UPDATE:  According to the July 6, 2018, Staunton News Leader, the July 10 hearing was postponed by the Board of Zoning Appeals to meet requirements as described in the Code of Virginia for the appropriate advertisement of such hearings. A new hearing date will be set.

The Augusta County Alliance is calling for the community’s help to keep Dominion honest as it continues pushing ahead on its plans for this destructive, unsafe, and unnecessary pipeline project. They need your attendance at the Staunton Board of Zoning Appeals meeting, Tuesday, July 10, 2018, 2 p.m. in the Staunton City Council Chambers (116 W Beverley St., Staunton, VA, 24401).

Apparently Dominion has been storing heavy construction equipment, buses, and supplies for pipeline construction on a lot owned by Staunton Tractor off Richmond Avenue. The city of Staunton informed Staunton Tractor that creating a “contractor’s equipment storage area” is not a permitted use at that site. In a notice of violation sent to Staunton Tractor, the city’s Planning & Zoning Division noted: “As we understand it, this equipment is not part of your inventory for sale and is not present for repair work to be done on it. This part of the property is being used essentially as a contractors’ establishment, serving as an operation staging site for a contractor.”

Staunton Tractor has appealed the notice of violation, asserting that the land is grandfathered in for storage of equipment and that the equipment is being stored there so that it can be repaired and maintained.

The matter will be heard by the Staunton Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday, July 10 at 2 p.m. in the Staunton City Council Chambers. This is a public hearing and your comments are important! Remind Staunton Tractor and Dominion that rules are there for a reason and everyone has to play by the same rule book.

Come out and voice your opinion!

For further information, email info@augustacountyalliance.org.