Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 21, 1993 TAG: 9311220258
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: EDITORIAL EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By EDWARD G. KOHINKE SR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The only problem I had with it is the part where Ms. Davis said, `` ... and Ed Kohinke ... describes himself as an outdoorsman but stayed out of the fray, calling it a federal problem.''
She then asked, ``Why isn't he fighting for the outdoors for everybody?'' And she went on to say that Elmer Hodge worked for a compromise, yet I and other supervisors ``strong-armed'' him, the implication being that we weren't for a compromise.
First, I don't recall ever using the word ``outdoorsman'' to describe myself, and I wouldn't use it in defining my role as a supervisor. I'm a Republican who champions free enterprise and the rights of property owners, two things I've never kept secret from anyone. Also, I fight for those I represent and not for special-interest groups.
Second, I stated on numerous occasions that it's a ``federal problem'' only because I've very little faith in the power of local zoning ordinances (where they even exist) to protect a national treasure such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, much less vast areas that comprise its viewshed. However, I didn't stay ``out of the fray'' by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I fully supported two very important items.
As a member of the Fifth Planning District Commission, I supported the call by our executive director, Wayne Strickland, for a regional approach to protecting the parkway.
I also supported the decision by our county administrator to form a special committee to analyze this issue and make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors via the planning commission. (It's worth noting that our planning commission f+iunanimouslyo recommended approval of this rezoning, and virtually all of my vote decisions on zoning matters are heavily weighted by that body's recommendations.)
Third, while Hodge deserves a lot of credit for the way he and staff handled this issue, it's important to remember that he works for the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. Hence, his efforts were by our direction, and with our concurrence. (He most certainly wasn't ``strong-armed'' by the board.) He didn't operate independently, and we periodically met with him and county attorney Paul Mahoney to discuss the issue as it evolved.
I'm an avid supporter of Roanoke County's long-range economic-development plan, and in my view the proposed residential development along the parkway fits nicely into this plan. It will provide affordable housing without a long commute: something as important as all of the jobs we hope to attract via our other efforts in economic development.
Ms. Davis faults the Board of Supervisors for lacking in ``vision,'' when in fact I believe that it was our vision for growth and prosperity that led to the rezoning. I also believe that the new development along the parkway will not be nearly as harmful to the viewshed as some would have us believe.
Edward G. Kohinke Sr. is a Roanoke County supervisor for the Catawba District.
Keywords:
KOHINKE
by CNB