOBjfgrFcLifRJKTCrF-z-UcaS6kNokbK-FDNfYtbwIWTMP14JhOhq-bvAxZomIq4GzKP624WFpSUR8WZsVbz5FwdNi9rHqAkeAG_9CGRvqUDBwnoaC5skbArdYQEB2QZEVsNEuU/s1600-h/ProudOfOurProgress_from+MDC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXqODOBjfgrFcLifRJKTCrF-z-UcaS6kNokbK-FDNfYtbwIWTMP14JhOhq-bvAxZomIq4GzKP624WFpSUR8WZsVbz5FwdNi9rHqAkeAG_9CGRvqUDBwnoaC5skbArdYQEB2QZEVsNEuU/s400/ProudOfOurProgress_from+MDC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246840008542081362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >The above image is stamped on most pages and every map included in the current draft of Henrico County's '2026 Comprehensive Plan'. Notice how the West End is depicted as developed, while the East End is shown as bucolic Open Space? </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Last night at 7 o'clock it was difficult to find a seat in The Henrico Theatre, as Varina Supervisor James B. Donati, Jr. graciously used his monthly Varina 'Town Hall Meeting' to educate Varina residents about Land Use in Varina and the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Draft. The beautifully restored art deco theatre's seating capacity is recorded at 400, but it certainly appeared full as some 230 Varina residents signed in and milled to find seating for the Monday evening "working group" presentation. Focusing on Land-Use in Henrico's East End, the meeting had been advertised as running from 7-10 pm, though ran over until about 10:30, as Varina residents were allowed to voice their many opinions concerning future residential </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">growth </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and commercial areas targeted to boom in the district. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Supervisor Donati introduced Greg Dale, of 'McBride Dale Clarion' (MDC), the firm contracted by Henrico County to assist in the 2026 Comprehensive Plan update. Mr. Dale spoke from the podium with the aid of a well-crafted Power Point presentation, shown on the theater's main screen. During the introduction which was designed to give an overview of the last three years of work MDC has assisted the County in undertaking, the consultant held up a paper copy of the heavy Comp Plan, saying it would be impossible to cover everything. Dale went on to point out jovially that residents usually flipped right to the maps. Showing the current draft of the entire Henrico Land-Use Map onscreen, he briefly delineated the 17 Land Use Designations that land in Varina has currently been given, though the presentation never included a close-up view of the Varina portion alone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >One interesting highlight took place when the Land-Use Plan Map first appeared on-screen. Pointing at Henrico's 'West End' Dale stated that this is where infrastructure is "in place", and that there was "more than enough room out there to accommodate <span style="font-style: italic;">all of the growth expected between now and 2026</span>." He went on to comment that "people usually like to go where the infrastructure already exists."</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Other topics covered in Mr.Dale's introduction were "General Developmental Policies" and "Community Character", (a newly added portion of the 2026 Comp Plan), which has been designed "to ensure compatibility of future development to that currently existing in Henrico"- as he put it.<br /><br />Nationally known eco-minded planning consultant Randall Arendt's name was mentioned by Dale, citing Arendt's inclusion in the 2026 Planning process. Dale reported that Arendt has spoken before the Supervisory and Planning Commissions here, and pointed out the importance of his inclusion as such. Mr. Arendt is known for promoting residential subdivision patterns designed to include the preservation and conservation of greenspace within. By "clustering" residences within tracts promoted for development, Arendt's form of planning can result in what Dale called "Conservation Subdivisions", promising that the open and forested spaces would be set aside, and remain that way for future generations to enjoy. But residents small group discussions last night included questioning the current lack of succinct definition within the 2026 Plan Draft that should be present to define just what "Open Space" is, and how long it would actually be "preserved".</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />As Historic Varina previously reported in our March 1st post: <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/03/and-thesurvey-says.html">"And the....."Survey Says!"</a></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">McBride Dale Clarion was also contracted to co-administer the Henrico "2005 Citizen Survey". MDC co-contracted with SERL, "The Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory", at the Center for Public Policy, of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. The two groups designed and administered the 2005 Survey. According to the survey results URL HERE "The sampling plan was designed to represent the views of citizens in the five magisterial districts of Henrico County: Brookland, Fairfield, Three Chopt, Tuckahoe and Varina. Within each of the five magisterial districts, 620 addresses were selected at random to receive a survey invitation." That would have equalled a total of 3100 responses, but this is where the survey went south.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Of course, if 3100 responses had been received from Henrico residents, it would have been nice, to say the least, but only 725 of the surveys mailed out found their way back into the firms' hands. Sadly, of the responses tabulated, Varina residents opinions represented 13% (as opposed to the 20% expected for reach district) of those included. Yet almost half of the land earmarked for residential development in Henrico lies within Varina's borders. Survey results reported that 46.7% of what County Planners describe as "Vacant Land" is located within the Varina District. During Dales review of the bulleted information shown onscreen, he vocalized his intent to later more fully detail the term "Infill Development", but keeping with the quick pace necessary to keep on schedule, had to be reminded by an audience member to readdress the topic. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Shouldn't the residents of each district have a real say in how their area's future is planned? We can only wait for the results of recent public meetings, and continue to request that they are fairly included in the final draft of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Greg Dale then answered by explaining that "infill" is the term planners use to describe development that could occur in areas "previously passed over during past developmental phases", as well as further build-out that could take place on what he called "underutilized land".</span><br /><br />Those in attendance from Historic Varina concur that for generations, when it has come time to pay property taxes, Varina residents have been well aware of how their individual parcels are being "utilized", and that it takes a concerted effort to "pass over" using these "vacant lands" and opt not to develop them.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/HistoricVarina/R8yZs9nEFzI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Tvodit5JVAQ/LandUseGraph2005ByMagisterialDistrictHenrico.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/HistoricVarina/R8yZs9nEFzI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Tvodit5JVAQ/LandUseGraph2005ByMagisterialDistrictHenrico.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Graphic provided by HV's friend 'Indigenous'<br /></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wrapping up the initial presentation, Dale fielded questions concerning some of the topics he had covered. Residents asked pertinent questions: requesting further description of industrial growth areas around Richmond International Airport, asking for definition of 'business incentives' promised to promote revitalization in Varina, and also asked "where are the results of the suggestions given County Planners at the Varina District 2026 Open-House meetings in May?"<br /><br />Answers given were that the Industrial Land Use Designations were available in the Comp Plan Draft available online in the Land-Use portion of the Plan, that business incentives from the Fed and State, as well as Henrico would be further covered in the Plan and on Henrico's website. As to where the results of residents input from the Ward Elementary School "2026 Open-House Meeting" were, Dale reported that they were "still being tabulated", and would "be made public on the County web-site".</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">HV wonders if Henrico County knows that very few Varina residents actually have the high speed internet connection necessary to view the Comp Plan in it's entirety? Many of the files are much too large to download on a dial-up connection.. Is this really then a public process? We support the suggestion of residents in attendance last night, that further public meetings are necessary.<br /><br /></span> </span>(If you want to answer any of these questions, this is a blog. Let us remind you, anyone can post a comment below- just use our how to blog FAQ in the column to the right of this post. Anyone can post comments- hint- hint- even consultants, planners or County Officials- we welcome your every thought and contribution.)</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Forgive our continual opinion, but this is not a newspaper, and as local media coverage of the potential effects of the Comp Plan upon Varina or the rest of Henrico have been slim at best- here we go:<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Almost four months have passed since the Varina "Open House Meeting" on May 22nd. And though it seems the 2026 Comp Plan was initially planned to have been put before Henrico's Planning Commission in either September or October, we are heartened to have learned last night that the process seems to have grown in length. During the meeting (after Mr. Dale was asked,) he told the audience that the 2026 Plan would be "summarized" for County Officials in November, and "at some time after the 1st of the year (2009,) be formally considered for adoption."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Try as we may, we cannot</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >understand how Henrico Supervisory Board or Planning Commission members can consider the adoption of anything based on a mere summary. And if the residents responses from the Open House Meetings in May have yet to be either tabulated OR made public, how can this happen and still leave enough time for further study of the important changes necessary? How can there be time for either the County or our residents to respond? </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />It was made more than apparent by the repeated public thanks of those participating in last nights group work session, that Varina residents were very thankful to have the opportunity to gain this initial group participation in planning our districts future. But this "public process" should have begun long ago. As it is by residents votes that our Supervisors are elected, our opinions and desires should be by them represented.<br /><br />We remind our readers that Henrico has been representing itself as a "pro-growth" & "pro-development" county for some time now. But do these views reflect local residents wishes? Instead, it still seems that planning has been based upon the opinions and desires of consultants, County Planners, and yes, more developers than residents. We can only hope Henrico sees that the current imbalance changes. Otherwise their belated attempt to create a more public planning process will have been another example of too little too late. And that is obviously not how Henrico's future should be formed.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Back to last night's meeting... Mr. Dale next explained that the "group work session" portion of the meeting would commence. The crowd slowly thinned from over 230 to about 85. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Three hour meetings on a work night make it tough to keep those with other home and work obligations in their seats. (May we politely suggest Henrico consider holding the next meeting on a weekend, with plenty of advertisement and forewarning?) </span></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />The remaining audience was next counted off by Dale five times, with each audience member being given a number from 1 to 17. He then explained that each number signified which "work group" each resident was asked to join. Numbered residents found their way to tables set up throughout the building, thus ensuring the desired "random mix" of those in attendance. Prior to separating into 17 groups of five people each, the audience was given the night's assignment: each group was to come up with the next 5 points that needed to be addressed by Henrico County, concerning growth in Varina as addressed by the 2026 Comprehensive Plan.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />After being given a short time to complete these tasks: introduce and familiarize themselves, address the issues at hand, and record their "Top Five" points for immediate presentation to the audience on the large flipcharts provided.<br /><br />The groups got to work fast. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">During the table time allowed, residents were also handed small strips of paper, containing bright green sticky dots (good color choice by the way) , and it was later explained that each resident should use these green dots to "vote" for the ideas they most supported, after each list was publicly reviewed. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">County Planning and MDC representatives circulated around the group tables, encouraging all inclusive discussion, and giving residents the remaining time allowed.. The count-down was politely repeated as the clock ticked down to "Time's Up! Please return to your seats in the theatre" The tired but enthusiastic residents then returned to their seats.<br /><br />Smartly dressed County Employees had quickly posted each groups "Top 5" lists on the left and right walls, so that the audience could see. Much of the text was still far too small to view from the seats, and each group was given the opportunity to send forth a representative to report their conclusions those in attendance. Because some 17 group's members had to leave before 10 p.m., four of the groups were merged to form two groups, rendering the initial 17 groups down to 15 in the end. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">May we say here: What an opportunity! Bravo Henrico, Thank you McBride Dale Clarion! Not only were each of the 15 groups of residents left to themselves to hash out the issues, without 'facilitation" or "guidance" from MDC or Henrico, fifteen individuals were actually given the microphone. Standing beside the list their group had made, each group's chosen rep read down their respective lists one after another. These reps were also given the opportunity to answer questions from the audience!! </span><br /><br />Furthermore, when the first group rep took the opportunity to vocalize words not written on their list, Mr. Dale responded by asking if that... "was that something (this rep had) added?" There was a small pause, and the intake of breath could be heard throughout the crowd... People must have wondered if the rep was about to be "called down" for this addition?...<br /><br />But no! Mr. Dale then asked if the resident had a pen, because the comment should be added to their list- to be certain the meaning was understood- if that was in fact the group consensus." Henrico County planners also took turns in taking additional notes on a large pad located to the left of the stage.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Residents clapped enthusiastically after each five points were read by each group's rep, frequently reps reports were stalled by loud bursts of clapping, punctuating many well wrought points.</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ah! So this is public process! Nice! This is how Democracy should work, huh? Perhaps with real intent and proper advertising, this is how Richmond's Master Down Town Plan managed to gain constant inclusion on tv and in local papers?<br /><br />We'll continue to hope that Henrico actually creates studies to address the ideas given in this meeting, and that these desires are made public for the further comment and review of all Henrico citizens... and of course, that these results go on to actually tailor the 2026 Comprehensive Plan to reflect taxpayers hopes, dreams and aspirations for the County's future.