We believe there is a quality of significant value present along High Street, at the intersection of High, Oak and Appomattox streets and at many other places throughout Farmville. This valuable quality is historicity.

As we have said in the past, we believe that the rezoning requests made by Robert and Sherry Martin and Walk2Campus Holdings LLC would do nothing short of create the possibility of eliminating and destroying history. We called on both the Farmville Planning Commission and the Farmville Town Council to not let this happen.

We are pleased to see both have taken key steps in that direction.

In an Oct. 11 meeting, the town council voted unanimously to not only table requests to rezone 37 properties from R-3 Residential to R-3A Residential but to also remove the requests from future meeting agendas.

This vote took into consideration the planning commission’s recommendation to table the controversial rezoning requests while asking the town council to authorize the town manager to prepare a request for proposals for outside consultants to assist the town in updating its comprehensive plan and reviewing and proposing amendments to the town’s zoning ordinance.

Town Manager Gerald Spates said that by going through this process with accompanying public hearings, “it would give the citizens an opportunity to weigh in on any of these changes that would be made.”

We are glad that the public will continue to have good opportunities to make its voice heard. Many citizens spoke up to oppose the controversial rezoning requests and to help maintain the historic elements of Farmville, and we are grateful local government was listening.