Amendment on buildable areas denied

STAFFORD — An amendment regarding buildable areas was denied after a great deal of discussion at Tuesday’s Stafford County Board of Supervisors’ meeting.

The ordinance included what degree slopes, the length of them, would prohibit building in certain areas. Arguments against the ordinance states that homeowners can be restricted in building auxiliary buildings on their lots as well as adding on to their present structures. Arguments for the ordinance centered around environmental concerns, citing soil erosion as a primary concern.

Stafford Supervisor Joe Brito, I-Hartwood, had offered a motion to defer the ordinance after the county attorney brought back changes including the decrease of a buildable area from 10,000 to 8,000 feet and exemption for family subdivisions.

His motion was defeated 4-3, with Supervisors Mark Dudenhefer, R-Garrisonville, Paul Milde, R-Aquia; George Schwartz, D-Falmouth; and Cord Sterling, R-Rock Hill, opposed.

Milde then moved that the ordinance be denied. His motion carried 4-3, with Supervisors Schwartz; Harry Crisp, D-George Washington; and Bob Woodson, D-Griffis-Widewater, opposed.

A suggestion to trim $434,000 from the subsidy due the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission failed Tuesday at a Stafford County Board of Supervisors’ meeting.

Instead, the total, which amounts to $3,023,297 as part of the Virginia Railway Express, passed.

Supervisor Cord Sterling, R-Rock Hill, made the motion that failed.

The original motion passed 4-3 with Supervisors Sterling, Mark Dudenhefer, R-Garrisonville, and Joe Brito, I-Hartwood, opposed.

Rumors of converting Stafford High School to a technical school and building a new high school to the tune of over $100 million was discussed.

Such a plan is at only the conceptual level, said County Administrator Anthony Romanello. It is not in the six-year plan and the conversion of the school is contingent upon the building of a new high school.

Jim Lawrence is a contributing writer to the Stafford County Sun. Reach him at info@staffordcountysun.com.