THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 21, 1996 TAG: 9608211000
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 47 lines
Shouldn't farmers with sons or daughters who need money be able to transfer land to them, knowing that their children will sell it?
That's what many Suffolk residents have been arguing. And for the second time in two months, the Planning Commission didn't make a decision on a measure that would prevent such transfers.
The commission voted 11-1 Tuesday afternoon to delay the matter for another 60 days.
``We don't need to penalize landowners who are honest people,'' Commissioner Charles H. Rose Jr., said. ``I know the city has a problem. But I'm not sure a quick fix is a good fix.
``All through life, I never wanted to take something away from someone that was theirs. . . . We're doing wrong, and I'm against it.''
About 10 residents aired concerns about the city's proposed ordinance revision, which would require citizens to sign an affidavit saying they are transferring land and have no intention of selling it. The ordinance also would require recipients of the land to do the same. Residents told commissioners that such changes are too restrictive.
``I object to the fact that my daughter can't do what she pleases,'' said William Howard of Manning Road. ``She should have the right to do what she wants.''
Family transfers were created by the state to preserve family farm compounds. But in Suffolk, some folks use transfers to create small subdivisions of no more than four homes.
These homes don't receive the same city services as others do. Their developers don't have to maintain the roads, as they would if they submitted a subdivision plan. And access to them is often provided by dirt and sand roads that can be difficult for fire, police and rescue units to see and, in some instances, are impossible to travel.
City officials have been trying to strengthen the ordinance to control such abuses.
About two weeks ago, the city filed a lawsuit accusing a Suffolk resident of transferring land to his wife and three daughters with the intent to sell. The suit names J. Grant Huneycutt, a Suffolk business owner who transferred land on Five Mile Road. No hearing date has been set.
In other matters Tuesday, the commission voted unanimously to approve changes to Hillpoint Farms, a proposed neighborhood off Virginia Route 10 north of downtown with more than 2,000 homes and an 18-hole golf course. by CNB