Commissioner Graves,
I do not support the recent application by Chaney Enterprises to change the zoning of a parcel of land known as the Jenkins property in the area near Hughesville. I read in a recent Washington Post article that you are interested in hearing from your constituents on this important matter. As a resident of Hughesville, I am relying on you to represent me.
I attended a public meeting recently at the Hughesville fire hall that Frank Chaney initiated to discuss the issues with the local residents. Mr. Chaney stated that he was surprised that his application for zoning changes was being reviewed so quickly. In fact, at the first zoning meeting his attorney asked for an extension because the legal team was not ready and did not expect such a quick response to his application. Of course, the speed with which this is occurring has some far reaching implications of dubious politics.
What is even more curious is that Mr. Chaney told the crowd of nearly 150 residents that he prefers NOT to relocate his gravel wash operation onto the Jenkins property. He stated that he would rather have a special exception somewhere else. He also said that even if the rezoning application is approved, there is only a 20-30% chance that the gravel operations would move to Hughesville five years from now. Why do you think a business man would spend his money and that of taxpayers to go after something that he doesn’t want? If I was a stockholder of this business I would be irate.
As a voter, I am a little disenchanted with the fact that residents throughout the county have a vote on the representative from my district.
This would be like me having a vote for the governor of Virginia. So I have high expectations of my local elected officials. I expect the representative from the Hughesville district to represent the wishes of the LOCAL citizens.
The county commissioners have already approved the revitalization plan that the local residents have recommended and that the citizens have paid for with our tax dollars. I don’t recall rezoning agricultural land to heavy industrial as being part of that plan. Let’s stick to the plan.