 environment
 According the the Free Lance Star,a House committee yesterday approved a bill that will allow Lake of the Woods to keep its dam as-is, without having to shell out millions of dollars to upgrade it.
Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania, submitted the bill because he said the state's revised dam regulations were excessive. The regulations, for example, required the Lake of the Woods dam to be able to hold 37 inches of rain over a 24-hour period -- an amount that Houck and his supporters say has never happened. The dam can hold 21 inches in 24 hours, is otherwise structurally sound, and has won awards for its management.
Upgrading the dam was expected to cost $6 million, which worked out to $1,200 per household.
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Posted on Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 11:39am
 Fairfax, Arlington and Loudoun are the healthiest counties in Virginia, according to a set of reports to be released today. The reports rank U.S. counties and cities based on how long people live and how healthy they are. The three Northern Virginia counties get top marks within the state for overall health, but they compare poorly with other parts of Virginia for air quality. Fairfax ranked 132 -- last among Virginia's counties and cities included in the study -- in that category because of the region's horrendous traffic. Fairfax had 37 unhealthy air quality days in 2005; rural counties such as Craig and Cumberland had none. The County Health Rankings (available at www.countyhealthrankings.org) are the first reports to rank the overall health of almost every county in all 50 states. The District was not included. The Virginia study did not include Highland County or Lexington.
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Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 11:27am
 Last week, the Dendron Town Council approved land use and zoning applications for the construction of a massive coal-fired power plant and Surry County officials later followed suit, paving the way for environmental impact studies to begin. Last month, the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors voted to send letters to the Chairman of the Surry County Board of Supervisors and the mayor of Dendron, urging them to carefully consider the proposed plant's effects on the region.
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Posted on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - 6:13pm
 Virginia's families hold their neighborhoods sacred. However, new development can change the face of where residents live, work and play. Unfortunately, either a miscommunication (or a complete lack of information) can create angst for both property owners and developers. Different expectations can result in unwelcome surprises once construction begins. In some instances, landowners will confront developers on site, which can postpone work and lead to headaches for all parties. Sometimes neither party is at fault; perhaps the developer negotiated with the state and the state did not communicate the information to homeowners. Other times, developers may have held multiple community hearings to disseminate information and answer questions about a slated project. The moral to the story: stay engaged at the local level. Pay attention to what your local officials are doing - especially when it comes to zoning and land use decisions. If you feel strongly about something, let your voice be heard. By doing so, you will remain informed about what is going on in your locality and, even better, your neighborhood.
Read the full Washington Post story...
Posted on Monday, February 8, 2010 - 4:02pm
 Under consideration by the City of Alexandria is a stormwater utility fee on businesses and homeowners in the jurisdiction. Several other localities, mostly in central Virginia and Hampton Roads, levy similar fees to assist with the cost and maintenance of stormwater "runoff", the portion of rain and melting snow that does not soak into the ground. It runs off of driveways, parking lots, roads and other impervious surfaces that do not allow the water to soak into the ground below. These rates would be different based on whether you are a residential or commercial property owner and based on the impervious surface you have on the lot. The new fee would be in addition to the existing real estate property taxes that go toward stormwater management. Rates for residential properties would range between $20/year for townhomes and $96/year for single family homes. If passed by City Council, this fee would be added to the annual real estate tax bill in 2011.
Frequently Asked Questions document
Alexandria Stormwater Management home page
Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - 2:48pm
 Radon gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and, over time, high concentrations may become lethal. The gas moves up through the ground and into a home's foundation, crawl space and then begins to build up in the air. Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Thus, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends testing for all schools and for all levels below the third floor in homes. The good news is that testing is inexpensive and relatively simple with the aid of a basic kit you can purchase at most home improvement stores.
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Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - 1:30pm
 According to the Chatham Star-Tribune, the Pittsylvania County Recreation Advisory Board is seeking input regarding its recreation needs. They have posted a web survey to solicit feedback on what types of services are needed, the most appropriate ways to fund them, and what new programs should be offered. The Advisory Board is working on a recreation master plan, which will be completed in six months. Homeowners should weigh in on the questions posed with the hope of gaining additional facilities or ,at a minimum, improvements on the existing infrastructure. Access to parks and recreation is but one of many attributes to consider when buying or selling a home.
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Posted on Thursday, January 21, 2010 - 1:38pm
According to Greene News, discussions in Greene County are underway between the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors and other resident stakeholders. Of greatest focus is the tract of land centered at U.S. 29 and U.S. 33. One planning commissioner has urged for more compact growth and affordable housing in the area, but the looming challenge is ensuring that the Town of Standardsville and the northside area of the Standardsville bypass remain economically viable.
The comprehensive plan is a "master plan" that serves as a guide for all development in a particular locality. It includes all of the zoning classifications and "density", which determines, for example, how many homes, apartments, commerial offices, etc., may be built in a particular area. Homeowners should pay close attention to comprehensive plan changes, as there is a possibility that it could affect their property value, whether it be positively or negatively, or simply their quality of life.
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Posted on Monday, January 18, 2010 - 3:41pm
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