THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 9, 1994 TAG: 9409080213
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
David Tillotson has learned that life isn't easy for a small businessman.
In preparation for his retirement from the Navy, Mr. Tillotson bought a house in Western Branch, intending to set up a modest lawn-mower repair shop in a garage in the back yard. He says he was assured by the city's Zoning Department that his plans could proceed without a hitch. He was issued a business license.
Now that he's stocked his shop with $8,000 worth of inventory, purchased on credit, the city has ordered him to close down. There's an ordinance prohibiting lawn mower repair businesses in homes.
It's easy to say that Mr. Tillotson should have investigated the law more thoroughly. But he's a mechanic, not a lawyer. If his entrepreneurial spirit has not been crushed entirely, next time he'll know to get it in writing.
Larger land-use problems than this come up in Chesapeake nearly every day - conflicts involving thousands of acres and millions of dollars. Mr. Tillotson's problem may seem like small potatoes. Unless, of course, you're he and have staked your hopes for the future on it. by CNB