Editor,

Most people know little and care less about zoning until they want to do something with their property; i.e., add an addition, build or change its current use. For residential, there are no restrictions regarding color, design or materials. Any radical use of any of these can hurt the market value of your home. Only in restricted subdivisions are you protected from this happing.

In Farmville we have seen this issue play out to the unfair advantage that the State has over the local citizens. As we can logically expect, Longwood is going to grow, and we can also logically expect it to take over Griffin Boulevard, Virginia Street (they already own two sides) and from High Street to U.S. Route 460 (horrors!) – that is if Walk2Campus doesn’t buy this area first. They can put whatever they want on their land — dorms, parking lots and there is nothing we can do about it. The corner on High Street and Oak Street is certainly an example particularly when you know where Longwood is going and they already own the other two corners. The current owners are penalized and will lose value while the state is not limited and will not be penalized.

If you want to save historic Beach Street someone better get it registered as a Historic District as the houses date back to the Civil War. A Farmville jewel!

Longwood went to court to seize property on South Main Street that had beautiful homes to build the two high-rises. They also took over Buffalo Street and when the citizens got upset that the homes were to be torn down the college offered to convert the property into a park that would beautify the area. Look what is going up on it now.

This is not meant to be negative but to point out that progress and growth will take place whether we want it to or not. Hopefully this will encourage everyone the opportunity to use their common sense for the common good and plan where you want an upscale business. Fast food is eating up the best locations.

George Bristol

Boones Mill