"I don't think the public is aware of what's going on." Realtor/land developer Donnie Green
Reacting to a litany of dire predictions if the county passed
proposed subdivision ordinance changes, planning commissioners
Monday night recommended rejection of the amendments until further
study.
Citing "too much conflict on what was presented," particularly
affecting land values, the elimination of private roads, lot sizes
and setbacks, the commission recommended against passage.
Only planning commissioner E.C. Graves opposed the motion introduced
by M.C. Cowan.
Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the amendments at their
May 5 meeting.
Of the 20 speakers - primarily Realtors and developers, the overwhelming
majority opposed the amendments Monday night.
Predictions of tumbling land values, economic recession and denial
of "the American dream of home ownership" for those
with low-to-moderate incomes were aired by opponents of the amendments.
However, there were supporters of the amendments.
Jack Dunavant encouraged greater setbacks for residence placement,
noting homes built near roads and the hazard to playing children.
Dunavant also opposed mandating VDOT specification on private
roads. Instead, he recommended 20-foot wide roads with VDOT base
construction, but no mandated paving.
The Halifax resident spoke in favor of low-density development,
with small lots and the remainder of the land owned by a home
owners' association.
Two members of the Land Development Use Task Force, Carl Espy
and South Boston planner Lee Pambid, offered insight into the
Task Force's focus.
"The Task Force was a public mandate from people who felt
that if the county was going to develop as is, some detrimental
impact would occur," explained Espy.
He named farm land fragmentation and haphazard development in
the county, as well as extended cost of services.
He said the rural poor were faced with a lack of sanitary services
and under-utilized living space in existing housing.
"Don't misuse the land," urged Espy.
Pambid said the Task Force was to address the rural character
of the county. He noted a range of housing opportunities.
Encouragement of development close to utility infrastructure and
roads were offered.
"This is a first step to address development in Halifax County,"
Pambid said of the proposed amendments. "This is not the
end."
Realtor/developer Donnie Green, in the business for 37 years,
agreed something needs to be done, but described current amendment
proposals as extreme.
His sentiment was echoed by several developers.
Attorney Ted Bennett, representing over a dozen Realtors, brokers
and developers, said the absence of viable parcels will limit
the growth of taxable residential real estate.
He also said the cost of road construction would be an extreme.
He advocated private roads as an essential part of the quality
of life of the county and as an economic benefit.
Tackling a subject county officials had deemed a problem in the
past, Bennett said the real estate community would agree to the
imposition of controls that clearly inform the purchasers of lots
on private roads of the limitations of such road access.
Later in the evening, Gary Tilley of Brush Creek Subdivision,
told the commissioners that he discovered the road maintenance
agreements of Cedar Creek Land Company were not enforceable.
Bennett told commissioners that "a lot of people have substantial
houses on private roads and don't want VDOT" maintenance.
People want privacy, no trash or litter, peace and no traffic
he explained.
The attorney said his clients were willing to address lot width.
Bennett noted that 56 percent of residents earn less than $35,000
in the county, with 42 percent making less than $25,000. The new
amendments, he said, would be a financial barrier to home ownership
for many.
William Coleman, representing Halifax County Community Action
Agency, as well as the credit union, and Fred Betts, housing director
at HCCAA, both expressed concern about the impact on low-wealth
families if the amendments passed.
Coleman noted the high unemployment in Halifax County, criticized
the five-acre minimum lot size proposal and noted the lack of
extensive water/sewer infrastructure, which makes smaller lot
sizes impossible.
Betts also said the proposals limit housing options for low-income
families. He urged a change in the proposals to less than five
acres and five hundred feet.
Green described a Cluster Springs farm he and his wife bought
in 1998, and the seven houses built there, increasing real estate
taxes generated by the subdivision.
The developer said that he paid $175,000 for the farm five years
ago but that with the proposed amendments he could not pay that
much today.
"You are taking (land) values down," he charged, although
he said it "may not happen for five years."
