By JEFF BRANSCOME
Caroline supervisors voted 4-1 last night to rezone a 377-acre farm to allow the State Fair to move to the county by 2007.
The board then voted 3-2 for a special-exception permit the fair also needs to move from suburban Richmond to the Meadow Farm site in southern Caroline.
"I just haven't seen the problems that have been talked about tonight," Board Chairman Wayne Acors said after some residents raised concerns about traffic, security and noise. "There are many more positive things about the State Fair than there are negative things."
Supervisor Maxie Rozell voted against both, saying he wanted more time to consider the traffic and noise issues. Supervisor Floyd Thomas joined him in opposing the permit; both said they wanted ticket sales to end at 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.
Fair proponents outnumbered detractors at a public hearing that preceded the vote. Almost 20 residents spoke in favor of the fair, while just three spoke against it. About a half-dozen urged the council to delay a vote.
Bobby Popowicz of Port Royal said the fair will help the county's economy. "We brought the houses, we need to bring the businesses," he said.
Jayne Massie, who lives in the Reedy Church District, said she is worried about traffic backups on State Route 30. Fair officials say most traffic will come from Interstate 95, but Massie disagreed.
"I know I'm wasting my time trying to tell you," she told supervisors.
Other Reedy Church residents echoed Massie's sentiments, saying Route 30 needs to be widened all the way to U.S. 301.
The fair hopes to move by fall 2007 to Meadow Farm, the birthplace of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat.
The county Planning Commission recommended approval of the fair's plan, despite concerns raised by residents at a public hearing in July. The fair's development proffers include a promise not to hold any major events before Route 30 is widened to four lanes in front of the property.
The fair also offered to pay for the Virginia State Police to provide security and guide traffic onto Route 30 during and after its events, and will arrange for fire and rescue service.
Before the fair can develop its land, however, Caroline and Hanover counties must agree on how water and sewer will be provided. Hanover has indicated it has enough capacity to provide utility service for the project, said Caroline Planning Director Mike Finchum.
The fair estimates that the 11-day fair and two other events hosted by the organization will generate $120,000 in taxes for the county. And fair officials have agreed to pay another $80,000 during the event's first year at Meadow Farm, 50 percent of which will be dedicated to the county's schools. The other half will be reserved for public safety.
That figure will climb to $126,000 by the fair's 11th year at Meadow Farm, according to fair officials.
The county will spend about $48,200 for services such as a fire marshal required during the first year of the fair and its two other events, according to Finance Director John Sieg.
"The worksheet indicated that the State Fair's move to Meadow Farm may not be a direct revenue generator for the county, but it should not be a source significant cost either," Sieg said.
But Sieg's numbers don't include Sheriff Tony Lippa's projected financial impact on his department. Lippa urged the board to delay a vote on the fair.
"If we should have an event that includes mutual aid, who's gonna reimburse us?" he asked.
Lippa also thought he and Fire and Rescue Director Ed Fuzy should have power to sign off on security plans for all fair events.
"You're going to give up control if you don't have that condition in there," he said.
In a speech before the public hearing, State Fair President Curry Roberts attempted to ease some concerns.
"We are not real-estate developers who develop and turn over a project only to leave the area. The fair is 151 years old and has been at the current location since 1946," he said. "The fair brings people together from across the commonwealth to present the best of Virginia."
In other business last night, supervisors voted to purchase a 54-camera security surveillance system for Caroline High School, which was plagued by bomb threats last year. The county will pay $138,000 for the extra security; officials hope to secure grants to offset the cost.
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