On Tuesday, Cape Charles held a townhall style meeting to host the continuing saga of the Coastal Precast rezoning request. Southport, LLC would like to sell parcel 90-8-1a1 to Coastal, however, without amending the text of the zoning ordinance, and rezoning the parcel from Harbor to GBI H-1 Light Industrial, Coastal will not be able to use the property for the intended uses.
Opposition comes from various angles, such as saving the tree canopy to wetlands encroachment, to harming the view shed from the nature trail.
All this hullaballoo seems odd, and lacking in historical context.
In August of 2016, the Cape Charles Town Council approved amending the zoning map for parcel 83A3-11-2 from the current Harbor District designation to the proposed Industrial M – 2. This parcel sits right on the harbor itself, and uses include manufacturing, sales, and distribution of concrete and related products, Port facilities; marine, rail, trucking, and/or intermodal terminals, including transfer, storage, handling, inspection, processing, and/or transport of containerized, bulk, and/or other cargo, Marinas, docks, and wharves, if contiguous to the Cape Charles Harbor, Railroad tracks, sidings, yards, or roundhouses. Language was even inserted to require a special use permit to construct a building over 50 feet.
At the time, there was no opposition to this at all. Not a peep out of anyone.
Fast forward to 2021, and to the real point, the citizens opposed to the text amendments and rezoning are really against the presence of the concrete plant.
That’s what this is all about.
While using the prescribed language, such as ‘we like the plant’, or ‘they have been good neighbors’, the backroom scheming and scorched earth agenda of this group has been known for some time. They hate the plant and the end game is make it go away. And the jobs with it.
This group of concerned citizens hired a lawyer to represent their interests. Unfortunately, the man’s suit looked like he just purchased it off the rack somewhere (fashion tip: Men’s Warehouse), and his argument was weaker than his fashion sensibility. His presentation was completely off-point, and did not begin to address the matter at hand – provide some data as to why the zoning is improper. Instead, the topic wandered off into wells, aquafers, and water usage.
Actually, every single person that spoke against the rezoning was completely off point. They may hate the plant, but no one could make a cogent argument against the proposed zoning.
Embarrassingly, they veered off into the ‘I stand for open and transparent government’ arguments—apparently, they never read all the public notices placed in the ES Post.
Worse, efforts were made to impugn the character and integrity of Town Manager Hozey. One citizen even used FOIA to obtain correspondences amongst the parties involved, and stated that since he supposedly spent over 20 years working for the worst newspaper in Virginia, he was somehow an expert on government transparency, and that the emails implied corruption and malfeasance. That interested parties, including the Town would actually discuss nuances of such an endeavor is, just shocking!
Oh please, just sit down. Nobody cares.
The preening became almost unbearable. Not a single person cares or is impressed with what these ninnies did before they retired and congealed here on the Cape Charles grid. One guy, who was so begging to be taken seriously, made sure everyone knew that he, just like Homer Simpson, had worked in the nuclear energy field. He was also the type of person that tucks his polo shirt into his freshly ironed shorts, and even wears a belt with this ensemble. The perfect outfit to achieve zero credibility.
For real, just sit down.
Then there’s the environmental freaks. At least three people got up and howled, “What about the environmental studies? Did they happen? If not, when?”
Ignorance is never really an excuse. Read my lips–nothing happens until some project is proposed for the property, at which point every agency on the planet will get a taste, from DEQ to the VRMC. This point was only clarified 5 times during the meeting, yet people continued taking up oxygen and belaboring this well into the night.
I can’t emphasize enough how much it distorts public policy that only the most ignorant people show up for public meetings like this.
Unless someone can actually point to the zoning ordinance and say right now in August 2021 why that parcel cannot be zoned light industrial, Town Council has no public policy reason not to approve the proposed changes. It’s blood simple.
If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit.
Town Council will take this up at the next Regular Meeting, August 19th.