He also said that the soil in the county does not normally lend
to numerous small-lot development, citing septic perking limitations.
Green said taxes generated through the lots, enhanced by homes,
has changed the tax base as well.
Reed Edwards of Cedar Creek Land Company also said he worried
about land value loss.
However, he said that he thought the existing ordinance could
be approved.
Edwards submitted proposals including a 10-acre minimum agricultural
parcel; restriction of family definition for subdivision exemption
to siblings, parents and grandparents; increasing the minimum
frontage to 120 feet; permit lots of 20,0000 square foot with
both water and sewer.
He also proposed road lots with a minimum of three acres and average
of five acres; mandated maintenance agreement for all private
lots well-recorded in the land records; continued oversight by
a developer until 75 percent of the lots in subdivision have been
sold and requiring all private roads to be constructed to VDOT
subdivision street geometric standards.
Landowner Marvin Barker told commissioners he was concerned the
proposed amendments would decrease land values because lots would
be costly.
Planning Commission member J.H. Reese told the crowd that he lives
in a rural area and is concerned about the encroachment of large
subdivisions. He described the encroachment "as having a
checkerboard effect on rural land," one that will render
it usable only for that.
Donnie McKinney spoke in favor of private roads. "To do away
with private roads will absolutely cripple Halifax County,"
he said. "I know we need modifications, but I don't think
this is the answer."
Clayton Garmon congratulated supervisors on the formation of the
task force. However, as a Realtor/developer, he said that he feared
the amendments would adversely affect affordable housing.
He expressed concern that unintentionally there could be economic
discrimination against those who could not afford five acres.
He urged commissioners to look carefully at the amendments, asking
what would happen in one, two, three or 10 years later. Land development
could come to an end, he warned.
Boston Homes owner Allen Stevens also predicted affordable housing
opportunities in the county could be affected. He expressed concern
that five-acre minimum lots were excessive.
Eve Edmunds advocated extending public utilities. She also spoke
in favor of private roads, with developers constructing to VDOT
standards.
Dr. Gerald Burnett also worried that the proposed amendments would
discriminate against poorer families. He urged private roads with
maintenance agreements.
"We are hearing from people who make money developing,"
said Commissioner Jim Davis. "We can't get people (to speak)
who own land," he added.
Davis urged input from all sources.
In other business, commissioners scheduled a public hearing May
27 on an application from William W. Will to locate a small animal
veterinary clinic on the west side of Route 614 (Love Shop Road),
0.15 mile south of Route 651 (Cowford Road).
Will seeks to build a 2,400 square foot clinic.
Members of South Boston Town Council said Monday night that
the water and sewer fund for out-of-town customers should be frozen
at the current rate, according to Town Finance Director Vandie
Saunders.
The message was delivered during Monday's work session at Council
Chambers on Yancey Street.
Although the original budget called for a six percent across-the-board
increase, council members suggested freezing the out-of-town water
and sewer rates as they stand and increasing the in-town rates
only five percent, according to Saunders.
"We will be postponing some capital outlays to balance the
budget with the reduced water and sewer rates," the finance
director said.
Saunders told the committee that the town's available cash on
hand was getting "dangerously low" and that the town
needed to look at short-term interim financing.
Town Manager Ted Daniel told the committee that the town had a
total of $5 million in ISTEA, EPA and Community Development Block
grants.
"They all have to be spent first (from the town's funds)
and will be reimbursed later," Daniel said.
Saunders said the town needed to look at borrowing $800,000 to
$1 million.
He added that the deficit in the water/sewer fund was the primary
cause of the problem.
"The cash operating balance in the water and sewer fund is
at a -$1,982,000," Saunders said.
The committee agreed to put a short-term borrowing request on
the agenda for the May 12 meeting.
Saunders also told the committee that they may need to borrow
around $500,000 to help fund the Community Arts Center Foundation's
work on the Prizery.
