Baseball in Chesterfield? Why not?

If you live in Chesterfield, the idea behind "regionalism" in the last few years has met with resistance by the masses throughout the greater Richmond area. Its no wonder given the complete inability for the City of Richmond to release itself from the stranglehold of city politics. Whether we are are talking about City schools, budgets, the politics of personal destruction and its latest inability to get a deal for Baseball in the Bottom. Residents of Chesterfield and Henrico County in the last decade have seen the City of Richmond as more of a problematic liability than a partner in the future.

The latest development that casts the City of Richmond in a dark shadow is the development out of Loudoun County regarding the potential for the Kincora development at the intersection of Rt. 7 and Rt. 28. The proposed site is home to some 424 acres of mixed-use development with a proposed 5,500 seat Baseball stadium for an Atlantic Minor League baseball team supported by the likes of Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson.

The model of success for such proposals in terms of Baseball is the Long Island stadium where the Ducks in the Atlantic league play and have contributed to greater economic development for the community.

Given the demographics of Loudoun County, it is no wonder why many residnts of Chesterfield are asking themselves why Chesterfield couold not be a wonderful home for a minor league baseball franchise. After all, the Braves franchise moved from Richmond to Gwinnett County in the suburbs of Atlanta. Chesterfield has about twice as many people as Loudoun County with a very similar demographic, though the adjusted gross income may be slightly higher in Loudoun. Chesterfield, however does have more children involved in community athletics such as youth baseball, soccer, football, swimming, volleyball, tennis etc than Loudoun.

It really makes you wonder why there has been all this concentration with baseball in the City when their appear to be viable alternatives in suburbia in the greater Richmond area.

Would you be willing to support a Chesterfield-based franchise over a City-based one in terms of regular attendance at the ballpark?

One key aspect to the Kincora plans is the stadium has NO public funding. Translation; no tax payer funding.

Given the upcoming sessions of the Steering Committee looking into providing guidance for the new Chesterfield Comprehensive Planning, we must make sure that we leave in our planning the opportunity for the County to be a home to such a project like Kincora should it ever come our way.

Ukrops Supermarkets Selling Company?

The rumors have circulated for weeks within the grocery industry concerning the potential sale of Ukrops Supermarkets to Ruddick Corporations wholly owned subsiderary Harris-Teeter. The there has not been an "official" confirmation of the sale, rumors circulated when Harris-Teeter evidently applied for the required ABC permits for 29 stores in the greater Richmond area.

Those growing up in Richmond have long been familiar with Ukrops and its non-alcohol policy as well as its policy of being closed on Sundays.

Harris Teeter operates over 170 stores in eight States and the District of Columbia. These States include North Carolina, Virginia, Deleware, Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and South Carolina. In Virginia, Harris Teeter operates 27 stores.

Harris -Teeter is based in Mathews , NC with Ruddick Corp., a NYSE company operating as a holding company for HT and A&E, Inc is located in Charlotte, NC.

Richmond has witnesed the successful entry of another North Carolina market in The Fresh Market located out of Greensboro, NC where Harris Teeter also has operations. While Fresh Market is not a true grocery concept, Harris-Teeter in recent years has reformated its stores to be "market-like" than grocery.

Fresh Market has stores in Richmond (West End/Midlothian), Roanoke, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach and a recently opened unit in Newport News. To date there are almost 90 Fresh Markets predominantly located through the Southeast.

"Official" word should break very soon on a deal that rumors have specualted could be in excess of 850 million.

Ruddick closed today at $22.60 (NYSE)

What Does the Recent Proffer Debate Tell Us?

Well, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors took another stab at the Cash Proffer debate last week. I have been awaiting many of the members, including I-Daniel Gecker of Midlothian to deliver on some of his campaign rhetoric from 2007 when he launch attack after attack against incumbant R-Don Sowder for being unwilling to make developers carry a bit more of the burden regarding growth, but again Gecker failed to live up to promises he made to voters.

In a 3-2 vote, the Cash Proffer rate was increased but by any standard it was again a victory for the developers who seem to be entrenched with sentiment within our current Board which promised sweeping change during the campaigns of 2007. Unfortunately, only I-Marleen Durfee and D-Holland seem dedicated on delivery what they promised.

