THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 18, 1995 TAG: 9505180275
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
RACE TRACK NOT AMONG AREA'S PERMITTED USES
On March 29, Suffolk's City Council and Planning Commission had a joint public hearing on the Northgate Industrial park and Suffolk International Raceway rezoning and conditional-use permit.
Since Mayor S. Chris Jones was quoted in the paper prior to the meeting as saying that the City Council was holding the session ``to ratify and re-ordain their original approval of the rezoning and conditional use permit,'' we didn't think they were likely to change their minds. The Suffolk City Council did what Mayor Jones said they were going to do.
During the meeting, several Suffolk residents who live near the proposed race track spoke on how the rezoning and conditional use permit contradicted Suffolk's industrial and agricultural land-use standards. Even though Mayor Jones and Councilman Curtis R. Milteer were on the Suffolk City Council when the industrial and agricultural land-use standards were adopted, there was absolutely no discussion about the contradictions. I'm sure Suffolk's City Council will wish these land use standards didn't exist when our dispute gets to court, because their actions are clearly arbitrary and capricious.
In addition, the Suffolk City Code permits ``conditional uses'' in B-2 districts, which allow commercial recreational uses, including bowling alleys, miniature golf, golf driving ranges, pool halls, billiard parlors, dance halls, penny arcades and similar forms of public amusement. An automobile race track is not similar to any of these forms of public amusements.
In short, the Suffolk City Code does not permit the use of automobile race tracks.
Councilman's Milteer's comment, ``The people in Franklin got used to the smell of the paper plant, and we would get used to the sound of the race track,'' really concerned me. I would hate to live near a chemical manufacturing plant, paper mill or fertilizer factory because of the smell. It is probable that if this rezoning occurs, the residents of Northern Suffolk and the Western Branch area of Chesapeake will wake up to the smell of a chemical manufacturing plant in the not-too-distant future.
David Walkup
Wild Duck Crossing
Chesapeake
KINDNESS MEANS A LOT
In these times when you seem to hear only bad news, I would like to take a few minutes to express deep gratitude to friends and co-workers who helped me in my recent trip out-of-state.
To the one who called AAA to find the best route, the one who checked my car from bumper to bumper and changed the oil, the one who loaned me a cellular phone, the one who handed me cash ``just in case,'' and to those who just gave moral support, you'll never know how much you helped ease my anxieties.
Thanks again!
Brenda Burden
Stave Mill Road
Windsor
GRANDMOTHER MEANS LOVE
What is a grandmother? She is someone who was first a mother. God fills her heart with an over-abundance of love, so there is always enough left over for her grandchildren.
Grandmothers can show them the glory of a sunrise, the beauty of an evening sunset, a moon-drenched night filled with stars, the beauty of a rainbow after the rain, help them catch fireflies as they twinkle across the lawn, watch the birds build their nest in the tree, help them to plant seeds in the garden and watch them grow, teach them to love and care for all of God's creations, hold them and hug them and read stories to them.
May their memories be of a grandmother who was never too old to kneel beside them as they said their prayers and to kiss them as she tucked them in their bed.
Grandmother is just another word for ``love.''
Ruth C. Romig
Beamons Mill Trail
Suffolk by CNB