Posted on 12/14/2005 12:02:10 PM PST by JZelle
The federal government is all but forcing Virginia Beach to condemn private property in order to keep Oceana Naval Air Station, home to the Navy's fighter/attack squadron of F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets. But this isn't some ugly twist on the Kelo eminent-domain case. For years, Virginia Beach has mostly ignored legitimate Navy concerns that its pilots could crash in residential areas under development near the base. But the city has chosen to let development proceed apace and -- though it certainly did not intend to -- heightened the danger by allowing ever-larger structures and increasing population density. So the Pentagon's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission has now put the city in the regrettable position of having to choose between seizing 37 acres of developed land or losing the station. The question isn't whether land should be condemned: There are good national-defense and safety reasons to do it. It's whether federal, state or local government should condemn the property, who should pay for it and how much "injured" parties should be compensated.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Next they'll want to close Langley AFB and Ft. Eustis. Close down all military installations and turn it into one huge subdivision.
Don't know why people would buy a house underneath Oceana. Fast movers are flying all the time there. How do you sleep?
Who are "they"?
Looks like it is the fault of the federal government. I mean, would a Governor of Virginia be able to hold them off, with out seceding? Benefits of this plan? More two-income households that can be taxed to the maximum. Just pave over the rough spots like Nofolk and the ship yards.
The mechanism for getting there in the first place was complicated. Developers, blindered politicians, and homebuyers who cared more about what zip code they were in than about their own safety contributed to this mess, and it cannot be wiped away with a simple resolution without somebody losing a huge chunk of money.
How about this? Declare the areas "Danger Zones" (a little Top Gun music, please), and require residents to sign two pieces of paper. First, an indemnity sign-off releasing the Feds from any responsibility for damage to property or persons as a result of military activity in the area. Second, authorization of stringent background checks to protect our aircraft and our pilots from homeowners who might have motivation to use certain toys on property in the danger zone, such as lasers, RPG's and other propelled munitions, and anything else that would pose a threat to U.S. Navy aircraft and personnel.
I think many of the residents will clear out voluntarily, and even take a loss on their property to get out of there.
I'm only half-kidding here.
Nope, the state has a choice in the matter. They just can't have everything.
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