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Powhatan County

Oppostion to gun range in Powhatan County may carry the day

 

Virginia officials have taken note of the hundreds of Powhatan County residents and county officials fighting a law-enforcement shooting range planned for the county, and the opposition may be enough to derail plans for the facility.

Delegate R. Lee Ware Jr. expects that the Virginia State Police will eventually scrap plans for an 18-acre range and training facility off Old River Trail. "I am guardedly optimistic that they will actively consider alternatives and down the road we may get some news that they've headed to another site," he said.

Concerned citizens have spoken out against the planned gun range, citing issues such as noise and safety, along with damaged property values.

Read more in the Richmond Times-Dispatch....

Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 1:41pm

Powhatan residents leery of law enforcement training facility

The Virginia State Police plans to build a training facility in Powhatan on 18 acres of state-owned farmland off Old River Trail. The plans include four shooting ranges to be situated near a quiet, historic neighborhood. The facility would be used by the state police, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the FBI.

"The amount of noise we're talking about is huge," said Powhatan Supervisor Carson Tucker. "The closest home is 1,000 feet away."

Because the site is state-owned property, the facility does not require county approval. It has to pass an environmental impact review from the Department of Environmental Quality. and then gain final approval from Virginia's Secretary of Administration.

Read more in the Richmond Times-Dispatch....

 

Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 3:03pm

Homeowners at risk for foreclosure offered free counseling in Richmond

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia Inc., and the city of Richmond will co-sponsor a clinic for homeowners who may be at risk of foreclosure. Free foreclosure and fraud-prevention counseling will be offered, and homeowners will get to meet with a HUD-approved counseling agency to work on solutions to help them stay in their homes.

According to February data from McDash Analytics, 5.85% of the loans in Richmond area were more than 90 days past due. The average for Virginia is 4.92%.

Read more in the Richmond Times-Dispatch....

Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2010 - 8:27pm

A new look at housing affordability in Virginia

The Center for Neighborhood Technology has released its Housing and Transportation Affordability Index, which factors in the cost of transportation when calculating the cost of living in greater metropolitan areas.

Traditionally, a home is considered affordable if the yearly mortgage payments are about 30% of the homeowner's annual salary. The H+T (Housing + Transportation) Affordability Index suggests that a more realistic measure would factor in transportation costs. Using their model, a home would be considered affordable if the mortgage payments plus transportation costs (car, fuel, public tranportation, etc.) come to about 45% of the homeowner's annual income.

Virginians living in the close-in suburbs largely fare well, according to the CNT model. Roanoke boasts combined housing and transportation costs of just 44% of the area median income (AMI), Charlottesville 43%, and Lynchburg 49%. The Richmond metro area generally falls into the affordable range at 39% of AMI, with the exception of some outlying parts of the surrounding counties. Most of the Hampton Roads is considered less affordable, with housing and transportation taking up more than half of the AMI, with Norfolk the exception at 42%. 

The Northern Virginia area is more affordable according the the H+T model. For example, transportation costs in Alexandria come to about 15% of the local median income.

Wondering how your home stacks up? Homeowners in the Washington metro area can put their addresses into this calculator to find out or read the Washington fact sheet at the Center for Neighborhood Technology.

Check out other regions on this interactive map.

Posted on Friday, March 26, 2010 - 11:52am

Powhatan Considers Real Estate Tax Increase to Offset Budget Shortfall

According to Powhatan Today, Powhatan's budget woes, like many localities, have been compounded by a sharp decrease in assessed property values, Powhatan County leaders are faced with raising the county’s tax rate or drastically cutting services in order to get by.

The county is projecting a budget shortfall of $8.1 million in the next fiscal year, with its school system to feel the brunt of the pain with a $5.5 million funding gap, mostly because of proposed state cuts. Localities will not be certain of the actual state revenune they will receive until the session adjourns in March. Powhatan, which assesses its real estate every two years, saw a nearly 12 percent decline in property assessments for 2010. At the current real estate tax rate of 71 cents per $100 of assessed value, that’s a $3.1 million revenue loss.
To offset that, county supervisors will consider raising the tax rate at least 9 cents, to a revenue-neutral 80 cents.

