Attendance
Margaret “Prue” Davis,
Frank Herrin, Russell & Rachel Williams (Dragon Run Steering Committee);
Mike Anderberg (Friends of Dragon Run); Anne Ducey-Ortiz (Gloucester County);
Paul Koll (King and Queen County); Beth Locklear (VA Division of Natural Heritage)
Welcome
David Fuss welcomed
everyone and began introductions. David briefly explained the handout – a
matrix to compare comprehensive plan and zoning components of the four county
governments in the watershed.
David presented the
following list of priority areas for discussion that was distilled from the
March 19 meeting:
Concern was raised
that the list was mostly procedural and did not contain enough goal-oriented
language.
Mike Anderberg
suggested that the group develop model language for local governments to amend
their comprehensive plans to recognize the Dragon Run watershed as a subarea
deserving distinct focus – to think about the Dragon regionally and the local
governments can act jointly.
There was a great
deal of discussion about the need to get a Memorandum of Agreement signed by
the counties first. Then, model language and specific recommendations can be
considered. In order to get community/landowner buy-in, the MOA must flow
through the Dragon Run Steering Committee to the Planning District Commission
to the Boards of Supervisors and to their planning commissions. This process
will ensure that public input is sought. The MOA is the first step to get the
attention of the Boards of Supervisors. Further discussion revealed that the
Dragon Run Steering Committee could be a vehicle for comp plan amendment review
or, more likely, an appropriate place to review applications for development.
Most comp plan amendments would be so general that other counties would
probably not be very concerned.
There was a
feeling that the MOA needed to address ‘touchstones’ that are of interest to
landowners to get them involved. The group needs to avoid landowner alienation
and get positive points across to landowners. Use broad enough wording so that
landowners won’t be rattled.
There was a brief
discussion about the lack of perceived threat of land use changes in the
watershed. It was noted that the rate of turnover of land parcels is very low.
Historically, adjacent landowners have purchased land that came up for sale. It
was also noted, however, that this may not always be the case throughout the
watershed and that damage to tributary streams can “kill the Dragon stream from
afar.”
There was brief
discussion about concerns surrounding reservoir development in the watershed
and fire/smoke concerns from prescribed burning or wildfires.
Goals
The group
determined that the following topic areas served as the foundation for its
goals:
·
Common vision of watershed
·
Watershed deserves distinctive treatment
·
Evaluate and preserve current land uses and
evaluate existing planning tools
·
Preserve sense of peace and serenity by managing
access
·
Acknowledge watershed’s unique
environmental/ecological value
·
Plan for future development pressure
Other
ideas were:
·
Comprehensive plan recognition of Dragon Run
watershed as regional
·
Open space preservation
The
group did not rank/prioritize its goals.
Adjourn
The
next meeting will be with the entire Advisory Group on May 8, 2002 at 7:30 PM
at the MPPDC offices in Saluda.