</span><br /><br />Now the results of the May Open-Houses and last night's workshop should now be quickly made available to the public: HCTV, all local media, the Henrico Libraries and website... and then give the public time and a way to respond. The Planning Commission should then respond with further Public Hearings and Workshops... prior to any Board of Supervisory hearings, or consideration for adoption. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Our Nation is now in the middle of an obvious financial down-turn.. development in many parts of Henrico, especially residential development, has experienced an obvious lull. Now is the perfect moment for our County Officials to make the best use of these conditions and respond to the desires of residents by taking action, to initiate further studies concerning Varina and the issues residents brought forth- to ensure that the future of Henrico, and Varina are created by the voice of the people, those by whom our officials were elected to represent and serve.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">_________________________________________</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Saving the best for last: just what did Varina residents come up with in their Top Five lists?</span><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, the results are not far different from those reported by the 2005 Citizen Survey, but were much more distinct.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span>Even when divided, and mixed together with other residents, many strangers to one another, the "work-group" exercise has proven that Varina residents agree about what is important for their district's future.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Not surprisingly, little if any vocal support was given for the high density growth in Varina which the Comp Plan has previously targeted for the area.</span><br /></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Paraphrased below, grouped in random order, points of importance of the fifteen remaining group lists overwhelmingly focused on the the following topics:</span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That Henrico should have already and should continue to provide more "focus groups" like the meeting last night, the results of which should be used to further craft the 2026 Comprehensive Plan.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That there needed to be an actual finite definition for "Special Strategy Area" in the Comprehensive plan, so that residents have a full understanding of what that term means.<br /><br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That there is serious need for "public access transportation" planning, and the creation of systems that did not focus primarily on the car as a means of transport. Examples given were light-rail, bus routes, as well the need for a study to address the needs of locals and tourists by the creation of Walking, Hiking and Cycling Routes, and even trails for horses. Some groups suggested that these paths could be adjacent to though separated from the current roadways. The inclusion of such ideas could automatically create 'buffer zones' requested by some groups, which could preserve the rural character of Varina's roadways and "Virginia Scenic Bi-ways".<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That Varina needs more land to be designated as Parks, and for Recreation. Parks can be created to preserve many historic sites , including battlefields.<br /><br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That the Transportation planning be specifically designed to preserve the "rural character" of existing roadways.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That a study be created for the proper planning of the Route 5 Corridor, and how it would function as an artery into and out of Richmond. The need for balance with other such main arteries into Richmond to provide against a repeat of the result in roadway failure/inability of many Varina residents to reach their homes or places of work in prior times of emergency.<br /><br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That Planning and Ordinances be designed and enacted to preserve Open Space or Green Space, also referred to as farmed areas, forested areas, agricultural areas, sensitive natural areas, and silviculture.<br /></span><br /></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That "Open Space" needs to be defined in the Comp Plan's final draft, and should be the same definition provided in the Code of Virginia.<br /><br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That TDR and PDR Programs be instituted to aid landowners and farmers in being able to afford to keep these tracts open and undeveloped. Groups reported that Henrico is surrounded by other Counties with Developmental Rights Programs, and that Henrico Officials cannot any longer say "we don't know how to do this."<br /><br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That though revitalization and development is planned on all of the major roadways that intersect with Laburnum Avenue, Laburnum itself is conspicuously absent. Laburnum Avenue should be made a Special Strategy Area, and assisted by programs designed for its revitalization.<br /><br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The need for focus on Educational Facilities and Educational Planning, and that the school systems need to first serve the existing residential base.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That Henrico follow through on their prior promises to build a new High School in the Elko area. That Henrico address existing school system problems prior to creating more.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That residential capacity analysis be studied to include lower density growth. Other locales cited in the kind of planning necessary in Varina spanned the Globe: It was pointed out the New York City has not been witnessed "chipping away at" or slowly developing Central Park, nor was that the case with The Vienna Woods in Austria- which residents saw as a "sacred place", and Portland, Oregon was referred to for having created urban-growth boundaries, beyond which development would not occur. These locales were given as patterns for what needs to happen in Varina.<br /></span><br /></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That tax credit programs and county funding programs be created and put in to use to promote and support revitalization funding of individual residential rehabilitation, to include rehabilitation of historic homes and structures.<br /><br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That Historic Sites and Structures be distinctly and properly identified, and that definite ordinances be created to ensure the preservation of these sites. That prior losses have gone unchecked, and that this can not continue.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That "Overlay Districts" be created to identify and preserve our natural, historic and cultural resource areas, as are employed in various means by all the other Counties surrounding Henrico.<br /><br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That the infrastructure necessary for new development be in place prior to the start of development of any areas which do not currently contain the completed water and sewer systems necessary to support such growth.<br /><br /></span></li><li> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That Varina should also be seen as an entry point to Richmond, and should be sensitively planned as such and adapted to be more visually inviting, by playing up our historic, natural, and cultural assets including the Rt. 5 corridor.<br /></span><br /></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That a County-promised visitors center focusing on local history be created at the intersection of Route 5 (New Market Road) and 295.<br /></span><br /></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That Henrico actually follow through on promises to create buffered scenic corridors: 'The James River Corridor', 'The Osborne Turnpike Corridor' among others.<br /><br /></span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That Henrico address existing problems which have been repeatedly promised and yet not acted upon, including existing drainage, school, and roadway problems.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The topics repeated most often included: Environmental Protection/ Open Space Preservation, Historic Site and Structure Identification and Protection, Transportation (Roadways) Planning and Mass Transit Planning. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The number one topic of the evening, on which more time was spent in open discussion than any other, was the need for PDR (Purchase of Developmental Rights) and TDR (Transfer of Developmental Rights) programs in Henrico, as a way to protect and preserve endangered forested and undeveloped lands for future generations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Apparently Varinians do not like the terms "underutilized", "passed over", or "vacant" just one bit.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Residents stood up and said in many different ways that they moved here or live here because they love </span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Varina </span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">the way it is. Monday night, many people said, "I was born in Varina".</span></span><br /><br />With MDC's Greg Dale as emcee, myriad questions from the audience repeatedly focused on the need for Developmental Rights programs. After the first few questions were put forth, Mr. Dale explained the reasoning that he had been given for the lack of support of these programs by the current Board of Supervisors:<br /><br />He said that the current focus reflected in the 2026 Plan draft comes from the Supervisors support of "fiscal responsibility", and that money for such programs would have to come from "somewhere".<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But Varina residents hammered away at the issue, pointing out that many areas in Virginia, including Virginia Beach had found that as a locality that it was less expensive to keep Open Space open, because the creation of the infrastructure necessary to support development of such areas was much too expensive.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dale countered by saying that he was not voicing disagreement, that these programs do work elsewhere, but that the Supervisors had not previously supported them, and went on to ask "Do you really want to raise taxes?"</span></span><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Dale's response was disingenuous- a scare tactic that has been seen many other times in this part of the county. Threats of imminent domain, and the past run created by the County's supposed desire to change the minimum buildable parcel size in areas zoned A-1 for agriculture are similar in tone. Bullying threats which do not sustain the sustainable growth currently supported across our nation.<br /><br />Is this planning for the future, or planning for development alone? And this is how our tax dollars are being put to use? Shameful, just shameful. We had hoped for much more creative thinking.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After all, it has been shown that the Open Space in Varina that lack infrastructure cost the County less than the rising 16 cents (reported by Donati) that Henrico County must now pay out over and above each tax dollar taken in for the creation of the infrastructure necessary to support new developments.<br /><br />That Varina and other districts currently have enough problems that have repeatedly required and yet have been met by no address or solution, without the creation of further problems to top them off.<br /><br />That even though those representing Henrico County apparently had to be told repeatedly that the PDR and TDR programs were seen as one possible solution that bears further study, Mr. Dale seemed to continue to shoot these suggestions down.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Giving examples of why Developmental Rights programs would not work, Dale was met with a number of responses from the audience, among the best were "Where there's a will, there's a way", ..that there were many creative possibilities available to make these programs work, and didn't Henrico understand that this is what the Varina residents were asking of County Officials?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >At some point, one resident must have heard the phrase "Henrico County doesn't want" one too many times, and raised their hand to address those up front with the statement: "The last time I checked, the residents ARE Henrico. We are Henrico!"</span><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometime soon after that, one by one residents began to rise from their seats in small numbers to begin using each of their five green dot stickers to vote for the points they supported among those on the walls.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">These five votes each resident made </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >should</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> help to determine "where Henrico goes next" regarding Varina in the Comprehensive Planning Process.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">No surprise that the vast majority of these votes will be seen to reflect the bright, fertile green that so represents Varina's agricultural past, the green that we are asking to carry with us all into her sustainable future.</span></span><br /><br />But as residents trickled homeward up the aisles, Varina's Planning Commissioner (and 2008 Planning Commission Chairman) Ray Jernigan could be heard telling a resident why Developmental Rights Programs would never be implemented in Henrico...<br /><br />Let's hope that he and his co-workers will adopt a more "can-do" approach as the Comprehensive Planning process moves forward in Varina. Let's all continue to ask the tough questions, and demand that they be answered and addressed.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">_________________________________________<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">_________________________________________</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">_________________________________________<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">EPILOGUE:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><br />_________________________________________</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">_________________________________________<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Richmond Times-Dispatch, Lacking in Varina Again</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">It might be better than nothing, but not much. The following RT-D coverage of Monday night's "Varina Town Hall meeting", managed to get just inside the theatre door, but not quite far enough.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As recently as two months ago, a search of the Richmond Times-Dispatch archives for the word "Varina" brought up 32 results for East End School sports coverage, before presenting the first hint of current events in Eastern Henrico. These results may be ranked in relation to the clicks they receive from readers, but the coverage of the Varina District is still slim at best.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Melodie N. Martin should school herself in the prior works of RT-D Staff Writer Will Jones. While on the Henrico desk, Mr. Jones covered the real issues concerning growth and the results of rampant sprawl in Henrico and the Richmond Region. Where is that kind of coverage when we need it now?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">According to some of residents in attendance at the recent Varina Town Hall Meeting, the reporter was "not to be found" 45 minutes after the presentation started. Residents had walked around looking for her and come up dry. Perhaps there was a more important story elsewhere in the County that she had to dash off to cover? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If she had stayed (or actually covered the "group workshop" process, if she was still there) HV would be thankful. Martin was overheard earlier this year at another Henrico meeting, telling a resident, "They (the RT-D) just assigned me Henrico, I don't really know much about it."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As it stands, we're hoping Martin will attempt to address the issues in the field with a greater measure of depth in the future. Bone up! Dig a little- it's not like you have to dig too far in Varina before you hit dirt.