THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996 TAG: 9608080368
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: 45 lines
The town known for meat-packing plants has quit saying ``Please,'' and packed muscle into its quest for more land.
After two years of seeking a voluntary accord with Isle of Wight County, the Town Council voted Tuesday to go to court to annex five square miles of the county.
The town wants to add to its corporate limits upscale subdivisions and a shopping center to increase its tax base.
The targeted areas include Waterford Oaks, a fast-growing residential area, and Smithfield Plaza Shopping Center - both on Virginia Route 10; and two subdivisions just off Battery Park Road - Gatling Pointe and Gatling Pointe South, developments with homes costing as much as $500,000.
The town will file a suit with the Virginia Commission on Local Government to add 5.43 square miles and about 852 people.
The commission's review of the town's case could take about a year.
``We hoped it would not come to filing a suit,'' Mayor James B. Chapman said. ``But it seems, as in many other issues in society, that a lawsuit triggers action.''
Two years ago, the county Board of Supervisors agreed to discuss the boundary dispute. The talks, however, were unproductive.
``We have no other choice,'' Chapman said.
Town Manager Peter M. Stephenson considers annexation a ``win-win situation.'' Unlike annexations by cities in the state, the county does not lose land that is annexed, though it could lose some tax revenues.
``County residents will not pay more for government services,'' he said. ``Smithfield will have additional land, and Isle of Wight will be in a position to grow faster and have increased property values.''
Smithfield's stability is in the best interest of Isle of Wight, he said.
If the suit is approved, annexed residents would receive more or better services, Stephenson said. They would benefit from faster police response, town water and sewer rates, trash pickup, curbside recycling, snow removal, street maintenance and street lights.
Town residents also would benefit from a stronger tax base for the town, reducing the likelihood of property tax increases.
KEYWORDS: SMITHFIELD ANNEXATION by CNB