July 31, 2010
“Old munitions site to be zoned industrial – How does this happen???"
I am Proud to post this letter sent to the Town Hall Alliance from Kathy York of Oakville. Hopfully with this ground swelling of opposition to this sneaky re-zoning, the 620 acres will remain as they are.
“Old munitions site to be zoned industrial” – How does this happen??? How does a 620 acre parcel of land go from Rural Preservation to Industrial over night? What is the purpose of the Comprehensive Plan, and all the meetings going on, when all it takes is a simple letter to the Commissioners requesting rezoning, and it’s done! All it takes is knowing the right people and how to work the system, and then, with the stroke of a pen, in the dark of night, it’s done! No need to ask the neighbors how they feel, it might delay construction of the next new Kings Dominion or Motor Sports Park. The history of the property with its buried munitions is not a secret; the cleanup efforts have left the property to nature for the past 50 years. So why would a big developer from Charles County come in and purchase the property? Why have the Commissioners (with 1 exception) so readily accepted this request? What’s in the works? This is all such an under the table deal. Another Hayden Farm perhaps? If not, then why not ask the public for their comments and hold the vote until you hear from them?
Kathy York
Oakville
Printer-friendly version
Just another Good Ole Boy deal. Of course the County folk will suffer. Do they care? Of course not.
I read several of the articles in our local papers regarding the proposed change of zoning for the Hillville munitions property. I was so dismayed until I finally got to "Commissioner Jarboe did not go along with the change." Thank you for, Mr. Jarboe, for being a voice of reason! (The only one, sad to say.)
I think Mr. Jarboe is so right: going from rural preservation to industrial is "a big difference." Why do the other four commissioners think we need more industrial sites up this way? They never did anything with the existing industrial site near Hollywood (and perhaps others in the county). According to an article in this site, Fowler Industrial Park (right across the street) is still very much available. With the current state of our economy, it doesn't sound like too many people want to make a building gamble of any sort anyway.
What sort of industry would be attracted here? Is there something in the wind that no one will admit to publicly? We had heard rumors of a race track. Isn't Budds Creek enough for this area? Is this the "tire store on every corner" approach to growth, like they have done down in California?
The possible "cabinet maker" bone that was tossed out there for us in one of the articles, made me laugh. We have plenty of those, too. You can choose a big box store (like Lowe's), a home-grown business (like Beautiful Kitchens), or a Mennonite or Amish builder.
Remember the whole idea of the rural preservation was to save our land. Then, let them know we want to SAVE OUR LAND!
How would surfacing over possible remaining explosives make this property any safer? And expecting the Mennonite farms to be some sort of barrier ... I am shocked that anyone would even make such a comment. Are the plain folk dispensable just because they are not outspoken? Where would we all be without their farms and businesses?
This property was zoned rural preservation, why would we want to change it? Let the developer "clean up" one sale-able lot at a time and see if he is even able to sell it. What's wrong with moving ahead in small increments? Most of us farmers here have to do so. We don't have a huge profit margin from our businesses to take such risks.
St. Mary's County was a nice, quiet place to live (and still is from Hollywood going north). Don't let them change that. Why should we prostitute our land to attract industry here? We have the Naval Air Station and its support elements close enough. Don't let them succumb to the Greed, Grab and Gorge that seems to be the attitude of many ... many who are in trouble now. Don't place their burden on the others who have been content with steady, slow, sound growth.
And please don't think us so gullable with the new catch phrase: "It'll mean jobs." I think with all the shady dealings that have gone one with this issue (and the Hayden farm mess), you'd better give us the facts on these undertakings on behalf of the county ... just the facts.
Altough I agree that this rezonning should not have happened as it did, Istill cannot stomach that CRY "we've got to save OUR LAND". it is NOT "OUR LAND". People have property rights because if they own property they are taxed into oblivon for the benefit of society. Again, I agree with Commissioner Jarboe 110% and will do everything I can to help in his re-election. This man should be revered as a patriot, a hero or even an idol. I just cannot stomach the concept that many well meaning citizens have about "SAVING OUR LAND." Land is property and as such is an investment made by HARD WORKING, TAX PAYING citizens that no one has the right to intefer with. Of course ownership of any property, be it land, automobiles, cats, dogs, or anthing else worldly requires responsbilty on the part of the owner. Like anything else there are many naturally born jackasses that actually have acquired property, many times not because of any effort on their own, and they will use this property with total disregard for their neighbors rights of ownership, or even safety and well being. An example of this is the jackass that ownes a motor vehicle and speeds up and down the road every time they drive endangering others. We all know the consequences of this irresponsibility. Thus we have laws to prevent and deter the spread of "Jackass-ism." Hopefully, it seems in many cases today not, these laws have been thoroughly scrutinized and made fare to everyone concerned. Unfortunately it seems that Jackass-ism is running rampant with mostly all the "officials" that are either making or enforcing the rules we all have to abid by, however, thats another endless issue. Please refrane from calling MY land (property) or anyone else's land (property) as "OUR LAND. " My land is my investment for my future retirement or maybe i will elect not to retire and shall farm it until i drop dead in the field or in jail because I could no longer pay my taxes and had to defend my property from a tyrannical (rex) government trying to confiscate it for the benefit of society. Please remember that the only "OUR LAND" are the parks, or public property bought and payed for by the government (Taxpayers). Thank you.
Every time I ask a professional politician a question that he does not want to answer with the truth, I get the same old line "You just do not understand" Please some body answer me this question. Why would any one pay $5 million for a farm worth a little over $2 million and leave the most valuable part of the land out of the deal?
Post new comment