VIRGINIA BEACH
The City Council decided Tuesday night that it must determine the future of its Mount Trashmore II landfill before voting on any proposed housing developments nearby.
The council voted unanimously to wait six months to vote on a 150-home subdivision proposed by Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. Councilman Bob Dyer abstained because he works at CBN-operated Regent University.
CBN's proposed development, off Centerville Turnpike, sits about 900 feet from the landfill site. CBN also owns some 500 acres to the north and west of the landfill that it wants to develop into shops, homes and offices.
Mount Trashmore II has some limited uses now, but officials are discussing turning it into the Beach's primary waste disposal site after 2018. That's when the Southeastern Public Service Authority, which handles the region's waste, is scheduled to be dissolved.
Some council members worried that approving CBN's project would hinder the potential to expand the use of the landfill.
"There's a lot yet to be decided," said Councilwoman Barbara Henley.
A recent city-commissioned study found that Mount Trashmore II could be used as an urban landfill without posing significant health or environmental risks.
But it could be a nuisance to neighbors, and the city would need to spend between $37 million to $61 million buying property for a buffer, the study said.
The city has already had issues with neighbors at the landfill.
Last year, a SPSA-run composting operation at the landfill site closed because of complaints from neighbors about odors and the potential health risk.
To avoid similar problems, the city shouldn't approve homes too close to the landfill, City Councilman Bill DeSteph said.
"If we do this, we have to do this with the understanding that we're going to move the landfill in 2018," he warned.
Some council members said they would be more comfortable with CBN's proposal if initial and all subsequent home buyers signed a disclosure form acknowledging the nearby landfill and its potential nuisances. Home buyers around Oceana Naval Air Station must sign similar disclosures about noise.
Councilman Louis Jones asked CBN to consider eliminating plans to have condominiums right next to the pond at the landfill site.
But Councilman Ron Villanueva said the city's long-term plan for Mount Trashmore II is a neighborhood park, and not a landfill.
Eddie Bourdon, CBN's attorney for the project, said it doesn't make sense for Virginia Beach to target Centerville as a growth area in some plans and yet expand the landfill.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Answers
That specific area is DENSE with military families... Hence why housing would make sense, new to the area military families are not going to know anything about that landfill until it hits 95 degrees outside in 80 percent humidity factor in the middle of summer. Regardless, I grew up less than 3 miles from the map on this article and I'm a little confused is that Housing proposed where Brandon already lies? Centerville turnpike is already getting kind of full !!!!!!
Nice move by Pat
I wonder if this development is part of the "buffer" the city would have to buy. By starting the rezoning process, he has greatly increased the potential value of the property. The city could buy woods fairly cheap, but to buy 150 potential residential lots, thats a nice sum of money.
Afraid of Pat
The VB city council is more afraid of Pat Robertson: he could pray down a plague on them. But who would want to live next to a garbage dump anyway? It sounds to me like this plan has all sorts of problems. VB would be better off purchasing the land as a buffer zone and so they can expand the landfill. It's either that or else where else will they want to build another dump? Pungo maybe?
I agree with the city
This smells fishy to me. Why would anyone want to move into a new 300K plus home next to the landfill? It needs a lot more investigation. Robertson is not someone to be trusted. He'd sell you ocean front property in Kansas if he could. Oh dear! I hope he doesn't pray for that!
Chicken
Isn't it amazing that city council seems to be putting off voting on anything controversial until after elections are over? Afraid of the people?
Mt. Trashmore II
No need to worry about the smell. If Pat can pray away hurricanes and other natural disasters, surely a little odor wouldn't be a problem. Heck, he can probably pray away the trash!
I agree with Michael
If you move in after-the-fact, you have no right to complain. The Trashmore II site is the same as Oceana. The only people who have a right to complain about jet noise are people who have lived there since the 1940s, before the invention of jet-propelled aircraft. Let them build and have the home -buyers sign disclosure agreements. Good luck selling the homes once you tell them about the dump.
As a former Landfill Neighbor
I lived off Brandon Blvd from 1991 - 2003 and was used to the landfill being there knowing it was there long before me. It stank sometimes. Guess what? It was there first! No complainers allowed (ditto for Oceana's neighbors: you're not allowed to complain either - just like the landfill was first, so was the base)
Well, whatd'ya know?
Pat's gonna have to wait another six months...that just gives his lawyers more time to prepare.
Go, city council!
Anyway - can someone explain to me how in the world Centerville Turnpike, one lane in either direction, can handle more traffic.
You forget - this is Virginia Beach. The Virginia Beach City Council doesn't care whether or not Centerville Turnpike or Indian River Road can handle the traffic increases once the new apartments are built. Look at all the infrastructure problems there are throughout the city, thanks to the mighty Council letting developers have their way at every turn. Of course Pat Robertson will get his development - more apartments, more shops even an interchange off I-64 if this goes the way that Pat and company want it to. Isn't that right, Meyera?
We shall see . . .
We shall see how many of the VB city council members Pat Robertson has in his back pocket tonight. Unless he is willing to pay for the infrastructure improvements necessary to tie in with the city, the development shouldn't be allowed. Maybe he can pray the infrastructure in . . .
Hah
CBN is building a neighborhood? Are you going to have to sign paperwork saying you follow their religion to buy into it, like they do at their companies? I used to laugh about that organization, but the more I learn, the more I realize how badly they dupe people out of money. I won't even go into the housing market is dead part, other than the prime rated loans and alt-a loan foreclosures are going to epic surpass the amount of subprime loans we've seen. You ain't seen nothing yet. The early predictions are over 5,000,000 more foreclosures. Way to go Greenspan! Way to go Bush! Way to go greedy people.
Play it again Jack
"So, Ira, where do we send all of our capitalist trash once the current landfill reaches capacity?"
Excellent question. Perhaps you should count all of the packaged products in your home.
"It's time to reduce, re-use, recycle."
Jack Johnson, Curious George Soundtrack
CBN NEW HOUSING?
Okay I think I am going to be sick. More houses out here? No wonder they wouldn't sell any of the land to the city for new recreational space. Anyway - can someone explain to me how in the world Centerville Turnpike, one lane in either direction, can handle more traffic. Is CBN paying to widen the road. Traffic already backs way up at the light at Indian River and that's before all those apartments that were just built on the corner are even leased. Now 150 more houses? I agree that the man is building his own little city - what's next - their own little strip mall?
CBN
How dare Virginia Beach City Council to even think about interfering with something Pat Robinson wants to do.
Look out
Make sure that every homeowner signs a form stating they understand there is a landfill near by. Gosh knows we don't need another group whining just because they bought a house next to a landfill. Or an airport or a mulch plant.
capitilism???
we'll found out how close we are to SOCIALISM in November....seems like a lot of folks out there want to be called "comrade"....
Helping Everyone
So, Ira, where do we send all of our capitalist trash once the current landfill reaches capacity?
master plan
I've seen the plans in past years of Pat Robertson's CBN 'city'. It is huge and there's NOTHING under $300K. I wonder if this is part of that original plan. As to his 'city' I think it's being kept low key until all the interstate accomodations are in place -- then look out.
Hmmm
"when we start helping more people here instead lining the pockets of everyone else??"
Helping people? How so? I thought we were a capitalist country?
housing?
depends would it cheap affordable housing or just as expensive as all the others being put up...if it is the expensive ones we don't need it..when we start helping more people here instead lining the pockets of everyone else??