Public Input Workshop Feedback 2-24-16

TOWN OF ABINGDON

Abingdon, Virginia

On Wednesday, February 24^th, 2016, the Town of Abingdon held its second Public Input Workshop regarding the planning and design of the proposed sports complex near Green Spring Road. Citizens interacted with consultants from CHA Companies, and town administration, who are involved in the proposed layout of the site. The second round of design concepts were modified based upon feedback received during the January workshop. We invite everyone to view the updated options and provide feedback in the comment section of the blog. If you have questions regarding the sports complex, please call 276-628-3167 and ask to speak with the Director of Planning. 

Feedback from Public Input Workshop on 2-24-16

·         Make sure grass is like Kingsport complex.  Sooner the better.

·         Get on with it!

·         Great plans!  Begin construction as soon as possible, Russell Road complex is an accident waiting to happen.

·         4 people- Option F, replacing the soccer field with a baseball field

·         Option E or F.  Highlands Soccer has approximately 800 kids in spring & fall.  LED lighting would be excellent and would not allow for light to bleed into the surrounding area.

·         Would like to see an outdoor basketball court.

·         F or D, E places parking too close to the trail.

·         Find a different location, one that will be large enough for multiple fields and not below I-81 where children will suffer the negative effects of the noxious chemicals, exhaust, etc.  Save Abingdon’s most historic property- The Meadows- for a much better use.

·         Concerned about lighting and noise. Would like the Meadows complex to remain, the silo, slave quarters could be used as a restaurant. 

·         Option D, outdoor basketball court.  Amphitheater should not be in a sports complex; we have arts everywhere…use this for sports.

·         Option F is the best. Great concerns about the lighting for the fields.

·         Option F.  Make sure the amphitheater will have an enclosed area so you can have concerts, movies.  

·         Seriously, there is only one serviceable outdoor basketball court (park near Frost Funeral Home) and it is used regularly. 

We have teens walking around dribbling basketballs searching for a place to shoot.

2016 Volunteer Fair

Don't forget the Volunteer Fair is this Thursday from 12-7pm! Located in the Grand Ballroom of the Higher Ed. Center along with organizations from all over the community that need your help! Swing by and check it out.

OFFICES CLOSED FOR PRESIDENTS DAY

Town of Abingdon

Administrative Offices

will be

CLOSED

Monday, February 15, 2016

For

President’s Day

SPORTS COMPLEX DESIGN – SECOND PUBLIC INPUT WORKSHOP

TOWN OF ABINGDON

Abingdon, Virginia

SPORTS COMPLEX DESIGN – SECOND PUBLIC INPUT WORKSHOP

On Wednesday, February 24^th, 2016, the Town of Abingdon will hold its second public input workshop regarding the proposed sports complex near Green Spring Road. Citizens will be able to meet with consultants from CHA Companies, and town administration, who are involved in the proposed layout of the site. The public can view the second round of design options, with updates based upon feedback that was given at the January workshop. We encourage everyone to attend and give input related to the preliminary conceptual designs. The workshop will be from 5:00pm-7:00pm in the Arthur Campbell Room on the 1^st floor of the Municipal Building, located at 133 West Main Street, Abingdon.

For more information about the workshop, please contact Tenille Montgomery, Community Relations Coordinator, via email at tmontgomery@abingdon-va.gov or by phone at 276-492-1557. 

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Town of Abingdon Appoints Full-Time Fire Chief

TOWN OF ABINGDON

Abingdon, Virginia

Town of Abingdon Appoints Full-Time Fire Chief

On February 1^st, 2016, the Town of Abingdon appointed its first full-time Fire Chief. With support from the Town Council, Town Administration, and the Abingdon Fire Department, the current part-time Fire Chief John McCormick accepted the full-time position. Chief McCormick will begin in full-time status on March 1, 2016. His office will be located at the Abingdon Fire Department on 316 Park Street, Abingdon.

