MONDAY: Public Hearing on Mandatory County Sewer Tax

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

September 23, 2013

Northampton County Board of Supervisors meets 7 p.m. Monday, September 23, at the County board room in Eastville to hear public comment on a special sewer tax district for commercial properties near the Cape Charles/Cheriton Route 13 traffic light.  (Click here to view a map of affected properties.)  Residents may take the floor to express their opinions on the issue.

As reported in the Wave last week (click here for story), people turned out in force at a September 16 informational meeting on the proposed sewer district held by the Eastern Shore Public Service Authority. Although every member of the public who spoke was opposed to the proposal, immediately following the meeting PSA members voted unanimously to approve a $70,000 contract with the engineering firm Hurt & Profitt to begin surveying the sewer project. A Hurt & Profitt survey team has been observed working in the vicinity this past week.

The PSA received $130,000 from the County this year before any public hearing was held. Members of the Northampton County Planning Commission have stated that they were not consulted and were not aware of what the PSA was doing.

The Board of Supervisors has already included 25 percent of the cost of the sewer project in this year’s County budget, which means that all County property owners will pay a share. That includes property owners in the Town of Cape Charles as well as Exmore and everywhere else. [Read more…]

Tour Showcases Beach Club, Future Yacht Center

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

September 21, 2013

New Northampton County development was showcased to County and town officials yesterday in an all-day tour that began at the new Bay Creek Beach Club.

Although there is not yet a great deal to see, the tour also took local officials to the site of the Cape Charles Yacht Center next to the Coast Guard Station.

The tour was organized by Eyre Baldwin, a partner in ESLAND (Eastern Shore Land Company), as well as being chief developer of the yacht center.

According to an ESLAND press release, the yacht center will be a mega-yacht destination along the East Coast. It will be accessed via the Town Harbor, which features an 18-foot deep channel for easy access. The full-service shipyard will be able to accommodate boats of “all sizes,” including mega-yachts.

Baldwin said the Yacht Center will attract visitors to the Town and will help to continue the revitalization of the area’s economy. “This development will bring new business opportunities such as restaurants, hotels and marine industries,” he said.

Officials visited the Beach Club and Fitness Center at Bay Creek, opening later this year as a members-only facility. The 19,000-square-foot complex includes a fitness center, a 2,800-square-foot members’ lounge with fireplace and large-screen TV, and two outdoor pools with a splash zone and aquatic play area for kids.

[Read more…]

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COMMENTARY: Support PSA for a Cleaner Eastern Shore

By WAYNE CREED

September 21, 2013

Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek received a universally chilly reception September 16 at the Cheriton Fire Hall when he explained plans to use the Town’s wastewater plant as the southern node of a semi-regional wastewater system. But when so many people around here agree with each other, it should raise a giant red flag that something is wrong.

I agree that at the current time, Cape Charles should not engage with the Public Service Authority to run pipe out to the newly created Economic Tax Zone along Route 13 — but for different reasons than have been voiced by others.

A major red herring is that supplying wastewater treatment to Route 13 and Cheriton would somehow cause economic stress to Cape Charles businesses. There is a notion that a Rite-Aid or CVS may open to compete with Rayfield’s, yet in this economic climate, chain stores tend to stick to locations that minimize risk. Even with peak summer traffic, there doesn’t appear that there are the demographics to support a chain like that, and companies like CVS only survive if they can subsume and assimilate. That is, it would only be viable if they could assume Rayfield’s base — a difficult task that may seem too risky after a thorough cost-benefit analysis. [Read more…]

EDITORIAL: Don’t Subsidize the County

A CAPE CHARLES WAVE EDITORIAL
September 19, 2013

Two weeks ago today, Cape Charles Town Council was supposed to discuss a proposed rate structure for commercial sewer customers on Route 13 and around Cheriton. Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek earlier said that determining a sewer rate would be “about a day’s work.” But no rate has yet been proposed, and Council’s work session was cancelled. It’s now clear that the sewer charge won’t be based on engineering calculations — it will be a political decision.

