Issue Updates, Fall 2005
Trash Trucks: Newspaper reports note Page County now has control over its Battle Creek Landfill, just west of Luray, off of Route 211. But the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality said it already has too much garbage, so Page decided to open two new cells, take care of 15 other violations, and possibly buy 264 more acres. Instead of reopening in July and bringing in $700,000 in revenue in the fiscal year, the landfill is now set to open in November 2005. Page County expects 250 tons of trash each day, but local trash is only 80-100 tons of trash a day, so the rest must come from surrounding jurisdictions. Once reopened, the landfill is expected to last a minimum of 35-40 years. Page County is borrowing $13 million at 4.25 percent for 40 years from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, paying it back at a rate of between $600,000 and $700,000 per year. National Waste Services of Virginia, which had been operating the landfill, liquidated its trash-hauling operation on March 11. On May 10, compactors, hauling vehicles, and 450 dumpsters—a total of 700 items—were auctioned off.
Town of Washington Comprehensive Plan: As a result of six joint meetings held between the Town Council and Town Planning Commission in the spring and summer, the revised comprehensive plan for the town is now envisioned to contain a growth range from a low-density plan of 27 new units up to a maximum of 87 new units, with clustered development. This would be on top of the currently 88 occupied and 27 vacant homes within the town boundaries. This will drive the extent of both the water and wastewater systems for the town.
Town of Washington Water and Wastewater Systems: The latest draft revision of the Town's comprehensive plan envisions a primary and a secondary service area for both systems. The primary service area covers the core residential, commercial, and governmental parts of the town. The secondary service area covers all else. Priority implementation, according to structure, would be as follows: failing wastewater systems; existing structures in the primary area; governmental systems, no matter where; new structures in the primary area; existing structures within the secondary area; and undeveloped land within the secondary area. The water system will be built to satisfy the primary service area first.
Return to RLEP Archives
Return to Search
