In depth

Discussion Forum

Why has the population increased so much, and why only recently? Who are all these new people and why are they coming here? Retirees, alumni, and parents of current students at W&L and VMI are just a few of the groups of people moving into the area and building homes.

As Larry Martin, member of the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council and county resident commented, "Retirees find the scenery and quaint atmosphere attractive."

County director of planning Sam Crickenberger also noted, "A lot of people are retiring, baby boomers are retiring, and they're looking for a better place to live than New York or New Jersey. Rockbridge County is that better place."

With such an interest in moving to Lexington comes the need for more housing and thus more development. This expansion of the community has increasingly become a threat to the community's undeveloped land.

Since 2000 the Planning Committee has approved the development of more than 40 subdivisions, with many still under the process of approval. Since that same year a number of new address points have also gone up.

Residents voice their concerns at the possibility of more aesthetically valuable land being torn up. In 2000 a group of county residents and members of the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council came together to form a grass roots organization called the Friends of Brushy Hills.

Those residents stood before the County Planning Committee on numerous occasions advocating the conservation of the undeveloped land on the hills. To their disappointment, the land was sold and a house built. Martin, a member of the Friends of Brushy Hills, said he accepts the situation, "What was important to us was that the city sold [that land]. But the conditions under which the property was sold are good, so right now we're happy."

      One of the Brushy Hills, which at one time was an apple orchard.  The land which was disputed over in 2000 lies in the woods behind the top house.

Those stipulations allowed the property owner to build one house, and then restricted him from further developing his land for the next 10 years. When those ten years pass he may develop his land, but into no more than five plots. Those ten years will be up in 2010.

So when it comes to developing such a rural community, what limits should be set to allow economic growth but prevent environmental destruction? Should contractors and land developers be allowed to build wherever they can afford to buy land? Should conservationists be allowed to make all remaining woodlands "green spots"? These are just a few of the questions which perpetuate the argument over land use.

Martin feels the issue can be talked out. He acknowledges, "development is part of life and the economy." But also points out that "the way to work out a problem is through a community involved dialogue."

Charles Barger, founder and co-owner of Charles W. Barger & Sons construction company, feels that each individual's view on the matter largely stems from social class and income. "If they live on the outskirts of the county, just trying to stretch their dollars to pay rent, they don't care one way or the other [about land development]," Barger notes. "It is very much a class warfare issue. All this takes money and all this is about money."

Barger also comments, "If everyone put a conservation on land, there would be nothing. If you're not going to develop on land, then that's fine and good for the community, but then the public should have to pay for that land."

Crickenberger feels that people on both sides of the argument can be pleased through what has come to be known as cluster developing. It works to consolidate development into smaller plots in appropriate areas so that there can be a balance between growth and preservation. One example he provided was a development on the edge of a pear farm in Fancy Hill, "It was a really nice way to make some money off of some of the land, and still preserve the farming aspect of the property by leaving the rest of the land."

Though cluster developing can temporary quell the passions of each driven party, it cannot solve the problem. In order to come to a mutual understanding citizens need to discuss their concerns and agree on a compromise. As Barger expresses, "It's just not possible to satisfy everyone. But perhaps you could satisfy most."