‘Occupy Courthouse’ Rally Tuesday Against Rezoning
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
December 8, 2014
Three Eastern Shore civic organizations are calling on Northampton County residents to attend an “Occupy the Old Courthouse” rally 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 9. The rally comes just before the Northampton County Board of Supervisors meeting at 7 p.m. and is intended to raise awareness of the proposed major revisions to the county’s zoning. Billed as a “peaceful demonstration,” the rally will include speakers and musicians and is aimed at encouraging the Board of Supervisors to solicit more public involvement in any changes to the Comprehensive Plan and associated zoning ordinances.
“We are encouraging everyone who is concerned about this issue, one way or the other, to join us December 9 at the Administration Building at the old courthouse greens for this rally,” said Dave Kabler, one of the organizers. “What we do, or do not do, in the next several months could and will have a profound effect on this county and the lower Eastern Shore for generations,” he emphasized.
Kabler represents the group “Citizens for Open Government,” formed with Exmore activist Ken Dufty. Also sponsoring the rally are Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper Jay Ford and his organization. “We will be gathering in a show of support for a repeal of the proposed zoning ordinance that threatens our water quality, our property rights, and our agriculture, and aquaculture industries,” Ford said. “The Board of Supervisors has circumvented the citizen-created Comprehensive Plan that is to serve as our road map for the future,” he charged. The citizens of Northampton deserve better, and they deserve to have their hard work and consideration honored when it comes to the zoning code. Come out and let the Board know that they need to repeal this zoning overhaul and engage the public in a meaningful process in line with the spirit of our law,” Ford urged.
Also sponsoring the rally is the environmental preservation group Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore.
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Rally participants are encouraged to attend the Supervisors meeting at 7 p.m. and address the Supervisors with their concerns.
The 150-page draft zoning ordinance proposes major changes to the current plan that has shaped growth and development on the lower Eastern Shore, the groups say. “While the current plan encourages growth of our core industries — agriculture, aquaculture, tourism and small business — the new plan calls for dramatic increases in the number of houses per acre, especially along the waterfronts, and calls for more emphasis on commercial and industrial land uses,” according to Dave Kabler. “The new zoning ordinance also proposes to allow uses on agricultural lands such as waste incinerators, large scale chicken houses, biomass oil refineries, manure storage, racetracks, wastewater treatment plants, and other similar uses. Many of the proposed uses do not require notification to neighbors, and they bypass Planning Commission approval,” Kabler said.
CLICK to read a 2-page flyer the groups are distributing.
Some thoughts for consideration:
1. The Board of Supervisors needs to halt — STOP — Cease and Desist their current plans to alter the existing Comprehensive Plan.
2. Charles McSwain needs to go back to Florida where he belongs now, not tomorrow. If he’s been so successful in Florida in the business arena, what’s he dong here working for the county?
3. We need to look into exactly who made the decision to hire Mr. McSwain in the first place. That’s where all the problems have arisen from.
4. The citizens on the Shore need to awaken from their dream of how things were. They need to look clearly at what’s going on and get their own business details in order. Translated, that means the people’s representatives need to truly represent the people, not simply the few in their background.
Rezoning without community input is unethical, and must be stopped.