</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/henrico.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-17-0075.html"><span style="font-size:180%;">"Eastern Henrico growth concerns some residents"</span></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 - 12:08 AM Updated: 02:26 PM</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" > </span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >By MELODIE N. MARTIN</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >The future development of eastern Henrico County took center stage Monday night.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >About 210 people gathered at the Henrico Theatre in Highland Springs for a town meeting on the proposed update to Henrico's comprehensive plan -- a guide for land use in the county through 2026.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >One goal of the plan is to maintain a good balance in the county's tax base, which is currently 68 percent residential and 32 percent commercial and industrial, said Varina District Supervisor James B. Donati Jr., who called the meeting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >The proposed land-use plan has been controversial in Varina, where more growth is planned for the largely-rural area.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >Greg Dale, founding principal with county-hired consulting firm McBride, Dale, Clarion, told the audience the county's population continues to grow at an annual rate of 1.5 percent and that the western end has the capacity to support growth for the next 15 to 20 years.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >Lifelong Sandston resident Brenda Seal, 48, said she hoped to learn more details about the plan but was not comforted by what she heard.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >"I know you have to have growth, but not everything has to be a planned community," Seal said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >"If it keeps on going this way, it will be like [western Henrico]. I might as well move farther out."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >Sheila Sheppard, coordinator of the Richmond-based Partnership for Smarter Growth, said the meeting resulted from conversations a group of concerned Henrico residents had with county officials about providing an opportunity for residents to examine and discuss the plan publicly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >Sheppard said aspects of the plan that are missing or need improving include encouraging pedestrian and bicycle-friendly communities, transportation alternatives, environmental-impact analysis and more emphasis on using space within already developed areas.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >But she also commended the plan for moving toward smart-growth principles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >"A lot of people in Varina want to preserve the rural character of Varina, and this area is being targeted for growth in the comprehensive plan," Sheppard said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >Responding to an audience member's comment that the plan plays down preserving rural and historic areas, Dale said that compared with the current 2010 land-use plan, the amount of rural land would be reduced by 7 percent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >"The reality is the amount of rural identified in this plan is not much less than the amount of rural in the current plan," Dale said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >"There really hasn't been a change away from rural as the prominent development plan in the area."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >The Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors each will conduct formal public hearings before voting on the plan.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >Contact Melodie N. Martin at (804) 649-6290 or <a href="mailto:mmartin@timesdispatch.com">mmartin@timesdispatch.com</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" > </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Reader Reaction:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >Give your opinion on this story</span><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/henrico.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-17-0075.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click this link to go to the RT-D article </span></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">_________________________________________</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">_________________________________________<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">HV openly welcomes all readers to use this blog as a forum, to discuss the issues at hand. Check out the "How to Blog" link, listed under "A Hand Up" in the column to the right if you need any help.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">_________________________________________</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">_________________________________________</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></span></div></div><br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-52043697329753572782008-09-08T08:25:00.013-04:002008-09-12T21:53:37.033-04:00A Hands-On 'Community Visioning Session' in Varina on Monday September 15th<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can you envision what Varina will look like in 5 years... 10 years... 20 years?<br />Have a look at the slide-show above, and add 126,000+ residents,<br />because that's what Henrico's 'Capacity Analysis' documents project.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are you aware that between 1990 and 2006 Henrico County lost 16%<br />of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">its residual farms and forests - what the county calls “vacant land”?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">That represents one percent a year- but obviously, it's on the rise..</span><br /><br />Please come out next Monday night and<br />join the "working group discussion"<br />concerning the future of Eastern Henrico.</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Next Monday, September 15th, from 7:00 p.m.,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >a Hands-On "Community Visioning Session" will be held at</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The Henrico Theatre,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >305 East Nine Mile Road,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Highland Springs, VA., 23075</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > </span><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >Varina residents are strongly urged to attend<br />this meeting, and participate in the planning<br />of our own District's future.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">This is your opportunity to be involved.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Please download and circulate a </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://www.valcvef.org/partnership/documents/varina2color.pdf">color flyer</a><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > or </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" href="http://www.valcvef.org/partnership/documents/Hands-OnHenricoFlyerBW.pdf">black and white flyer</a><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > here, to help bring Varina residents out to this most important meeting.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">* * * * * * * </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">* * * * * * * </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">* * * * * * * </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">* * * * * * * </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">* * * * * * * </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">* * * * * * * </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">* * * * * * *</span></span></span></div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >Our Currency: Our Future, Our Environment,</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IhNw4Aqq_GyvYJHyWablg3B-chXh6gLnQLkcPlbZGxAo91n0DgXUOCZE9HO5JQQ_-_HGBA1HBD3_DON_AHwm7lZqg_wkvCLB2WV6ebC9Mjg1hEXmMTbhKc7FVUSfZ9WZcvAvHlPs32Y/s1600-h/OurCurrencyOurEnvironment-VARINA_Virginia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IhNw4Aqq_GyvYJHyWablg3B-chXh6gLnQLkcPlbZGxAo91n0DgXUOCZE9HO5JQQ_-_HGBA1HBD3_DON_AHwm7lZqg_wkvCLB2WV6ebC9Mjg1hEXmMTbhKc7FVUSfZ9WZcvAvHlPs32Y/s400/OurCurrencyOurEnvironment-VARINA_Virginia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244490670588236786" border="0" /><br /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">In this ever dwindling economy, it should be more than apparent that you can't spend what you don't have, unless you're Henrico County that is, because Henrico is not only spending your tax dollars, they're spending your future.</span><br /><br />Comprehensive Planning in Henrico can easily be likened to "Futures Trading", as the future of our own commodities is what is at stake. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As you know if you read the local papers, the internet, and perhaps our blog, a great deal of change has been targeted for the Varina District in the drafts of Henrico County's 2026 Comprehensive Plan. Change that will not only cost residents money, but also cost us the future of our own environment.<br /><br />These changes won't just affect Varina though, they'll affect all <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/02/varinas-future.html">Henrico County resident's taxes</a>, Virginia's environment, and the health and lives of future generations to come.<br /><br />To create infrastructure (roads, schools, fire and police support) for new developments, Henrico County is currently spending 16 cents above each tax dollar they receive from you.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >That means they (eh hem, WE) are losing money.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />If 16 cents doesn't sound like much to lose, please realize how fast that can amount to millions of dollars in County spending. So, where will that extra 16 cents per tax-dollar come from? Out of residents pockets, via increased </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">fees and </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">taxes.<br /><br />Sure, many residents would rather be playing golf, collecting stamps, or watching cable tv... but the simple fact is that commodities like "Quality of Life", "Environmental Preservation", and "Historic and Cultural Heritage", <span style="font-weight: bold;">can not be bought back once they're sold</span>, and as residents of an area seriously threatened by the loss of just those commodities, we deserve the unbiased support of our elected (and non-elected) county officials. It's painful to "get involved" sometimes, but aren't "we the people" responsible for our own future?<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Among the changes forecast for Varina are: massive residential growth, a shift away from our agricultural heritage, new roadways that will further divide currently farmed and forested land... all of which are repeatedly represented as positive change by those attempting their institution.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of the points made in the Comp Plan's "Capacity Analysis" projects residential growth to rise by about 126,000+ people by 2026. Seeing that the vast majority of what the county calls <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/03/knowledge-of-comprehensive-plan-low.html">"vacant land"</a> is in the Varina District, where do you think those new residents would live? (Varina is Henrico's answer.)<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Capacity Analysis"</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> download .pdf (large file): <a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/2026capacity.pdf">http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/2026capacity.pdf </a></span><br /></div> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">download smaller "text only" version:</span> <a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/2026capacity%28text%29.pdf"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/2026capacity(text).pdf<br /></span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you've paid attention to our county management in the past, you'll know that they repeatedly say that all of the extra money our county needs can come from "Economic Development", and that economic development is the backbone of our county. But just how much economic development can we afford? Wouldn't you rank the well-being of our residents, our environment, and our county's historic and cultural heritage above the spiraling growth of Henrico?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" >At some point very soon, our elected officials need to realize that sustainability </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">needs to be the primary focus</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" > in Henrico County, not just continued growth.</span><br /><br />After all, do you want to live on West Broad Street? It seems not, if you live in Varina. Growth has long been a concern in the Eastern part of Henrico. Just read the Richmond Times-Dispatch' May 29th, 2008 article entitled the same: <a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/henrico.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-05-29-0095.html">'Growth a Concern in Eastern Henrico'</a><br /><br /></div></div></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even when asked by the local government, the overwhelming majority of Henrico residents responding cited a need to control growth. </span><b style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Overall, 82% of the (<a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/03/and-thesurvey-says.html">2005 Citizen Survey</a>) respondents support further restricting or managing new development in rural areas not served by county sewer</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Not surprisingly given such a large percentage, support was strong across all categories of respondents that were analyzed for this summary."</span><br /><br /></b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yet County Planning continues to support growth alone, and there seem to be no growth restrictions or management provisions in the 2026 Plan to reflect these concerns. This is why Henrico County representatives need to hear from <span style="font-weight: bold;">you</span>, and all the residents you can rally to join in speaking up:<br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Next Monday, September 15th at 7:00 p.m., a "Hands-On Community Visioning Session" will be held at the Henrico Theatre, at 305 East Nine Mile Road, Highland Springs, VA 23075. Varina residents are strongly urged to attend this meeting and participate in the planning of our district's future.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The upcoming session came about through the support and planning of <a href="http://www.valcvef.org/partnership/HenricoCounty.html">The Varina Beautification Committee</a>, <a href="http://valcvef.org/partnership/EnvisionHenrico.htm">Envision Henrico</a>, and <a href="http://www.valcvef.org/partnership/index.html">The Partnership for Smarter Growth</a>, as well a the care and effort of many Varina residents.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This past spring, Henrico County held a series of Comprehensive Planning meetings, one in each of the five county districts. Varina residents outnumbered those in attendance at any of the other open-houses. Why? Because Varina residents have the most to lose as a result of the changes proposed in the 2026 Plan.<br /><br />During the past several years, as Supervisors and Planners have worked on the Comprehensive Plan, there have been no public meetings to allow for the inclusion of residents, or to address local concerns. Though in the RT-D article on Henrico Growth (linked above) we find: </span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">"Henrico Planning Director Joe Emerson disagrees. He said details of the proposed plan are available on the county's Web site, in county libraries and at the planning department. Before voting on it, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors will each conduct formal public hearings on the plan, he said."</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">""I think the process has been open and continues to be open," Emerson said."