The York District Herald discusses recent developments including the adoption of a new highway corridor development district ordinance aimed at being more business-friendly and alleviating tax burdens. It also highlights the passing of a floodplain management ordinance referencing new FEMA flood maps, with a failed attempt to remove additional county requirements. Furthermore, it addresses temporary overcrowding at the county jail and mentions funding for improvements at Woodville Park, emphasizing community involvement and inviting citizens to the next board meeting.

1. September
5,
2014
“A
publication
for
the
good
citizens
of
the
York
District”
Issue
No.
2014-­‐10
The
York
District
Herald
After
all
…
It’s
Your
Tax
Money!
What
went
on
during
our
9/2/14
Meeting
…
Highway
Development
Overlay
Adopted
The Board unanimously voted and agreed to a streamlined, yet effective version of what is now
called the “Highway Corridor Development District” ordinance, or HCDD. It will replace the old
Highway Corridor Development Overlay. The new and more business friendly version eliminates or
lessens requirements for some of the more onerous and expensive mandates of the former
Highway Overlay. This is part of my ongoing effort to make Gloucester County more business
friendly and lessen the tax burden on the citizens of Gloucester County.
Flood Plain
Management
Ordinance to
Incorporate
New FEMA
Flood Maps
We voted and adopted a new County Floodplain Management ordinance to reference new
Flood Insurance Rate Maps required by FEMA before November 19, 2014 – the date when the new
maps become effective. The ordinance contained language that would have gone above and
beyond Federal and State requirements, so we made a motion to modify it to eliminate any
additional County requirements placing undue burdens on new and existing property owners. The
vote failed 4 to 3. I am against any County “piggy-back” requirements imposed on you, the
citizens of Gloucester County, and was disappointed that some of my colleagues voted to keep
the overreaching requirements in. If you are interested in the status/categorization of your
property relative to flooding, you can go to this website address http://vafris.nc.gov/fris/?ST=VA,
type in your address and see how flooding may impact you given the new FEMA flood maps.
Woodville Park
Cost Overrun
Paid by
Benefactor
Donation
The County was awarded a grant for $300,000 to bring electricity to Woodville Park and light
athletic fields. With the match of $300,000 in county funds (from prior Board decisions), there was a
total of $600,000 available for the project. When the project was bid and worked performed, a
cost overrun of $50,066 to light three ball fields occurred. Thanks to the outstanding generosity of
several citizens, businesses and organizations, the money was raised and collected by Park
Partners who wrote a check to the County as part of a promised effort to build out the park
without additional taxpayer money.
Overcrowding
Situation at Our
Jail is
Temporarily
Resolved
Recently the Board of Supervisors learned from Sheriff Warren of an issue related to overcrowding
at the Gloucester County Jail. Per his recommendation, the County recently agreed to enter into
a contract with the Middle Peninsula Regional Jail Authority to house 75 inmates at a cost of $20
per day beginning July 1, 2014 at a cost of $547,500. We voted to use monies from our General
Fund to pay for this one-year agreement. We have asked Sheriff Warren to provide us with cost-benefit
options relative to the operational costs of his jail versus a regional approach. I will keep
you posted as we receive more information from Sheriff Warren.
Next
Scheduled
Meeting
The next scheduled meeting for the Board will be on October 7. Please come out and participate,
speak out, hold us accountable; be a part of the decision making process!
Ladies and Gentlemen: My goal with this newsletter is to keep you informed.
Therefore, please send me your email address at www.friendsofphilbazzani@gmail.com so
you too can get a copy of this Newsletter. And please forward this Newsletter to your
friends and family!
PHIL BAZZANI – YORK DISTRICT SUPERVISOR