Developers Illegally Bulldoze National Park Service Land at Harpers Ferry

[KansDem]

Developers Illegally Bulldoze National Park Service Land at Harpers Ferry
Author: Civil War Preservation Trust
Published on Aug 24, 2006, 08:15

The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) issued a statement today in response to the illegal bulldozing of a portion of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park this past weekend by a handful of local developers. Purposely and without permission, the developers dug a deep trench through historic land owned by the National Park Service and the American people.

"Beginning on the morning of August 19, 2006, a group of local developers moved heavy machinery and work crews onto the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and proceeded to lay water and sewer pipes on historic land where Stonewall Jackson launched one of the most brilliant tactical triumphs of the Civil War," said CWPT President James Lighthizer. "The developers had neither authority nor the permits necessary to do this."

The purpose of the water and sewer line is to facilitate a planned development of approximately 3,400 houses proposed for construction both inside and adjacent to the Park Service boundary. To date, the developers have not received any local approvals necessary for this development to proceed.

"These developers knowingly and defiantly ignored federal laws regarding construction on public land," said Joy Oakes, Senior NPCA Mid-Atlantic Regional Director. "Americans have a right to expect that land protected by the Park Service cannot be bulldozed outside of an orderly and legal review. We encourage federal and state law enforcement officials to pursue these violators to the fullest extent of the law."

--more--
http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_41119.shtml

Pretty brazen...another example of the Bushistas' zeitgeist.

[cyberpj]

1. Shoot first. Apologize later. It's how bullies always work. Ask Cheney.

The same thing happened here in my state and what could they do but fine the developer? Nothing. You can't get the trees back.

[bperci108]

13. True.....

...but you can take a clue from Edward Abbey.

A little judiciously applied Sackrete to the new pipes might just be the ticket.

Just add water..... :evilgrin:

Ummm....did I just say that out loud? :blush:

[cyberpj]

20. Yep. We could use a lot more civil disobedience around here.

But I didn't hear a thing. :shrug:

[bperci108]

23. Amen.

Where's Doc Sarvis and George Washington Hayduke when you need them...


:rofl:

[cyberpj]

42. And I thought I was well read. Now I'll be adding Edward Abbey's

The Monkey Wrench Gang to my library list. Cool.

[Lars39]

28. Where were the park service personnel with their firearms?

There's usually several park service rangers that *live* in the park, and they are usually armed.

[whistle]

2. Those developers who conspired to do this need to be prosecuted

...under RICCO statutes and hit with huge fines and long jail terms. They defiantly took matters into their own hands in an effort to plunder public property for their own enrichment. This had noting to do with civil disobedience.

[spotbird]

9. But who would prosecute them?

Certainly not the feds, shoot as far as the administration is concerned they should be awarded the Medal of Freedom.

THis is horrible.

[anotherdrew]

39. prosecuted? hell they SHOULD BE JAILED THIS VERY NIGHT

what would happen if I went and painted anti-bush words on that land? I'd be in jail the moment they caught me, these worthless 'developers' get to walk away from something far worse. It makes no sense why they haven't been arrested.

[Atman]

3. These guys just bulldozed themselves into a whole heap of trouble.

Holy shit...they didn't even have PERMITS? I wonder how much deposit cash they had in the bank? Or worse, NOT in the bank. What a bizarre story!

[Ian David]

5. Even Tony Soprano knew he needed permits. n/t

[ThomCat]

6. Only if they get prosecuted,

and what are the odds of that?

I'm not holding my breath.

[jayfish]

24. I Doubt It. Developers Do It All The Time.

They start an unapproved project, then when it's time to get approval they say "bu, bu , but the project is so far along that you couldn't possibly deny us now". And they end up prevailing. I wonder how that would go over for Regular Joe who built an addition onto his house without a building permit?

Jay

[Blue_Tires]

45. exactly

not only that, but so many developers have local/state politicians bought and paid for that they just tend to do what they want, consequences be damned....

here in VA a lot of the biggest developers just cut out the middleman and get elected to local office themselves to make up their own rules

[Botany]

4. Take those developers from their homes and offices and

tie them to posts and horse whip them.

Is there no forest, farm, field, wetland, or historic place these bastards
won't jump on for a buck.

[Sherman A1]

11. I think a firing squad of

civil war groups should be arranged. Blast them with a 12# Napoleon!

[Gregorian]

22. Demand.

As much as I despise developers, it's the underlying demand that is driving it. In fact, I'm listening to a bulldozer as I type this.

It's the population. More people means more lumber and houses and cars and everything. Developing became a big disaster after world war two. I grew up in Silicon Valley when there were dairy farms. It was fruit, flowers, and fields. Then everyone had to have three kids. And it became concrete and cars.

