Bluff Point developer Tom Dingledine gives a presentation during the public hearing August 26 in the Northumberland High School auditorium.

After Northumberland board of supervisor’s chairman Ronnie Jett said no vote would be taken that evening on the special exception zoning in question, Dingledine gave a brief presentation of the large planned unit development (PUD) he hopes to build on environmentally sensitive land.

He stressed the economic benefits of the project in terms of hundreds of full- and part-time jobs and millions in added tax revenue and local income. He also tried to reassure the audience that he is committed to addressing all their concerns and would adhere to all state, federal and local regulations in regard to protecting the bay, the land and local water supplies.

The impact on local wells and the environmental impact on the low-lying land of Bluff Point are two of the major concerns that have been expressed by critics of the 900-acre, 600-unit, residential and commercial development that includes a 90-slip marina to be built on Barnes Creek.

Dingledine said he would proceed as if the area is already under a Groundwater Management Area designation, a status that may be bestowed on the Northern Neck within a year by the Department of Environmental Quality. Such a designation places controls and limits over groundwater withdrawal by large users such as Bluff Point, which by conservative estimates could pull more than 100,000 gallons a day out of the Upper Potomac aquifer.

“The Chesapeake Bay is a national asset and a local treasure,” he said. “We hope our plans are consistent with protecting the bay. We hope this project offers people a chance to stay in the county and gives others who might buy a home here a chance to see why it is important to protect the bay.”

Support

About a half-dozen people in the audience of more than 200 spoke in favor of the project.

“I appreciate his efforts,” said Fred Mayers, “I think everyone in Northumberland County will benefit.”

“We need this,” said contractor Ron Herring. “I get calls every day from people looking for work. This would be a direct stimulus to our tax base.”

“This is what Northumberland County has needed for years,” said John Burton.

“This should be the standard for all developments in the state,” said Virginia Waterman’s Association president and realtor Ken Smith.

“Who is Tom Dingledine?” asked realtor Henry Leeshow, a friend and colleague of his from the Richmond area. “I have come to know that I can trust Tom.”

Residents in Monarch Shores, the closest neighborhod to the proposed PUD, and other county residents, however, expressed many concerns in e-mails to county officials before the public hearing and in person at the meeting.

Opposition

County administrator Kenny Eades said he had received 97 letters prior to the meeting, with almost all against the project. Almost three dozen people spoke against the controversial development for close to two hours at the hearing.

Their concerns included the traffic impact on Bluff Point Road and Jarvis Road, the impact on Kilmarnock’s police, fire, emergency and hospital services, environmental impacts on the land and water around Bluff Point, an area zoned conservation by county leaders only four years ago, and the impact on the local water supply when a community nearly equal to Kilmarnock in size starts drawing on the same aquifer.

“Who is going to buy into this project?” asked attorney David Bugg. “The area is littered with developments that have failed. If this project doesn’t work, we are going to be stuck with a crater.”

Bugg was referring to the massive dredging project that would be necessary to open a deep, wide channel to the man-made marina basin at the heart of the development. Several critics have questioned the economic and environmental viability of the marina aspect.

“The facts about this land will not change,” said immediate neighbor Ida Hall. “This land is unsuitable for development.”

“Does this PUD exist for the public good?” asked resident Jane Stillmar. “I say no.”

“What is the benefit of another unfulfilled development?” asked Ben Stillmar. “This project has few benefits, long-term disadvantages and sets a bad precedent.”

“If you open the door here, you will open the door to a lot of other developments,” said Bud Hudnall. “This would be the destruction of a beautiful tract of land.”

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation urges the board to reject the project because of its cumulative debilitative effects,” said CBF spokesperson and attorney Peggy Sanner. “We hope you will conform to your obligations to be stewards of the environmental resources of the county.”

“Once the trees and shore are disturbed it will never be the same,” said farmer Alan Welch, who also expressed concern that increased traffic on the narrow roads would make it “impossible” for him to farm land on Bluff Point and Jarvis Road.

“Only 2.6 percent of county lands are zoned conservation,” said Mary Porter. “Why should these fragile coastal wetlands be subjected to such intense development?”

“I think it would be magnanimous of Tom Dingledine to donate all this land to a conservation easement,” said James Smith.

“The majority of your citizens are saying no,” concluded Lyn Balderson. “Listen to them, not the guy with the big bucks.”

Asked after the meeting what he thought about all the public comments, Dingledine said he is a “reflective” person and would think about what had been said. He indicted he was not interested in donating the land into a conservation easement.

Eades said one or more work sessions on the issue will be scheduled after the regular September 9 board of supervisor’s meeting. No action was taken at the hearing.