We three “Green Space Ladies,” as well as all of our supporters and the thousands of Hampton residents who signed the petition to “Stop the Condos at Buckroe Beach,” have come too far over this past year to let our efforts and our progress to stop the sale of our public land for condominium and other residential development on the former Buckroe Amusement Park sites slip away after the City Council Elections on May 2nd.
The new makeup of City Council members after the elections will be the very sitting Council that will make the final decision on whether this land will be developed with high-density, high-cost residential housing for a select few or developed into a world-class Hampton city park for our now and future generations.
This publicly owned property we have been working so hard to save for the public’s continued use, fun, and relaxation is known as the Bay Front Initiative under the Buckroe Master Plan, and it is also known as Lots B. This property is pictured at www.buckroebeach.org.
All registered voters in Hampton have three votes to cast for council candidates at the polls in May. Each of us must ensure, if possible, that the three candidates we vote for on May 2nd are strongly behind developing Lots B into a world-class city park, with revenue producing amenities that appeal to both locals and visitors, rather than selling those lots to a few investors and developers for residential housing.
Please keep in mind, we recognize there are other very important issues within our city government that should be considered when placing your votes in May. However, for us “Green Space Ladies” and for many of you, the most important issue right now is to stop the sale of our public land, Lots B, at Buckroe for condominium and other residential development. The issue is a hot one for the city and is on the front burner for a decision in the immediate future, even as we put together this brochure for you.
Councilwoman Angela Leary has supported our issue since Day One (which was over one year ago). With the election of three other council members in favor of our issue on May 2nd, the majority four votes needed in Council to save all three Lots B from residential development will be in place.
Therefore, for you, your children, your visitors and our tourists for generations to come, you need to know why Candidates Donnie Tuck, Simon Gaskill, and Randy Gilliland will get our votes on May 2nd.
Candidate Donnie Tuck has spoken four times before Hampton City Council meetings this past year in support of keeping Lots B for public use. He has also spoken on other city-wide citizen concerns.
Additionally, Mr. Tuck was recently asked where he stood regarding the local opposition to the Bay Front Initiative. His reply was, “I am a member of the local opposition.”
Candidate Simon Gaskill also researched the issue. He listened to remarks made at City Council meetings; he read several letters that expressed a desire to prevent the Bay Front Initiative from proceeding as proposed; he perused our website to better familiarize himself with the situation; and then he wrote:
“Hampton is in the process of renovation and reclamation to insure the future of the great city. A number of initiatives are on the table, which must be addressed with financial attention. New sources of revenue must be sorted out, examined for feasibility and implemented when found to be of benefit to the citizens.
“I am of the opinion that, while we might reap some immediate financial benefit from allowing the intended Condos to be built, those benefits would be almost inconsequential and would affect a few rather than the masses. However, I think the "livability" of the city would be a higher priority in this instance.”
Candidate Randy Gilliland is seeking his second term as a Hampton City Council member. As many of you know, we “Green Space Ladies” had our problems with Mr. Gilliland at one point last year.
However, today we recognize and ask you to recognize that many people do change when they take time to stop and listen to others. Mr. Gilliland has proven that he has been listening carefully to the informed citizens who have made their voices heard against residential development on Lots B. We know this because in January 2006 he convinced our current City Council to resurrect the planning process for the Bay Front Initiative.
In other words, because of Mr. Gilliland’s proposal, the Bay Front Initiative is going back to the drawing board, and a brand new planning team and steering committee will be looking at visions other than residential housing for developing Lots B.
We are positively thrilled with Mr. Gilliland’s action. His proposal delayed a decision on Lots B and gives us time to go to the polls and change the make-up of Hampton City Council, a Council that ultimately will become the approving authority for what finally goes on Lots B.
It is for this reason that three candidates, who are listening to what the vast majority of Hampton citizens are saying about Lots B, must be the ones voted into office on May 2nd.
Through their actions and their written words, Candidates Donnie Tuck, Simon Gaskill, and Randy Gilliland have given us every good reason to believe that when they are elected to Hampton City Council on May 2nd, the Buckroe Bay Front Initiative (Lots B) will be developed in a way that will benefit the greater good of all Hampton residents instead of only benefiting the lesser good of a few.
Additionally, it is our strong belief that because the three of them have listened to citizen voices up to this point on this one important issue, they will continue to listen to the vast majority of interested, concerned, and involved citizens on other important city issues once they become members of the Hampton City Council.
We hope you agree with us enough to vote for Candidates Donnie Tuck, Simon Gaskill, and Randy Gilliland on May 2nd. Lots B need their support in order to become a world-class city-park for our now and future generations, and they need your support to be elected on May 2nd.
Sincerely,
Sandra Canepa, Trish Ferraro, & Cecile Trevathan
(aka, the Buckroe “Green Space Ladies")
