Grayson County officials have approved a proposal to develop a recreational mobile-home park in Mouth of Wilson, Va., on the New River, despite pleas from landowners to deny it because of its density.
The decision came after a public hearing Thursday night at the Grayson County Courthouse that was attended by about 50 people. Residents who live along the river said they worried about sediment, erosion and how a trailer park might look on a river that has a national reputation for fishing and recreation.
But elected officials said the project could amount to a local stimulus package and that although they need to protect natural resources, they also need to bring in jobs and business.
"We've got to open our arms to folks who want to come to Grayson County and be progressive and want to raise their children and go to school," said Brenda Sutherland, a member of the Grayson County Board of Supervisors.
The five-member board voted unanimously to approve a special-use permit for Spirit Harbor Recreation Park, a 148-acre development that will be home to 150 mobile-homes on the river.
Joe Weddington Jr. of Crumpler, N.C., and Richard London of Laurel Springs, N.C., requested a special-use permit on Oct. 31, 2008. Initially, they planned to put as many as 250 mobile homes on the property.
Weddington changed that to 150 homes last night after elected officials discussed density issues.
The zoning now is rural farm.
The tract is at 1045 Foxwood Lane, near the intersection of Va. 93 and U.S. 58.
In January, Weddington was cleaning up existing logging roads when residents complained that work had begun without zoning or planning permission. Grayson County officials shut down the project until the county could decide whether to issue a special-use permit.
The board of supervisors said last night that the special use permit had restrictions, including that the site have only 150 homes and that the project pass Virginia Department of Transportation standards for road access and comply with state and local departments of health.
The park would be marketed to Christian seniors, Weddington said. The park would have 850 feet of river frontage.
"We are trying to create a private version of a national park," Weddington said.
Spirit Harbor would not be a residential park, he said, but a seasonal one.
Adjacent landowners say they worry about increased traffic on small rural roads.
"We're building a small city. Do we really want to set a precedent of building a small city in a rural area?" said Teresa Paige, who lives along the river.
■ Sherry Youngquist can be reached in Mount Airy at 336-789-9338 or at syoungquist@wsjournal.com
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