Again this time around as in last year it seem to come down to the forces of Durfee and Gecker. Durfee managed to get a compromised rate increase last year in the face of Gecker's continual objections to any increase initially. Durfee sought much higher rates than the approved 18,080 that was passed then and this time around the Board fell short of the estimated 25,511 break even analysis by increasing the rate a mere $886 to $18,966.

Some would say its a small victory, but given the rising costs of infrastructure and the fact that the County already lags considerably behind other juristictions of its size in proffer rates the Board again has failed to begin the process of bringing the tax burden of growth to more of a shared contribution. Gecker in his campaign of 2007 stated publically that he flet that the 80/20 citizen to commercial/developer ratio was unfavorable and used this ratio as a sword against his opponent and yet in two years this citizen fails to see in any instance where Gecker has delivered on policy where that ratio will realistically change.

We have to remember that after years on the Planning Commission, Daniel Gecker has had a sustained relationship with the developer community throughout the planning process for some of the largest scale developments in the County's recent past. It was the hope of voters in the last election cycle that because Gecker understood the developer dynamic that he would better serve citizens at narrowing the gap between offsetting the costs of growth.

Loudoun County whose growth is mirroring Chesterfield in many areas has proffers of 48,000 per lot, Stafford County 43,000 and Prince William County 37,000. Are we really to believe that it costs these areas fifty percent more to deliver on services to its citizens or is it simply a fact that Chesterfield has determined not to have business pay its fair share in large part because of the stranglehold developers have had on the Board in recent years?

We continue to get the same arguements from the developer interests regarding the passage of such fees on to home buyers and how the Proffer System itself is broken and the debate over other methods is still unresolved. Meanwhile, many of these developers, especially the public firms continue to pay those proffers in the other areas of the State without too much debate.

Why?

Developers understand to to penetrate and gain access to markets as favorable as Loudoun and NOVA there comes a price. There is tremondous income demographics for them to provide the housing to offset any of the proffer rates being imposed there. Are they saying that Chesterfield cannot support such home prices or housing specs to offset the increase? And is the rhetoric its about affordable housing sincere or merely just another smoke screen?

In my view, access to markets such as Chesterfield or Henrico is in high demand because of the People who live here and the adjusted gross income that remains stable in the area to support new housing. Developers have yet to make the case, other than in rhetoric (fear rhetoric) that rising proffers would make economic development suffer. Besides it is my understanding that commercial development is not paying proffers and the system is set up for residential development. If the Board is really concerned with balancing the cost of true growth in the County, should not commercial interest pay their share as well as the residential developers?

Another profound Gecker quote,

The proffer increase is "really meaningless in the grand scheme of things".

Really? I think the case very well may be made in 2011 that that assessment can applied to Geckers leadership as well.

Rolling The Dice Twice Not In The Cards

I have to tell you, I am looking forward to this matchup between (D) Creigh Deeds and (R) Bob McDonnell in large part because it will give us a real sense of the future of the Commonwealth. Sure there will be debate after debate and pundit after pundit telling us why we should support one over the other, but the reality of it is the Commonwealth is at a real crossroads. I use the "Commonwealth" on purpose because not every State in the Union has its origins in the same manner nor is every State a Commonwealth. In the last few years it is become apparent that the very fabric of our history and tradition has come under attack not only by outside interest groups but the Federal Government as well. We are entering a period where the likes of Virginia's future seem poised to be challenged in the same manner as throughout various stages of our past; free trade, taxation, slavery(self-determination), civil rights and many others. Each of those brought outside powers to bear upon the State in the same manner in which today outside funding is reshaping the Virginia we have come to love.

What do I mean by reshaping? Well, when you have a large vocal and heavily funded group of activists who have declared that they would prefer Virginia be the next Maryland you get the picture. I often wonder what it is about Maryland that is so alluring to them, other than the fact they are heavily dominated by a tradition of supporting Democrats. I mean, is Maryland better off economically? Is it educationally? What about employment? Do they place a greater burden on the Federal Government in terms of welfare, healthcare expenses and other support than Virginia?

In no measure, even environmentally in terms of the Bay, could Maryland be construed as outperforming Virginia so it really begs the question why the idealogues want Virginia to become the next Maryland no doesn't it?

