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By Meredith Gorfein
Rappahannock News Writer
A fascinating report was just published by the Southern Environmental Law Center called Where are we growing? Land use and transportation in Virginia. The report concerns the loss of farmland and open space, haphazard residential development (sprawl), the “explosion in driving” and the costs to all Virginians of the current growth trends.
Conventional wisdom would say that this report has little to do with Rappahannock: this county is pristine and protected. About 13,000 acres in Rappahannock are protected in perpetuity from development because their owners have placed them in conservation easement. It is estimated that by the end of 2002, 10 percent of all private lands will be in easement.
We are safe also from Northern Virginia style development because we are outside the commuting limit of one hour, though there are some in the county who do make that commute daily.
Our zoning ordinances and County Comprehensive Plan have been well-crafted, looking to the future while respecting the treasures of the land.
There are some trends and facts in Where are we growing? which might give cause for thought:
Virginia is growing
The census rated Virginia as the 11th fastest growing state in the nation with a 14.4 percent increase in population. Rappahannock had only a 5.5 percent increase. Our neighbor about one hour to the east, Northern Virginia, experienced “exponential population growth.” The report said, “Almost half of the population growth during the past decade occurred in Northern Virginia.” Loudoun County’s population grew
95.7%