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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13,1986
Score one for zoning
Rapphannock’s Board of Zoning Appeals scored a point for enforcement of the county’s zoning laws when it found that conditions of a special use permit for migrant worker housing had been violated.
Too often, violations have been ignored.
It wasn’t an easy decision. The BZA members had to reconstruct a hearing of two years ago in determining what the permit conditions actually were. Two years ago, there was no physical permit issued, no piece of paper setting out limits on the special land use.
And the BZA members themselves acknowledged that they lacked foresight in failing to be more specific in the conditions they did apply and possibly by failing to translate other concerns expressed at that earlier hearing into additional restrictions. But we know from watching this BZA that the mistakes won’t be repeated. The members of this governing body learn from their errors.
It was also proper, u'pon finding the violations, to issue a warning to the permit holder instead of following up last week’s evidentiary hearing with a hearing for permit revocation. There were ambiguities: what was the definition of “temporary, seasonal” as applied to migrant workers? Did lawful family subdivisions approved by the county’s agent invalidate the permit? Did the limit of 10 workers to be housed in the labor camp mean that if a new crew showed up two or three days earlier than directed, they couldn’t share the quarters with the departing workers?
Painstakingly, carefully, giving both sides every opportunity to be heard over and over again, the BZA members resolved those questions. Once the conditions were clarified, they served notice that future violations will result in revocation. They mean what they say, and the permit holder and everyone else in Rappahannock knows it.
The BZA’s decision carries a message that needs to be broadcast throughout the county: zoning laws are to be enforced. It’s a message that should be echoed by Rappahannock’s Board of Supervisory and Planning Commission.
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