Nick Lewis
Register Publisher
Fri, May 16 2008
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It’s amazing what happens when public forums aren’t conducted and local governments aren’t as open as they say they are. The fire storm caused by the possibility of an RV park at Camp Catalpa is a prime example of what happens. The Richmond City Commission is getting every bit of what they deserve by not conducting public forums about this issue.
Governments just can’t assume no one cares if no one asks, as this city commission has done. It is a government’s responsibility to be completely honest and open to its citizens; deception has no place in a government that says it is honest and open such as the Richmond City Commission.
The signing of the lease before the contingencies have been met is a poor business decision and has put the planning and zoning commission in a no-win situation. If they don’t approve it, they look like citizens who aren’t progressive and become the bad boys. If they approve it, they become the villains against public opinion and quite honestly let the city commissioners off the hook for their poor judgment.
Michael Eaves, the registered agent and organizer for Richmond-based Lakeview RV Park LLC, said, “We’re not asking you to approve an RV park. We are just asking you to correct what we believe is a long-standing oversight in a zoning designation.”
Planning Commissioner Richard Thomas said, “The RV park issue should be separate from the zone change, which I believe is justified.”
The problem with these statements is the lease already signed by Mayor Connie Lawson lists approval of the zoning change as a required hurdle. Unless the city is exempt from abiding by its own zoning ordinance, as Eaves has argued, the RV park would be dependent on the zone change. Regardless of how one phrases it, a vote to change the zoning arguably is a vote for the RV park.
This issue has a long road ahead because of other contingencies: approval of a development plan, engineering reports reflecting whether the land is suitable for permitted use and permits or licenses required by state and local governments. All these must be met before this can go forward.
From what I hear, the Save Camp Catalpa group is garnering plenty of community support and momentum. This issue is not going away anytime soon. I’m sure they will be out in full force for the city commission meeting at noon Tuesday, March 25, and for the planning and zoning public hearing on the zone change at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26. It should be quite interesting to watch.
Given the nature of these events causing a stink hovering over this issue, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind all local governments of what their responsibilities are under the Sunshine Laws that help ensure that the public’s business remains public. If they don’t obey them, we will hold them accountable. That’s a promise.
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