Only thing missing from 'back room' meeting was the smoke

Date published: 11/26/2002

To many observers of the Nov. 6 meeting of the Spotsylvania County Planning Commission, the hearing on Dogwood Development Group's plan-ned town near Chancellorsville had the aura of a back-room deal. The only thing missing was the smoke.

Despite the misgivings of a majority of county residents, the commission wasted no time on reaching a decision on the rezoning for the proposal.

The development's opponents raised serious questions about the impact of the proposed town on the county, its infrastructure and its quality of life and disputed the claims of town proponents that the project would bring the county financial gain and a sense of community.

Many residents also voiced concerns about the adverse effect the project would have on the county's natural resources and the Chancellorsville battlefield, a portion of which would be paved over to make way for the planned mixed-use development.

The majority on the commission, however, paid no attention to these issues. Likewise, they refused to give fellow Commissioner Hugh Montgomery, whose Courtland District includes the project site, the courtesy of having his questions addressed by county staff before the vote.

Instead, Commissioner Frank Pohanka suggested that the staff could provide those answers before the upcoming Board of Supervisors hearing. But the Planning Commission needed to have those answers first in order to render a truly informed decision.

By hastily voting to recommend approval for the rezoning while so many questions lingered, the commission members abdicated to the Board of Supervisors and to county residents their responsibility to weigh carefully the costs and benefits of new development.

If the rigors of project review have become too taxing for certain commissioners, they should take the appropriate action and resign their posts. Spotsylvania residents deserve better than a sham hearing on such a controversial proposal.

The Dogwood project near Chancellorsville merits a thorough and deliberative review. The future of our county depends on it.

Ray Brown

Spotsylvania

Date published: 11/26/2002