EVENTS
COMMUNITY
Harvest Days to be held at Rural Plains
Hanover Humane’s ‘Pool Paw-ty’ slated Sept. 16
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Vol. 3 No. 9 | Richmond Suburban News | September 13, 2017
Ashland digs deeper into Ashland Town Council trench option with rail OKs LauraDell project By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local ASHLAND — Crunch time is quickly approaching for a group of elected officials, citizens and experts attempting to reach a consensus on the best option for a high speed rail project slated for construction in the next 15 to 25 years. Ashland Town Council met last Wednesday evening at Randolph Macon College to consider the latest option being considered for a controversial high speed rail project from Washington, D.C., to Richmond. Representatives from
Ashland serving on a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) formed by the Department of Rail
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Ashland Mayor Jim Foley fielded questions and listened to questions from Ashland residents who are pondering the best alternative for a high speed rail project.
and Public Transportation (DRPT) called the meeting to gather public input on an alternative to current through town rail options, some that include installing a third rail that would disrupt the town’s downtown area. Ashland Mayor Jim Foley, who is a CAC member, has repeatedly stated that a third rail above ground option is not acceptable. At last month’s meeting of the CAC, DRPT officials unveiled a third underground option called a three-track trench that appeared to have some positive aspects. Ashland business owners see TRENCH, pg. 4
By Logan Barry for The Hanover Local
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SHLAND — A historic rezoning case in the Town of Ashland, which involved a property owner’s proposal to develop 52.5 acres of his land that borders Ashland’s rural “western gateway” on the municipality’s edge with Hanover County, was approved Sept. 5 by Ashland Town Council after the final public hearing on the matter was conducted. Council’s approval of Jones’ request for a development cleared the pathway for him to bring into action the construction of, at most, a 148-house neighborhood recently entitled “LauraDell.” Yancey Jones filed the application with the town to rezone the large parcel, which is a big plot of undeveloped land mainly consisting of open field, from a “planned unit development” (PUD) that authorizes 5.12 units per
acre “with a plan of development” to a PUD authorizing 2.82 units per acre – also attached with a development plan. During last week’s council meeting, members heard from several different parties involved in the rezoning case during the public hearing. They included: Nora Amos, town director of planning and community development; LeClairRyan, counselor representing the applicant; attorney William Shewmake; Ashland citizens and effected residents, including former Planning Commissioner Bob Brown and the applicant. Amos opened the discussion on REZ161220 (LauraDell), representing town staff, which recommended approval of the rezoning request to council. She said staff suggested approval to council due to the elements provided in the PUD standards meeting a sufficient amount of Ashland’s see COUNCIL pg. 16
Federal funds help build expanded aircraft parking By Logan Barry for The Hanover Local ASHLAND — Hanover County’s Municipal Airport recently became a sponsor of a federal grant program, with funds being provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), amounting to $2.8 million to construct an apron that will expand aircraft parking on the east side. “It’s been on the books and just waiting for funding – and the right opportunities that finally came about,” said Hank Rempe, airport manager at Hanover County Municipal Airport. An application had been submitted by Hanover County to the FAA applying for the grant, which is
Logan Barry for The Local
A $2.8 million federal grant is allowing the Hanover County Municipal Airport to build an apron that will expand aircraft parking on the east side of the Ashland area facility.
awarded to certain airports across the nation that qualify for funding as part of the federal agency’s Airport Improvement Plan (AIP).
The federal government’s AIP issues grants to public agencies as well as to private agencies — in some cases, for planning and development of pub-
lic-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). According to its website’s information page about the AIP, the grant covers a range of 90 to 95% of eligible costs based on statutory requirements for small, primary, reliever and general aviation airports. Eligibility to become an AIP recipient, in which the program refers to as “sponsors,” they also must be a public-use airport – a category that the Hanover County Airport falls under. Additionally, a qualifiable airport must be included in the NPIAS. see AIRPORT, pg. 6