Maybe the advisory committee members could check the silt levels of various streams entering the James, and then figure out how to get the county to enforce the buffer zone areas around these streams to golf courses and other land disturbers. Now that would be something practical for environmental concerns.

Doc,

It’s another example of how certain “committees” and “advisory groups” are stacked with the usual hand-picked characters, and a few of them have the usual environmentalist nut-job tendancies that exceed common sense and true conservation, to produce the pre-determined, desired result.

The route 60 corridor study and several others were chock full of them. How do you think the new Comp. Plan was shaped certain ways ? Why some areas were zoned certain ways for “environmental interests” and others as “growth areas”, even when growth can’t be affordably accomodated in those areas and possibly could be in the protected ones ?

Bear in mind also, that many of these study groups have professional people in them, yet they also have several who have an agenda going in, and in some cases no experience in the area being studied. In other cases, they have a property value or financial interest involved.

It begs the question. If you have development or preservation areas and know you have growth to plan for…........ would you listen to planners and zoning officials, or do you listen to the NIMBYs and the Developers ?

My, what an impressive “advisory committee” report.  I especially like the appendix that lists the birds that live at Jones Creek.  The next time I want to see a Hairy Woodpecker or a Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher I will know where to look.

How has the advisory committe specifically kept out gas stations and fast food from the 711/288 area? I really would like some details.

It’s not happening because a compromise was made about allowing 288 to come through Powhatan, much farther west than it should have been. The BOS gave in, in exchange for not allowing in gas stations and fast food. The vet clinic was not part of this agreement, and was not allowed only because of a control issue of 711.

Dr. Migs. I understand the purpose and mission of the committee.  After all, that’s why they call it an “advisory Committee”. Maybe if I’d written “help determine”, it would have been more accurate. be By the way, if you’d like to learn more about this committee, you can look here: 

http://www.powhatanplan.com/wp-content/filez/2010/03/HTACConsolidatedReport-Final-June09doc.pdf

The Foundry was in existence prior to the formation of The Huguenot Trail Advisory Committee, which was established in Feb. of 2008. That’s what I meant by grandfathered in. The committee was never tasked with “helping to determine” whether to remove the Foundry off of Huguenot Trail. It was formed as a forward looking study committee reporting to the BOS.

Even without legislative power, this committee is a big reason why we’re not staring at gas stations and convenient stores at the 288 / 711 crossroad area.

Good day sir.

How,specifically, did the advisory council spend all those hours studying the situation, in order to be able to tell the supervisors how to vote?

I do not believe that it is technically correct to say that the Foundry was “grandfathered.”  My recollection is that the Foundry required County approval at the time it was done.  That is not a “grandfather” situation.  The Huguenot Trail Advisory Committee is just that—an advisory committee.  Its opinions are not legally binding.  It does not “determine” anything.

The Foundry was grandfathered in.  The Huguenot Trail Advisory Committee was formed to determine the future of the eastern corridor. The Foundry existed long before that committee was ever formed. It’s also further west than the much sought after potential 288 commercial corridor that’s highly coveted by developers. Believe me, they’re dying for a foothold there to open the door.

I too applaud the backbones of Messer’s Carson, Tucker and Walton. Keep up the good work Gentleman. You’ve shown yourselves to be men of character. Thanks for watching over our scenic byway in spite of the inevitable push back.

The golf course that was being referred to previously was The Foundry, not Independence.