Cape Charles residents and businesses pay a minimum monthly sewer charge of $61. But County Administrator Katie Nunez doesn’t want commercial customers outside the Town to pay any more than an “affordable” rate of $45. Town officials bought into Mr. Panek’s reasoning that any additional sewer income would be “gravy,” since most of the costs of running the treatment plant are fixed, and not dependent on how much sewage is treated. So they initially were amenable to the $45 charge.

But try telling anyone who sells hamburgers in Cape Charles that they have to pay full rate to support the fixed costs of the sewer plant, while McDonald’s and Hardee’s will get a lower rate. It’s a politically indefensible argument, so it’s not surprising that Town officials now are scared to propose any rate. As a result, the public hearing set for Monday, September 23, at the County board room in Eastville will be almost farcical, since nobody knows what the rate will be.

It doesn’t take a month or even a day to calculate a rate structure for County sewer customers, because the calculation has already been done. If Town customers pay $61 a month, then County customers should pay $61 a month. Any less, and the Town is rewarding and encouraging businesses outside Town limits. Any more – well, forget that argument, because no County customer would tolerate a rate above $61 – even though Town Council member Joan Natali has publicly suggested that the Town could “make a profit” on providing sewer service to the County. [Read more…]

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PSA Sewer Meeting: Hot Time in Cheriton Fire Hall

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

September 17, 2013

Nearly 100 people turned out Monday night to hear and question plans by the Eastern Shore Public Service Authority to pipe sewage from commercial properties near Route 13 to the Cape Charles treatment plant.

PSA Chairman Bob Panek, who also is assistant town manager for Cape Charles, found himself in hostile territory: not a single speaker during the meeting supported the sewer expansion. The reason was clear: cost – initially $1.8 million, which could balloon to $12 million in a later phase encompassing Cheriton and surrounding areas.

The PSA is recommending mandatory sewer service for 70 commercial properties with a total tax value of $18 million. The project would cost $1.8 million, or 10 percent of the total value of the properties. The $1.8 million would be borrowed with an annual debt service of $124,000 for 20 years.

Northampton County Board of Supervisors has already voted to pay 25 percent of the debt service from the County’s general fund, meaning that all county taxpayers will pay a share. The remaining 75 percent would come from a special tax district encompassing the 70 commercial properties, where property taxes will nearly double.

Panek said the PSA is acting on the basis of a July 2012 survey of the 64 commercial property owners affected. There were only 10 responses to the survey: 5 “yes,” 4 “maybe,” and 1 “no.” Panek said that although survey response was “thin,” those who responded “positively” (meaning “yes” or “maybe”) own about a third of the total assessed $18 million.

Of the 70 parcels included in the special tax district, most are vacant, meaning they presently have no need for sewage treatment. The two big users are McDonald’s and Hardee’s, Panek said.

Questions and answers at the meeting included the following (names of speakers appear when known): [Read more…]

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Meeting Monday Night on Special Sewer Tax District

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

September 16, 2013

Northampton County Supervisors have set two public meetings about expanding sewer service. An “informal public information meeting” is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight (Monday) at the Cheriton Fire House. A week later, a formal public hearing is planned for 7 p.m. Monday, September 23, in the County Administration Building board room.

Below is a letter mailed to property owners. The entire mailing may be read by clicking here. [Read more…]

Merchant Association Gives Development Chief the Business

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

September 12, 2013

Recently hired economic development director for Northampton County Charles McSwain knew he was walking into a hornets nest when he addressed the Cape Charles Business Association meeting last night, and he came prepared with disclaimers and a philosophy of positive thinking.

But Business Association members weren’t buying it when McSwain tried to defend the County’s development plans – especially as they relate to commercial development on Route 13. Association President George Proto told McSwain, who only recently moved into the area, to “drive up Route 13 and see towns like Exmore with development on the highway. I haven’t been able to see any town not negatively impacted,” Proto said.

Deborah Bender said that highway development outside Onancock, where she once lived, “killed the town.” In the same way, on the highway outside Cape Charles, “a Rite-Aid would hurt,” she said. “And a hotel would hurt the B&Bs.”

