Archive for June 2009
If Global Warming is a total hoax…
… should we do nothing?
The George Mason University Center for Climate Chance Communication has completed a Global Warming’s Six Americas 2009: An Audience Segmentation Analysis report. The report found that 18% of Americans are “alarmed,” while 7% are “dismissive.” In between are people who are concerned, cautious, disengaged, or doubtful.
So how could an energy conservation section in an updated Environment Chapter for the Comp Plan minimize political controversy?
Silver Lake – what’s next?
Here’s the latest from the Gainesville District Supervisor, John Stirrup:
“The Park Authority has established a two phase approach to opening the park, a brief description of each phase is included below.
“Within the next 120 days, the Park Authority will be preparing the property for safe passive recreation; securing or removing the dilapidated buildings, cleaning up the lake shore line, removing the broken lake dock and clearing areas for picnicking. As soon as the property is secured, fishing will be allowed from the bank of the lake. Also within those first 120 days, the Park Authority will conduct the Master Plan process for the Park. This process will seek input from the public and with organizations who would like to partner with the Park Authority. These meetings will be well publicized for citizens to participate.
“Phase Two, which is subject to budgetary constraints, could include a bathhouse, marina, camping area, picnic shelters and outdoor classrooms for environmental studies.”
Environment Chapter of Comprehensive Plan – Why Bother?
The Planning Commission kicked off its rewrite of yet another Comp Plan chapter on June 24. Submit your ideas to PCFeedback@pwcgov.org early and often.
Because the Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) kicked off a round of community meetings to gather yet more input on the land use and transportation chapters already approved by the Planning Commission, a new Environment Chapter draft will be ready for BOCS action at roughly the same time as land use and transportation chapters. We’re (eek!) at risk of adopting consistent guidance.
Why should anyone care about the Environment Chapter? Well…
Want the same deal as Dulles, to get Metro extended to Gainesville/Woodbridge?
Then be prepared to pay the “local” share.
The Silver Line extension through Tysons to Dulles Airport will cost $5.2 billion. After political gymnastics worthy of a gold medal and a “Perils of Pauline” movie, Virginia politicians extracted $900 million from the Federal government.
Ugh… who’s paying the rest?
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Silver Lake: Park Authority sets date for opening, initiates Master Plan
One day after the Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) approved the transfer of Silver Lake to the Park Authority without any deed restrictions, the Park Authority Board initiated the Master Plan and discussed opening the site to public use by October 1.
When the “No Trespassing” signs are replaced by “Welcome” signs, it will be a day for celebration.
Hay is for horses – and so is Silver Lake
Just what are opponents to deed restrictions at Silver Lake planning to build there someday?
Silver Lake is a great place for bridle trails. It’s a great place for hiking trails. It’s a great place for jogging trails. It’s a terrible place for an RV campground. It’s a terrible place for lighted-at-night tennis courts. It’s a terrible place for a lighted-at-night driving range for all the future PGA champions. It’s a terrible place for a lighted-at-night anything.
We already have developed ballfields at Valley View Park, James Long Park, and Catharpin/Sudley Park. Deed restrictions at Silver Lake will ensure we get a natural area at Silver Lake, and promises will be kept for years to come.
May & Nohe announce Silver Lake conservation plan
Supervisors Michael May and Martin Nohe have a conservation plan for Silver Lake. In a press release issued earlier today, they call for deed restrictions that limit recreation uses at Silver Lake to passive recreation and horseback riding.
If their proposal is adopted, Supervisors will ensure that community wishes for Silver Lake are honored and protect the environment by prohibiting high-impact recreation uses on this sensitive property.
This means there would be no lighted ball fields, RV storage, or other intensive recreation uses at Silver Lake. It means that Silver Lake would be there for our grandchildren and their children.
“Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
It’s time for a powerful speech at the entrance to Silver Lake.
Three years after the Board of Supervisors (BOCS) approved adding some 400 homes to Dominion Valley in exchange for a new park, Silver Lake is still closed up tight and surrounded by “No Trespassing” signs.
The failure of county officials to manage the site in a professional manner over the last three years demonstrates why long-term protection is needed. “Trust, but verify” applies to county promises about this property in particular.
The county can get back on track with Silver Lake in a simple sequence of steps:
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New $9 million parking lot: more of the same ol’ same ol’ for Gainesville
The county and VDOT are marching forward to build another parking lot for commuters. The Cushing Road lot to be approved on Tuesday will be located at Wellington behind the 7-11 at the intersection of Balls Ford Road and Route 234 Extended.
Everyone is a cheerleader for increasing carpooling capacity on the I-66 HOV lanes. We need to do something about traffic congestion – so what’s wrong with this parking lot?
Answer: Once again, we’re applying band-aids rather than curing the problem. There’s a big difference between “doing something” and “doing something right.”
Comp Plan public involvement – redux
There’s a 50-50 chance that we’ll see a lasting peace agreement signed in the Middle East before the Board of County Supervisors adopts the new 2030 Comprehensive Plan – but in both cases, you gotta keep pushing for a good conclusion, despite the frustration.
Latest exercise: town hall meetings across the county through October, to discuss the draft Transportation and Land Use chapters. First meeting is June 18.
