feedback. Don Marro, an Independent candidate in the 27th

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Don Marro, an Independent candidate in the 27th District, said he felt the fees should be amended both to include out-ofstate drivers, and also to impose punitive fines on egregious violators while protecting inadvertent violators.

“You can’t do things hastily” Marro said, adding that a thoughtful solution should be found that will levy fines to dangerous drivers but not unfairly punish good drivers who have received citations.

Both Democrat Karen Schultz and Republican Jill Vogel said they felt the fees should be repealed entirely.

“I believe absolutely there should be stiffer penalties for people who break the law” said Vogel.

But she described the Current fees as an unconstitutional and misguided way of raising revenue. Vogel said she was given a speeding ticket in Ohio and paid it, but the abuser fees could lead to unfairly targeting Virginia drivers to raise revenue.

Schultz said road safety is extremely important, but that the fees go about addressing it in the wrong way.

“It’s right at the top of everyone’s list,” she said. “Many voters are telling me it’s unfair to discriminate against Virginians, and it’s not a sustainable source of fundraising.”

Over in the 28th District, the candidates would go about handling the fees in different ways.

Albert Pollard, a Democrat, said the fees should be completely eliminated. “Not only are the abuser fees wrong, they’re a larger sign of a broken system,” he said.

The fees need to be re-evaluated, and repealed until both parties can find a solution that protects the interests of Virginia residents, he said.

His opponent, Republican Richard Stuart, took a slightly different approach and said the fines shouldn’t be completely eliminated. Instead, they should be amended to include out-ofstate drivers and io target true abusers.

“Tm not one of these out there saying we need to repeal it entirely,” he said. “But calling an individual speeder an abuser is wrong.”

Stuart said the fees should be applicable to all, and abuses such as vehicular manslaughter should be dealt with more harshly. For now, he said, legislators should iron out how the fines will be applied and devise a fair way to protect Virginians.

Rappahannock News Staff Writer Matt Fblkey contributed to this article.

mission”

Commission Chairman Charles Strittmatter (Wakefield District) disagreed.

“Although you may have misunderstood what was said at the May meeting, I thought this commission made. it perfectly clear to you that we need other information before we can move forward with this,” Strittmatter said.

Despite the size of the project, Stevenson’s application only attracted three comments during the public hearing.

Former Planning Commission Chairman and Sperryville resident Tom Junk stood up to say he was disappointed that more people did not show up to voice their opinions about “the biggest change to hit Rappahannock County ever."

Alex Sharp, who owns the adjacent property and shares a driveway with the Antique Market, questioned whether Stevenson truly has enough space for the 50 parking spaces required for the condo building.

; “If this were a new structure, it would be allowed 10 units per acre maximum density. He’s going to do basically twice that,” Sharp said.- “I'm not so sure abandoning that requirement just because this is an adaptive use of an existing structure is a good idea.”

Mark Pace, who runs a woodworking business in an adjacent building, had worries about continuing to operate his business if such a large residential development moved into the commercial area.

“You’re going to completely change the nature of the property down there,” Pace said.

Junk said 24 units for the property may be too many. He added that, although the building has been used for various commercial uses during the past 60 years, this would be the first time it was adapted to a residential use.

“Just because someone wants to do it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.” Junk said.