Mr Creed. Are you reporting news, or has your expertise developed as fashion commentaries
Note: I can tell everything about a person’s character by how they dress. I am always 100% correct. Gianni Versace knew this. Your comment is stupid.
LoL. I thought it an hilarious commentary. Sunday morning Comics, make a comeback?
Take a deep breathe everyone !
Without having been in attendance, I will venture a guess that most of the opposition to the plant came from those that are secure in their nest egg or pension plan and have little interest in the wage earners of Northampton County trying to raise a family and in need of good paying jobs.
Hey Stan – who cares if that’s the case. It’s irrelevant.
The Cape Charles TC is supposed to prioritize the interests of the town. Not the surrounding county – not some wanna be real estate mogul. If a proposition puts residents of THE TOWN at risk, that should be driving TC’a decision making. That’s is their only scope.
Stan, I agree with you 100 percent! That plant was here long before these people and is badly needed!
Wayne Creed continues to bring the news to an ever increasing WOKE ELITE town that has become so full of itself that most citizens don’t see how ridiculous they appear. And he does it with good humor. Keep up the good work Wayne. You are a living treasure.
Let us not emmulate colored folks.
It is AWAKENED, not WOKE.
“Colored Folks” REALLY!!! Come on is this 1950?. They are not “colored”. Let’s catch up with equity. They are African Americans. Just like the “white folk” are really European Americans. We all belong here.
If it is good enough for the NAACP, it is good enough for the rest of Americans.
\He is Awakened, not Him’s Woke.
Political correctness has coddled you to accepting some type of double standard. I am a Native American, as I was born in The United States of America and surely not a European American. Last I checked We The People whipped the Europeans A$$es in The Revolution and again in 1812.
Today, they call themselves “persons of color.”
And some of them actually bristle, and rightfully so, the ones who were born here, when you call them “African-Americans,” because they didn’t come here from Africa.
They actually resent that label, which was imposed on them by liberal white people without them having any say in the matter, and who can blame them.
Wow! “Colored folks?!?!?!?!”
Really?
How racist of you!
And I EMULATE any person of quality, kindness, manners and ethics, regardless of skin color.
Bless your heart. If it is good enough for the, tax exempt, NAACP it is good enough for you amd me.
Racism is an attitude that takes place in one’s head.
Discrimination is an overt act that takes place in the real world.
Most people who are called a Racist, myself included, have no earthly way of Discriminating against anyone of any race, color or creed….by that I mean I do not rent, sell or do business of any kind where I could use someones race against them. Bless your heart. Baaaaahhhhh, Baaaaahhhhhhh baaaaahhh.
Any Questions ?!?!?!?!
If you’re going to start lecturing people on word usage, it’s probably a good idea to learn how to spell first.
Trump Won.
Fauci Lied.
Ashli Babbitt Died.
I’ve been convinced all day long that the real purpose behind Biden’s “botched” withdrawal from Afghanistan was to create US support for a massive influx of Afghani political refugees. I believe that China, Obama, the Global Elites and the Deep State have wanted this all along. Look at what they did to Europe. Biden does not intend to vet these people. This is just another part of the Globalist/China planned take down of the USA. Biden did exactly what his puppet masters told him to do and then lied about it to the American people.
Spot on Wayne!
I just wonder how many of the Angry Karens actually are full time residents, pay personal property tax and have the ability to vote here???
Most if not all of the angry citizens. There’s now a coalition that’s representing the vast majority of CC residents And home owners that do not see more CPS as good for the town.
Mr. Creed,
Sent you a long email discussing/criticizing your piece. I dare you to publish it in its entirety.
Note: Send it, then you can sit down and STFU.
I wanna see it too!! 😂
Note: 🤷♂️
I viewed the entire public meeting online.
I think it was very worthwhile having the CEO of Coastal Concrete speak and answer questions.
If Coastal can obtain some of the offshore windmill contracts it bodes well for future employment in green energy for Cape Charles and Northampton County.