Well in the upcoming campaign for Governor we will find out just how much influence those activist (inside and outside the Commonwealth) have upon the campaign of Creigh Deeds. Deeds is a Virginian and for the most part the best kind of Democrat. Deeds was not the choice of the hard left and ultra-liberal wing of the Party mind you. To them is a bit of a lush. Deeds is pro-gun for one, which puts him directly in the crosshairs of the far left. Deeds is certainly not cut from the same cloth as an Obama either and it would be unwise for the Republicans to use that tact as well. What is at question is roots. Will the roots of Creigh Deeds remain firm in this campiagn or will his rhetoric shift to aligning himself with the far left.

The real question voters should be concerned with in this election is the road one wishes the Commonwealth to travel. Its a question of historical integrity. Do we want to rewrite our Constitution? Do we want to turn our backs on our history? Do we want to for once and for all bury the ideals of the likes of Washington, Jeferson, Madison, Mason, Henry, Wythe, Monroe and even Wilson? Thats the question of this election frankly. Its a question of Sovereignty.

Will Virginia hold fast to her roots or will we travel down the road that some would prefer with an even greater reliance upon the Federal Government and thus less control in determining Virginia' own interest.

Not sure if this is as extreme as it has gotten? Think offshore-drilling off our own coast. Think mountain mining our own resources within our Commonwealth. Think late term abortion bans and restricting those bans by the Feds if they mean to. Think education and the undo influence upon our own educational system which list 85 in Newsweeks TOP 1500 HIGH Schools nationwide. Think destroying our railroad industry/port industry by banning coal representing 2/3 of all rail shipping. Think reducing our defense related industry not just our active duty armed forces and of course think base closings in the Virginia Beach region.

Once Virginia allows itself to bow to the "bookie" that is the US Government in the manner in which Gov. Kaine has started with the 4 billion dollar stimulus funding used to offset the budget shortfalls in Virginia which are the repsonsibility of the Kaine administration.

By the way, how is it that Gov. Kaine can have employment with the DNC now while still acting as Governor when it is my understanding that State employees are not allowed to work for private concerns while employed by the State. Isn't that interesting.

So with the backdrop of the current crisis of integrity in Washington spearheaded by misdirection and out and out falsehoods by those now in power, Virginians will be confronted with a campaign this summer hopefully waged on the issue of Virginia's future. There is no greater issue that of Virginia being able to deside for itself what it will do and what direction it will move regarding policy. Those that would put Virginia under the boot of the Federal Government need to be defeated if Virginia to to remain Virginia.

The question really is a matter of which Creigh Deeds will campaign for Governor. If he determines to turn his back on Virginia and move in the direction of supporting federally mandated liberal policies than the choice for Virginians is rather simple in November; Bob McDonnell.

Independents and Moderates in Virginia last Fall supported Obama and provided him the electoral votes from the Commonwealth of Virginia, however a large portion of those voters now have to contend with some of the responsibility concerning the direction our nation is moving and how it is going about doing so. In speaking with many folks that had voted for Bush in 2000/2004 but opted for Obama in 2008 there was a sense of "rolling the dice" for change in Washington. Now after almost six months with the results glaring at them in the paper, on the blogs and on cable there is little hope that those independents will be willing to roll the dice again for someone who is endorsing the very policies now that appear so unpopular.

One thing my liberal friends never seem to grasp is that as Virginians we can really like some one as a person a heckuva alot, but not agree with the policies that they may chose to propose or implement. Being "popular" in Virginia does not tanslate to your policies being popular. Liberals always tend to associate to two as one in that to like some one is to agree with them on policy. Its a completely "political" dynamic to them. They believe politics is the window to the soul it seems.

If Creigh Deeds is not careful, rolling the dice will niot be in the cards this Fall for Independents or Republicrats and potentially blue dogs either.

The End for Chesterfield Dodge

As painful as it is, the end of Chesterfield Dodge has come. I have been a loyal Dodge customer for years and though I do not have any ill will towards Chrysler per say, I think the new management is inept. The idea that clsoing 25% of the dealerships who sell your product is somehow going to make you profitbale without more money for tax payers is simply ridiculous.

The Lawrence family have been around for like 75 years as a franchise and even helped out Chrysler some thirty years ago with financing to keep from going under then and this is how the "new" folks repay the family. Closing a profitable dealership.

