Rather than receiving a multitude of suggestions on what could be done on the county’s rural lands, James City County residents, represented by about 30 citizens, told the county to stay out of their business at the “Thinking Rural” sessions this week.
The county’s Board of Supervisors asked staff to gather information about the county’s rural lands – which make up about half of the county – and the opinions of citizens about what should be allowed and disallowed on the land to refresh the county’s rural lands policies. Information from the sessions will be compiled and presented to the board beginning in the fall.
After an information session on rural lands June 26, citizens had the opportunity to review and respond to a questionnaire used to structure Wednesday and Thursday’s discussion sessions. A letter on the information session was sent to about 700 people who own 6 acres or more outside the area of the county that has or is anticipated to have public water, sewer and service, said county planner Leanne Reidenbach. The questionnaire was sent to more than 100 citizens who own 100 acres or more.
Reidenbach explained the target citizens were agricultural and rural lands owners, but all citizens were welcome to participate.
More than 30 citizens attended the discussion sessions last week, and about half of the citizens at Wednesday’s discussion said they don’t own land in either the agricultural or rural lands. Many of the same people attended both sessions.
Using the questionnaire, participants in each discussion filled out answers on large pieces of paper, which were posted around the meeting rooms when complete.
On paper with a heading asking citizens to list county actions or activities that support the success of rural enterprises, Wednesday answers were “Leave our rural lands alone,” “whatever the landowner wants; just leave us alone.” One group of responses included a request for educational programs and rural land preservation options.
“You like others enjoying the view but nobody should be telling me what to do,” said moderator Dr. Martha Walker, community viability specialist for the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
On Thursday, citizens wanted decreased regulations and restrictions and encouragement for good economic use.
Citizens wanted to see decreased government interference, decreased non-owner and community interference and increased development rights.
“If you’re going to restrict me, just buy it,” one citizen said.
Roberts Supervisor John McGlennon, Berkeley Supervisor Mary Jones and Powhatan Supervisor Andy Bradshaw attended Wednesday’s discussion session to hear the citizens’ comments. Bradshaw also attended the Thursday session.
“I think that it was a valuable exercise because had the opportunity to voice their opinions about rural lands. It’s part of the overall discussions,” McGlennon said.
He continued to say the opinions of citizens who own large pieces of the county’s rural lands would be more informative, as those citizens have a direct financial state in many of the decisions related to the lands. He said he appreciated some of those citizens did turn out at the discussion sessions.
“I got some information I hoped to get,” Bradshaw said. “I was disappointed there were not more people involved in it and I certainly heard a sense of frustration that was perhaps not all related to rural lands issues but to other issues.”
Bradshaw spent time circulating the rooms during the discussion sessions, attempting to hear as much of the conversation as he could. Without seeing the county staff’s record of the discussion, he’s not sure of the entirety of the information provided.
The rural lands questionnaire continues to be available online for citizens to respond to. The questionnaire responses will be accepted through 5 p.m. Aug. 14. Information about the informational and discussion sessions is also available online.