I'm sickened by it. And to make things worse, it has expanded to the countyside. I can't even get away no matter how I try.

Everything we are experiencing is due to demand. Water shortage, bad corporate grown food, pollution, global warming.

Try finding a place to live where you can't hear cars. That is my mission right now.

I'm not picking on you. I just feel the need to continue pointing out what people refuse to acknowledge. And this seemed like a good place to post this.

[earth mom]

26. Overpopulation is REAL.

I saw it first hand in Southern California just as you saw it in Silicon Valley. First there was fruit trees and farms, peace and quiet. Then seemingly overnight it was wall to wall concrete and cars everywhere! My husband I moved away almost 10 years ago to get away from that concrete jungle hell only to see it starting to happen here too! :argh:

[Gregorian]

30. I remember oranges in Orange.

I was one year old. My parents left in 1958 to leave the Hell A jungle.

By the way, I've been moving up the coast of this continent. I almost bought the last 152 acre piece of land in Port Townsend.

Two days ago I met someone who just moved from New Orleans to their piece of land in Sequim. But before they even build their new house, they want to sell the property. 7 years ago when they bought it, it was a nice place. But now it's already surrounded by houses.

I could bend your ear all day about the things I've watched. All of it negative. I'm really tired of it. I want a place to call home. And my present property is awesome.

In all of my efforts, I have realized that what I really want is 1969. And that isn't going to happen. Things changed right about then.

In all of this talk, though, there is a tradeoff. Look at us talking right now. It's pretty fantastic. This resource of being able to communicate. And that only happened when people like my dad were engineers in Silicon Valley, designing new ways to manufacture integrated circuits on chips. So... Here we are.

I'm sorry you have similar experiences. It's really disruptive. We want privacy and silence and beauty. I mean humans. Not just you and I. I love the city. I love cultural diversity. But when I want it. Not when it's forced onto me. We're losing one of the main freedoms that the human being needs. That's my opinion. Herb Cain lived in an apartment in San Francisco. He loved it. So it's not universal. But for those who want it, it's not there. At least at an affordable price. It's the same way with politics. The bad apples spoil the bushel. We suffer because of those who don't see or don't care.

OK, enough of my anger for the day.

[earth mom]

33. When we first moved here to Oregon, we thought we'd gone back to 1969!

I kid you not! :hippie: Though it's now changing here too...

Your post is wonderful and is how I feel about it all too. Change can be good, but what are we sacrificing for it? I think I'd rather have the Orange Trees of Southern California back again. It really was wonderful there back in the 60s and 70s when I was growing up... I miss it. :cry:

[midnight]

32. There needs to be an emphasis on redeveloping cities.

Planning of cities, and reviving them with all the amenities of the new developments must be implemented.

[LisaM]

7. Who are these developers?

I would like to know their names (and then check who they give their fundraising dollars to). They should be made, among other things, to take all their pipes back up. If they are allowed to leave them there, as they no doubt intend to do, it will embolden them to keep trying to develop the land.

Why don't they go develop places that need it, like the decaying cores of our cities?

[blm]

44. I'm with you - Who are they and WHO in power backs them up that they

would so brazenly make a move like this?

No one would do something so brazen if they didn't have SOME protection.

Check their political donations.

[apnu]

8. Develpers have been drooling over Civil War sites for a long time now

And, I'd bet, this is yet another shot fired in the war they wage against all American historical places. These bastards won't be happy until America is just on long stretch of cracked cement and broken glass from sea to shinging (err polluted) sea.

[spotbird]

10. It is just so depressing,

they did it because they knew they could get away with it.

[Botany]

12. They have been trying to get Antietum grounds for 20 years

[LostinVA]

40. They've eaten up Chancellorville

Houses are literally RIGHT THERE. Expensive houses. It's freaky, seeing them literally 20 feet away. Bull Run, too.

[Up2Late]

14. I know what the folks down here would do if they did this to a Civil War

...Battle Field or historic site, and it wouldn't be pretty. :mad:

[rodeodance]

15. people nowadays just seem to do what they want.

......For several years, CWPT and NPCA have been leaders in an extraordinary and successful effort to protect historic lands at Harpers Ferry. With the support of local business owners, civil rights leaders, conservationists, history buffs, recreation enthusiasts, heritage tourism interests, and elected officials, Congress expanded the park's boundary in 2004. Millions in federal grants as well as private funds have been raised to purchase land from willing sellers to add to the national park.

"We are horrified at this premeditated and unprecedented desecration of School House Ridge," said Lighthizer. "For several years, CWPT and NPCA have been working with federal and state officials to protect this property. Last year CWPT appealed to our members to help raise the $1.5 million needed to acquire the site bulldozed this weekend for preservation. We are outraged, and expect immediate restitution from these developers."

