What price progress?

What price progress?

In the letter he addressed to Planning Commissioner David Fannon, Jackson District Supervisor Ellis Bingham questioned the ability of agriculture to survive as the leading industry in the county.

Indeed, according to figures he cites, agriculture has been surpassed in revenue generated for the county by real estate and retail sales. And, Col. Bingham suggests, the trend toward breaking up large farms into smaller parcels will continue as more and more farmers find farming is not a profitable enterprise.

What we don’t agree with is the solution proposed by some, wrho would rescind the county’s land use tax incentives because in their view some speculators are abusing the provisions. That may be true — in some cases.

However, the problem is that land use cannot be limited to only certain owmers — those w'ho live or work in the county, for example. That is an unlawful zoning discrimination, just as sure as a provision which would give Rappahannock natives preferential treatment in subdividing their land. If the parcel fits the criteria for inclusion in land use, it must be granted if the owner applies — regardless of his occupation.

The solution to agriculture’s dilemma is not to give up the . present tax incentives. That would make the farmer’s plight •' even more difficult. If those still struggling to make a living on the land are denied the small incentives they now get, more would doubtless put up the “For Sale” signs and pack up the farmhouse.

There are also non-economic advantages to encouraging agricultural uses in Rappahannock. Retail sales, Col. Bingham says, have surpassed farming as a revenue source in the county.

True enough, but wThat type of retail sales are they? Much of that income is generated by tourists who come to Rappahannock County to spend a day in a beautiful, pastoral rural setting. They come here because of the beauty, and while they’re here, most spend some money. And it’s money spent at fruit stands and family-ow ned shops, not chain stores at a mall. The money benefits the residents w ho owTn and wrork in the shops.

If our large farms are broken up into subdivisions, or sold to people who intend to do that, w hat happens to the tourists? Tourists don’t go to Fairfax and Loudoun counties to spend quiet days in the fresh air and sunshine. They come to the still-rural counties like Clarke and Rappahannock.

If wTe lose the scenic beauty created by our large agricultural and forested tracts, wre stand a good chance of losing most of our tourist revenue. It won’t nearly be matched by the taxes paid by people wrho will move here to live in the subdivisions, most of w hom w ill doubtless wrork elsewhere.

That would indeed be a large price to pay for “progress.”