Hanover approves land-use plan. After months of debate, Hanover County’s Board of Supervisors adopted a controversial countywide growth plan last night. Click here for the story.

What do you think about the county’s plan? Share your thoughts with other Hanover residents by clicking on comments.

Dear Fact Checker.  You need to check your facts.  Tim Ernst isn’t even running in the next election.  He did what he did because he is a thinking man.  I am one who strongly believes in planning growth, but this was not a plan—it was sticking something here and something there with no studies to back it up.  And Tim, Bucky, and Elton saw that.  They weren’t trying to kill planning.  They just wanted to add a little logic and reason to the process and to allow more citizen input.

Wow, some of you people need to calm down and look at the facts. IF YOU THINK STANLEY, WADE, AND ERNST DID ANYTHING BESIDES ATTEMPT TO SOLICIT VOTES FOR NOVEMBER YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. The facts are midlothian and short pump are the way they are because of UNCONTROLLED GROWTH. This is attempt to CONTROLL GROWTH. No one is happy with the final outcome but doing nothing would be like washing your hands of hanovers’ growth. If the option was controlled or uncontrolled growth which do you choose. You people are the same people that complained about Walmart in Ashland and now shop there. I understand the Democratic Party, your real ambition, is attempting to garner votes in highly republican hanover but do so on your own time. Do not attemp to lead the people astray. The Board did what they had to do, took action instead of pass the issue down to a non election year. BECAUSE BELIEVE ME PEOPLE IF THIS WAS 2008 THAT VOTE WOULD HAVE BEEN 7-0. Do not award the cowards who just want to advance themselves and crucify the men that do what they have to. McGhee, Ward. Gordon, and Setliff should be commended. They know very well that this is an election year but knew the consequences of just letting hanovers’ growth spiral out of control. Real men/women do what they have to do regardless of the consequences. Some of you people seem to advocate postponing the vote, again, and throwing tax payer money at more feasibility studies. What is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular!

Let’s take a vote on this, citizens of Hanover County: How may of you are in favor of impeachment for four supervisors? 

It appears that Mr. McGhee, Mr. Ward and Mr. Gordon, as well as Chairman Setliff think of themselves as dictators instead of representatives.  I feel sure that when election time rolls around, they will learn better.

Thank you Mr. Stanley, Mr. Wade and Mr. Ernst for doing what you were elected to do, speaking for the citizens of your district.

Well it looks like there may 4 new supervisors at the next elections.  I am just glad my supervisor, Elton Wade, Jr. stood against this irresponsible plan.  Mechanicsville is a great community and we do not need, nor want it to turn into another Midlothian Turnpike or Short Pump.  Thank you for your efforts Mr. Wade.

Give me liberty or give me death - Hanover resident

Taxation (of our peace) without representation?

There are a number of fatal flaws of the Comprehensive Plan passed last night by a divided Hanover Board of Supervisors.  First and foremost is the 2+% growth rate, based not on the success of the 1982 plan but on the last 40 years of growth and on growth in other counties.  We should have held the rate at 1.8%.  Second, with all the last minute changes, no one really knows what the impact of this plan will be.  Given that the Supervisors, staff, and citizens had only a few minutes to look at the revisions before it was voted on, there was no time for critical financial, demographic, utilities, or transportation studies.  Third, while the staff listened to suggestions by developers early on in the process, neither the officials from Town of Ashland nor citizens of the county were invited to provide suggestions until the plan was completed. And even then, during the public hearings the staff argued with citizens rather than listened to them.  While there was a citizens survey done, the plan ignores what it revealed—that citizens were pleased with the slower growth pace of growth and the rural character of the county.  Mr. Stanley, Mr. Ernst, and Mr. Wade were right when they said that it would be a better plan if sent back to the county planning commission so the changes could be analyzed and so that additional citizen and town concerns could be addressed.  And finally, any plan that is this controversial, no matter how “right” some might perceive it to be, is not a good plan until you can get most of the supervisors, citizens, and the town officials on board.  If the board could not get a unanimous or close to unanimous vote to approve the plan, it should have been sent back to the planning commission.

3-29-07 I am pleased with the outcome of last night’s board meeting.  As has been stated, there’s nothing in stone about the approved plan.  However, what it does provide is a plan for the county that is very much needed.  Growth is here, and will continue to be here.  This plan provides a road map to deal with that growth in a responsible manner.  One individual against the plan stated at the meeting on 3-21-07 that his taxes are already high enough.  How ironic - this plan allows for a way to bring in more business to balance out the taxes that will be needed for the county in the future.  I applaud the vote and decision made by the Hanover County Board of Supervisors.  Shirley Husz

I will not vote for a Hanover Supervisor in November, 2007 that voted for a Comp Plan Update that is ultimately the product of a undemocratic and unethical planning process.

AT THEIR OWN POLITICAL PERIL…

Gordon, McGhee, Setliff, and Ward vote to approve a Comp Plan Update that is the results of an unethical and undemocratic planning process.

November, 2007: People Have the Power
...I awakened to the cry
that the people / have the power
to redeem / the work of fools
upon the meek / the graces shower
it’s decreed / the people rule

The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power

...The power to dream / to rule
to wrestle the world from fools
it’s decreed the people rule
it’s decreed the people rule

Post Your Comments: