Our place at the table

Posted on April 30, 2013 by hanoversfuture
elmont01

Photo by R.W. Dawson

 

One reason citizens formed the Coalition for Hanover’s Future was to advocate for the citizen voice in Hanover’s land use planning process. At the time, as Hanover County was embarking then upon a five-year review and update of its Comprehensive Land Use Plan, we encouraged residents to become informed about the issues and to get involved in decision making that would affect their lives.  Further, because residents must live with the consequences of both good and poor land use planning, we urged vigilance as changes came to pass.

As you may know, Hanover County is now in the midst of another Comprehensive Plan review and update.  The need for focus and involvement remains paramount. Six community meetings, several Planning Commission work sessions plus ad hoc citizen group meetings have revealed more than a little dissatisfaction, much of it involving the implications of high residential density.  Might this level of anger and distrust be mitigated if citizen input were solicited before the fact—before any map changes and language revisions were rolled out for public comment? As it stands, citizens almost always find themselves reacting.

Please try to attend the following comprehensive planning work sessions:

elmont02

Photo by R.W. Dawson

May 9, 4 p.m. – this work session will focus on land use planning in South Anna, including mix use and high-density residential zoning.  The Elmont Village area is under tremendous development pressure.  Elmont is a rural community consisting of mostly farmland. It is located on the old Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad and was served in earlier times by the electric trolley car, which ran between Richmond and Ashland. Elmont is one of the original villages of Hanover County.

There is also a work session scheduled for May 16 at 4 p.m.  Both meetings take place in the Board Room of the Hanover County Government Building at Hanover Courthouse.

Our Email Alerts are a great way to stay informed about development issues and workshops.  Our blog includes postings dating back to 2006 and as an archive, provides valuable insight about citizen engagement and land use planning.

To subscribe to our Email Alerts, please email hanoversfuture@gmail.com and include your name, address, and district.

On May 11th at 10 a.m. (Ashland Coffee & Tea), I will be speaking at the Hanover Democratic Committee meeting about the 2012 Comprehensive Plan.  Please join me!

Pattie Bland – Chair, Coalition for Hanover’s Future

 

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Upcoming Comp Plan Work Sessions….

Posted on April 9, 2013 by hanoversfuture

Would you recognize a plan that may compromise or erode Hanover’s quality of life? What happens in your backyard or across the county is determined by the Comprehensive Plan. The Comp Plan community meetings concluded and it’s time to find out what the county gleaned from Hanover citizens.

Comp Plan Work Session…Thursday, April 11th, 4 p.m.

The county’s Comprehensive Plan is a 20 year plan and it’s tweaked every five years. The tweaks made to the Comp Plan can have huge implications for the future.

What’s happened so far?

For this round, proposed changes to the Old Telegraph Road/Lakeridge Parkway and Cedar Lane corridors flanking U.S. Rt.1 have been flashpoints for some citizens. Others question the implications of a proposed “rural village” designation as well as increases to residential density.

Where is the process now on the timeline? 

On the heels of six community meetings, the Planning Commission will hold a Comp Plan Work Session this Thursday, April 11th. Although it’s unlikely that the PC will solicit public comment, citizens need to focus on the nuances and minutiae coming out of the work session. 

Listen closely to the discussions taking place and please attend Thursday’s work session.

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Comprehensive Plan Update: County Seeks Citizen Input

Posted on February 19, 2013 by hanoversfuture

Hanover County is currently working on the Five Year Update of its Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is an analysis of past growth and land development trends and sets forth a statement of goals and objectives with a 20 year horizon for land use, transportation and community facilities.

A series of public workshops have been scheduled to solicit public input. The workshops will be held on the following dates and locations:

February 26, 2013, 7:00 p.m. – Hanover High School, 10307 Chamberlayne Road, Mechanicsville, VA  23116

February 28, 2013, 7:00 p.m. – Farrington Fire Station II, 14582 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, VA  23059

March 5, 2013, 7:00 p.m. – Brown Grove Baptist Church, 9328 Ashcake Road, Ashland, VA 23005

March 7, 2013, 7:00 p.m. – Elmont Elementary School, 12996 Cedar Lane, Ashland, VA 23005

March 12, 2013, 7:00 p.m. – Lee-Davis High School, 7052 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, VA  2311

March 19, 2013, 7:00 p.m. – The Montpelier Center for Arts and Education, 17205 Mountain Road, Montpelier, VA  23192

Copies of the current Comprehensive Plan are available to review in the Hanover County Planning Office in the Government Building at Hanover Courthouse and at the Hanover County Website http://www.hanovercounty.gov.  Please contact the Planning Office between 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with  questions.

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Friends of Hanover Schools Rally Tomorrow Night

Posted on February 6, 2013 by hanoversfuture

Hanover Schools are facing a $5.4 million budget gap and Superintendent Jamelle Wilson had proposed making ends meet by cutting 24 teaching positions. More students would be packed in elementary school classes, and high school teachers would teach six of eight class periods, up from five of seven.

The proposed budget for next school year would also cut 12 elementary school teachers and increase the pupil-teacher ratio in elementary schools to an average of 22.1 pupils per teacher, up from 21.6.

Friends of Hanover’s Schools educates citizens of Hanover County about the budget process and the impact of both existing cuts as well as potential changes to the school system if the education budget continues to shrink.