There have been accusation by some that these closings are purely political in nature brought about by the people running the task force for President Obama. Is it a coincidence that a Chesterfield County dealership under the same umbrella as those in Henrico County dealerships are being forced out of business. Um. Chesterfield is an historically very Republican-leaning locality and well Henrico County- they supported President Obama and other Democrats in the last few years. makes you wonder why a profitbale arm would be severed from a small business owner but his weaker dealership selling the same brands would be allowed to remain open.

Chesterfield Dodge has always provided a level of service to residents here that was second to none in service and repairs. They will be missed.

It begs the question what business segments next will be forced to close their doors through no fault of their own and how many more people will have to lose their jobs under the guise of economic stimulus!!

Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors--Is the Future Still Bright?

Look, I have made clear my issues with the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors over the course of the last few years. Many insiders have not been all too happy with some of the issues addressed here at Alter of Freedom. I will have to admit though, at least the former Board members took the time to return emails, messages and in some cases even participated on local blogs as a means of reaching out and being more accessible to the public interest.

I must admit however, that Cheterfield on balance does not have the blog exposure that many of its other county siblings do across the State. This must change in order for the Board to be serious about transparency. Localities like Loudoun, Fairfax, Arlington and the like have some of the highest rated/viewed blogs in the country and if you visit blogs like Too Conservative out of Loudoun you will find a great balance of Local, State and National issues.

The current Board here in Chesterfield has just endorsed a 32 citizen Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee made up of citizens from throughout the local districts of the County as well as members from the planning group contracted to shape the future of Chesterfield. Many of these members will be familiar to many readers here; Bill Hastings, Andrea Epps, Ree Hart and the like with either political or developer ties to the process are but a few familiar ones that stick out on the list.

While many of us have to wonder just how this committee has come to be and how the mebers were selected in terms of process, it is further alarming that Chesterfield County has just contracted a Florida firm in Renaissance Planning Group to the tune of almost $900,000 to work with the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee in creating our future.

$900,000 in contract fees paid by tax payers of course. Any explaination why it is this money could not have been used to contract a local or Virginia firm employing residents of Chesterfield or other regional localities. We have seen this before and the Board continues to go outside Virginia with its contractors.

Chesterfield has been operating under its Comprehensive Plan which has guided much of the planning concerns over the course of the last two Boards. Of course, many have taken issue with the Plan in its present form and at times have appeared poised to disregard its guidelines in terms of getting zoning ordinances worked through. We saw this in the debate over the Upper Swift Creek Plan and most recently the debate over Centralia.

I said months ago that I felt it was premature to begin to pass judgement on this Board collectively, however in recent weeks I am of the opinion that the time has come for residents to hold this Board and its members fully accountable for this point forward. Many new members were elected some eighteen months ago and ubnfortunately the learning curve of the first year is now over. No longer can we simply excuse the actions of this Board based on the previous ones misteps or agenda.

I am beginning to have less faith in the direction this Board is planning than I did in the election cycle of 2008. There has been far too much finger pointing with the School Board on budget issues, lack of true conviction by the Board to balance the ratio of revenues between citizens and business, a nominal cash proffer increase below the original proposal and no action of significance on the impact fee debate stemming from State Senator Watkins original proposal in the State Senate.

Is the future still bright? I think so, but many residents still find themselves faced with the same issues they have been confronted with for almost ten years now....school crowding/trailers, roads and infrastructure standards and a government that is content with spending more and more money on its own operation and facilities than it appears willing to impact residents everyday lives.

Interesting New Minority Population Data Released

Some interesting growth patterns within Virginia's population data on the heels of the current housing issues that continues to hit certain areas within the Commonwealth.

In Chesterfield County, over the last eight years the Hispanic community has grown 135% to represent 5.9% (18,000 residents)of the overall population estimated at 303,469. The County also experienced an increase of 42.5% within the African-American community compared to 25% in Henrico, 22% Hanover and 18% in Hopewell. The fastest growing African-American community is Colonial Heights where the population has grown 102% over the last eight years.

The Asian Community of Henrico represents some 5.2% of the overall Henrico population. Thats an increase of 56.6% in eight years and in fact the Asian population in Henrico rose 3.6% in 2007/08 alone.

The Hispanic population in Virginia represents 4.5% of the overall population or 531K while the Asian community comes in at 3.3% or 378K of the overall Virginia population.