Author Archives: Mary Eiserman

Nelson County’s Comprehensive Planning Process

Did you know that Nelson County is currently working on a new comprehensive plan that will keep the county’s long term vision in focus into the year 2042?

The comprehensive plan is a ‘road map’ document used by local government and citizens that guides decisions in the county. Important topics such as development, land use, amenities, transportation, housing, and the economy are covered. The plan outlines strategies to achieve that vision. Though it does not carry the same weight as zoning regulations or laws, it does help guide decisions to ensure consistency with the community’s vision. The Implementation Chapter in the Comp Plan states the following: “The Board of Supervisors and staff should consider the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan when preparing the annual budget. The budget works in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan to move the County towards a thriving and productive future. Communities can strengthen the link between the annual budget and Comprehensive Plan by documenting how the budget and proposed capital projects align with the Plan.”

Nelson county’s new plan is currently in the development and review phase. Once accepted by officials, the plan is a legal statement of community policy in regard to future development. The summer of 2023 offers opportunities for draft review and final revisions prior to public hearings and adoption in the fall.



Draft documents can be found and reviewed here (https://www.nelson2042.com/document-library ). Comments can be submitted at the same webpage, or directly to your county supervisor.

Friends of Nelson is dedicated to a future that preserves our natural heritage, protects property rights and values, and promotes a healthy, prosperous future for all citizens in Nelson County, VA.

Canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline Easements Being Returned!



Happy new year! We are pleased to share with you this article in the Nelson County Times recently about the return of landowner easements on the canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

Dominion Energy has agreed to return all easements to landowners. Landowners will keep all compensation.

For two and a half years the Niskanen Center, along with Joyce Burton (landowner liaison for Friends of Nelson) helped to turn this tide. This effort included a year-long partnership with Senator Tim Kaine’s office.

If you are a landowner on the canceled ACP route and want an expedited release (for example if you have plans for the property or you want to sell) please see the link below to contact the land agent in your area.

Virginia ACP Land Supervisor counties of Augusta, Bath, Buckingham, Cumberland, Highland, Nelson, and Prince Edward contact:

Dave Aman
540-943-9396
David.W.Aman@DominionEnergy.com

Please note that your land agent may be different than the one you initially worked with. For all counties on the ACP route see the link here for your land agent.

https://atlanticcoastpipeline.com/resources/docs/landowners/acp.fs.landownercontactinfo_july2020_v2%20(004).pdf


Together we are stronger!

ACP Easements

As the holiday season is upon us, we are pleased to share some good news with our community!

The ACP easement release situation has changed dramatically since Aaron Ruby’s January 2021 statement to the Associated Press that ACP did “not intend to voluntarily release the easements.”

Despite FERC’s refusal to hold ACP’s feet to the fire on the easement/land use issue, in Nelson and Augusta courthouses, we are now seeing easement releases being filed for the individual landowners that participated in a year-long, focused advocacy initiative that included invaluable intercession by Senator Kaine’s office.

Even better, it looks like ACP may FINALLY be committing to what we have been asking for all along:  release ALL of the easements! The ACP website now states “For properties that do not require any restoration work, we are developing a plan to coordinate with landowners to release their easements.”

Although ACP is STILL not offering landowners with undamaged properties specific “how to” instructions to follow in order to get released — except to “keep waiting” — this statement is better than what their site had posted in early November. It is our hope that a turnkey process will follow quickly.

But our work is not over yet. Now we need to ensure ACP actually lives up to this commitment. We will continue to work to find ways to get the word out to landowners so that they will know release is finally happening and can follow up with ACP as appropriate.  (As we all know, ACP does not have a good track record re diligent follow-up when it is only the landowners who stand to gain from that effort.)

Please feel free to spread the word through your networks!

Together we are stronger,

FoN

Lessons Learned Project Video

An October 1st, 2022 evening event to celebrate the release of the Lessons Learned Project at the Rockfish Valley Community Center was well attended and a wonderful time to celebrate the accomplishment of our community in its fight against the ACP!

As we await the redesign of the Friends of Nelson webpage, you can find a link to the full 1 hour Lessons Learned video resource below. The Lessons Learned video, and a publication to come, are intended to be a resource available to other communities looking to organize against impactful projects. 

Lessons Learned Release Party

Come catch up with Friends of Nelson and enjoy a unique screening of a video from our Lessons Learned Project!

The Lessons Learned Project is a video interview documentary, and associated publication, of Nelson County citizens on the fight against the Atlantic coast pipeline. It highlights the lessons learned through our organization and the ensuing battle to victory and is meant to be available as a resource for other groups.

 

Please join us at 7pm on the evening of October 1st. 2022 at the Rockfish Valley Community Center.

Refreshments will be available.

Help us gauge attendance by registering at the link below;

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friends-of-nelson-lessons-learned-release-party-tickets-405015039887

2021 Annual Meeting

Dear Friends of Friends of Nelson,

2021 has been a year devoted to exploring new ways Friends of Nelson can serve Nelson County. After six long years of battling the misbegotten Atlantic Coast Pipeline proposal, our steering committee members and volunteers are ready for a change of pace and focus.

Our first priority for 2021 was finishing up the pipeline battle and doing what we could to help other citizen groups in their struggles against unwanted pipelines. We prepared an archive of our efforts and experiences; sought to get Dominion to release easements extracted through threats of eminent domain; and are preparing several different resources through a ‘Lessons Learned’ project intended to help other grassroots pipeline fighters to get started quickly and organize effectively.

Looking to the future, we examined projects aimed at preserving and enhancing Nelson County’s environmental quality and the enterprises, ranging from farming to tourism, that depend on it. Interests to be further developed include practical ways in which Nelson County can become a leader in climate and environmental action. For details see our annual report.

Our steering committee combines wizened veterans and energetic newcomers:

Doug Wellman, president and future vice president
Mary Eiserman, vice president and future president
Susan McSwain, secretary
Cheryl Klueh, treasurer
Jill Averitt
Connie Brennan
Ron Enders
Kelly Faust
Woody Greenberg
David Schwiesow
Coe Sweet

We anticipate some departures from the steering committee, so we are eager to hear from anyone who might be interested in serving. If you think you’d like to put your shoulder to the wheel, please contact any of the current committee members you may know or Doug Wellman at: wellman.doug@gmail.con or 434-964-8307.

Our annual meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 23, 2022. Due to continuing COVID challenges, it will be via Zoom. The meeting link and passcode is below. 
We look forward to seeing you!

Topic: Friends of Nelson Annual Meeting
Time: Jan 23, 2022 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88032739022

Meeting ID: 880 3273 9022
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