As the developers were running their bulldozers last weekend, hundreds gathered from across the country to participate in a National Park Service- hosted commemoration of the centennial of a meeting at Harpers Ferry in 1906 that laid the cornerstone of the modern-day civil rights movement.

CWPT is a 75,000-member nonprofit battlefield preservation organization. Its mission is to preserve our nation's endangered Civil War sites and promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds. Over the years, CWPT has saved more than 23,000 acres of hallowed ground, including 325 acres on the Harpers Ferry Battlefield.

Since 1919, the nonpartisan NPCA has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA, its 325,000 members, and partners work together to protect the park system and preserve our nation's natural, historical, and cultural heritage for generations to come.

[Double T]

16. We'll work it out, just make a donation the rnc and ALL will be forgotten

[FiveGoodMen]

17. "the developers dug a deep trench through historic land"

and I say we fill it back in with them underneath it!

[depakid]

18. Federal prison time

should deter people like this from breaking the law.

I think everyone involved should be up on charges- and if convicted- get the maximum sentence.

[slackmaster]

19. "handful of local developers" != "the Bushistas"

Very likely they are Republicans like the developers in my area, but it is possible to take blaming everything on Bush too far.

They sound like garden-variety greedy assholes. A Democrat in the White House probably wouldn't have prevented this.

[cyberpj]

21. Somebody tell me WHY THEY CAN'T NAME THE DEVELOPERS? nt

[Robb]

29. Well, here's an actual story about it

...rather than a press release:

Preservationists seeks charges over trenches dug in national park

(snip)

The Civil War Preservation Trust, National Parks Conservation Association and Friends of Harpers Ferry said the work was illegal because it was done while the Park Service was still considering the company's permit application.

Mike Cassell, a Charles Town lawyer who represents Jefferson Utilities and its owner Lee Snyder, said no laws were broken.

The sewer lines are being laid to serve up to 3,400 homes planned on 500 rural acres nearby.

Cassell said Snyder bought an easement to build the line before the National Park Service acquired the land.

(more)

[mainegreen]

31. Your link is interesting.

If the developers had an easement for this before the park service got the land this is a non-story.

[Robb]

34. Yes, but it's much more interesting

...to go with "evil developers bulldoze history". Better story. ;)

[cyberpj]

37. Hmmm... so one of these articles is wrong. Because the original says:

snip...
"To date, the developers have not received any local approvals necessary for this development to proceed."

It will be interesting to follow this one. I love that area - used to camp and kayak there a lot.

[watercolors]

25. Sent this on to my daughter

She lived in Harper's Ferry for sometime, right across the road on the mt. top. Scary ride up there! The park is beautiful, enjoyed many a day and picnic there. We are sadden at the distruction, but it does't matter where you live , the developers just destroy all!

[MountainMama]

35. This is sad to me.......

Harper's Ferry is just about my favorite place on the planet. It is so beautiful and rich in history, too.

Easement or not, it upsets me that that they're digging and laying pipe in preparation for a housing development. As much as I want to live that area, not at the expense of the natural beauty of the park's lands.

It may be legal, but that doesn't make it right. Who's to say that this won't be the start of further development down the road? It has to start somewhere. :scared:

[stepnw1f]

27. The People Behind This

Should be imprisoned for LIFE.

[McCamy Taylor]

36. John Brown and Stonewall Jackson are anathema to the south.

I would not be at all suprised if this isnt a bit of cultural cleansing on the part of southern politicians combined with a lot of business greed. Maybe the locals did not like the idea of the Feds buying this park land. What do the Daughters of the Confederacy have to say?

[LostinVA]

41. I wouldn't call Jackson anathema to the South

He's still revered in many parts, especially Virginia. Good grief, local municipalities have Lee-Jackson Day on MLK Day.

[phusion]

38. The real eco-terrorists n/t

[Robb]

43. Lookee, update:

Development battle rages on

HARPERS FERRY — Developers and a local utility owner say they had the legal right to work on the installation of water and sewer lines on Harpers Ferry National Historical Park property.

(snip)

While it remains to be seen if Jefferson Utilities officials were operating within their rights, a deed of easement filed in the Jefferson County Courthouse states Jefferson Utilities bought a 45-foot-wide easement along the upper portion of the property in Feb. 2003.

That easement transferred when the CWPT bought the 37.3 acre parcel and turned it over to the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service in June 2005.

(snip)

As for permitting, The Journal has obtained copies of sewer and water permits for the work granted in 2003 by the state Department of Environmental Protection and the state Office of Environmental Health Services.

(snip)

In addition, he (developers' attorney) said the site in question was used as a borrow site during the construction of U.S. 340 about 35 years ago, and anything of historical significance would have removed at that time, Cassell said.

(more)