</p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" >But open process involves more than quietly making documents available to the public. True public process involves asking the people what they want, and applying their answers to fit their needs too.<br /><br />Those would be the needs of the people who pay county employees salaries... the needs of those who live in the county, who support their own communities, who care about their neighborhoods, their children, and the future of the land on which they live, learn, and play.<br /><br />The infrastructure necessary to support current residents should be addressed first and foremost, not just the new support systems needed to allow for future residents, who have yet to come.</span><br /><br />As other than the Open-House meetings mentioned above, and the results of a <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/03/knowledge-of-comprehensive-plan-low.html">Citizen Survey which administered county-wide in 2005</a>, there has been no call for, or allowance of actual public inclusion in Henrico's 2026 Comprehensive Plan draft. To date, the current Comprehensive Plan draft shows little, if any County Planning response to the Citizen Survey results.<br /><br />So, in late July, a petition requesting "expanded public process" for the draft 2026 Henrico County Comprehensive Plan was presented to Varina Supervisor Jim Donati, Ray Jernigan, and two members of the planning staff by an ad hoc delegation of concerned citizens: Charlie Finley, Lynn Wilson, Bob Gary, and Jane Koontz. These citizens suggested that Henrico County "partner" with community organizations in pulling together a Varina community-facilitated public meeting, prior to the formal public (2026 Plan) hearing before the Planning Commission. Which is yet another meeting that calls for your future attendance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As a result of the efforts of the ad hoc delegation, Varina Supervisor Jim Donati has since agreed that 'Community Visioning' will be the focus of the Varina Town Hall meeting on September 15th, also present that evening will be a 'facilitator' from the consulting firm McBride, Dale and Clarion; the firm still under contract with Henrico for the 2026 plan.<br /><br />Notices for Monday's meeting now in circulation ask that residents <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">"</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Mark your calendars for this most important event and help us get the word out!</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">"</span> and go on to say ..<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">We want Varina to know "growth is targeted for Varina, and how Henrico County is planning for future Land Use and Transportation in our neighborhoods. We also want to convey this meeting to be much more than the limited county "Open Houses" in May, that citizens are encouraged to participate in the planning process on September 15. The meeting will involve breaking up into small focus groups, then reconvening to share results, which the facilitator and planning staff will compile and share with us later."</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > * * * * * * * </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > * * * * * * * </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > * * * * * * * </span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >* *</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Another set of recent fliers circulated by ROOT (Residents of Old Osborne Turnpike) reads as follows:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">"Hello Neighbors,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">There's good news and bad news. First, the bad:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"> * Between 1990 and 2006 Henrico County lost 16 % of its residual farms and forests - what the county calls “vacant land.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"> * The draft 2026 Henrico Land Use Plan re-labels even more farmland as "suburbs", paving the way for more houses, more cars, and a whole lot less of the open land that has characterized this county for the last 400 years.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">The good news?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">* So many of us have stood up to protect Varina that government officials are finally listening.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">* In 2005 Henrico conducted a survey in which 82% of respondents said they “support further restricting or managing new development in rural areas.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">* Jim Donati admitted in a Style Weekly cover story that “'If you put houses on, say, a 500-acre field, you have to build a new school for that and hire more police officers and maybe build a new fire station.' Add in water and sewer service, and the county ends up losing money, spending $1.16 per $1 of income."<br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">(To read the entire story click on <a href="http://styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17349">http://styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17349</a>).</span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">* To make sure Varina's future is shaped by Varina residents, not by real-estate developers, like-minded neighbors and neighborhood associations (including ROOT) have joined forces to create Envision Henrico.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">So...please join us on September 15th at the Henrico Theatre as we discuss with Jim Donati and other county representatives what Varina has been, what it is, and what <span style="font-size:130%;">we</span> want it to be."</span><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">* * * * * * * </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">* * * * * * * </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">* * * * * * * </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">* *</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Planning for the future of the county in which we live should involve the active participation of all of us. It should be by residents input and desires that Henrico's future is shaped. If you have any questions about what we may otherwise lose, scroll down and review some of the posts listed in the Historic Varina "Blog Archive" in the column on the right.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Think about why you moved to Henrico while you have a look at our county from the air</span></span><br /></div></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFy1VfUFiT9BYq2QVQFn2hsCeQqoB48nRhpdtszeIipCdKcmkx24432I23evMNKHKqk8fF1Co_tBI7VU5hziKBIoHewXTcBH5z8Ve6tpUxHCA3dCHN1XWMM7RCgxqrsMQxkqr1Lzdec8/s1600-h/West_gray_East_green.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 509px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFy1VfUFiT9BYq2QVQFn2hsCeQqoB48nRhpdtszeIipCdKcmkx24432I23evMNKHKqk8fF1Co_tBI7VU5hziKBIoHewXTcBH5z8Ve6tpUxHCA3dCHN1XWMM7RCgxqrsMQxkqr1Lzdec8/s400/West_gray_East_green.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166636303473116994" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Where you see gray instead of green is where continually unchecked development has removed the natural surface of the earth, resulting in deforestation, watershed pollution, and overcrowding to name only a few. Most of us agree that green is better than gray when it comes to the environment in which we live, work and play.<br /><br />So come out next Monday night and speak up in favor of green, speak against the light pollution that accompanies development, speak for sustainable growth. If you can't get a sitter, bring your children, and let them see what public process is all about; let the county see your children, whose futures their plans will affect. Speak for yourself, speak for your neighbors, speak for future generations, but speak now please, as this is no time to hold your peace.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">______________________________________________________________________</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Want to learn more about the growth projected in the current draft of Henrico's 2026 Comp Plan?<br /><br />Read HV's February post: <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/02/future-density-and-varina-how-much.html">"Future Density and Varina, How much growth can we afford?"</a><br /><br />Read what happens when even those who stand up in concern continue to go unheard:<br /><a href="http://www.henricocitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=128&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1910&hn=henricocitizen&he=.com">"Varina Cell-Tower Case Draws Interest"<br /></a><a href="http://www.henricocitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1200&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1910&hn=henricocitizen&he=.com">"Despite Concerns, Wyndham Expansion Approved"</a><br /></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">______________________________________________________________________</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-18862803420412695552008-07-22T08:16:00.009-04:002008-11-30T20:18:30.326-05:00Summer Blockbuster: Turf War depicted in Style<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7CUixv7asXmwrPAP1JmJtaOBxUCdlajU5ToIvpBc0cF5me0VGlZVZRy8dPKfWEiRUekHlGm1yxHEzC6eJ7mN_F9judUjGJyms-lC1EiqI0eVeSRz1dO_JPXcn7_7hiVChyphenhyphenkj_xnKFpI/s1600-h/turf-war.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7CUixv7asXmwrPAP1JmJtaOBxUCdlajU5ToIvpBc0cF5me0VGlZVZRy8dPKfWEiRUekHlGm1yxHEzC6eJ7mN_F9judUjGJyms-lC1EiqI0eVeSRz1dO_JPXcn7_7hiVChyphenhyphenkj_xnKFpI/s400/turf-war.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229621555314974658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Perhaps some of you missed the amazing recent Style Weekly cover story written my Nicole Ellis, if so- we cop it here with a deep hat-tip for you below, or you can read it in <a href="http://styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=9B6FFC446FF7486981EA3C0C3CCE4943&nm=Articles%2FNews&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=A6027907447F490AA0EDD95765C50FFA">Style</a>. Nice to see some local coverage with teeth. (The image is provided with thanks to our local artist : 'indigenous')</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >"Where the Grass is Greener"</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">"In the region’s big land grab, property owners are discovering that when it comes to protecting their land, there are other forces at play."</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">by Nicole Anderson Ellis</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Eric Archer loves his land. He loves his grapevines and the pecan trees he’s tended since they were just ankle-high. He loves his house, a one-story, brick-and-stone cottage his father built with his own hands. He loves every inch of the fields and forest that he, at 71 years old, finally paid off last spring. Yet even as he takes full ownership of the ground beneath him, he’s seen his property rights eroding at the hands of his elected officials.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“I’ve wandered this land since I was 3 years old,” Archer says. “I can find my way around in the pitch-black night.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Beyond his property line, however, in the southernmost tip of Chesterfield County, the area is becoming unrecognizable.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“This was a farming county,” Archer says. “It’s amazing how much is gone.” He smoothes out a worn map of the area of his father’s original purchase. The sepia paper is labeled in neat cursive and dated 1916.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“Across the creek was a 180-acre farm,” he says. “That’ll be houses soon. There’s a 203-acre dairy farm up the road that’s set to be 300 houses.” He taps the paper. “This was a farm. This was a farm. This was a farm.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Archer looks up and points across his driveway to an open field. “The boy that owns that now … I guess he’s waiting till it’s worth a million dollars.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Farm owners have the right to sell their land to developers. Archer gets that. What he doesn’t get is what happened to his right to keep his own land green.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In an effort to protect his property from future development, Archer has run up against a system that undermines state conservation tools and prioritizes the desires of developers over Virginia’s family farmers. The situation has landowners across the Richmond region wondering when it became OK for their elected officials to make off with their property rights.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Open spaces aren’t just fading from old maps. U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics show that the Richmond region — including the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, New Kent and Powhatan — is losing its fields and forests faster than anywhere else in Virginia. More than an acre of green space disappears each hour. That’s the equivalent of an area the size of Maymont being converted to a subdivision every four days.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“We’re using too much land,” says Bob Lee, executive director of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. “At the current rate of land conversion, more land will be lost in the next 40 years than in all the years since Jamestown.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“We lived here 50 years before we saw our first turkey,” says Archer, gazing across his field. Today they’re regular visitors, crowding onto his property as surrounding farmland disappears. Across the region, development and urban sprawl has driven wildlife, including deer, bear and coyote, into developed areas.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The land rush has also driven up property taxes. In 2006 Chesterfield County assessed Archer’s 41 acres at $96,000. This year his assessment topped $154,000, a leap that leaves Archer stumped. “If someone’s got enough money to spend $300,000 on a house down the way,” he says, “what’s that got to do with me?”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Archer and his wife had always planned to pass their land to their children, but the recent trends made them worry. “I’d like to preserve this land,” he says. “But by the time [our children] retire, the taxes’ll be so high they’ll have to sell it.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So when Archer read an article in Progressive Farmer magazine about conservation easements, the idea resonated. Here was a way to protect his land long after he was gone: “I figured if I put down an easement, then [my kids] won’t be tempted.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Easement is a legal term for a right to use a piece of property. People who work in land conservation like to explain easements by talking about sticks. Buying land, they say, is like buying a bundle of sticks. Each stick is a right. The property rights that come with a land purchase depend on local laws, but generally include the right to build a house and limit who can enter the property. For larger parcels, they may include the right to subdivide property and change how it will be used — for example, from a farm to a suburban cul-de-sac.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">One way that states encourage the preservation of open space is by allowing property owners to relinquish some of the “sticks,” or rights, to their property. Every conservation easement is different, but most forfeit the right to subdivide land. The agreement is legally binding and perpetual. The land remains private. It can be inherited, sold or donated, but the conservation easement and its restrictions endure through every transfer.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">To encourage this form of voluntary conservation, the government has created tax incentives, including a federal charity-gift deduction, federal estate-tax exemptions and state tax credits (the nation’s best, according to Lee). In addition, by lowering property values, easements can lower taxes paid by the owner.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Before they can tap into these benefits, however, landowners need to find a nonprofit or government agency willing to serve as a land trustee and hold their easements.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In Virginia the vast majority of conservation easements — roughly 80 percent, or 500,000 acres — are held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. “It’s the largest public land trust in the nation,” foundation easement specialist Philip Reed says.