Regional brief

Date published: 1/17/2008

Developer pulls plan for Coles Point lots

A Baltimore developer has withdrawn a plan to subdivide a 61-acre field at Coles Point in Westmoreland County into 34 lots.

County Administrator Norm Risavi said Maurice Ellis withdrew his rezoning application Tuesday, a day after the county Board of Supervisors gave Ellis an additional month to overcome neighbors' objections.

Neighbors of the project, which had previously been rejected by the county's supervisors and Planning Commission, said at a public hearing Monday that the low-lying tract was unsuitable for home construction and, if developed, would harm wildlife and nearby oyster grounds.

In other business Monday, county supervisors re-elected Supervisor Darryl E. Fisher as chairman of the board. The board also voted to hold night meetings in March, June, September and December.

RICHMOND--Freshman state Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Westmoreland, has gotten a seat on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources committee.

Stuart said yesterday he managed to horse-trade his committee assignments, handing his seat on the General Laws committee to a different senator and taking in exchange a seat on the Agriculture committee.

That was one of the two committee assignments Stuart had wanted when he began his first session last week.

"With the 28th District, agriculture and natural resources is one of the most important aspects," Stuart said.

He also wants to eventually get a seat on the Senate Transportation committee, but hasn't managed that yet.

Stuart is also on the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services committee and the Local Government committee.

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Date published: 1/17/2008