Apartments

Apartments

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“There are senior citizens who can't find housing when they can no longer maintain their property,” Mrs. Johnson continued. “There is a group of widows who have asked builders to construct housing for them. The builders are willing but can’t find any land.”

Mrs. Johnson added that she supported Mr. Brown's request for a “beautiful building spot, and proposes a building in keeping with the architectural design of the town. It will alleviate a need in Sperryville — similar to what Dr. Krebser has done in Washington and Flint Hill.”

She added that Mr. Brown is a lifelong Rappahannock resident who wants to stay in the county. “Young people leave because there is no employment. This would help one person stay — and it would help house six families.”

Carson Johnson, who as a member of the Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority oversees the operation of the Sperryville sewage treatment plant, told the BZA that six additional sewer hookups would improve the operation of the plant.

The plant, he said, is designed to operate efficiently at 80 percent of its maximum daily volume of 55,000 gallons of effluent. The plant requires that volume for the proper chemistry to occur. At its present flow of between 40 and 50 percent of capacity, Mr. Johnson said, extra chemicals are needed to assure the plant is processing the waste properly.

“Therefore, when Mr. Brown came to us, we said that we would readily approve six EDUs (equivalent dwelling units) necessary for six units. We not only have them available, we need them.” Although the system is prohibited from expanding beyond the town limits, Mr. Johnson said, it is free to expand within the town as long as capacity is available.

BZA member Butch Zindel asked how much capacity is left. Mr. Johnson replied that the system was designed as a “no-growth system” for a population of 300-325. It now serves roughly 200-225 customers, he said.

Addressing the question of public water, Mr. Johnson said that for the past 20 to 25 years there have been two different sources which could be tapped. “I don’t think that either has been inspected by the Health Department in years, and they probably wouldn’t pass the Health Department. Why should he have to hook up to that if it’s not safe?” Mr. Johnson asked.

“If he drills a deep well, passed by the Health Department, why can’t he comply with this ordinance?” the WSA member continued. “Issue the permit and make one of the stipulations that he dig a well sufficient to fill this need,” Mr. Johnson suggested.

Addressing the county’s plans to deal with impending growth, Mr. Johnson warned, “it’s coming.” In the years that he has attended county government meetings, he said, “the comprehensive plan and the Planning Commission has said, ‘Let’s keep density in the villages and stop cutting up our farmland’.”

Mr. Johnson recalled that “not too many years ago” there were six or eight large farms between Wash