Mountains

Mountains

Continued from page 11

And Robert Dennis, president of the Piedmont Environmental Council, told the students that his organization encourages people to commit land to conservation districts in larger parcels than Rappahannock’s density maximum of one dwelling unit per 25 acres for agricultural and conservation zones. PEC’s goal, Mr. Dennis said, is to get one million acres in the nine-county Piedmont region committed to agriculture, forestry, conservation or easement that precludes most development for a minimum of six years or, even better, for perpetuity.

But developer/contractor Tom G. Taylor maintained that restrictive zoning deprives young people who want to live in Rappahannock of the American dream of home ownership. There is little room in Rappahannock for growth, he said, including the areas in and around the villages where property is either already divided or owned in large tracts by people who aren’t interested in selling. Mr. Taylor said the cost of a 25acre lot is prohibitive for a young couple and when a $100,000 house is placed on the lot, home ownership becomes nearly impossible.

Commissioner of Revenue Beverly Atkins reported that while some have incomes below the $9,000 poverty level and a few earn $500,000 to $1,000,000 annually, the income of most Rappahannock residents ranges from $15,000 to $50,000. And she explained the budgeting process necessary for farmers and others who are self-employed.

The students visited Douglas Baumgardner to learn more about professionals who decide to “come home to Rappahannock” to establish careers. The former Commonwealth’s Attorney, a graduate of VMI and the University of Virginia Law School explained that he likes the variety of legal work available to him in a small country practice. “I’m always learning, every day.”