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Vol. 5 No. 51 | Richmond Suburban News | August 26, 2020
Holiday parade canceled due to coronavirus By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
M
ECHANICSVILLE – In 2013, Ronnie Planz of the Mechanicsville Rotary Club was tasked with deciding whether to have the annual Mechanicsville Rotary/ Ruritan Christmas Parade due to impending inclement weather. On Dec. 6, the following announcement appeared on The Local’s social media sites: “Due to the upcoming weather forecast for Sunday and our huge concern for the safety of all our participants and the overall public, we regret that we will have to cancel this year's Mechanicsville Rotary/Ruritan Christmas Parade. There is no rain date and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year. Have a Very Merry Christmas
Council OKs rezoning status for Johnson Road acreage
Joel Klein/file photo
The Flag Corps of the Hanover High School Marching Band performed at last year’s Mechanicsville Rotary/Ruritan Christmas Parade in the Village of Mechanicsville. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, organizers decided to cancel the holiday tradition. Plans are being made for the 2021 parade.
and a Happy New Year.” Planz did not take the responsibility of making the decision lightly. This year, Dave Fuller and Bret Atwood,
co-chairs, found themselves in the same predicament. Unlike Planz’s situation with wintry weather concerns, Fuller and Atwood had
to take into account the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. see PARADE, pg. 4
ASHLAND – Ninety acres in the Johnson Road/ Washington Highway area were approved for rezoning status from M-1 to M-2 during the Aug. 18 regular meeting of Ashland Town Council. In presenting the Ashland Planning Commission’s recommendation, Nora Amos, director of Planning & Community Development, said the applicant – Michael Bradley on behalf of MIG Ashland I LLC -- and property owner – EC Real Estate LLC -- plan to develop a warehouse distribution facility, with a speculative building under review at the plan site process. She noted there was an existing building, which had been used as a concrete plant, on the site. “A lot was zoned as agricultural; it had been used
as M1 when the property was annexed.” M-1, according to the Town of Ashland website, means the land is available for a limited industrial purpose and is “intended for a variety of commercial businesses serving local and regional customers. Located particularly along m a j o r t h o r oughfares where a CONDLIN mixture of commercial activity now exists, but not characterized by extensive warehousing, frequent heavy trucking.” M-2 status is specifically designated for industrial usage. see COUNCIL, pg. 8
Town seeks CDBG to help businesses through COVID-19 losses By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
AMOS
ASHLAND – The Town of Ashland is pursuing funding opportunities to assist businesses that have been financially set back by COVID-19. During last week’s regular Ashland Town Council meeting, members unanimously agreed to seek a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Virginia Funding Opportunities for
COVID-19 Response. The Ashland Planning Commission had held a public hearing on the application on Aug. 12. Council’s action took place on Aug. 18. Nora Amos, director of Planning & Community Development, appeared before town council to request public comment in the second of two hearings. She said the application is being sought to aid in long-term business goals for businesses affected by COVID-19. Among
programs included in the grant proposal are: z A proposed safety enhancement grant that the Economic Development Authority (EDA) created earlier this year. “And we have had over 45 applications and almost $6,000 in that program. We will have to limit to funds to $2,000 just because of the amount of money that we had.” She also said that the town “would like to touch as many as possible. Some of those businesses have had to invest a little
more than $2,000.” z Business rental assistance. Amos said the grant would help with paying rent. She also said that the town has been trying to work with larger property owners, delaying rents if possible. But, she added, they had not been very successful with that plan. The goal was to cover rent for up to six months for town businesses. z Technical training program in see CDBG, pg. 5