Board Approves Park Plan Update

Including Golf Course Holes

An Occoneechee State Park master plan update that could open the way for location of three golf holes of a proposed golf course there was approved Thursday afternoon by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Board of Directors in a 4-3 vote.

Even though that update was approved by the board, DCR officials said that there is still a long way to go before the master plan or the golf course receives approval on state and federal levels.

Action on the proposal had been delayed by the board during its September meeting until last week, so that some members could receive answers to questions they had about the plan.

Since then, people on both sides of the golf course portion of the master plan update had been mobilizing support for their views in anticipation of Thursday’s action, which was witnessed by about 60 people in favor of and approximately 25 against.

With the help of the Ruritan Clarksville Economic Development Association, plan supporters chartered two buses to attend the meeting, while opponents chartered one of their own.

Following a report from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation staff members, and comments from people on both sides of the issue, the seven members of the board present at Thursday’s meeting voted on the plan.

Voting in favor of the update were DCR board members J. Christian Walker Ferry of Arlington; Raymond W. Cahen of Montpelier; Jack McGee of Williamsburg; and Clarksville Mayor Benjy Burnett.

Against the master plan update that included the use of 23 acres of park property to be used for three golf holes were: board chairman W. Bruce Wingo of Richmond; Sherrie Swinson of Cumberland County; and Alan Albert of Virginia Beach.

Burnett, who had previously abstained from voting on the matter during the September meeting, said he decided to vote Thursday because the plan was in the best interest of the park.

“I believe the DCR staff who conducted the hearings and worked to develop this plan over the last two years brought a very good master plan for the park before the advisory committee,” Burnett said Friday. “I believe it is a good overall plan for the park, and it will be very beneficial to Mecklenburg County and the Southside.”

Burnett said he felt “comfortable” voting Thursday, and said that his actions were well within DCR regulations concerning the advisory board on such matters.

He added that one of the other plan supporting board members believed that the inclusion of programs like the three golf holes intended to compliment an adjacent privately owned golf course should be pursued by the state to help rural communities in trouble.

“The whole master plan makes sense, and there were three other members who agreed,” Burnett said. “They looked at all the issues involved in the plan, and decided that it should be approved.

While believing he was justified in voting for the master plan, plan opponents said Friday that they believe Burnett’s decision to vote created a conflict of interest concerning the local issue.

“I’m disappointed that Mayor Burnett decided to vote Thursday after saying he would not vote during the first meeting in September,” said Barry Carter, who has led a campaign against the use of park land for the three golf holes. “Not only is it a conflict of interest, he went against his word.”

Carter said he believed the meeting itself was run fairly, and that both sides were allowed to present their cases to the board.

Although he was disappointed with the 4-3 vote in favor of the plan, he said he and other opponents were not giving up the fight to protect park lands.

At this time, Carter plans to send letters to the director of DCR and the governor pointing out that Burnett had gone against his word and that the decision should be overturned.

“We see it as an illegitimate vote,” Carter said. “And I hope the director and the governor will see our side of this matter.”

In addition, Carter said he disagreed with the findings of an archeological study of the area that showed little historical significance concerning Native Americans in the proposed 23-acre area to be used for golf holes.

Should the plan move forward, he hopes he and plan proponents can join an “outside” archeological team in evaluating the area.

Jim Wilkerson, owner of a Clarksville based golf driving range who is against the inclusion of the three golf holes also stated his disappointment at Burnett’s decision to vote.

“We were assured by the DCR late Wednesday that he was not going to vote, and that if he did it would be the first time in the boards history that a member violated his word,” Wilkerson said. “It would have been a 3-3 vote without Burnett, and if that had happened the plan would have failed right there.”

Wilkerson added that during the meeting DCR officials noted that opponents to the plan had presented 3,675 communications against the plan while only 650 communications came from those supporting the plan.

“They confirmed our numbers, and that shows that a larger percentage of citizens oppose this plan,” he said.

Wilkerson fears that approving the three holes in the master plan would set a precedence at all state parks, thereby changing the personality of those parks.

“Now we will continue to mobilize people and keep the pressure on,” Wilkerson said. “There is still a lot of work to be done, and we will continue to oppose any plan that calls for use of state park land for private businesses.”

Those supporting the plan also realize that much work lies ahead, and they plan to continue pushing the plan forward.

Clarksville Industrial Development Authority Chairman Charlie Simmons was one of Thursday’s speakers who stood behind the master plan and the golf hole concept.

“I’m excited that the board saw the wisdom in letting us go forward to the next step,” he said following Thursday’s decision. “Today’s a win for us. We’ve still got a long way to go, but today’s a win.”

“We appreciate all the support we had on this – from Chase City, from Boydton, from South Hill, and from Southside Planning District Commission. This is not just a Clarksville project, it is a regional project.

Now that the plan has been approved by the advisory committee, it will be reviewed by DCR Director Joseph H. Maroon.

According to DCR representative Gary Wauh, the director can choose to accept the plan, modify and accept the plan, or reject it entirely.

In addition, a copy of the plan will be forwarded to each member of the General Assembly, who will also have the opportunity to attach amendments to the master plan.

“There is a lot of information that must be reviewed by the director,” Waugh said. “Right now we have no indication as to what he will decide, or how long it will take.”

Even with the director’s approval, the plan and the golf hole concept will have to be further approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Governor Mark Warner.

Because the park land is owned by the Corps and leased to the state park service, the DCR may choose to place the 23 acres in question back in Corp control should any further project plans develop.

That would allow the Town of Clarksville to develop a lease agreement with the Corps instead of the DCR, Waugh said.

“But no matter how it turns out, there is still a long way to go at this moment,” he said. “It’s a complicated process – especially considering the involvement of both state and federal governments.”