SB249 was established in 2002 as the process to evaluate a placing a privately owned golf course of 23 acres of Occoneechee State Park.  It now appears that the Department of Conversation and Recreation (DCR) and Governor, per the established process will NOT include the golf course in the Occoneechee State Park master plan, due to overwhelming public opposition and many other factors.  Now it seems that Ruff and Wright are trying to subvert the established system to go against the will of the vast majority of Southside Va citizens by introducing legislation to have their way. The amendment to SB700 item 381 would cut the DCR out of the process.  The DCR is the agency that has been given the task of being the steward of the state park land.  Below is the legislation from the state web site:

Chief Patron: Ruff

Item 381 #1s


Natural Resources

 

 

Department Of Conservation And Recreation

 

 

Language

Language:

Page 375, after line 8, insert:
"L. The Department of Conservation and Recreation is hereby "directed" to sublease approximately 23 acres of land at Occoneechee State Park to the Town of Clarksville in exchange for equivalent parcel of property currently owned by the Town and for access to Town water and sewage services for park facilities. The sublease shall be contingent on approval by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall notify the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees in writing of the proposed terms and conditions of the sublease prior to execution of the agreement."


Explanation:
(This amendment directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation to sublease a portion of property at Occoneechee State Park to the Town of Clarksville in exchange for comparable property currently owned by the Town and access by the park to Town utilities.)

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Dear Virginia Legislator:

I am opposed to budget amendment #381, which would swap 23 acres in Occoneechee State Park for some unknown land owned by the Town of Clarksville.  I do not believe that this land swap is in the best interest of Virginia citizens and sets a bad precedent for our state park system.  I believe that the DCR, who are our paid stewards of the land, are in the best position to decide what happens with state park land.  Please let them do their jobs and thoroughly evaluate the proposal and make a decision.  I oppose the land swap because: 

·        It would set a bad precedent of losing state park land to private businesses.

·        The vast majority of Virginians are opposed to using the 23 acres for a private business or any state park lands for private businesses. 

·        It will put a private business in the middle of Occoneechee State Park, completely cutting the park in half.

·        It would destroy bald eagle habitat.

·        The 23 acres is sacred Siouan Indian land (including Occoneechee, Saponi, Tutelo and others) and should not be disturbed.

·        A hundred-year-old hardwood forest would have to be clear-cut to build the private business on the 23 acres.

·        There would be significant pollution runoff into Virginia’s largest lake.

·        It subverts the established process wherein the Department of Conservation and Recreation determines and acts upon the public will regarding our state park land.

 For more detail on why I oppose #381 please see: http://www.winwinworld.net/GolfCourse/.  Please vote against budget item #381 Occoneechee Land Swap. 

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district28@sov.state.va.us; district29@sov.state.va.us; district12@sov.state.va.us; district40@sov.state.va.us; del_Callahan@house.state.va.us; del_Dillard@House.state.va.us; del_Hamilton@House.state.va.us; del_Putney@House.state.va.us; del_Thomas@House.state.va.us