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That’s a lot of responsibility, which includes ensuring that land use restrictions are followed and, when necessary, defending easements in court. Legal challenges are rare, but in 2003 the Virginia Outdoors Foundation had to fight an attempt by current owners to subdivide an 81-acre parcel in Chesterfield. It had been protected by an easement since 1976, when then-owner Mary Moody Northen relinquished the development rights. The foundation won that battle and the land remains as Moody wanted: green.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Such victories bolster the faith of easement supporters, including Gov. Tim Kaine, who touts voluntary easements as Virginia’s best tool for land conservation. “There’s not much we do in public office that can’t be undone or changed, but conservation easements are forever,” Kaine told a gathering of farmers and landowners at a forum in South Boston in December.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At the start of his term Kaine committed to preserving 400,000 acres of open space in Virginia by 2010. Halfway to his deadline, the Department of Conservation and Recreation reports that 250,000 acres have been saved. Some of that land was bought for public parks, but the vast majority is private property — land that Virginians decided to, in part, give away.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At the heart of the conservation easement program is the belief that pieces of land are not interchangeable; that each piece of land offers unique value in its unique location. When Virginians put an easement on their property, it isn’t because they want to save some land; they want to save that land.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As state Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources Nikki Rovner told those attending the South Boston forum, “There are three reasons why Virginians get conservation easements: Because they love their land. Because they love their land. Because they love their land.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But easements work only if property owners can find a willing land trust, a task some local governments are making more difficult every day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lynn Wilson lives on 312 acres along the Chickahominy River. Her husband grew up on the property. Her brother-in-law’s family lives next door. Her own sister is down the lane. They are all, to use Wilson’s word, “unified” in their decision to get a conservation easement on the land. It’s plenty large enough, includes productive forestry lands, contains wetlands, is in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (like all counties in the Richmond region) and occasionally turns up shards of Powhatan pottery that has archaeology teams scurrying for a grant.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wilson has every reason to expect the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to accept her family’s application for a conservation easement.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That is, if Henrico County doesn’t scuttle the deal.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As outreach coordinator for the nonprofit Capital Region Land Conservancy, Wilson spent her days teaching landowners about conservation easements and connecting them with likely holders of those easements. She’s the person Eric Archer, of Chesterfield, called when he decided to preserve his land.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“When a landowner calls,” Wilson says, “the first thing a prospective holder would do, regardless of the size of the property, is take the address and look at the [locality’s] comprehensive plan.” That’s because the code of Virginia requires any conservation easement to be compatible with that plan.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“That’s a state law that everybody has to abide by,” says Reed, of the outdoors foundation. “Basically, if the county does not support an easement, we can’t accept it.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“Your land is not as much yours as you think it is,” Wilson says. “I’ve lived on this farm for 25 years and I’ve been asleep at the wheel. Before I accepted this job, I never paid attention to the county planning.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, despite her expertise and her own plans for her family’s land, Wilson received a shock when she made a trip to the library to do some research for a local farmer interested in an easement. She wanted to find out what the county had proposed for eastern Henrico’s Varina District in Henrico’s 2026 Comprehensive Plan.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“Of course one of the first things I did was look at my own property,” Wilson says. “I zoomed in and there’s this road running through my farm. I had to leave the library. I couldn’t breathe. That was my wake-up call.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wilson knew, better than anyone, that if that draft version of the plan were voted into law, her family would lose the opportunity to get an easement and protect their land.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“No easement holder would knowingly take land that’s slated for development on the county’s land use plan,” Wilson says. So as localities erase farms and forests on paper through their land use plans, they eliminate the state’s most cost-effective tool for preserving open space.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Because the state requires land-use plans to be updated at least every five years, at any time some part of the region is engaged changing its plan. Hanover wrapped up one last year. Chesterfield’s getting ready. Henrico is neck deep.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At a recent open house in an elementary school gym, a few dozen Varina residents mill around easels and map books doing exactly what Wilson had done: looking up their own homes to see what the future holds.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bill Gallmeyer was there, flipping through a desk-sized map. Gallmeyer and his son Steve farm strawberries and pumpkins on 94 acres in Henrico’s Varina District (their pumpkin patch made national news in 2006 when President George Bush surprised them with a visit). Standing in the corner of the gym, Gallmeyer finds his Berry Patch. It’s in a peach-colored swath that designates rural residential prime agricultural. That’s good news, he says. But the edge of suburban residential is shifting closer. Between 1990 and 2006 Henrico County lost 16 percent of its residual farms and forests — what the county calls “vacant land.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">The 2026 plan further reduces designated open space, although the county’s planners have yet to determine by how much. And every time the suburban designation shifts eastward, it disqualifies more land from protection.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bill’s been farming in Varina all his life, so he’s had a ringside seat for the paving-over of much of Henrico’s fertile ground.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“I can ride down the road and point to developments with big houses and say, ‘We used to farm that and we used to farm that,” he says. “Varina District was the last open space in the county. Now it’s closing, and it’s sad to see.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When a friend in King William County got a conservation easement, Bill proposed the idea to his family. His wife worried about the significant devaluation of their property, because land that’s blocked from development has a lower market value. For example, an 81-acre tract in the heart of Chesterfield County has a conservation easement. Its appraised value is roughly $35,000. If it were free to be developed, that figure would jump to $7 million. The property taxes paid to the county would also jump.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">In the end, however, the Gallmeyers agreed on the plan. Bill contacted the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. And that’s when the dream died. Though their land satisfied multiple requirements, the foundation denied the application. The Gallmeyers’ 94 acres is divided into two parcels, both of which were deemed too small.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In April the Virginia Outdoors Foundation published an “interim protocol” detailing new selection criteria designed to “best support the Governor’s goal.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">While the agency has long prioritized larger tracts of land, it had regularly accepted smaller acreage. A third of its easements held in the Richmond region are less than 100 acres, and the agency’s selection guidelines claim “no minimum size for properties considered for easements in either rural areas or urban and urbanizing areas.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But following Kaine’s announcement of his goal to preserve 400,000 acres by 2010, the foundation found itself racing to get that number on the books. With six easement specialists covering the entire state and with a limited budget (only a last-minute amendment to the state budget spared the foundation a half-million dollar cut this spring), the agency can only do so much. “If we can devote the same effort to save thousands of acres elsewhere,” Reed says, “we need to do that.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In other words, the foundation must choose its easements carefully. So while smaller parcels might be considered if they offer extraordinary conservation value — they are an endangered species habitat or share a border with a state park, for example — <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">100 acres has become the cutoff. After 2010, that limit may drop again. But between now and then changes to land use plans may have made hundreds, even thousands, of local acres ineligible.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As an easement specialist for the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Reed is responsible for 25 counties, including Richmond’s nearest neighbors. The sun-faded map on his dashboard speaks to hours on the road, and he recognizes farms and forests the way most people know houses on their block.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On his way to the Smith family farm in Hanover, he raps a knuckle on the driver’s side window. “They’re considering an easement.” He points to swells of green out of the passenger side. “Sod farm. I’d like to get an easement on that.” Most of the land in Hanover is exactly what the foundation’s looking for: large tracts of productive agricultural land, with historic resources, scenic value and habitat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A half-mile before the Smith farm comes into view, the landscape is broken by 100 acres of raw red clay. A sign on the road announces Longview Estates, houses starting at $480,000. It seems houses are Hanover’s newest crop.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“We’re surrounded,” says Retta Smith, matriarch of the family. Three generations have gathered on her hilltop lawn to discuss the conservation easement that, with Reed’s help, now protects their farms.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Developers love farmland. It drains well, doesn’t need clearing and — until the next development comes — offers homeowners the sweeping views they crave. So farmers across the region are used to receiving phone calls from developers, Reed says. But they don’t bother calling the Smiths, whose 1,300 combined acres are useless as suburban land.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was Retta’s husband, Robert Smith Sr., who first pursued an easement to protect their land. “All he thought about was keeping houses out,” Retta says. He died in the spring, but he lived to see all of his land and his sons’ land legally protected from being converted to subdivision — forever.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There are lots of qualitative values to green space: habitat, beauty and what Kaine calls “soul restoration.” There are quantitative benefits as well. Some are obvious. Combined, farming and forestry are the commonwealth’s No. 1 industry. The lure of the state’s historic and natural resources make tourism the No. 2 industry.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some benefits are hidden. Local farms save on transportation and pollution-related costs; forests save in health and environmental cleanup costs by purifying water and air. Other benefits are counterintuitive. Statistics show open land generates income for counties, while subdivisions drain the coffers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“If you don’t have the development, you don’t need to provide all the services,” says Jim Donati, who represents the Varina District on the Henrico Board of Supervisors.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“If you put houses on, say, a 500-acre field,” Donati says, “you have to build a new school for that and hire more police officers and maybe build a new fire station.” Add in water and sewer service, and the county ends up losing money, spending $1.16 per $1 of income.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“Residential development does not pay for itself,” Wilson says.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A field of berries doesn’t need to be educated. Cows do not commit crimes. So for every tax dollar paid by owners of open space, the county spends 35 cents in services, according to a 2004 study by the National Recreation and Parks Association. When fields are plowed under for development, that income is lost.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This math hits home with elected officials just across the line from Henrico, where Hanover’s conservation easements are embraced as a tool for fiscal conservatism.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“Hanover eats them up because they save money,” Reed says.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Saving taxpayers’ money is one reason the county’s new land use plan earmarks more than a third of the county’s 300,000 acres as a rural conservation district designated to remain green space “for the foreseeable future,” says John Hodges, Hanover’s deputy county administrator — “maybe permanently.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“My background is in planning and the right to develop land is a community decision,” Hodges says. “We think growth should be managed so it doesn’t conflict with conservation. Conservation needs to come first.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“People want this,” he continues. “They want to preserve our rural heritage.” At public hearings on the new plan, the only opposition to the conservation district was “that it should go further,” Hodges says, “that we haven’t set aside enough.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Henrico County residents seem to feel the same. “I’ve never had anybody come up to me and say I’m happy they put that new subdivision up,” says Ray Jernigan, chairman of the Henrico County Planning Commission.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />In 2005 the county conducted a survey in which 82 percent of respondents said they “support further restricting or managing new development in rural areas.” This value is reflected in county planning documents’ frequent references to “preserving rural character,” but concrete steps to preserve green space are hard to find, and county officials speak of suburban sprawl as a natural and unavoidable process.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“It would be great not to see any of it develop out here,” Henrico’s Donati says, “but that’s not the real world.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Jernigan is equally pragmatic: “The law says people have a right to develop their property.” Of course, the law limits that right through zoning and permitting and land-use plans. And when asked about the limits Henrico’s proposed plan would put on property owners’ right to get conservation easements, Jernigan voices surprise. “So if it shows SR1 [suburban residential 1], you can’t put it in conservation?” he asks. “I’ve never heard that. I’d like to find out about that.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Donati, a self-proclaimed “property-rights guy,” suggests that the problem can be remedied by retroactive amendments to the comprehensive plan on a case-by-case basis. He cites examples of exemptions the Board of Supervisors passed to allow high-density development in parts of Henrico where it conflicted with the comprehensive plan.