NEWS

Accomack officials seek NASA input on rezoning request

Carol Vaughn
cvvaughn@dmg.gannett.com
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  • Accomack officials will not take action on a developer's rezoning request until they hear from NASA.
  • Supervisors voted to postpone action on Atlantic Town Center's request to rezone 77 acres.
  • The developers propose to build 432 housing units, including multi-family housing, on the property.
  • The board invited Caroline Massey of NASA to attend a meeting to discuss the development's impact.

Accomack County officials said they will not take action on a developer's rezoning request for property near NASA Wallops Flight Facility until they hear from NASA.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to postpone action on a request from Atlantic Town Center Development Corporation for conditional rezoning of about 77 acres near Wattsville from agricultural to residential.

The developers propose to build 432 housing units, including multifamily housing, and commercial buildings on the property.

Supervisor Robert Crockett in his motion included a stipulation that the board invite Caroline Massey, NASA Wallops Flight Facility assistant director for management operations, to come to a meeting in January to discuss further the development's potential impact on Wallops operations.

Massey in response to the county's previous invitation to comment on the developer's plans sent two emails, one dated July 23, 2014 and a second email dated Sept. 17, 2014, expressing concern.

The county customarily sends such plans in the northern part of the county to NASA for comment.

"This is a serious concern for me, NASA's opinion. ... We all know the economic impact of NASA," Crockett said.

Massey in the July email wrote that part of the property being considered for rezoning falls within the recently updated Wallops Flight Facility Accident Potential Zone for airfield hazards. "This is particularly concerning given that WFF has recently experienced a significant increase in airfield operations including night operations," Massey said.

The developers have said they plan to keep the area in the APZ open; part would be used as a drainfield.

In the September email, Massey gave additional input about the rezoning request, noting the entire area falls within an area where Wallops aircraft operations, including at night, "create a noise nuisance for the public."

"Wallops recommends that the county consider the fact that the current Accomack County agricultural zoning is compatible with current WFF aircraft operations in an APZ, but changing to allow for residential and densely populated facilities in this specific location is not," Massey said.

The Planning Commission recommended denial of the rezoning. But Planning Director Rich Morrison said he could support up to 100 units and rezoning of up to 29 acres of the property.

The applicants' proposal is for 16 acres to have 13 units per acre; 44 acres to have eight units per acre; 12 acres to have four units per acre; 19 acres to be used for general business; and 28 acres be left open.

Attorney Mark Baumgardner speaking for the developer said financial backers have put over $2 million into planning for the project already. A recent market study done at the planning commission's request, showed " a strong demand for muilti-family housing in this community, and there is none," he said.

Of six people who spoke at a public hearing, five were against the rezoning.

But Pete Messick, a Melfa Realtor, read a letter from the Eastern Shore Association of Realtors in support of the project. The letter said there is "a legitimate need" for multifamily housing on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Among those speaking against the rezoning was Robert Tittle of Captains Cove.

"You want to build these apartments here and stack people on top of each other," he said. Tittle also was concerned about the Accident Potential Zone, noting an acquaintance's house during the Antares' rocket explosion "shook like I don't know what at this spot right here," near the property in question.

"There's a danger to the people," he said.

Haydon Gordon of Greenbackville urged officials to "really, really listen to NASA ... You want to have a good, safe zone."

Herman Chesser of Atlantic Volunteer Fire Company said his biggest concern is that the company would need a ladder truck, at a $1.5 million cost, to service the commercial buildings and townhouses proposed for the property.

cvvaughn@dmg.gannett.com

757-787-1200, ext. 115

On Twitter @cvvaughnESN