Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 22, 1994 TAG: 9410240041
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Justin Askins, an associate English professor at Radford University, says the board's rejection of his request Oct. 11 was unfair. In an Oct. 18 letter to board Chairman Larry Linkous, Askins, who says he will never develop 140 acres he owns near Ironto, wrote that the county's agricultural and forestal ordinance provides for the kind of protection he has in mind for his land.
Rick Roth, president of the New River Valley Environmental Coalition issued a statement Friday saying the same thing.
The ordinance says it is "state policy to conserve and protect agricultural and forestal lands as valued natural and ecological resources which provide essential open spaces for clean air sheds, watershed protection, wildlife habitat, as well as for aesthetic purposes."
Askins' says his land, on which two springs that flow into the Roanoke River originate, offers watershed protection and wildlife habitat.
The property is bordered on one side by acreage owned by Supervisor Joe Stewart. Stewart has logged his own land.
Askins is not on the agenda for Monday's 7 p.m. meeting in the county courthouse, though he is welcome to speak during the public comment part of it, said County Administrator Betty Thomas.
"I'd like to hear what he has to say," said Nick Rush, the board's vice chairman. "I don't think it was right he was turned down."
Linkous was unavailable Friday.
Askins said he is thinking of donating his land to the Virginia Outdoor Foundation, but has not done so because he recently married and does not yet want to commit to such a move, which would be permanent. He bought the land for $58,000 in 1992.
He also said he is in a low tax bracket and the tax advantages of such a donation are not worthwhile for him. Were he to receive agricultural and forestal district status, he would receive a tax break of $175 per year.
It was Stewart who asked on Oct. 11 that Askins' property be removed from a package of other parcels up for consideration for inclusion in the agricultural and forestal districts. All of those parcels were approved. In a separate 4-3 vote, Askins' property was rejected.
In his letter, Askins says he was not given the chance to defend his application. Previously, it had passed the county's Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission, and he says he had been told he would not need to attend the Oct. 11 meeting.
by CNB