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Such a gesture of support from the county would satisfy the law, Reed and Wilson agree. And some counties have amended comprehensive plans to accommodate easements, though it’s a lengthy process requiring two public hearings. <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Neither Henrico nor Chesterfield has ever made such an exception for an easement.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chesterfield’s track record in land preservation has done little to secure the confidence of rural residents such as Eric Archer. “The county conserving land is a joke,” he says.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This reputation stems in part from state Sen. John Watkins’ high-profile attempt to overturn the conservation easement on the Mary Moody Northen property; an effort that has been unsuccessful to date.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But Watkins does not just oppose the easement on Mary Moody Northen’s family farm. He disagrees with Virginia’s conservation easement program as a whole.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“We have got what some people would call one of the best conservation easement programs in the country,” Watkins says. “I would say it’s the most liberal.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Specifically, Watkins condemns conservation easements as “a tax-avoidance scheme” and an infringement on property rights. “If this generation made that choice, fine,” he says. “But we shouldn’t be making that choice for the next generation.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“If you develop land, you’re tying it up forever too,” Reed counters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But add Watkins’ opposition to the new parcel-size limits and Chesterfield’s expanding development, and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation is happy to look for land elsewhere. “We really don’t even mess in Chesterfield anymore,” Reed says. “We don’t need another Mary Moody issue.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Indeed, the foundation recently denied an easement to owners of 119 acres at Courthouse and Hull streets, a donation that would have been the third-largest conservation easement in the county.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yet as Chesterfield readies to tackle its own comprehensive plan, there’s evidence of a new attitude toward the county’s remaining open space.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“In Chesterfield they’ve had major changes in their board,” Wilson says. “And they’re expressing greater interest in preservation and open space.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Archer’s heard the talk. “What’s her name? Marlene Durfee? They say she’s trying to control growth.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Durfee’s been on the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors for only six months, but the priority she places on balancing growth with preservation has sent ripples of hope throughout the county’s rural enclaves.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“I understand the concern for property rights” Durfee says, “but counties have the authority to determine land use. We need to concentrate our attention on conservation.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Landowners and developers are watching to see how that attention plays out in the upcoming land-use update.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For now, Archer will keep planting grain for the deer and turkey and keep hoping policies change before the last of the county becomes city. “We don’t need to cover every inch,” he says. “We need to have a little space for wildlife and the ecosystem and the whole ball of wax.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On their farm in eastern Henrico, the Gallmeyers will continue to tend their pumpkins and berries, continue to watch subdivisions approach, continue to hope the Virginia Outdoors Foundation will change its mind about an easement before changes to Henrico’s land-use plan push that dream out of reach. “People take agriculture for granted,” Bill Gallmeyer says. People have forgotten where their food comes from, he explains. “Well,” says Bill, “build all your farmland into houses and when you get hungry you can eat your house.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">And up in Hanover, Retta Smith and her sons and grandson will milk their cows and reap their grain, knowing that no matter how far the sprawl reaches, the foundation guards the easement on their farms. “How can you call it a sacrifice,” Smith asks, “if you’re saving your land?”</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" >She squints out over the hillside where a warm wind sifts the heavy-headed grain. Then she clucks her tongue at the approaching subdivisions. “They’ve got dollar signs in their eyes.”</span></span>"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . </span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">. . . . . . </span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">. . . . . .</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >still want to learn more ?<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">"Virginia Releases State Money for Agricultural Conservation Easements"<br /></span></span></st1:place></st1:state></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.farmland.org/programs/states/VA/2008ProgramDisbursements.asp">Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the distribution of $4,250,002 to 14 Virginia localities</a> <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">to preserve farmland through local purchase of development rights (PDR) programs. Calling it a historic step, the governor said the funds will benefit Virginia’s farmers, local economies, and the environment. </span><br /></span></span></st1:place></st1:state></span></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></st1:place></st1:state></span></span> <div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Former AFT Staff member and current program coordinator of Virginia’s Office of Farmland Preservation, Kevin Schmidt, will make disbursements to Albemarle, Clark, Fauquier, Goochland, Isle of Wight, James City, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, Stafford County, Frederick County, Rappahannock, New Kent County, Cumberland County and Northampton County.<br /><br />According to Schmidt, “Virginia localities have done a tremendous job up to now using their own funding and some federal assistance. It is very gratifying to work with them to bring state matching dollars into the mix.” Schmidt hopes that the state match may encourage new localities to establish PDR programs, joining the 21 that already operate.</span></span></st1:place></st1:state></span></span></div><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);"><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"></st1:place></st1:state></span></span></div><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;" > </span></span><p style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"></span></span></p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;" > </span></span><p style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;" ><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;" ><img alt="VA Farm Photo_small" src="http://action.farmland.org/images/content/pagebuilder/15547.gif" align="middle" border="0" width="300" /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;" ><a href="http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/"></a></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >We encourage HV readers to <a href="http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm">contact the Governor's office</a>, and ask why Henrico is missing from the list of above counties receiving PDR funding...<br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial,verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > </span></span></div></div></div></div></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-71971725935177725322008-06-23T17:45:00.002-04:002008-06-24T02:19:46.249-04:00Don’t Buy Virginia’s Antiques Roadshow<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >(the following text is all courtesy of the <a href="http://www.pecva.org/anx/index.cfm">Piedmont Environmental Council</a>. and the <a href="http://www.southernenvironment.org/virginia/index.htm">Southern Environmental Law Center</a>- bless them all)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Transportation Solutions for Today and Tomorrow<br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As reported in Sunday's Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial (link to follow), the </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"General Assembly convenes (this week) in special session to address -- once more -- its ongoing transportation dilemma."</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />If you are reading this, please act today to let our government representatives know that transportation planning in Virginia needs to undergo massive change. Please take just a minute of your time to <a href="http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/transportationsolutions">contact local officials</a> involved in these meetings <span style="font-weight: bold;">now</span>. Your voice can make a difference.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"We should build our 21st-century transportation system with vision and intelligence."</span><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/ct/Op3i05n1JcPV/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a><br /><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/ct/Op3i05n1JcPV/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a></div><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/ct/Op3i05n1JcPV/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">—Richmond Times Dispatch Editorial</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Too many Virginia families are facing economic stress because we failed to design our communities and transportation systems to offer alternatives to driving for every trip."</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">—Stewart Schwartz,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Coalition for Smarter Growth</span><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/ct/W13i05n1JcPC/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">—</span>Press Release</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.metrodcliving.com/urbantrekker/WindowsLiveWriter/j0400472.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://www.metrodcliving.com/urbantrekker/WindowsLiveWriter/j0400472.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Compare this image of traffic in Northern Virginia with the images in our banner above,<br />and ask yourself which you want to see in the future.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The world has changed (with $5 per gallon gas on the horizon) and our transportation priorities need to change with it —to transit, passenger & freight rail, telecommuting, walkable communities and land use policies that limit sprawl. As you read this email Virginia's transportation projects, priorities and funding are being debated during Governor Kaine's "Special Session on Transportation."</span><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/transportationsolutions/explanation"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Tell me more</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Tell the General Assembly that Virginia's ready for new transportation solutions.</span><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/transportationsolutions"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a><br /><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/transportationsolutions"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a></div><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/transportationsolutions"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Contact Officials</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Gas Prices Cause Vehicle Miles Traveled in March to Drop 4.3%</span> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Virginia needs a new transportation plan which takes into account rising gas prices. Estimated vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on all U.S. public roads for March 2008 fell 4.3% as compared with March 2007 travel. This is the first time estimated March travel on public roads fell since 1979.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Governor Kaine's transportation package includes more money for transit, passenger rail and freight rail, but also permits VDOT to continue to build sprawl-inducing highways like the Western Bypass in Northern Virginia and an eight lane I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley.</span><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/transportationsolutions/8s766d6427jn5nm7?"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tell Richmond we need a new plan</span><br />The Governor is on the right track with increased funding for transit and his new Sub-Cabinet on Community Investment, "tasked with promoting smart, sustainable growth by ensuring state funds are invested in projects that reduce suburban sprawl." However, the place to start changing priorities is with the billions of dollars we spend each year on transportation plans developed in the 80s and 90s.<br /><br /></span> </div></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Special Session may be over tomorrow or go on for the rest of the week. Let elected officials know that Virginians are ready for new leadership and transportation solutions that are forward thinking, not backward.</span><a href="http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/transportationsolutions"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Contact Officials now</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />contact Chris Miller, of the</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Piedmont Environmental Council</span><a href="mailto:pecnews@pecva.org"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />pecnews@pecva.org</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />(540) 347-2334</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Get involved. Each of us can show our governmental representatives that these are not just issues that will matter today, but also for future generations!<br /><br />Want to learn more? Download and read:</span><a href="http://www.southernenvironment.org/publications/richmond_transportation_may08.pdf"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Connections and Choices</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">: The High Cost of Transportation"</span><br /><dl class="img_block"><dt class="pub_title" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Transportation consumes an enormous – and rising – amount of income. The average southern household spends $7,990 per year on transportation, almost 19 cents out of every dollar spent.</span><br /></dt></dl><dl class="img_block"><dd class="pub_img"><img src="http://www.southernenvironment.org/images/pubthumbs/richmond_transportation_may08.jpg" width="120" /></dd><dd style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="pub_info">(May 2008; pdf; 2 pages)</dd><dt style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></dt></dl><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Want to read more about Virginia, the environment, and what you can do to help protect our state for future generations to come? Check out more excellent, free publications from the Southern Environmental Law Center <a href="http://www.southernenvironment.org/publications/">here.</a></span><br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-85955609854115518742008-05-23T08:20:00.017-04:002008-05-23T14:27:21.101-04:002026 Comp Plan changes reflect some recent Varina participation, but knowledge of Land-Use Plan still ultimately LOW<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yesterday's Varina Comprehensive Plan "Open House" had possibly the largest turnout at county meetings yet, buzz says. But vying with Three Chopt District open house attendance is ridiculous if the numbers compared were only 50 vs. 60.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcCYikiggeOhOwW1Lx5ASFJeQpzUA0izhp9pPQhWxlatG8Q616d4MJX8Z4BqVV7BGVepdZ-8x2lsoAKnG_ta-23tmac8jxEURih0LVj4rGC8DOOfhsjBW5b-26Jcuv4gbHvc4JkVG3Ns/s1600-h/CowsOfInstruction.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcCYikiggeOhOwW1Lx5ASFJeQpzUA0izhp9pPQhWxlatG8Q616d4MJX8Z4BqVV7BGVepdZ-8x2lsoAKnG_ta-23tmac8jxEURih0LVj4rGC8DOOfhsjBW5b-26Jcuv4gbHvc4JkVG3Ns/s400/CowsOfInstruction.