Please attend the ASHLAND FHS RALLY tomorrow night, February 7th @ 7PM

  • Location: Ashland Firehouse Theater

SPECIAL PUBLIC BUDGET WORK SESSION: February 7th @ 6PM

  • Location: SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE 200 Berkley Street, Ashland, VA

More upcoming meetings:

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: February 12th @ 7:30 PM

  • Location: SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE 200 Berkley Street, Ashland, VA

REGULAR BOARD of SUPERVISORS MEETING: February 13th @ 2PM

  • Location: Hanover County Courthouse Complex

SPECIAL PUBLIC BUDGET WORK SESSION: February 14th @ 6PM

  • Location: SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE 200 Berkley Street, Ashland, VA

PUBLIC BUDGET WORK SESSION/BUDGET ADOPTION: February 19th @ 6PM

  • Location: SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE 200 Berkley Street, Ashland, VA

REGULAR BOARD of SUPERVISORS MEETING: February 27th @ 6PM

  • Location: Hanover County Courthouse Complex

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Supervisors privilege special interests over taxpayers

Posted on November 28, 2012 by hanoversfuture

Cash proffers on new development were eliminated by the Hanover County Board of Supervisors tonight in a 4-2 vote, with one member absent.

Supervisors also voted to advertise a public hearing January 9th on a proposal to implement a $10 per vehicle fee to raise approximately $1.3 million to replace current revenue from cash proffers.

Elsewhere, Chesapeake voted to keep but revise its proffer policy.

Virginia’s Annual Cash Proffer Survey for Fiscal Year 2010-11.

Virginia is the only state in the United States using cash proffers on such a large-scale as a growth management tool.  To learn more, download and read this dissertation entitled “Land use politics southern style : the case of cash proffers in Virginia.”

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Upcoming Proffer Workshop!

Posted on November 26, 2012 by hanoversfuture
Please attend the Proffer Workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 28th at 5 p.m. 
 

There is movement afoot to transfer the cost of infrastructure caused by new residential development to citizen taxpayers of Hanover County. Rather than ask developers to continue to facilitate paying for roads, schools, fire/EMS, libraries and parks due to the influx of new home construction, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors may decide, as early as this week, to eliminate cash proffers and instead ask all citizens to foot the bill. Eliminating cash proffers will not only impact your wallets, but also your quality of life for years to come!

So they may better understand the impact of eliminating cash proffers, the Board of Supervisors plans to hold a Workshop on Wednesday, November 28th at 5 p.m.  We, the Coalition for Hanover’s Future, implore fellow citizens to attend this week’s Workshop.

Background: The home building community comprised of developers and realtors has for years appealed to Supervisor candidates to eliminate cash proffers. This year the new Board of Supervisors appointed a Cash Proffers & Capital Funding Committee to study and recommend alternative sources for generating revenue. The Proffer Committee developed two proposals. In a 7-4 split vote, it was decided that only one proposal move forward. The Committee reported to the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 14th.

What is the Recommendation? To eliminate cash proffers! Cash proffers, one revenue source set aside for infrastructure – roads and facilities for schools, fire/EMS, libraries, and parks – would disappear! To replace this loss, it’s suggested the Supervisors can implement fees/taxes; a vehicle fee was named, among other possibilities. The Supervisors will likely vote on this issue on Nov. 28th. They can accept it, deny it and/or tweak it.

Worst Case Scenario? Rather than vote to accept the recommendation, it’s possible that the majority of Supervisors could alternatively

  • vote to eliminate proffers, but
  • not enact a vehicle fee to replace the proffers, and instead
  • let the county budget makeup the difference!
The result? Cuts to facilities and roads, to services new residents and to services received by current taxpayers. Developers are asking to stop facilitating the process that addresses increased infrastructure costs that their new development creates, and instead to pass it on to taxpayers, or to cut the very services that make Hanover County a desirable place for them to build.

What Can We Do? This is a citizen issue! It’s critically important that we do everything we can to let the Board of Supervisors know we do not want proffers eliminated.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

Call or Email Your Supervisor NOW! Tell them you want to keep proffers; do not eliminate them. You can also contact all Supervisors.

Come to the Workshop on Wednesday, November 28th, 5 p.m.

Please turn out and bring small signs (8×10) to the Supervisors’ Workshop this Wednesday. Although the public is invited to come and listen, the workshop is not a public hearing and a sign may be your only way to publicly express your opinion. Large signs aren’t permitted indoors. But a small 8×10-size sign works well. It can be held under your coat until needed. Suggestions: No New Taxes, Development Should Pay Its Way, Keep Proffers, Proffers Yes, Taxes No, etc. 

Please Spread the Word!

The 2-page Proffer Committee Recommendation, and 128 pages of support documents, can be read on the Hanover County website.

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Do you want to pay more in taxes!?

Posted on November 21, 2012 by hanoversfuture

On Wednesday, November 28 at 5 p.m., the Hanover County Board of Supervisors are holding a Proffer Workshop at 5 p.m.  

There is movement afoot to TRANSFER COSTS incurred by the homebuilding industry (i.e., roads, schools, police, fire) to citizens of Hanover County.  It is critically important that we let the Board of Supervisors know that WE DO NOT WANT PROFFERS ELIMINATED.

Please join us next Wednesday, November 28th at 5 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors Proffer Workshop.  The workshop will take place in the room where the Board of Supervisors hold their regularly scheduled meetings.

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