County seeks public input on comprehensive plan; first community meeting scheduled Monday

Comment: Article follows Gregg's opinions!

Subject: Re: meetings for comprehensive plan
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:01:31 -0700 (PDT)

Another worthless diversion:"County seeks public input on comprehensive plan

Remember that it was the "planning commission" that sent a recommendation to Pittsylvania County BOS, recommending that they NOT approve a special use permit to VUI for uranium exploration. The BOS, in it's wisdom, declared that, since VUI was already exploring for uranium, it was in the public's best interest that they authorize the permit. So much for "planning"!

It's interesting to note a couple of things:

1. This article only quotes the ASSISTANT County Administrator. This shows the level of priority that the County BOS gives to this process. It must not be that important, how the land is used, because it has been relegated to a minor appointed talking head (no offense meant to Mr. Sides, he is only doing his job - representing the will of VUI's elected county officials). This attitude in a time that how the land is used by foreign and domestic (wholly owned by the foreign corporations) companies, now and in the future, is critically important to the lesser (human) beings that live, work, try to protect their families and give them a good life, maybe even give them an inheritance.

2. The plan is reviewed every 5 years. Not a big deal unless you have uranium mining and milling snuck through because people (real, live people, not corporations. Yea, YOU!) have been complacent in letting the worse, short-term fix to the economy, be put into play.

"Through the public input process, citizens will have an opportunity to designate areas most suitable for various land uses, such as multi-family housing developments and industrial areas, and will be able to identify areas in transition such as residential areas that are experiencing commercial development," Sides said. This means that you will get to have input, but IT WILL BE IGNORED! How do I know this? Analyze Mr. Side's statement. ... (sic) and will be able to identify areas in transition such as residential areas that are experiencing commercial development" If our Land Use Plan, and our zoning LAWS (not feelings, not hyperbole, but LAWS that, at some point in time or another, were put into place to protect citizens by the citizens), and these LAWS and Land Use Plans were effective, why would " residential areas" be "experiencing commercial development" The powers that be - you know who they are, can anybody say "gang of 4" - do not want you to pay any attention to this Comprehensive Plan and the resulting Land Use Issues. They want you to:

A) Remain Silent.

B) If you really must have an opinion, and if you really must express it, then you must confine yourselves to the plan as outlined! The BOS will be happy to listen. The BOS will then do whatever they feel like doing. This is already proven. Why else would VUI be granted the authority to explore for a substance that is illegal to mine in Virginia? At the potential risk of the public at large? Remember, you don't get any money for this exploration, but you do get to shoulder the risks. You will have no recourse if the worse happens because the corporation is a Limited Liability Company, sanctioned by your (their?) elected officials. Why else would it take the BOS so long to follow up on water concerns? I know, these concerns were addressed to the satisfaction of VUI and the BOS, as dutifully reported by the local print media. Still, I'm just asking..... So what if one corporation, with lots of money, but not allowed to vote (VUI/Santoy/and the Canadian Corporation that wholly owns them, Virginia Energy Resources. That has a nice ring to it, don't you think?) despite having more rights and considerations as compared to us replaceable, in-the-way sacks of flesh & blood people that actually do get to vote - on whatever their (VUI's and other corporation agendas are. Typically, we get to choose between bad and worse) has controlled our political processes to maximize profit? Profit is what makes the world-go-round! Whatever is good for the corporation must be good for us - NOT!

What would happen if all of the flesh & blood people showed up at every one of these meetings, holding anti-uranium mining and milling signs high, refusing to speak on the "Land Use" issues, except to say "I DO NOT WANT URANIUM MINING & MILLING IN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY! DO NOT ALLOW THIS THROUGH ZONING!” What would happen if ALL of the people did this, despite admonitions from the powers that be, to only say "ditto" if you are repeating or agreeing with another speaker? Do you think VUI's elected officials would get the message? Probably not, but it's a beginning and, I think, worth a try.

I will watch developments with interest and help our cause (this is a Statewide issue) any way I can. I know that I am no longer relevant in the local battle, but I will be there for you. All you need to do is to let me know what you need for me to do.

Take Care,

Gregg

PS: If you think that this idea has any merit, please put your own spin on it and send it out to your personal email lists. All of us count! All of us MUST take ownership of being the opposition. ALL of us must recruit and get people involved! PLEASE, help us to help us. Nobody else is going to do it...................

Gregg Vickrey
THE Alliance
(434) 250-5437
alliance123@ymail.com
http://thealliance123.blogspot.com

County seeks public input on comprehensive plan; first community meeting scheduled Monday

By TIM DAVIS/Star-Tribune Editor
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:32 AM EDT

Pittsylvania County Planning Commission will hold the first of five community input meetings next week as part of a two-year process to update the county's comprehensive plan.

The first meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 21, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at John L. Hurt Elementary School.

A second meeting is planned Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Chatham Middle School.

Remaining meetings will be held Monday, Sept. 28, at Dan River Middle School; Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Tunstall Middle School; and Thursday, Oct. 1, at Gretna Middle School.

All begin at 7 p.m.

According to Assistant County Administrator Greg Sides, the county held five community meetings in November 2007 at the beginning of the process to gather public opinion and develop overall goals for the comprehensive plan.

"The upcoming round of meetings will mostly focus on developing the future land-use portion of the plan, which looks at current growth patterns and projects how the county should grow, change and develop in the future," Sides said.

The comprehensive plan, which must be reviewed every five years, consists of a thorough analysis of the current character of the county and assessment of recent growth trends.

Sides said the updated plan will be used by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors as a guide for making future land-use decisions such as rezonings and special-use permits.

"It's blueprint for future growth to help elected officials make decisions on how the county develops over time," he said.

The plan, which extends to 2030, also helps officials make decisions on transportation improvements, public facility and economic development investments, and utility infrastructure projects.

At the five public input meetings, citizens will have an opportunity to review maps and recommend desirable future land use patterns, Sides said.

Maps will show the current zoning of land parcels in 10 identified growth areas, which were outlined based on population density and utility infrastructure, said the assistant county administrator.

The updated comprehensive plan also is required to include a Future Land Use Plan, which will be a series of maps showing areas suitable for residential, commercial and industrial development.

"Through the public input process, citizens will have an opportunity to designate areas most suitable for various land uses, such as multi-family housing developments and industrial areas, and will be able to identify areas in transition such as residential areas that are experiencing commercial development," Sides said.

"There will also be an update on the overall comprehensive plan project, and citizens will be able to comment on the plan's six major goals and objectives and strategies."

Sides said when the overall draft plan is ready for review, it will be posted on the county's website and there will be another opportunity to offer comments online.

As the draft plan is finalized, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and vote whether to recommend it to the Board of Supervisors, probably around the end of the year.

Supervisors will hold another public hearing before voting on the plan.

For more information, call Sides at 432-7974.
tim.davis@chathamstartribune.com
http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2009/09/17/chatham/news/news54.txt