Payne owes explanation to Stevensburg District
Published: September 17, 2009
Updated: September 17, 2009
I was shocked and dismayed to learn the Culpeper County Planning Commission voted 4-3 last week to recommend eviction of a 77-year-old woman, Alice Johnson, from her home located on the land where she has lived most of her life and still is a co-owner.
Her home is located on Carrico Mills Road near Brandy Station in the Stevensburg Magisterial District. Thus, it is more shocking that Planning Commission member Dwayne Payne from the Stevensburg District cast the deciding vote that recommended Mrs. Johnson’s home eviction.
Since Mr. Payne is running to represent the Stevensburg District in the November election, he should publicly explain why he supported such a draconian measure that robbed Mrs. Johnson of her property rights and dignity as a human being.
Stevensburg District voters have a right to know what motivates their supervisor candidates as they cast votes affecting peoples lives, dignity and private property.
Kurt Christensen
Richardsville
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Reader Reactions
Of course the county chose greed over needs. Did anyone in power suggest anything to help her out??? Like I have said many times. Our town and county seem to reflect our Nat’l government. Redistribution of wealth into their own pockets. Payne is NO Christian by any standards.
It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter into heaven. May God have infinite mercy upon this woman and her child. Shame on the for people who voted on this.
Is this really just about zoning? From the other article, there seem to be some serious heath and sanitation issues here. I guess I need more facts to understand what really happened.
Oh. I finally get it.
The County wants to FORCE her to have indoor plumbing (no doubt, “for her own good”). Since she CAN’T install the mandated septic system, then obviously the “best” thing to do is kick her off the land.
“Let’s Be Honest” says: “[Mr. Payne] had to make a tough, right, and educated decision to hold up the zoning laws…“
Really? How old do you think Alice Johnson was when these “all important” zoning laws were put into place? Do you think she ASKED for the “all important” zoning laws to be enacted?
Don’t you think there is room for an exception to the rules ion the case of a person who has done nothing really wrong, but who has simply minded her own business and lived on her property while new “rules” were adopted which make her an outlaw?
I do.
This woman was BORN on the piece of property in question. All the “for your our good” zoning laws came AFTER she was already there. As far as I am concerned, that qualifies her for the “mother of all grand-fatherings”; or would that be grand-motherings?
As the saying goes, things aren’t always as they appear. What Mr. Payne did was put the county first instead of having a political agenda. The easy decision would be to let her stay in her house, as I am sure he would have recieved many sympathy praises (votes) for this in November. He had to make a tough, right,and educated decision to hold up the zoning laws, which is the reason why he serves on the commission. Otherwise, people could do what they wanted to do, and Culpeper would suffer in the end. As far as Mr. Christensen, let’s remember that he is a well known supporter of Bill Chase, which is pretty odd, as he is a Republican, and Bill is a Democrat. Attacks like this article have no place in the advancement of Culpeper. On it’s face, this is just politics, and pretty shameful attempt, at that.
Okay.
The parcel of land upon which the mobile home lies is NOT zoned Industrial (it is RA, or Rural Agriculture Zoning), so that, thankfully, is not the issue.
I still have not been able to find the original hardship permit in any of the County’s on-line records, so I have not been able to determine the justification(s) for its initial issuance.
From looking at the County GIS maps, it appears there are at least two structures on the parcel. It is possible the hardship permit was issued in order to give the property owner a chance to clear up some form of legitimate zoning violation.
Update:
I just checked the County’s web-site and found the meeting agenda (no minutes yet). It appears that last week the Ruth Hamilton estate was applying for an extension to a “Hardship Use Permit” for “occupancy of an existing mobile home”. Apparently, The PC decided to recommend that the BOS NOT extend the permit.
I’m going to look some more and try to find the original basis for the hardship permit.
I still suspect this has something to do with the ban on residential dwellings on industrially zoned land, and hoepfully we will find out soon whether I am correct.
PS - It looks like I am behind the times. Industrial land in Culpeper no longer carries an M1 or M2 designation. They have apparently been replaced by LI and HI, respectively.
Pardon me:
... if the Panning Commission voted to evict her….
The BOS had not yet acted, and hopefully they will show some restraint.
Does this have something to do with the County’s relatively recent “zero-tolerance-policy” (for lack of a better term) for residential houses on Industrially zoned land?
Some time ago, I had heard the County planned to adopt regulations which would ban any residential uses on properties zoned for Industry (M1 and M2 Zonings, if I recall). I also heard that they planned to make it retroactive.
That is, instead of simply not allowing NEW construction, they would require that existing homes on industrially zoned land be vacated, even if the home was there BEFORE the land was zoned industrial. I did not vigorously follow-up on the issue, because I never thought they would actually follow through with that decision and evict people from existing homes.
Is it possible they have implemented that plan? There is a pretty large amount of industrially zoned land in the Brandy Station area.
All i can say is, if the zoning on a parcel of land is the sole reason why the BOS voted to evict this elderly woman from her home, then they should be ashamed of themselves.
Can Mr. Payne please make a post here and give a complete explanation for his vote on this sensitive issue of elder abuse. Voters need to know why he voted to evict a 77 year-old lady living in a trailer on land she has owned for year. And yes, it is also a matter of basic property rights. We should have an expectation that we would be safe in our home/trailer whatever especially as we age.
The four that voted to throw out the old lady and her disabled daughter are:
Francis Toomey, Bob Kenefick, David Lowery and Dwayne Payne.
You can all bid on the old ladies land. Shame on you!!!
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