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203640831482402162" border="0" /></a>Varina residents trickled in to Ward Elementary school, which hosted the Henrico Planning department's 2026 Comprehensive Plan "in process", but the flow was steady. Despite the highly disappointing lack of forewarning from the County and Richmond press, Varina locals showed where their hearts lie- in the dirt. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />The soil of our district, its history and its future, seemed a major topic among those attending. Concerns over proposed road-widenings and extensions, as well as pending "Land-Use" designation changes were among top topics of concern, eavesdroppers report. Our moles also relayed residents conversations with some planners voiced a high concern for protecting our district's agricultural heritage, historic sites, environmental preservation and the rights and safety of bicyclists who pedal our roads.</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Posted outside the meeting was a group petitioning alongside a banner reading "Henrico Concerned Citizens". (High marks and many thanks to those who took the time to get others involved- you dedication is very appreciated.) Signatures were being collected in favor of the county including residents in the Comprehensive Planning process, which to date, has been formulated largely in closed meetings with the aid of outside consultants.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Large placards displayed around the meeting space featured various maps of Henrico. As residents visited each well manned station, they were able to speak with county representatives from different departments and voice their concerns for our county's future. If county reps didn't know the answer, there were volumes of information on hand in which they were able to look up answers- or at least provide insight.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There is no doubt that updating the entire Comprehensive plan has been a massive undertaking, and the materials presented were both well created and displayed. Henrico employees on hand to serve residents' informational needs were well dressed, cheerful and personable, despite the task at hand. (Would you want to meet and talk with large groups of concerned citizens, one by one... after your long day at work would have usually ended?) Each person involved in the current draft should be highly commended, whether they were evident at the Varina meeting or not.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yet Comprehensive Plan faults are still evident and widespread. Chief among the concerns of many HV readers and also among those attending yesterday's meeting, was the dire lack of Henrico County's advertisement of both the current 'open house' meetings themselves and the </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Comprehensive Plan itself.<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"><br /><br />If the initial results of the 2005 Citizen Survey let our county employees know </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:100%;" >that</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"71% of Henrico residents who responded to the survey on which future planning in Henrico is based said they were not familiar with the "Land Use Plan"" then something is still drastically wrong. As Henrico proposes major changes for our district in particular, the onus is on those whom our tax dollars keep employed- to inform us of the future being created by the Comprehensive Plan.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Again, after Henrico's recent awe-inspiting (and no doubt highly costly) coverage of the Address-Change Survey and zip code 'hooplah', we here are very ashamed of our own county, and the serious lack- strike that- complete lack of information put forth publicly about the Comp Plan. This is our resident's land, quality of life, and future that is being swept under the proverbial rug.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >How can the county be so busy creating this plan that they do not realize the importance of informing the citizenry that it even exists for comment and suggestion? Two years is a long time to keep this plan so unknown. We rightfully wonder what Tamra McKinney (Henrico's Director of Public Relations and Media Services) has been doing? If promoting awareness of the 2026 Plan hasn't been at the top of Ms. McKinney's to-do list, then we need to ask: why not? ... and who has deemed this unimportant enough to completely ignore addressing?</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Varina residents are right to petition, asking for transparency in the Comp Planning process, as Henrico County has made little effort to promote knowledge of even the existence of the plan, other than to put it on their web-site. Only one small blip has been printed in the Times-Dispatch about the 2026 Plan meetings which is shameful! If given full media coverage, (as was done with Richmond's 'Master Plan') these meetings could have actually raised local awareness and invited residents inclusion and participation in what should always be a public process.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If yesterday's meeting in Varina drew more residents than any other district 'open-houses' held yet, we still need to get those numbers up. Varina is home to vast undeveloped tracts for which the county has little protection or preservation proposed. HV readers and meeting attendees alike pointed out the evident lack of planning for permanent protection of open-space in Varina. One resident was overheard to tell planners "we need to make sure we leave a great deal of this land AS IT IS, so that we'll still have something remaining in twenty years."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Recent updates to the comprehensive plan draft called in by Varina residents include the addition of a new "Suburban Mixed Use" area at the southern end of Osborne Turnpike (proposing commercial use to be mixed in with new residential growth), and the 'downsizing' in density of several areas formerly marked to include multi-story buildings and commercial uses. These changes in the draft seem to be explained as the result of Varina residents' responses to the 2026 Plan online- which is still open for resident's input.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73); font-weight: bold;">Our district's future can still be affected by your voice and actions.</span><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Click <a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/2026faq.htm">this</a><a href="http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan/2026faq.htm"> link</a> to learn more about the Comprehensive Plan. Then you need to review the chapters, maps, and diagrams and <span style="font-style: italic;">be sure to fill in the comments section for each plan chapter</span>.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />If you didn't attend the Varina open-house meeting, the Brookland Comp-Plan meeting is still available for you to attend. It will be held on Thursday May 29th, at the Western Government Center, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.</span></div></div></div> </div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-503867557927194602008-05-19T11:20:00.016-04:002008-05-19T22:23:52.233-04:00WHERE IS the PRESS COVERAGE of current Henrico 2026 Comprehensive Plan Meetings? ...and trackback to: 'Conspicuous Construction in Richmond'<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Paging Mr. Jones, Mr. Krishnamurthy, Ms. Martin, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Mr. Springston,</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > Mr. Williams! There's a call holding for you on the 2026 line.... Hello? Paging any hungry cub!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqKfqVFLBVS_Ff914AGziiqM7-Po-SrN9WAy32FNypDCpr7zJhISQEcqdqc9Bgv39xR1ScOT5YAUgAH47vPc79_di435zdM46W5jO3Ho6GhyvrJFqVTW-6LkPWu63EX4U0iJtlBTxHj8/s1600-h/phonebooth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 620px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqKfqVFLBVS_Ff914AGziiqM7-Po-SrN9WAy32FNypDCpr7zJhISQEcqdqc9Bgv39xR1ScOT5YAUgAH47vPc79_di435zdM46W5jO3Ho6GhyvrJFqVTW-6LkPWu63EX4U0iJtlBTxHj8/s400/phonebooth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202141270838243506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here's a link to an interesting UrbanStudies blog in town, featuring a fine post entitled<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a href="http://urbanstudies.wordpress.com/2007/04/07/conspicuous-construction-in-richmond/">"Conspicuous Construction in Richmond"</a>. (Major hat tip to 'tarabara'.)</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Out-take:</span> </span><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"With the many new developments such as Rockett’s Landing and Tree Hill Farm on the way, it is necessary to question the appropriate proportion of commercial and retail space needed to accommodate these new residences, and if this even plays a role. Either way, it is up to the citizens of the Richmond region to voice their opinions on what is happening to the open space in their region and question the effect of this development.<span>" </span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This all makes us wonder just how we "got where we are"... with prices for oil and staple food items skyrocketing, why does Henrico continue to foster rampant residential and retail construction? It seems they alone have decided that economic growth is the backbone of future growth in the county, to the dearth of any support of our local agricultural needs and environmental concerns.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Instead of just asking developers or retailers what they want, has anyone considered the desires of current residents of this county?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ever considered asking parents what the neighborhoods their children grow in should contain- or asking seniors how they feel about crime? ..Commuters about transportation and traffic issues?</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Where will the financing for the infrastructure made necessary by this planned building onslaught come from? Out of fees and taxes that we as residents will be asked to pay?</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What about the funding for new </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">roads, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">schools, and staffing needed in these 'growth areas'?<br /><br />Where are any of these issues addressed in the Comp-Plan 'draft'?<br /></span></div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span>Are Henrico residents are either disregarding the Comprehensive Plan meetings currently being held, or are they completely unaware of them- due to lack of promotion from the county itself, </span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span><span style="font-style: italic;">coupled</span> with non-existent "2026 Plan" coverage from the Richmond Times-Dispatch?</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><br /></span></span><div face="trebuchet ms" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span>When covering Richmond's Master Downtown Plan, the RT-D couldn't be stopped. Feature stories and coverage of meetings kept Richmond's residents aware of the entire process. Maybe all of that running around in Richmond wore our friends at the paper out, or perhaps there is some other reason they have chosen not to tackle the sticky issues at hand in Henrico.<br /><br />Not to mention Channels 12, 8, and 6- what about Fox 35? Or Henrico's own cable channel..17, funded by.. you and me.<br /><br />Without coverage of how residents can get involved, the future looks like a muddy downhill slide imbedded with 'stories that sell', like rampaging pit-bulls, house-fires, and murders. What about shedding some light on local government goings on, hmm?<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fine RT-D staff-writers once covered the issues that come along with sprawl... such as the environment....One thing is certain, we need them now!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >So dash to the nearest phone booth, Mr. Jones, Mr. Krishnamurthy, Ms. Martin, Mr. Springston, Mr. Williams, et al...... and don your super staff-writer suits- PLEASE!</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lest Henrico residents languish without the aid of your insights.</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Meetings on the boards for this week include:</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />TONIGHT- Monday, May 19th</span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Fairfield District Open-House</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >concerning the 2026 Comprehensive Plan 'draft'</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4:30 - 7:30pm</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wilder Middle School</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6900 Wilkinson Road. 23227</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />TONIGHT- Monday, May 19th<br />Varina District Town Meeting,<br />tonight's topic:<br />"Meet Your Senator and General Assembly Representatives"<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Senator Donald McEachin<br />Delegate Riley Ingram<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Delegate Dwight Jones<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Delegate Joe Morrissey<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Delegate Chris Peace<br />7pm<br />Henrico Theatre<br />305 E. Nine Mile Road, 23075</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />THURSDAY, May 22nd</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Varina District Open-House </span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />concerning the 2026 Comprehensive Plan 'draft'</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />4:30 - 7:30pm</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Ward Elementary School</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />3400 Darbytown Road</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">Let's get involved people, cable can't be that interesting... when the future of our county is at stake.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />That's what Tivo and VCRs are for.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></span>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-21404560732454829642008-05-13T19:07:00.001-04:002008-05-14T02:18:25.458-04:00Read about Henrico County's Future<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawLxPhnYttcjwQpmk_BI_apV-SO1q7dHBpp3JkgiUMGf-uNiB-Y8T17LjZMIBmT-j3aICgx6QvWCWjp2X_52XBtT0NRlWwMCe_MafHb7n-kmuI_Svgji-zrX337dZk8ThPiSEkUA8zU4/s1600-h/PECbumpersticker.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawLxPhnYttcjwQpmk_BI_apV-SO1q7dHBpp3JkgiUMGf-uNiB-Y8T17LjZMIBmT-j3aICgx6QvWCWjp2X_52XBtT0NRlWwMCe_MafHb7n-kmuI_Svgji-zrX337dZk8ThPiSEkUA8zU4/s400/PECbumpersticker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200088117556965538" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">...and if you don't care about farmland, what about your property taxes ??</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >read more by clicking <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/02/varinas-future.html">here<br /><br /><br /></a></span><br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-11616967161006409442008-05-08T16:28:00.016-04:002008-05-10T10:36:56.547-04:00Henrico address change ...hotline set up if you didn't get a survey<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Responses to the ZIP CODE SURVEYS still out now must be postmarked by Saturday, May 10. If approved, the name "Henrico" will become what is being called "the preferred location" by the end of the year.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">An added last minute touch: <a href="http://www.nbc12.com/news/state/18761239.html">WWBT12</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> reported that "Letters mailed to "Richmond" will remain an acceptable alternative," but the online text for that story has since been removed from Channel 12's website...</span><br /></div></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">12 also reported that "If you did not receive" a ZIP CODE SURVEY,"a hotline has also been set up for residents who did not receive a post card. That number is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">1-866-900-9845</span>" No deadline was given for the use of the hotline.