Official Wrangling Over Old School Continues (in Fine Print)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 16, 2013
When Cape Charles Town Council meets Thursday (October 17), the Old School in Central Park will be on the agenda yet again – more than two years after Town Council began secret negotiations with a developer to give away the property.
This time, Council will consider whether to override a decision by the Town Manager not to allow an appeal by the civic group Old School Cape Charles regarding issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness to the school developer.
Town Manager Heather Arcos and Town Planner Rob Testerman write that they “will reject the appeal unless otherwise directed by Council.” They present several reasons why, perhaps the most controversial being that “An appeal must be filed with the Zoning Administrator, but OSCC filed the appeal to the Town Clerk.”
The appeal, filed by OSCC President Wayne Creed, quoted Town Zoning Ordinance Section 8.15: “the decisions of the Historic District Review Board may be appealed to the Town Council.”
But Arcos and Testerman contend that Section 8.34 of the Zoning Ordinance “further explains the steps to give notice of an appeal. An appeal must be filed with the Zoning Administrator, but OSCC filed the appeal to the Town Clerk. The appeal is addressed to the Town Council,” they write. Their memo does not mention whether they obtained advice from the Town’s attorney on the issue. [Read more…]
TOWN COUNCIL: Extra-Cost Recycling Not Recommended
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
October 16, 2013
Cape Charles Town Council meets 6 p.m. Thursday, October 17, at St. Charles Parish Hall.
On the agenda is a vote on a garbage collection contract with Davis Disposal, the sole bidder. Cape Charles currently has no provision for curbside recycling pickup. In its bid, Davis Disposal offered optional recycling pickup every other week at a cost of $5 per household per month. However, the recycling would include only paper products and #1 and #2 plastics (no glass).
Davis did not offer any rate reduction for garbage pickup even though with recycling the amount of regular refuse collected would necessarily be less. Town staff has recommended that Council accept the Davis bid on garbage collection but not exercise the curbside recycling option.
Other items on Thursday’s agenda include updates on repairs to the fishing pier, new Washington Avenue sidewalks, Harbor density zoning, and the Old School in Central Park (read separate story here).
The Town information packet may be read by clicking here.
