From NBC-29:
Members of the Valley Aerospace Team say they are seeking justice in their case against the county and ultimately the right to go back to their home base to continue their rocketry.Video: Rocket Club Launches Court Case.
A snow covered 500-acre Croft Field in Swoope, near Staunton, had been home to the team until July. That is when the board of zoning appeals required the club to get a special use permit to continue lifting off. The club applied but the board denied the permit in September.
Club members say they have never had noise complaints and do not understand why the county is bringing their rockets to a standstill.
"It's just a hobby," said club President Chuck Neff. "We got together once a month in the middle of a farm field, a 500 acre farm field. The closest house, and there's only one, is 1800 feet away."
"This is a group of people, principally scientists that are aiding young children to become interested in the area of science," added the club's attorney Francis Chester. "And for the county of Augusta to reject their application, I think is ludicrous."
Chester believes the county's decision was based on politics and he is hoping the club will soon be able to use the field freely without restriction.
Read the entire series: Augusta County shuts down Rockets Boys.
4 comments:
Eidelweiss, nice! Dr. Von Braun would approve.
Chuck Neff was one of my soldiers and a more responsible, thoughtful person can't be found. I don't believe he'd do anything that was unsafe and that is the ONLY consideration Augusta County should have in this case.
Why is it that we see the Augusta County government consistently working against the interest of the citizens of Augusta County?
You ask a valid question: "Why is it that we see the Augusta County government consistently working against the interest of the citizens of Augusta County?"
That question should be asked at the Government Center. Apparently they were at it again in Richmond testifying before the General Assembly against the "burden of proof" bill that would have made counties/assessors prove increased real estate values instead of putting it off on taxpayers. The bill was defeated which leaves the "burden of proof" on the citizens.
http://www.familyfoundationblog.com/2010/03/05/more-cant-miss-video-senate-finance-committee-empowers-local-government-over-taxpayers/
Thanks Hobie! I've wondered before what you were up to these days. Thanks for the update on your profile.
Apparently it's not just the County who is against us. The big hand of politics appears to extend into the court system as well (or at least maybe the hands of same influential residents of Swoope that tainted the Board of Zoning Appeals members).
The judge stated in his last meeting with the attorneys last week that he's reviewed the documents from the SUP hearing and doesn't think there needs to be a hearing. It doesn't look like he's going to allow us to submit ANY evidence proving that the BZA's decision was arbitrary and capricious.
We've already decided that if he rules against us (which at this point appears to be the case), we will appeal it to a higher court. There are plenty of US and Virginia Supreme Court case precedence's not only showing the judge would be wrong by not allowing us to prove our case, but that the only decision to be made in the end is that the Board was arbitrary and capricious in their decision.
It's frustrating, but it seems all we can do is wait!
Thanks,
Chuck Neff
Valley AeroSpace Team - President
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