By Nicole Mooradian
Emotions ran high at Monday's Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors meeting as residents argued over Hotinger's Landing Strip, the popular name of a small airstrip in Kerrs Creek.
Supervisors called the hearing after the Planning Commission voted 4-0 to reject a request to increase the number of planes that could take off and land at the strip.
Before the public hearing, Supervisor Mack R. Smith announced that he might have a conflict of interest, and would have to wait for a letter from the commonwealth's attorney saying there is no conflict before he could vote.
Smith said he has a business relationship with one of the owners of the airstrip.
Still, the public hearing lasted more than an hour.
The airstrip is owned by Carl Cummings, Philip Clayton, Bob Bolling, Chuck Barger and John Kowalczyk, who call themselves the Kerrs Creek Irregulars. They have asked the board to delete a section of the ordinance that limits the number of planes allowed on the ground. They also want a special permit to increase the number of planes allowed from four to eight, as well as remove a Sunday morning ban on takeoffs and landings.
Cummings represented the Kerrs Creek Irregulars at the meeting, explaining that approximately three planes take off and land every two weeks, and that increasing the number of planes may increase the number of takeoffs and landings to six every two weeks.
County resident Lynn Wells defended the proposed changes for the eight-year-old airstrip.
"Please pay no attention to those [who think] the number [of aircraft] will jump to 50," he said. "This is not a Dulles Airport, nor will it ever be."
Nevertheless, many people at the meeting opposed what they saw as an expansion of the airstrip for a variety of reasons. Some argued about safety, others about property rights and values, and still others
"This is a neighborhood issue," said Mike Young, who lives near the airstrip. "[There is] no public good…this is a private venture."
Mary DeCourcy disagreed with the airstrip owners' methods. Over the summer, the owners purchased land and built an access road directly from the highway to the airstrip as well as a small concrete bridge, something DeCourcy characterized as taking action before taking care of the legal issues.
"[Their actions] show a disregard for the county ordinance already in place," she said. "We in the community should not have this forced down our throats."
Ray Marven called any decision in favor of the airstrip "a slap in our faces."
"That's saying to us, we don't even matter," he said.
Kerrs Creek resident Mark Arnold presented the supervisors with a large map of Kerrs Creek mounted on an easel. On the map, red pushpins signified residents who opposed the ordinance.
Arnold urged the supervisors to oppose the ordinance change and special exception permit.
"Let ‘em fly, but let us keep what we have, too," he said. "And democracy lives!"
John DeCourcy characterized the planes from the airstrip as "tractor-trailers flying over my house."
Perhaps the most emotional plea came from resident Jody Morgan, the widow of pilot Jeff Morgan. Her husband died in a crash as he was approaching a different airport in heavy fog.
After suggesting the other residents "use their energy and obvious free time" to focus on another issue, such as schools, she said their remarks were "rude, ludicrous, and insensitive."
According to Morgan, her husband's "tragic death [was] not related in one bit to the airstrip," and she accused those opposing the airstrip of using his death to further a cause he would not have supported.
At the end of the meeting, the supervisors agreed to defer the final vote until Smith receives a letter from the commonwealth's attorney regarding the potential conflict of interest.
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisors:
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd