LOOKING FORWARD TO RESPONSIBLE GROWTH Balancing economic vitality with environmental preservation demands careful calculation when your town sits surrounded by water and wildlife. Chincoteague’s leaders recognize that sustainable growth requires more than adding capacity, it demands preserving the very qualities that attract visitors and residents alike. “You have to have growth to continue doing business, folks moving into the area from more affluent regions,” Tolbert explains, “waterfront homes and homes that provide these pretty views of nature and everything can get quite expensive.” Virginia’s Code further restricts municipal options for intervention. “Council has come up with many ideas on how to do this and it’s difficult to do when you have a rigid framework to work within,”Tolbert notes.“Sometimes we can’t just go and do what we’d like to do and make it more affordable for folks who really could use the affordability.” 26 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx