The vote onHanover
County’s proposed land-use plan, which includes smart growth and conservation measures, was delayed till next week.  The plan drafted by private consultants has proved to be quite controversial, as was evident by the 900 people that showed up for the public hearing.  Most of the dissenters came from the Town of
Ashland who believe the plan will disrupt their existing land-use plan, especially in regard to increased traffic flow.  Other qualms had to do with a proposed business park, Interstate 95 interchange, and of course “sprawl”. 

Although my opinion comes without personally reading the plan, I believe these residents’ arguments are flawed.  I believe the new plan is a breakthrough in land-use planning that should be used in counties around
Virginia.  In many similar places (I-95 corridor), a plan like this would be destroyed by home builders and commercial land developers.  The plan utilizes a smart growth approach and certainly is not sprawl.      

Rather than sprawl the plan prescribes increased density in already suburban areas and the preservation of 70% of the county as rural for the NEXT 50 YEARS.  While
Ashland does increase its suburban service area in the plan by 15,000 acres, the county plans to place 40,000 acres under rural conservation protection.  Ashland residents complain that the increased density will increase traffic flow at one juncture and then worry over the loss of traffic flow if the I-95 interchange were to go in between
Ashland and Doswell.  I will attempt to do some more research on this plan and get back to ya’ll with next weeks vote results