 

Read the full story...

Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 12:52pm

Great Deals for Richmond-area Homeowners

Want to update your home? Two upcoming events can help you get a great deal on materials and home decor.

Two upcoming Richmond-area events will benefit homeowners and the local Habitat for Humanity, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Contractor Sale

"Hanover Habitat for Humanity and the central Virginia chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry will hold a contractor yard sale Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hanover Habitat for Humanity office at 8177 Mechanicsville Turnpike.

Area contractors are invited to drop off priced items -- such as windows, doors, countertops, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, lighting and flooring --Tuesday through Thursday. Items will be stored until the sale. On the day of the sale, contractors should bring tables, cash for change, a tent in case of inclement weather and business cards. There is no cost to participate, but you may donate a portion of your proceeds to NARI or Habitat for Humanity.

To sign up, e-mail info@naricentralva.org or call (804) 641-1438. The groups are also looking for sponsors to help with advertising costs. Sponsors will be recognized on a banner at the sale."

Rug for a Rug

"Capel Rugs, located at 3995 Deep Rock Road in Henrico County, has partnered with Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity for its "Trade In, Trade Up" event today through Oct. 31. Shoppers who bring gently used rugs to the store will receive savings on new area rugs. Donations benefit the Richmond Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

For each rug donated, shoppers will receive 25 percent off their purchase of a new area rug and a tax donation receipt from the Richmond Habitat ReStore if the rug is reuseable. The store's staff will be available to help customers unload used rugs Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m"

Read the original article.

Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 5:32pm

Parade of Homes Kicks Off This Weekend in Metro Richmond

This weekend marks the laungh of this year's Parade of Homes in Richmond and the Tri-Cities area, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The homes on display range in value from $170,000 to $1.5 million, and also use a variety of energy efficient materials.

Many homeowners enjoying looking at the Parade of Homes to keep them informed on designs and materials being used in new homes. For any homeowner in the Richmond and Tri-cities area looking to renovate or update their home, this would be a great place to get ideas.

"The annual Parade of Homes kicks off this weekend, showcasing new homes by builders in the Richmond and Tri-Cities area.

In all, 71 homes by 36 builders will be open for viewing the next three weekends from noon to 5 p.m.

This year's event is pared down from last year, when 130 homes by 60 builders were on display, as the housing slump continues to hammer the industry.

'We're fortunate to have this many entries,' said Victoria Moody with the Home Building Association of Richmond, the parade's organizer.

The annual Parade of Homes has been held since 1951. This year's 71 houses mark the fewest number since 1984, when 68 homes were open for touring.

'This is your best opportunity to see every type of new home imaginable, showcasing the latest in designs, construction techniques and materials, at prices ranging from $170,000 to $1.5 million,' according to promotional material.

This year's tour includes one of the country's first houses for entry-level buyers certified for energy savings by the National Association of Home Builders through the National Green Building Program.

The house, built by First Richmond Associates, is on the market for $209,500. It is certified at the bronze level, the lowest of four levels."

Read the full story.

Posted on Thursday, October 1, 2009 - 4:08pm

Chesapeake Bay Reports Call For More Livestock, Runoff Regulations

Last week federal officials released parts of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, according to NewsDay.com.

The report focuses on expanding regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff. Although details of the expanded regulations have not been decided, the report did mention that federal leadership and "muscle" would be used when necessary to enforce the new regulations.

This report, along with others wll be used to develop a bay restoration strategy scheduled for release on Novemeber 9th.

Because many of the Virginia localities in the Chesapeake Watershed are heavily farmed areas, many Virginia property owners could be affected. Property owners will need to ensure that their rights are protected in the process of restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

"Federal officials on Thursday began revealing the building blocks of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, using federal leadership to encourage states to cut pollution and federal muscle, when necessary, to ensure it happens.

