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the county maintain its character. “However, I must also accept reality and this tells me that change is inevitable.” He charged that the county will be unprepared for those inevitable changes, “because of our inability to set realistic goals ...”
Comparing the county to a jewel, Col. Bingham continued, “unfortunately the very wealthy collect jewels. The very wealthy that I refer to are the investors and developers who can afford to buy large tracts of land for speculation.”
To think that they are buying the land to preserve its scenic beauty and rural character is “foolish if not very dangerous thinking,” Col. Bingham continued. Investors and developers are the big threat to the county, he said, not the small landowners who desire to cut off pieces of their land to sell. “This is what I consider natural growth."
He charged that the comprehensive plan, as approved, violates the Code of Virginia and its provisions that the plan “shall" be written with the purpose of guiding future development and “in accordance with present and probable future needs and resources ...” If we fail to comply . . . the courts will take our land from us when the investors/developers are ready to start building houses.”
Calling the best defense, “a blistering and rapid offence." Col. Bingham called for the elimination of tax incentives on all investment property held in the county. Noting that Col. E. P. Luke has begun compiling a master list of such properties. Col. Bingham said he intends to propose to the board that Col. Luke be granted some funding to pursue the study.
“We must first determine the magnitude of the problem then the possible solutions to the problem,” he said.
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