Late on Tuesday night, July 11, the Beights Development found itself back before
the Albemarle County Planning Commission, more than four years after they first received approval to install a ConSpan bridge crossing at Mosby Mountain Stream to provide a northern entrance to the Mosby Mountain residential development.
Although residential construction has been finished for more a year, the bridge exists only in theory, because the Virginia Department of Transportation has refused to approve its design, instead recommending a different type of crossing called a box culvert. Even though the ConSpan would cause soil erosion, a planning commission report concluded that it was a more attractive option, as some semblance of the natural streambed could eventually be restored.
By contrast, once the box culvert is installed, the open channel will be permanently replaced with four concrete channels.
So then why would VDOT approve the culvert? Commission member Bill Edgerton offered a blistering assessment. “VDOT knows they’re going to have less maintenance with a box culvert. The environmental effect doesn’t matter to them.” Gaylon Beights, president of Beights Development, joined in the frustration. “We have 117 people we’ve promised a bridge to and I’m just glad they’re not here tonight,” he said, looking over his shoulder just to make sure. “They might want to lynch me.”
Member Jon Cannon allowed that he did not want to give in, then shook his head and agreed to vote with the rest of the commission to forego another round with VDOT and go along with their recommendation. “Sometimes you’ve got to pick your battles,” he said.
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