"They need that money to get some other monies that are available
to them," he said. "It's kind of like 'we'll give you
some money but you need to have some of your own.' "
Council will also have an item on the agenda to put new lights
at the ball field at C.H. Friend Elementary School.
Under the proposal, the school system, the town and the Dixie
baseball program will each invest $4,000 to fund the approximate
$12,000 the new lights will cost.
Officials from each of the organizations will be on hand at the
May 12 meeting to give details of the project.
Police Staffing Report
South Boston Police Lt. B.K. Lovelace told Town Council that the
town needs 27 police officers and two records officers to maintain
services to the community.
He said the determination was made after the department conducted
a study to ascertain the needs associated with the consolidation
of the E-911 center.
"We called four other jurisdictions about the same size as
we are and asked them about the number of sworn officers and administrative
personnel they had," Lovelace said.
Lovelace said that the patrol division, whose job description
is to maintain the safety and security of the citizens of the
town, is assigned 16 of the 27 officers.
The patrol division is broken down as follows:
· Four sergeants.
· Three corporals.
· Five patrol officer II.
· Four patrol officer I.
· Two K-9 officers.
"The patrol is divided into four 12-hour shifts," Lovelace
told the group.
In addition to the patrol division, the town supports a tactical
team, led by Lt. John Barber.
According to the presentation, the functions of the tactical team
are to serve high-risk arrest warrants, execute search warrants,
handle hostage situations and assist the Halifax/South Boston
Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force and other departments
when needed.
Lovelace told council that the team consists of 10 officers and
two special officers and trains on a non-paid basis.
"The tactical team has two vehicles assigned for their use
that were obtained at no cost to the town," the lieutenant
said.
He added that the team responded to 14 calls in 2002.
The department's investigation division includes two people permanently
assigned to the drug task force and two criminal investigators.
"In 2002, the investigators worked over 300 cases,"
Lovelace said. He added that these included two capital murder
cases and one murder-suicide.
"They also assisted the Halifax County Sheriff's Office in
their murder investigations," he added.
Lovelace told council that there were several administrative duties
that are presently performed by three full-time dispatchers and
a communication supervisor that cannot be transferred to the consolidated
dispatch center because of "state-mandated requirements for
our police department to perform."
Robert Hicks, a management consultant with the Department of Criminal
Justice Services, concurred with the findings of the South Boston
police on the administrative needs.
"A survey conducted by the South Boston Police Department
of 13 police departments found full-time records clerks in all,
with an officer-to-clerk ratio ranging from 6:1 to 24:1,"
he wrote.
Hicks added that 12:1 to 15:1 was the most common.
"The South Boston findings mirror our own assessment of the
records management function," Hicks continued. "Our
studies have been able to justify hiring a full-time records manager
in the smallest agency (three officers) we have examined to date."
Lovelace said the department had studied the matter carefully.
"Our requirements are 20 police officers and two records
specialists after the consolidation of E-911 services," he
said.
Other Business
The current issues committee agreed to put a request for a special
use permit on the agenda for Council's May 12 meeting.
Halifax Regional Hospital has asked Council for the permit to
construct a one-story addition to house support operations for
new loading docks on the north side of the hospital.
The committee also OK'd a request from Vilma Pambid to rezone
a parcel on Watkins Avenue from R-2 to M-1 for a proposed beauty
salon.
South Boston's planning commission has declined to make a recommendation
on the issue.
The request will be placed on Council's May 12 agenda for a public
hearing.
An application by the Town of South Boston to rezone the former
Tultex facility from R-2 to M-1 was also approved by the committee.
Council will hold an public hearing on the issue at its May 12
meeting.
During their monthly budget workshop, Chamber of Commerce Director
Nancy Poole asked council to consider her request to double the
amount of money allocated to hire a full-time tourism director.
Poole proposed increasing South Boston's portion from $8,000 to
$16,000 in next year's budget.
The Town of Halifax's portion would increase from $2,000 - $4,000
and the county would double from $15,000 to $30,000.
