Hanover Naturally, a member of the Coalition for Hanover’s Future, is presenting a video program entitled, “The Dollars and Sense of Protecting Community Character” tonight at Ashland’s Public Library (7 p.m., 202 S. Railroad Ave.). A discussion about the ways in which Hanover County can grow without destroying its distinct sense of place, history, character, and natural resources will follow the presentation.
Based upon a presentation given by Ed McMahon, a nationally renowned authority on sustainable development and land conservation, “The Dollars and Sense of Preserving Community Character” makes a strong case for development that is good for the environment, good for business, and good for the community. “Growth is both inevitable and desirable, but the destruction of community character and natural resources that often accompanies growth is not inevitable,” argues McMahon.
“Even as a video, McMahon’s message is powerful,” said Nancy Pecsok, President of Hanover Naturally, “everyone who lives in Hanover should see this – especially now, when decisions are being made about future development and how this will impact all of our lives.” Special buildings, places, vistas, and views – in other words, the power of place in very profound ways, gives us our sense of identity and well-being. As McMahon states, “Communities can grow without destroying the things people love.”
Ed McMahon is a lecturer, author, and expert in sustainable development, land conservation, urban design, and historic preservation. He was instrumental in developing resources for The Conservation Fund.
Filed under: 2006 Comp Plan |
hanoversfuture.org 
It is 7:30 PM and this is the first I have heard of this. And I checked this blog this AM. It sounds so much like surrender to the will of the County Supervisors. They are going to do what they want and not what the Community wants.
This is our second set of Military Orders that brought us to Richmond and we choose both times .to live in Hanover County. Hanover County was where crime was low, schools were good, and communities were not crowded. It was close enough to Richmond, Short Pump, and Fort Lee without having to live in those places.
Having lived in communities all over the United States for the last 35 years, I have seen the good, the not so good, and the great places to live. The planning and the direction of the County Supervisors and Planning Department is illogical, ill-conceived, and poorly applied. Contractors run this county!
Hanover County’s future is urban sprawl, crowed schools, police and fire departments stretched to far. It is headed into the concrete jungle that people move away from and look for less crowed places with good schools and low crime!
This BS that growth is inevitable and desireable is just that, BS. It’s time for more control, not less. The result of the proposed plan is that some contractors and politicians get rich and the county will be turned into a commercial wasteland.
On the bright side, we get to leave soon. One thing about the Military is if you don’t like a place, you will leave in 2 years.
I think Hanover County has time to stop the run away Board of Supervisors and elect new folks who aren’t in such a rush to make contractors rich! That’s my philosophy, if they won’t listen to the people, VOTE THEM OUT! 6 November 2007