THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507080005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
``What next?'' (editorial, June 29), with regard to the Lake Gaston pipeline, deserves a response.
You state that Virginia Beach must have additional water for continued growth and prosperity. Virginia Beach has no potable source of water within the city and must import all water. In view of that fact, the city should not be engaging in economic development.
Virginia Beach has created its own problem through uncontrolled growth. It should not expect Southside Virginia to give up a vital natural resource, which it needs for its own growth, to fuel unrestrained growth 75 miles away. Yet the original agreement between Virginia Beach and North Carolina did not provide for any compensation to Southside Virginia.
The agreement failed for several reasons. But the basic problem remains: Virginia Beach's continued promotion of growth beyond the resources available to sustain it. I believe that any final agreement should prohibit the city from any action, such as rezoning, which would increase demand for water beyond that which now exists.
It is becoming evident that the pipeline is no longer a viable alternative and that the city must explore other alternatives. One of them is putting a no-growth plan in place. In any event, Virginia Beach should not expect other areas of the state, such as the Southside, to underwrite poor planning and poor management on the part of the city of Virginia Beach and the citizens there without compensation.
JAMES B. COOK JR.
Chester, June 29, 1995 by CNB