Access to Virginia Roads

This post is in response to an article that I read in the "Richmond Times Dispatch" last week. I apologize for not responding sooner, but I got caught up in the Christmas Holidays. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

Anyway, this article explained a proposal by some lawmakers to have the Virginia Department of Transportation approve access to any Virginia road before any development can occur. On the surface this may sound innocent enough,however,it overrides authority of the approval process from the locality the development is taking place. Let me try to explain it.

The way I understood the article, Virginia Department of Transportation would have the last say in whether or not access would be granted to a property (whether or not the locality has approved the property for rezoning ). This places the authority to allow development into the hands of the state. Folks, this is not good. The counties should allow development to occur and approve the design of the development to incorporate VDOT standards.

With the state controlling growth this way and not the localities it will slow the process,reduce property values,and inflate costs to the consumer. This is just a backdoor way for Mr. Kaine to push his adequate public facilities agenda through. Economically,this does not work.

The article also went on to say how many were unaware this was "flying under the radar".

For property rights this is not good. I don't care if you own a lot in a subdivision or a tract of vacant land.