"We want to make the position a full-time position instead
of a part-time one," Poole told Council. "To do this
job appropriately there is no way under the sun that it can be
done on a part-time basis.
"We need someone to help develop tourism in Halifax County,"
she added.
Poole suggested that once tourism increases in the county the
position will be self-supporting and the three jurisdictions will
recoup their investment in the form of lodging tax.
Young livestock exhibitors from throughout Halifax County took
center stage Monday at the Halifax County Fairgrounds during the
45th Annual Halifax County Junior Livestock Show and Sale .
The day-long event featured an early morning weigh-in, grading,
livestock show and public sale.
Mark Davis, extension agent/ANR for Cumberland, Prince Edward
and Buckingham counties, judged the sheep during the show, while
Walter "Buddy" Shelton, president of the Pittsylvania
County Cattleman's Association, judged the cattle.
About 50 friends and family were on hand to support the exhibitors,
who labored for many months to fulfill one of the many long-standing
agricultural traditions.
Earlier this month, Priscilla Townes gave
her mother what can only be described as a gift of life.
Townes, 33, donated a kidney to her mother, Margaret Bates.
For the daughter there wasn't a moments hesitation.
"I know she'd have done it for me," she said.
"She'd been on dialysis since July of 1998," she said.
"I wanted to give my mom a second chance at life."
Townes said that her mother had to receive dialysis four times
a day, seven days a week.
"She could have died from it," the daughter said.
Bates' kidneys had stopped functioning due to complications from
hypertension, according to her daughter.
"We were actually supposed to go for the operation in October,
2001, but some other medical problems caused the operation to
be put off," Townes said.
After staying in the hospital at the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill for a few days, both mother and daughter returned
to Halifax County.
"I'm getting stronger every day," Bates said.
She described her daughter's selflessness as "a blessing."
"Being on dialysis like I was for two and a half years was
just sickening," Bates said. "For her to offer that
to me was a great thing."
But Townes dismissed any danger to herself.
"I knew that something could possibly happen to me, but that
meant nothing," she said. "That's life."
The doctors told Townes that her mother had responded to the new
organ perfectly.
"She can go to the bathroom now," Townes said with a
laugh. "It's something that you don't realize you'll miss
until it's taken away from you."
But her mother's quality of life has shown the most improvement.
"Now she can be more active. More free to go places,"
the daughter added.
Townes said that she has become a proponent of organ donation
after her experience.
"If you know someone in that kind of situation and you can
help them, you should go for it," she said. "It gives
them a second chance at life. Who wouldn't want that?"
Bates had been out of work on disability since going on dialysis.
But all that's about to change.
"The doctors said that I can go back to work part-time in
a couple of months," she said.
And what about her daughter?
"She'll get a pretty good Christmas present this year,"
she said.
Former Halifax County High School cross country and track standout
Julie Burton has been named as the recipient of the President's
Cup at Ferrum College.
Burton was presented the award Sunday night at the college's annual
Springs Awards Banquet.
Her cross country coach, Ed Wills, the cross country and basketball
coach at Ferrum College, nominated Burton for the honor.
"It has been an honor to be her coach, and our program owes
her a great deal for her hard work, dedication and willingness
to give us a chance," Wills stated in his letter nominating
Burton for the honor.
"When Julie arrived on our campus, our cross country program
was two-years-old and searching for someone to make it legitimate.
"Julie became our first big recruit," Wills continued.
" She took a chance, believed in our program and helped us
reach the level we are at today."
Burton shined at Ferrum College.
In 1998, Burton was named the Virginia National Congress of State
Games Female Athlete of the Year.
In addition, Burton will leave Ferrum College as only the eighth
student athlete to earn Dixie Conference All-Conference honors
for four consecutive years.
She will also leave the college as only the college's second student-athlete
to be a four-time All-Conference performer and a four-time Academic
All-Conference student.
