Lower Greenbrier River Byway Wins Grant To Make Plan

The Hinton News ^ | June 10th, 2003 | Chris Chanlett

[countrydummy]

Lower Greenbrier River Byway Wins Grant to Make Plan

by Chris Chanlett

The Lower Greenbrier River Byway project is awaking from a long winter’s nap.

Recently the West Virginia Department of Transportation informed the group that its grant application to write a Corridor Management Plan [ this is the whole problem right here, they get the money , write up their plan, then the WVDOH and The NPS, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife and so on, come into play, rip up the local’s plan, and then goes to the process of Environmental Impact Plans, that turn out to not get passed the first time, cause the plan will for sure reveal areas of concern by all the federal agencies, it will be for increase management and restrictions to “preserve this and that, in order to take the land!!!!!!] is finally going to be funded.

Soon after the federal money in the amount of $4,000 was promised, Alderson Main Street said it would put up the required twenty percent local match of $1,000.

Chris Chanlett, ( I am almost positive that Chris and his wife belong to the local chapter of WICCA). president of LGRB Association, expressed relief that the 18 month old application was favorably acted upon. “Last year we received provisional approval for designation of 35 miles of roadway around the Greenbrier as a scenic byway. We produced a nice brochure for travelers with help from two dozens small businesses along the route and the Summers County Commission. Now we need a long term vision of what to do with this byway”.

The Lower Greenbrier River Byway makes a scenic road of the riverside highway from Fort Spring through Alderson to Hinton and accesses the Lowell Backway from Pence Springs to Camp Summers and the Wolf Creek Backway from Alderson to Pickaway and back to Fort Spring.

Designation of byways and backways encourages travelers to visit and understand this area and local residents to appreciate and care for the place. (Ah, the slight suggestion that the locals do not take care of their land, exactly what the NPS wants to have, to build their true purpose...to take all the land in order to protect it!!!) The Corridor Management Plan describes all aspects of the roadway (view-sheds, river access, need to increase river access and protected the view-sheds ((no camps, houses, etc. and so on)) and how to promote its assets and involve the most people.

The principal assets of the LGRB are the beautiful river, the unique story of John Henry, and the revival of historic Alderson.

Next meeting of the LGRB will be at the Graham House in Lowell on June 16 at 7 p.m.

We will select a writer and discuss the agreement wit the state highway department to create the plan.

Once its draft is accepted by the state, a series of community meetings will consider the plan and signs may go up directing drivers. Questions will be answered by Chris Chanlett at 466-5181.

This will end up being funded with federal dollars, under TEA 21 (? forgot the exact term) Federal Highways as scenic byway designation........read the rules of the corridor management for such designations!!!!!!!!

[countrydummy]

I did highlight areas of concern and did add my comments to this article with and end comment.

[countrydummy]

ping

[countrydummy]

ping!

[sauropod]

"Last year we received provisional approval for designation of 35 miles of roadway around the Greenbrier as a scenic byway."

Is this the road you have that (instead of turning left to go to Hinton) goes straight toward the dam?

[sauropod]

Also, the words "Corridor Management Plan" scare me a la Wildlands Project.

[countrydummy]

no 'pod, you go to the bridge just below the time, cross it, then turn left. This is where the Greenbrier meets the New River! Told you they were after the whole dang area!

[countrydummy]

ping!

[sauropod]

This is making me sick!!!

Wonder how ol'Miss Cleo thinks of the NPS now?!

[countrydummy]

ping!

[samanella]

I also noticed online that Chanlett started an online a "let's not go to war" petition citing unheard of casualties, etc. Seems alot of middle easterners signed the thing, too. Put "Chris Chanlett" on a search engine and you will find it. Isn't there a college of WICCA somewhere in Hinton? Is it named the Robert C. Byrd WICCA U.?

[countrydummy]

you go to road just below the dam...geez!

[countrydummy]

will do! Chris is something else for sure!

[countrydummy]

Mis Cleo, she is still buying into all this crap! Course did you really think that she and her tyranny ways would not?

[countrydummy]

For all of you that may find this article and the comments made thus far, a "little to far out", the following link will take you directly to the Federal Highways Administration and criteria for "Scenic Byways, (Highways) and land mangaement guidelines for future contoll of the land(s)!!!!!

http://www.byways.org/travel/scenic_byways.html

[buckalfa]

Although little of the proposed corridors are in Greenbrier
County proper, you can bet that Commissioner Steve Malcomb
and rabble rouser Vernon Hayslet will be against the plan
if there is even the slightest hint of land use control
tied to the grant money.

[countrydummy]

sounds like 2 really great fellows!

[countrydummy]

ping!

[countrydummy]

Yelp, but in general mean increased local "zoning laws".....and we all know that is not a good thing!

[countrydummy]

I am not sure I understand your statement, with this post. Do you support land use control?

[buckalfa]

Yes and no. I support land use controls/planning/zoning
on issues such as public health, avoiding obvious land use conflicts such as bars next to churches and schools, and
keeping industrial concerns out of residential areas. On the other hand, restrictions tied to government programs such as historical districts (Lewisburg),farm conservancy, and zoning that serves to protect special interests (The Greenbrier) are loathsome and should be resisted. Greenbrier and Summers Counties need jobs, not more protection for the privileged few.