</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >..and if the 'Address Change' is successful, you can always see it as a symptom of what's to come, and realize the importance of every residents participation in Henrico's 2026 Comprehensive Plan. Educate yourself, and pass the word now.</span> </div></span>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-50589813538551851852008-05-06T17:57:00.000-04:002008-05-06T17:52:31.700-04:00Henrico Zip Code Survey: Overshadowing the importance of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/HistoricVarina/SB-7CiG2TsI/AAAAAAAAAmA/ZfPEEkpJ9L8/identityVA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 620px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/HistoricVarina/SB-7CiG2TsI/AAAAAAAAAmA/ZfPEEkpJ9L8/identityVA.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">By now, we should all be familiar with the Henrico 'Zip Code Survey', but...</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where are the television ads, full-page magazine spreads, and newspaper articles about the 2026 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? Why haven't we received glossy full color brochures in the mail to educate us about the importance of the plan which will shape the future of our own county?</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">As pointed out in his February 21st <a href="http://www.henricocitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=1074&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1910&hn=henricocitizen&he=.com">Henrico Citizen article</a>, Editor Tom Lappas reminds us that the zip code issue now being addressed in Henrico is a two way street. "Henrico isn't the only locality that is losing tax revenue to the city; a similar situation exists on a smaller scale in Chesterfield County, which also has several "Richmond" ZIP codes within its boundaries."<br /><br />Mr. Lappas goes on to point out that "Chesterfield officials are said to be very interested in the outcome of the Henrico survey, and they may try a similar approach if the proposal is successful here," and also that "A small portion of Hanover County carries the Glen Allen mailing address, so Henrico occasionally receives taxes that actually belong to Hanover." But you don't see Henrico talking about the inequity there.<br /><br />With the postal surveys now hitting Henrico mailboxes, it was interesting to see a small number printed in the the bottom right hand corner of the postcard provided for residents to return. What is this number? When each resident enters the curtained box to vote in a state or national election, do their ballots sport any numbers which would identify their vote as coming from them in particular? We find this odd, very odd.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why would it be necessary (or possible) to identify which way any resident responded to this survey? There is, of course a possibility that these extra numbers are a way to be sure no one has stuffed the ballot box- but certainly some other non-identifying means could have been chosen to insure this.</span><br /><br />The ZIP CODE SURVEY card that arrives in some Henrico mailboxes says nothing of the tax issue, which was the topic used as a basis to promote the necessity of changing some Henrico locations names from Richmond, Va, to Henrico, Va... More than one savvy HV reader has brought this issue up via email. (Kudos for paying attention and alerting HV) Instead,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">the Zip Code survey card reads:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">"On behalf of customers in your area, Henrico County has requested that the Postal Service accept the name Henrico, VA as the last line on your mailing address. This change is being sought to bring greater addressing recognition to Henrico County's identity."</span><br /><br /></span><span>Why, that's not what Henrico told us at all! All of the representation that Henrico has given this issue has been solely about the loss of 5 MILLION DOLLARS of tax revenue, which "may be going to the City of Richmond"! </span><span>Now we're really confused. It seems the USPS might have contributed the survey card text- if so, their take on it seems on point to us.<br /><br />One way or the other, the City of Richmond has recently stated </span>that <a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/henrico.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-05-03-0070.html">tax discrepancies are reconciled with Henrico every year</a>. So whom are we to believe?<br /><br />Also, why has no solution been put forth by the County to address the out of pocket cost which would affect businesses which would have to change their signage, advertising materials, stationary, much less repaint their addresses on fleets of vehicles?<br /><br />What about the cost of reprinting all of each resident's personalized stationary? Residents and businesses time lost informing those who may mail them? Updating websites? Or the cost of replacing the stickers and rubber stamps used to address many outgoing mails? The list of these costs to citizens and businesses could go on and on.<br /><br />Also of note in context to the ZIP CODE SURVEY, is the fact that Henrico seems to have used a decent amount of resident's tax revenue in their associated public relations campaign. A full page full color advertisement in high circulation local magazines must cost something these days, and Richmond Magazine had at least one of those - perhaps payed for by the County? And what about the postage for the survey 'campaign brochures' and the survey cards themselves?<br /><br />What we call the 'campaign brochure' was an expensive looking two sided mailer, again printed in full color, on heavy, glossy paper that was sent out in by the County prior to the survey itself. HV readers have written in to point out that Henrico County's cable television channel has bee running several documentary style promotional advertisements at least once an hour, for the last month or so. These visual promotions must have been shot, edited, and musically scored by County employees, in-house. How was this funded? As a part of full-time employees regular work load?<br /><br />It would be interesting to see the full budget amount used for the print and media campaign to support the zip code based possible name change from Richmond to Henrico.<br /><br />Pages and pages of interesting "reader reaction" has been posted online in response to zip code related articles published in local papers- please take time to read the reader's opinions following each article:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/business/realestate.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-04-28-0195.html">"Henrico, VA effort adds to divisions"</a> (Richmond Times Dispatch Apr 28, 2008)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.henricocitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=1074&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1910&hn=henricocitizen&he=.com">"Henrico, Va.' May Become Reality"</a> (Henrico Citizen, February 21, 2008)<br /><br /><div class="articleContentTitle"><a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/henrico.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-05-03-0070.html">"Richmond counters Henrico effort..."</a> (Richmond Times Dispatch May 03, 2008)</div><div class="articleContentSubHead"><br />Much of the reader response to recent press seems to have more to do with regionalism, and opinions concerning how Henrico and Richmond officials behave in context to just that. Many residents have written in to point out that the ZIP CODE SURVEY seems to have more to do with regionalism or the county's inability to properly filter tax data- than where their tax dollars are ending up, and some valid points have been made. But bickering over opinions of those both inside and outside of the city limits isn't going to solve what's at hand now.<br /></div><br />None of the ZIP CODE SURVEY questions we've asked above bother us as much as a more important issue at hand this May. Which is: <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">WHY hasn't a similarly zealous effort been made by our elected officials and those whose salaries our tax dollars employ, to campaign to educate Henrico residents about the importance of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan?</span></span></span><br /><br />As covered by Historic Varina on March 18th in <a href="http://historicvarina.blogspot.com/2008/03/knowledge-of-comprehensive-plan-low.html">"Knowledge of Comprehensive Plan LOW among Henrico County residents- Survey says"</a>, the '2005 Citizen Survey' let Henrico Officials know that "71% of Henrico residents who responded to the survey on which future planning in Henrico is based said they were not familiar with the "Land Use Plan." It still doesn't seem like Henrico is spreading the word about the Comp Plan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In case anyone reading this still does not understand: <span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);">The Land-Use "suggestions" made in the 2026 Comprehensive Plan WILL affect how the land in your neighborhood will be used for the next eighteen years.</span> </span>Whether these 'guidelines' are described as mere "suggestions" or not- they <span style="font-weight: bold;">will guide how land is used</span>, and there is very little, if any, preservation of open space suggested. The plan is undoubtedly pro-development, and as a result does not take into consideration your "quality of life", or that of future generations.<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where are the television ads, full-page magazine spreads, and newspaper articles about the 2026 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? Why haven't we received glossy full color brochures in the mail to educate us about the importance of the plan which will shape the future of our own county?</span></span><br /><br />The outcome of residents involvement in the 2026 Comprehensive Plan has a much greater effect on the future of the area in which we all live. Whether your envelopes are marked Richmond or Henrico, the Land Use and Major Thoroughfare Plans will do much more than Henrico is willing to let on, to shape the way Henrico ends up being (or not being).<br /><br />Where are the funds coming from to build two major interchanges in Varina? Many major Thoroughfare Plan changes which were proposed in the 2010 Plan, and then removed from that plan, have been replaced in the 2026 Plan. There may be a future roadway extension planned right through your property, but Henrico County certainly isn't advertising that!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">More residents should be asking questions.</span> Good questions, like those asked in recent public meetings:<br /><br />Susan Rhodes, who also lives in the western end of the county, asked how the county will pay to educate hundreds of new students who likely will come as a result of residential development.<br /><br />Henrico resident Tom Townsend questioned why the Board of Supervisors doesn't impose cash proffers on developers. He said increased traffic congestion in the Short Pump area resulted from an "unabated volume of rezoning approvals over the last several years" and an imbalance between infrastructure funding and growth.<br /><br />"How can the supervisors address this traffic congestion and more directly correlate rezoning requests and approvals with the necessary infrastructure to support this growth?" Townsend asked. "Why doesn't Henrico County impose cash proffers upon developers during the rezoning approval process to fund and help pay for these necessary infrastructure improvements rather than spreading the cost of this infrastructure on all citizens in the county?" Thank you Ms. Rhodes and Mr. Townsend, sincerely.<br /><br />To read the 'answers' given to these questions, read Virgil Hazelett's explanation, as eloquently covered by Melodie N. Martin, Staff Writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch in <a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/henrico.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-04-09-0175.html">"Development debated at session- Speakers, supervisors offer explanations about growth impact"</a> on Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008 (Thank you Ms. Martin)<br /><br />Most of our readers are now probably familiar with the Comp Plan, but how many other Varina and even Henrico residents understand what the proposed plan holds for them in their locations? It is very important that residents attend the Comprehensive Plan Meetings, and each give the county input on how the plan will affect them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please review the Comprehensive Plan Chapters and familiarize yourself with the new "Land Use Designations" and "Major Thoroughfare Plan" (links are in the upper right column of this page).</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(120, 183, 73);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">There is no doubt the final draft of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan will change your quality of life more than any envelope label ever will.</span></span><br /></div><br /><br />Want to read more?<br /><a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/henrico.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-05-04-0299.html">"Meetings give you a voice in county's future<br />Public is invited to offer input on plan outlining land use through 2026"</a><br />Richmond Times Dispatch- Sunday, May 04, 2008<br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441906809083482155.post-44397285587518690032008-05-06T17:02:00.006-04:002008-05-06T17:51:08.760-04:00Will 'Henrico address change' spell R.I.P. for Highland Springs?<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1FfsT6g230oUEzB_aG7VAWkPo6JmjdiUEgkOaqjvSI3YHH8pvsmtAc7weGkpOiBplRHHZQBySYu0aWOjiXZLUZzcprcNhXPpey8VRiOTLFIRbrjdDM1p5WyWw1tlrFBBgzNFsuxQSB0/s1600-h/HSfuture-.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1FfsT6g230oUEzB_aG7VAWkPo6JmjdiUEgkOaqjvSI3YHH8pvsmtAc7weGkpOiBplRHHZQBySYu0aWOjiXZLUZzcprcNhXPpey8VRiOTLFIRbrjdDM1p5WyWw1tlrFBBgzNFsuxQSB0/s320/HSfuture-.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197384150733442770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In a letter to the Editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch today, Charles Hague, wrote in to report what the paper has entitled:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-05-06-0014.html"><br />"Little-Known Facts About Address Change"</a></span> <br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />"Editor, Times-Dispatch:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Henrico residents in 11 ZIP Codes are receiving a survey from the postal service asking about a proposed change to their mailing address from "Richmond, VA" to "Henrico, VA." Surveys must be returned by May 10.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Residents should be aware of some less publicized facts regarding the proposed change:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br />•<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Responding "yes" includes changing "Highland Springs, VA" to "Henrico, VA." Highland Springs will be relegated to a "secondary" address. Highland Springs has been a "primary" address since its founding in 1890 and has maintained its own ZIP code, 23075, since ZIP codes were established in 1963.</span><br /><br />•<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The many flyers, brochures, and other advertisements distributed by the county show a list of seven items under the heading "Just what could $5 million do?" Note that $5 million will do only one of the items listed. Some citizens have incorrectly interpreted the materials to mean that all seven items could be done.</span><br /><br />•<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The problem of incorrect reporting of tax revenue is a statewide problem that could be resolved for all localities by the Department of Taxation and/or the General Assembly.</span><br /><br />•<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Some citizens believe that making the change may reduce their home and/or automobile insurance premiums. It most likely will not. Insurance companies base their premiums on the location of their policy-holders, not their mailing address.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Please consider all of the facts and respond to the survey as best benefits not only Henrico, but also the City of Richmond and our entire state.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Charles Hague. Richmond"</span><br /></div>H. Cornhill, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416412853550296309noreply@blogger.com1