At Monday’s public hearing on 'the proposed revisions to

At Monday’s public hearing on 'the proposed revisions to Rappahannock’s subdivision ordinance, the supporters of adoption kept it short: “It’s tailor-made to be a companion - to the county’s zoning ordinance,” ■ Said Phil Irwin, the constant monitor ’.of local government’s meetings on . land use and zoning issues.

“It’s impossible to pass a perfect zoning ordinance. This is a good ordinance. and we have to trust our local officials to enforce it fairly,” said ■ supervisor-elect Mike Massie.

' The opponents, though ulti. mateLy unsuccessful in persuading ; the supervisors to vote down or at least table the regulation changes, said much more.

“It puts added constraints on development, which I understand is i the purpose,” said supervisor-elect ‘ Ellis Bingham. “But in doing this, ; you’re targeting the small farmers ’ and senior citizens.” Land is security ; for these people, and the subdivision ordinance prevents them from subdividing small lots when they are no longer able to farm, he said. “When you stop them from selling off for ; random development - which, by ; the way, is not always bad because it ; Stops developer-development - you « stop the small farmer and the senior • citizen from getting a fair return on ! their land... and you’re opening the “ county to land speculators.” ’ Col. Bingham acknowledged that ; he has no solutions or recommenda• tions (for changes to the proposed • regulations). “But some of the things . in the ordinance are incompatible ! with the well being and dignity of ; our senior citizens.” ; “I whole-heartedly second that,” ; said Carson Johnson, identifying ■ himself as a native and lifelong resi! dent of Rappahannock County.

“In 1962, we enacted an ordi; nance that was supposedly to save ; Rappahannock from now on ... It ; was drawn up and passed with very