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(Continued from Page 1) that “a major objective of the Rappahannock County Zoning Ordinance has been and remains the protection and preservation of the natural environment of the county, and particularly its mountainous areas."

Olson also maintained that the Supervisors acted hastily in approving the amendments without giving the Planning Commission adequate time to review and make a recommendation. State law, he noted, allows the Commission a 90 day study period in which to advise the Supervisors.

In action on the amendments in question, the Planners—at the direction of the Board—held a public hearing August 31 on the proposed amendments. The Supervisors voted on the amendments on September 7 without a Planning Commission recommendation despite a request from the Planners for more study time.

In conclusion, Olson stated that the failure of the Supervisors to repeal the amendments “will make Rappahannock County vulnerable to unplanned recreational development with severe environmental consequences;; and, on behalf of RLEP, he urged the Board to reconsider the amendments as early as possible.

He asked for the Board's decision by its November meeting “so that, if necessary, RLEP can consider alternative action."

Recreation Always Allowed

By Right

“The only comment I have to make is I don’t agree with it.” Commonwealth Attorney George Davis announced after Supervisor Chairman E. P. Luke finished reading Olson's letter.

“I don’t agree with it either.” Luke remarked. “Recreation in all its aspects was a use by right" in conservation districts prior to the September 7 ordinance amendments, said Luke. No one from RLEP came before the Board previously to warn the Supervisors that they had “opened Pandora's box," he added.

"It looks to me like this is an attempt to drag this thing out for another three months," said Supervisor Butch Eastham.

When the Board of Zoning Appeals denied the Rap