Among recommendations in draft reports from federal agencies: expanded regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff, and requirements that increases in pollution be offset by reductions from other sources.

The details, such as how many more animal feeding operations would be regulated, have not been decided, but 'the message here is that there will be, there is a commitment at EPA to increased enforcement and increased oversight of state programs,' EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said Thursday.

The reports will be used to develop a bay restoration strategy, scheduled for release Nov. 9, that was mandated by an executive order issued earlier this year by President Obama.

The EPA said it was working with Chesapeake Bay states and the District of Columbia to establish limits for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments. States would have to develop detailed plans on how to reduce levels of those pollutants from sources such as farms, highways and lawns. The EPA said it would step in if states don't take sufficient action.

While large operations such as industrial chicken farms would be regulated, the EPA said it would also expand regulation of municipal stormwater programs to include high-growth areas.

Jackson said the goal was to use federal leadership, and 'federal muscle when necessary.'

Agriculture is responsible for about half the pollution entering the bay, but Jackson noted there is more turf grass in the bay watershed than corn acreage and the region is much different from when bay restoration efforts began decades ago."

Read full story.

Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 10:50am

Will Powhatan Residents Be Shopping in a New Walmart in their County?

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Powhatan may be the future site of a new Walmart store. Walmart representatives met with local leaders yesterday to dicsuss opening a store on the easter end of the county.

Many residents have voiced their concern over bringing the big-box store into Powhatan. They are worried that the retail giant will negatively affect small businesses and quality of living.

This is not simply a hot topic for business owners in the area, homeowners should also be aware of the project. Adding a new shopping facility can boost area property values, however, those gains could be wiped out if the addition of the super-store harms area businesses.

"Wal-Mart may be coming to Powhatan County.

Representatives from the retail giant met with local leaders yesterday to discuss plans to bring a store to the eastern end of the county.

The 53-acre property being considered is on the north side of U.S. 60, just west of state Route 675 near the entrance to the Luck Stone plant. Nearby, in Chesterfield County, Wal-Mart is opening its 12th area store at Hull Street and Winterpock roads, in the Hancock Village shopping center.

An attorney representing the company, along with architects and engineers, talked with members of the Board of Supervisors, county administration and planning staff to discuss a proposal.

'They said they are very close to putting in a rezoning application,' County Administrator Carolyn Cios said.

The property is zoned for residential, commercial and industrial uses. Filing for purely commercial zoning would mean at least two public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.

'We suggested they be very open about the process with the citizens of Powhatan about their plans and recommended that they hold town meetings so the public can have input through the process,' she said."

Read full story.

Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 8:46am

Free Pesticide Disposal Service for Southside Residents in 2009

A free service offered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service, and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board will dispose of harmful pesticides at no cost to residents and businesses in their southside service area, according to a recent article in the Progress-Index.

The program assists agricultural producers, licensed pesticide dealers and pest control firms, golf courses and homeowners with the proper disposal of unwanted pesticides. The program is available at no cost to eligible participants. 

To administer the Pesticide Disposal Program, Virginia is subdivided into 5 regions. A pesticide disposal program is conducted annually in localities within each of the regions. Once all 5 regions have been served, the program will start another cycle. The Southside region is being serviced by the program for the remainder of 2009.

Participants should complete a pesticide disposal registration form ahead of time and return the completed form to VDACS, PO Box 1163, Richmond VA 23218. The form is available online, or by contacting Pesticide Disposal Program at (804) 786-3798.

"The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board invite farmers, pesticide dealers, pest control firms, homeowners and golf courses to participate in the 2009 pesticide disposal program, which collects unwanted, outdated, or banned pesticides and disposes of them in a safe manner. VDACS, through its Office of Pesticide Services, provides this service at no cost to participants in the designated localities.

The program is funded through pesticide product registration fees collected by OPS.

Since its inception, Virginia's Pesticide Disposal Program has collected and destroyed nearly 1.5 million pounds of outdated and unwanted pesticides, completely eliminating the environmental threat they could have posed."

Read full story.

Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 12:40pm