Post by jonsdigs on Feb 12, 2008 18:57:19 GMT -5
Town drafts policy to address karst geology
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
By Jessica J. Burchard
The Winchester Star
Stephens City — A new section has been added to the town’s zoning regulations.
At its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, the Town Council unanimously approved a karst ordinance to address sinkholes in areas to be developed in the future.
The ordinance will be placed in Chapter 23 of the zoning manual.
Councilor Linden A. "Butch" Fravel Jr. said the area’s karst geology made the ordinance necessary.
"With the limestone quarry, [sinkholes] are very unique to this area," he said. "There’s some land to be developed in this area that could be affected by karst."
Karst terrain has sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage from calcium and magnesium carbonates. The new ordinance allows the town to monitor how karst terrain is handled.
Karst geology is common in western Virginia, but is also found in Stephens City and the rest of the northern Shenandoah Valley, which has an abundance of easily eroded limestone.
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Wednesday, February 6, 2008
By Jessica J. Burchard
The Winchester Star
Stephens City — A new section has been added to the town’s zoning regulations.
At its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, the Town Council unanimously approved a karst ordinance to address sinkholes in areas to be developed in the future.
The ordinance will be placed in Chapter 23 of the zoning manual.
Councilor Linden A. "Butch" Fravel Jr. said the area’s karst geology made the ordinance necessary.
"With the limestone quarry, [sinkholes] are very unique to this area," he said. "There’s some land to be developed in this area that could be affected by karst."
Karst terrain has sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage from calcium and magnesium carbonates. The new ordinance allows the town to monitor how karst terrain is handled.
Karst geology is common in western Virginia, but is also found in Stephens City and the rest of the northern Shenandoah Valley, which has an abundance of easily eroded limestone.
Full Story[/url}