Burton, led Ferrum College to three consecutive second-place finishes
in the Dixie Conference and was the team captain for three years.
During her career, Burton also won the individual title at the
Hampden-Sydney Invitational in 1999, helped her team win five
team championships and was named Dixie Conference Rookie of the
Week three times in 1999.
"What makes these accomplishments even more amazing is that
she did all of this with an asthma condition that her doctors
told her would never allow her to do any athletic activity,"
Wills wrote in his nomination letter.
"As with most things, this did not stop her. She went out
and proved them wrong. Carrying her inhaler in her hand every
step of the way, she went on to be an accomplished high school
and now college runner.
"She is an amazing young lady and is going to go on and accomplish
a great deal in her life," Wills added in his letter.
Also, Burton served as a member of the Student Athlete Advisory
Council for three years, was a Bonner Scholar for four years,
Directed Into the Streets in 2003, and served as director of Bonner
Orientation in 2002.
Burton has made the Dean's List at Ferrum College in six of seven
semesters.
The Halifax County resident will graduate from Ferrum College
on May 10 with a degree in Health & Physical Education.
Marie Howerton Estes, 75, of 2201 Parker
Avenue, South Boston, died April 28 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Estes was born in Halifax County on April 25, 1928, the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Howerton. She was married to Archer Estes
and was a retired employee of Berry Hill Nursing Home and Halifax
Cotton Mill.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 30, from 7:00
until 8:30, at Brooks Funeral Home, and other times at the home.
Survivors of Mrs. Estes include one daughter, Betty Conner of
South Boston; three brothers, Frank, Owen and Trent Howerton,
all of South Boston; three granddaughters, Susan Elliott, Rita
Osborne and Sherry Conner; one grandson, Ray Conner III; two great-granddaughters,
Jennifer Brown and Samantha Osborne; three great-grandsons, Eric
Osborne, Jacob Elliott and Taylor Henderson. She was preceded
in death by three brothers, Cedric, Raymond and James Scott Howerton;
and three sisters, Laura, Hazel and Mary Rebecca Howerton.
Graveside services will be held tomorrow, May 1, at 2 p.m. at
Oak Ridge Cemetery. The Rev. Andy Bawtree will officiate.
Hazel Clark Lovelace, 91, of 1098 Love Shop
Road, Halifax, died April 27 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Lovelace was born in Halifax County on September 19, 1911,
the daughter of A.B. Clark and Flossie Blanche Clark and was married
to John Allen Lovelace.
She was a member of Dan River Baptist Church where she was a member
of Women on Mission.
Survivors include one son, Gerald Victor Lovelace and wife, Linda,
of Halifax; one daughter-in-law, Carol Owen Lovelace, of South
Boston; two grandchildren, Marcia Lovelace Crowder of Halifax
and Sara Lovelace Jones of Rustburg; one great-grandchild, Ellen
Crowder of Halifax; one sister, Lois Clark of Halifax; three brothers,
Earl Clark and Harry Clark, both of Halifax, and Berkley Clark
of Fallbrook, CA. She was preceded in death by one son, Allen
Clark Lovelace.
Services for Mrs. Lovelace will be held today, April 30 at 11
a.m. at Dan River Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Dennis Knight
officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the American
Diabetes Association, PO Box 2680, North Canton, Ohio 44720, or
the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen,
23060.
Nannie Bowen O'Geary, 85, of Virgilina,
died April 23 at Meadowview Terrace in Clarksville.
Mrs. O'Geary was born in Mecklenburg County on February 12, 1918.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. April 25, at Watkins Cooper
Lyon Chapel in Clarksville, with burial in Virgilina Cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. O'Geary include three daughters, Katherine Morris,
Donna Seate and Linda Coghill, all of Virgilina; her sister, Gay
Whitt of Baskerville; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren;
three great-great-grandchildren; a special nephew, Thomas Puryear;
and two special friends, Bet Loftis and Mary Alice Murray.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James R. O'Geary.