"A rare orchid is threatening developers' plans to build... homes in New Town, James City County...
... problem: the small whorled pogonia [ Isotria medeoloides (Pursh) Raf.,]. Acres and acres of it. James City County's building rules mandate a 150-foot-deep natural buffer along all scenic roads, which includes Route 199 running along the western border of New Town where developers want to build 334 homes. ... since 1997, when the developers planned the layout of each section, the pogonia preserve nearest that section has expanded to its current size of about eight acres. The space crunch prompted New Town planners to ask for a smaller natural buffer, ranging from 100 to 126 feet deep. But because this does not comply with the county's building rules, staff suggested the Planning Commission deny the development. Planning Commission members will meet at 7 p.m. Monday to vote. Pogonias are rare and protected nationwide... In the planning stages of New Town, developers searched the land for any of the thin, green plants. They only found them in the northwestern corner, creating the preserve. If the Planning Commission turns down the rezoning proposal Monday, New Town officials can either eliminate some homes from their plans or appeal to the Board of Supervisors to ignore the 150-foot buffer rule. To fit that buffer, about 16 homes would have to go." article URL : http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/williamsburg/dp-69426sy0nov03,0,5364958.story?track=rss ***************** Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
