Highland County, with its remarkably uncluttered mountain landscape of
forests and pastures, is a special destination for many Virginia birders. We
need your help to keep it that way.
The Highland Board of Supervisors presently faces a spot-zoning request that
would allow a 48-unit residential subdivision on the slopes of Back Creek
Mountain near the intersection of US 84 and Va 640 (Meadowdale) in the Blue
Grass Valley. The 366-acre property, owned by the Hooke Brothers Lumber
Company, would be developed by Virginia Timberline LLC, an outside
developer. The property is presently zoned for agriculture and conservation.
In contradiction to Highland's comprehensive plan, which would concentrate
development near Monterey, the Highland Planning Commission voted this
Thursday to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the rezoning
request. If the rezoning is approved and the project goes forward it will
essentially create another town about the size of Monterey in a presently
pristine location. This could be the beginning of big changes to come.
Justifiable concerns were raised at a recent public hearing about the impact
on Highland's character and on the quality and supply of water to adjacent
landowners and the Jackson River. (The project will concentrate about 48
wells and septic systems on hydrologically unpredictable limestone terrain.)
The Planning Commission failed to address these concerns.
The Board of Supervisors will meet and may decide the issue on February 4th.
It's difficult to predict the outcome. Pro and con opinions have been heard
in the county, though it appears that the majority opposes the project. It
is of concern that one of the supervisors, who is in the construction
business, has been quoted in the local paper stating that the project would
create jobs for builders and boost the local economy.
Others believe that Highland County's future depends on preservation of its
unique landscape that will both bring low-impact visitors to the county
(birders, for example) and maintain the high value of Highland property for
incremental and appropriate development.
I am sure that many birders share this belief and want to see Highland
remain a favorite destination. Please consider writing to the Board of
Supervisors or the local paper. To be timely, letters to the paper need to
be received by Tuesday of this week.
Here are the addresses:
Board of Supervisors
Highland County
Monterey, Virginia 24465
The Recorder
P.O. Box 10
Monterey, Virginia 24465
recorder@xxxxxxx
If requested, I can forward additional information about the proposed
project that has been published in the Recorder.
Thank you,
Rick Webb
Mustoe (Highland County), Virginia
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