Roanoke County Strikes a Blow for Freedom
Tonight the The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors did something truly remarkable. They rejected the State MANDATED Urban Development Areas (UDA’s) this evening by a unanimous vote. By deferring action on this state mandate for one year and ignoring the July 1, 2011 deadline, a shot has been fired across the bow of the Virginia General Assembly. We are hopeful the General Assembly and other localities take note of this action and end the madness that are the UDAs.
Long story short. In 2007 HB3202 passed the General Assembly. This law mandated that all localities with a large urban area designate Urban Development Areas. The UDAs encouraged high density buildings and discourage single family homes and buildings in rural areas. While this was not strictly an ICLEI issue, it was a law driven by proponents of Agenda 21.
We really did not expect the board to stand up to the General Assembly, as the law mandates that the county have UDAs added to the county Comprehensive Plan by July 1. Based on the public outcry at the meeting and the board’s unhappiness with the General Assembly mandating their zoning regulations, they made the decision to defy the General Assembley mandate and put off a vote until July 2012. This is a tremendous victory that will resound across the commonwealth
There are many people to thank.
Many thanks to the county residents who stood up and spoke against the UDA’s and ICLEI.
Thanks to local GOP leaders like Mike Bailey, Mickey Mixon and Max Beyer for speaking out against the UDAs, Agenda 21 and ICLEI. When we can all get behind an issue like this, good things can happen.
But most of all, thanks to the Board of Supervisors members who made a very courageous stand against these UDAs.
Richard Flora
Butch Church
Ed Elswick
Michael Altizer
You can contact them and thank them by clicking this link for their contact information.
If the Board is willing to make this kind of bold decision for liberty, I can’t imagine they won’t soon take the step to sever relations with ICLEI at the next BOS meeting on July 12.
Great things are happening with the Roanoke Tea Party. Join us now as we continue to find ways to shake up the system and nudge our area back towards freedom.
Chip Tarbutton
HEAR, HEAR SIR.
Wow! I’m shocked! I’m pleased! I’m surprised! Perhaps they have heard of the Roanoke Tea Party and would like to keep their seats.
I honestly think it was a combination of political consideration and there displeasure at having the GA monkeying around in their sandbox….which is what local zoning regs should be….a local issue.
I just blogged on this issue:
http://www.varight.com/news/ring-the-bell-of-liberty-roanoke-couinty-says-no-to-state-mandated-comprehensive-plan-last-night/
Hope it helps.
Sandy Sanders
Does it strike any of you as odd, there’s been no mention of this mini-coup in local or regional news? Even the print and electronic media has been totally silent.
Very….a few reporters are sniffing around now. I think they felt nothing of substance was on the agenda so no one actually figured this out. Perhaps after the replay of the meeting, they will pick up on it….