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Culpeper planning commission tables action on mulch-plant permit Date published: 5/14/2009
BY DONNIE JOHNSTON
Neighbors complained last night that a mulch manufacturer in southern Culpeper County still doesn't have its act together. Three months ago Remington Mulch asked the Culpeper County Planning Commission to recommend the rezoning of a 9.5-acre parcel of land in Mitchells from agricultural to heavy industrial. That parcel is adjacent to an existing operation that neighbors said was causing dust, litter and drainage problems. The matter was tabled for 90 days and last night Remington, through its attorney, Butch Davies, asked for another 60-day extension. Davies told the Planning Commission that Remington Mulch was addressing concerns but two neighbors disagreed. "The wind is blowing this 'fugitive dust' into my house and barn and I can't water my horses in the pond," Wayne Hawkins told the Commission. He added that there would be no value in building an earthen buffer "when the [mulch] stacks are 10-feet higher than the berm." Cameron Thompson also complained that the trash issue (plastic bags) had not been addressed and there was still a water runoff problem. Commissioner Bob Kene-fick voted for the 60-day extension but noted that the state is not expected to OK a storm-water management plan for the operation until Sept. 30. "It would be nice to have the complete package," Kenefick said. The Commission voted 8-0 (Francis Toomey was absent) to table the matter until July. The Planning Commission also tabled for 30 days a request by a Charlottesville developer to allow commercial use for 25 acres along U.S. 15 and 29 (across from Eastern View High School. That land is now zoned heavy industrial. County Planner John Egerston said that the Virginia Department of Transportation wanted to make sure that the developer's plans would not interfere with a planned interchange at the junction of Route 666 and U.S. 15 and 29. "They don't want to be buying buildings and parking lots when they get ready to do the interchange," Egerston said. In one of three cases where action was actually taken, the Planning Commission voted 8-0 to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that Rappahannock Electric be allowed to build a substation on the west side of Route 299 (across from Friendship Heights apartments). The Commission also recommended that George Stover be granted a use permit to operate an antique shop in his old greenhouse building on Route 229 near Catalpa and that Greg Smith be allowed to remove 289 acres near Stevensburg from an agricultural and forestal district. Smith, whose family operates one of Culpeper's largest farms, said that health problems precipitated the move. He said that he also wanted to give his son and daughter each 10 acres of land. Donnie Johnston:
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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