Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 5 · column 2 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
Lynch and O’Connell subdivide this property than the foreclosed, former owner, a developer of questionable repute in the “other” Washington!
I feel more assured that this subdivision has been done right, when the subdividers have substantial investments in their own residences and business immediately adjoining the land subdivided. I don’t believe Rob and Susan Parrish, for example, would be parties to a subdivision that created septic effluent pollution problems, when two of the drainfield sites for lots in the subdivision are to be in the back yard of their own residence.
But, even believing that, I would never hold them or any of these applicants to a lesser standard than that required for every applicant by the ordinance — and the Town Council didn’t.
In fact, the requirements for approval of this subdivision were extensive — and expensive to the applicants. Just the motion to approve the application was 39 typewritten lines long. It required, for example, a corporate association of homeowners to be established (just to ensure that the private cul-de-sac serving four of the lots will be properly maintained in perpetuity), the personal surety of each of the six applicants for the costs of constructing that roadway, all water lines to meet Virginia Fire Code standards (most lines in the Town don’t), and the signature of the Town Attorney on every written requirement related to the subdivision.
If it were possible in such a small community, I would prefer anonymity for applicants — not because of favoritism for some, but because of what seems to me to be prejudicial treatment for others.
There have been two subdivision applications before the Council in this term, the Stuart subdivision and the Rev. Mr. Scott’s subdivision on Piedmont Avenue. I ask only that you compare the records of the two applications and tell me then if you are still troubled by “difficult questions” about the approval of the Stuart subdivision.
The opinions I have expressed are solely my own and not those of the Town Council or any other member. If my letter is more candid than politic, it is because your editorial reconfirmed my earlier decision about the May, 1990 Town election. The only race I intend to run in this spring is the Fodderstack.
RAY GOOCH
Washington
P.S. Is the newsprint on which your editorial was printed water soluble? I sure hope it doesn’t clog up my septic system!
Mr. Gooch is a member and secretary of Washington’s Town Council.
95.9%