Whatever happens on the site will still need a conditional use permit from the Town Council.
Hiring attorneys from the other side of the bay to interject questions having nothing to do with the town meetings purpose that evening was not helpful. Plus it turns out, as was pointed out by the properties owner, the well water system of the town is completely independent of Coastal Concretes water system. Maybe next time the gentleman should do his homework if he is being paid to participate.
I think the town managers letter to the public dated July 20th regarding the rezoning was well written and informative. So I believe there have been 4 public meetings on the lot rezoning including a town hall meeting. Seems pretty transparent to me.
It must be noted that Mr. Finn plans to run for Mayor of Cape Charles
In the next turn and is well qualified being that he was the town mgr.
Of Summerville, Va.
How many CC residents work at the plant..?
Note: Zero. After gentrification, none of them can afford to live there. Next question, where do they, teachers, police, and others live after Northerners have bought up all the property and turned it into vacation rentals?
Not true. I work there and have a Cape Charles address.
Note: Yes, but if you live in Cheriton, you also have a Cape Charles address…weird yes, but it’s a Postal thing, we wouldn’t understand.”
Wow this is garbage journalism.
Inaccurately criticizes people for not making legitimate points by focusing on what they were wearing instead of making any legitimate points.
THIS is why most in Cale Charles call this “publication” a joke.
Note: Where’s ‘Cale’ Charles. Sound’s like a healthy place, I want to go there!
No Reggie Tom Finn is not running for Mayor ….nor was Town Manager anywhere in Va. …..but do enjoy the Cape Charles community.
You sound like you would actually make a good mayor.
Without all those Northerners CC would be just a pit stop with a giant noisy, dusty, concrete plant .
But our families could make a decent living and live in a tight knit community.
I get that many property owners and real estate companies in Cape Charles would like to get rid of the concrete plant because it’s noisy and dusty and can detract from the local recreation. But, I think the concrete business helps diversify the local economy. I think that is beneficial to Cape Charles and the local economy and would benefit the community in terms of jobs and hopefully taxes.
Hi Erin,
Thanks for your comment…some things to consider. I doubt anyone feels so strongly that they want to get rid of the concrete plant.
The concern is over enabling expansion of the plant through these text and zoning changes. Expansion of the plant has potential to impact home values and quality of life in Cape Charles.
In terms of the benefits of enabling the plant to expand…there are none to the town.
-They only paid 25k in taxes to Cape Charles last year (that’s only about 5 homes worth of personal property tax)
-CPS has admitted they can’t promise jobs, especially not jobs to Cape Charles residents, and not for several years
-Lastly, more of the same business / company does not diversify a local economy, we’d need a different player or industry to accomplish that
John Hozey and several members of TC have been trying to pull the wool over the public’s eyes.
The only people this development is good for is Eyre and the leadership of CPS that lives in the main land.
The concrete plant does nothing for CC…no jobs, not enough tax dollars. It has to go.!
I have a much better idea. Why don’t YOU go. That plant was there long before you and just because you want it to go, it ain’t going to happen Cap’n.
The issue is that an unfair amount of the CPS tax dollars bypass Cape Charles and go to Northampton County and the State.
Cape Charles needs to push back on Northampton County to get their fair share back from the county.
They said everything they sell is taxed at 6.1%, and they remitted something like $250,000 last month (just one month) to the state for sales taxes at last night’s meeting on August 19th.
Best thing I can see to do is take the world’s largest bulldozer, shove the whole town right in the harbor. Problem solved. I grew up in and around town, went to school there. The whole heart of Cape Charles is long gone now. Some folks just never get it.
Note: Agreed, right on point. The people that have congealed in Cape Charles have completely destroyed it.
This is all it took for me to know it was gone:
http://www.capecharlesmirror.com/opinion/destination-gay-cape-charles/
Stuck in the past
If they put your brain on the edge of a razorblade it would look like a bowling ball rolling down a 4 lane highway.