Legislative Update: July 31, 2006
As areas along the shoreline of our waterways are developed and as new owners purchase existing properties there are more and more applications to install or expand piers, platforms and boathouses. When there are more and more of these structures being proposed on our rivers and creeks there is more potential for conflict with surrounding property owners concerning the impacts of these structures. The process of permitting for piers, platforms and boathouses includes a variety of public participation opportunities for folks to comment on how these structures may affect them.
In this past General Assembly session there was a bill, Senate Bill 634, which proposed to exempt a number of structures from requiring a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and therefore would not require an opportunity for citizens to comment. Essentially it would have allowed all open-sided shelter roofs or gazebo structures over the water to be permitted without any public input.
Through my years on the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors the issues that caused the greatest concern among folks that lived along the water were those related to the permitting of roofed structures over the water. Anything that eliminates the opportunity for the public to comment on these projects potentially allows decisions to be made without consideration of impact on others.
In light of this problem with the elimination of public comment provided in Senate Bill 634 I proposed to change the language to require a permit and thus allow public input on all but the small open-sided shelter roofs or gazebo structures. These additions to the bill passed and now require that any roofed structure of more than 400 square feet as part of a dock or any open-sided roofs designed to shelter a single boat, boat slip or boat lift that exceed 700 square feet obtain a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. These requirements continue to include that any adjoining property owner that objects to a proposed roof structure over the water will require a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and therefore would require an opportunity for citizens to comment. Also, counties may continue to disallow such structures by ordinance.
Last week I attended the Kilmarnock Fireman’s Festival. Over the weekend I attended a fundraiser for the Northumberland Community Center as well as a Picnic for the Caroline County Farm Bureau at the Upper Caroline Fire Station.
As always, if I can be of assistance to you please do not hesitate to contact me by phone, 804-493-0508, or email, robwittman@verizon.net. Also, please visit my new website; www.delegatewittman.com.
In this past General Assembly session there was a bill, Senate Bill 634, which proposed to exempt a number of structures from requiring a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and therefore would not require an opportunity for citizens to comment. Essentially it would have allowed all open-sided shelter roofs or gazebo structures over the water to be permitted without any public input.
Through my years on the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors the issues that caused the greatest concern among folks that lived along the water were those related to the permitting of roofed structures over the water. Anything that eliminates the opportunity for the public to comment on these projects potentially allows decisions to be made without consideration of impact on others.
In light of this problem with the elimination of public comment provided in Senate Bill 634 I proposed to change the language to require a permit and thus allow public input on all but the small open-sided shelter roofs or gazebo structures. These additions to the bill passed and now require that any roofed structure of more than 400 square feet as part of a dock or any open-sided roofs designed to shelter a single boat, boat slip or boat lift that exceed 700 square feet obtain a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. These requirements continue to include that any adjoining property owner that objects to a proposed roof structure over the water will require a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and therefore would require an opportunity for citizens to comment. Also, counties may continue to disallow such structures by ordinance.
Last week I attended the Kilmarnock Fireman’s Festival. Over the weekend I attended a fundraiser for the Northumberland Community Center as well as a Picnic for the Caroline County Farm Bureau at the Upper Caroline Fire Station.
As always, if I can be of assistance to you please do not hesitate to contact me by phone, 804-493-0508, or email, robwittman@verizon.net. Also, please visit my new website; www.delegatewittman.com.
posted by Blake Hite at 7:55 AM
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