“I like to think about this in a completely different way,” McSwain said. “Cape Charles is a very attractive place that has its own identity – not something we have to worry about dying.” He argued that commercial development on Route 13 around the Cape Charles traffic light would slow down through-traffic and “make people make that right turn.” A gas station or a motel at the intersection “would stop the high-speed traffic coming through. Once they’ve stopped, train the retailers to say something good about Cape Charles,” McSwain suggested. [Read more…]

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Letters Between Business Association, Mayor Worth a Read

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

September 11, 2013

Tonight (Wednesday) the new economic development director for Northampton County, Charles McSwain, speaks to the Cape Charles Business Association. One of the issues is development on Route 13 and its effect on Cape Charles businesses.  The Town of Cape Charles has some leverage because it can choose to promote commercial development on the highway or discourage it — depending on whether it agrees to facilitate sewerage for commercial properties outside town.

Two letters appear below: the first is from Cape Charles Business Association President George Proto to Mayor Dora Sullivan, and the second is the mayor’s response. Anyone interested in Route 13 commercial development might also be interested to read the letters.

[Read more…]

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SHORE THING: You Tell ‘Em, Ted

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

September 9, 2013

A recurring theme of critics of the Wave runs like this: “We’re tired of all the negativity. Don’t tear down; build up. If you think you can do better, then run for office. Get involved. But don’t spend your time criticizing what others are doing.”

Our critics don’t seem to have much appreciation for what’s known as the “Fourth Estate.” According to Wikipedia, the “networked Fourth Estate” can be defined as “technologies that are associated with the free press and provide a public check on the branches of government.”

Providing a public check on government is the main purpose of the Wave. In a tiny town like Cape Charles, how are you going to know what’s happening at Town Council, the Planning Commission, the Historic District Review Board, or the Wetlands and Coastal Dunes Board? Attend all the meetings as a spectator? For most people that’s just not practical. But to be an informed citizen you need to know what’s going on, and that’s where the Wave comes in. We actually report those meetings. We’re not running for office, but we are involved.

The two “real” newspapers, Eastern Shore News and Eastern Shore Post, from time to time file stories about Cape Charles, including Town Council, but those papers cover the entire Eastern Shore and don’t focus on Cape Charles. Hence the Wave.

The aforementioned papers sometimes are criticized as too “wishy-washy,” afraid to call a spade a spade. So it did our hearts good when we read the fiery opinion column by Eastern Shore News editor Ted Shockley the other week. His rebuke is directed at Accomack County supervisors after they refused to fund a new library. Shockley pointed out that the supervisors waste plenty of money through poor management. Here’s a condensation of what he wrote: [Read more…]

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Annual Forestry & Wildlife Tour of Northampton County

September 7, 2013

The annual Forest Landowners bus tour for Northampton County typically has 50-75 participants.  Teachers, local government officials, and interested citizens are welcome to join forest landowners on the tour, and scholarships are available for K-12 teachers.

Meet-up is 8 a.m. Thursday, October 3, at the Food Lion, Northampton Shopping Center in Exmore. Tour begins promptly at 8:30 a.m.

The day will be spent visiting privately owned forestlands to view and discuss active forestry and wildlife management options. The day concludes at Chatham Vineyards.

There will be numerous opportunities throughout the day for participants to interact with one another, and with natural resource professionals. Robbie Lewis, with the Virginia Department of Forestry, will be the main tour guide.

The tour will conclude by 4:30 p.m.

Registration is $45/person; $80/couple and includes lunch, refreshments, and transportation.

Register by September 25 at http://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu.  For more information contact: Neil Clark at [email protected] or 757-653-2572.

ITINERARY

Stop 1: Mattissippi Tract, Explore the remnants of a house built during the Colonial Era. Discussion will cover topics such as pre-commercial thinning, aerial herbicide release, and waterfowl impoundments (they do duck hunt on the Shore ya’ know). [Read more…]

TUESDAY 9/10: Harbor District Public Hearing with Town Council and Planning Commission

Cape Charles Town Council and Planning Commission will hold a joint public hearing 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 10, at the Town Hall,  2 Plum Street, to hear public comments regarding proposed modifications to the Cape Charles Zoning Ordinance, Section 3.9 – Harbor District. [Read more…]