The Fire Department has seen an increase in service calls in recent years, and responded to a record 524 calls in 2015.  In addition, Abingdon Town Council recently adopted the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code to enforce fire safety laws in commercial properties within the corporate limits of the Town.  Along with the onset of new commercial growth in and around Abingdon, the amount of administrative work required of the fire department will increase greatly; which increases the need for a full-time fire chief.

 “A full-time Fire Chief has been discussed since 1996, but has never come to fruition until the Town Council decided to make the part-time position full-time at the February 1, 2016 meeting,” said Chief McCormick.  “The need was clear and has the backing of the Fire Department.  The paid per call/per hour Fire Department is an efficient model, but the Town is realizing that volunteers increasingly require the strong, full-time leadership of a Chief to make everything function smoothly.  The system works well to provide top service without an increased financial burden of having a 100 percent paid department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

 “John has served the Fire Department well for many years in all of his roles as a member of the Department,” said Town Manager Greg Kelly. “I am confident that he will do an excellent job as the Town’s first full time Fire Chief, and lead the Department into the future. He is highly regarded among his peers, both personally and professionally, and he possesses all of the skills necessary to run an effective and efficient Volunteer Fire Department.  Due to the increased growth within the Town, and the significant areas of growth in Washington County that the Abingdon Fire Department services, it is becoming increasingly critical for the Abingdon Fire Department to have more than just volunteers so that firefighters can be readily dispatched as quickly as possible.” 

“The Town of Abingdon takes public safety very seriously and tries to always find the resources necessary to ensure that residents of the Town, and our service region, are kept out of harm’s way,” according to Town Manager Kelly.  “As a local government manager, I believe that public safety should be a locality’s first priority.  Given the price tag that comes with funding adequate fire protection throughout Washington County, it is becoming necessary to pool government resources to keep these services at a level that can adequately manage the continued growth our region is experiencing.  To that end, the Town looks forward to working with Washington County to provide the best fire protection services possible for all of our residents and visitors.”

Chief McCormick is a lifelong resident of Abingdon, Virginia with his volunteer career beginning in 1979 at the age of 14.  He served as the Town of Abingdon Building Inspector and Fire Marshal from 1984 until 1995 when he became a Fire Marshal with the Commonwealth of Virginia.  He is a Virginia Certified Building and Fire Official, Fire Inspector and Investigator, Fire Officer IV, and holds a Career Studies Certificate in Fire Science from Virginia Highlands Community College.  He intends to continue his fire science studies and acquire his Bachelors Degree for Columbia Southern University.   He, his wife Susan, and daughters Kaitlin and Kellie reside in the Town of Abingdon.

Pictured Above: Fire Chief John McCormick

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Public Input Workshop Feedback 1-19-16

TOWN OF ABINGDON

Abingdon, Virginia

On Tuesday, January 19^th, 2016, the Town of Abingdon held a Public Input Workshop regarding the planning and design of the proposed sports complex near Green Spring Road. The public was encouraged to attend and provide feedback on the options that were proposed by the consulting firm, CHA Companies. We invite everyone to view the options and provide more feedback in the comment section of the blog. If you have questions regarding the sports complex, please call 276-628-3167 and ask to speak with the Director of Planning. 

Comments from Public Input Workshop

·         Two 300' baseball fields that accommodate Junior and Senior League Baseball and Adult Softball. The additional baseball fields allow for youth programs to play on weekdays and leave the weekends to bring in revenue generating tournaments. 

·         A suggestion that all the fields, be soccer fields and improve the Latture area for additional baseball fields. 

·         Include one multi-purpose/soccer field that has artificial turf so that play could be sustained during periods of heavy rains like in the spring and fall.

·         Maintain as much of the natural stream and rolling landscapes in areas not designated for playing surfaces like playgrounds and buffer zones.

·         The designated footpath accesses to the Creeper Trail to allow for extra parking due to limited parking at the trailhead.

·         A suggestion of an amphitheater on the grounds, with a closed in stage, lights for movie nights and concerts (events that you could charge admission for).

·         Another road in/out on both sides of the complex for emergencies.

·         Is it necessary to keep the house on the Meadows property?

·         Design for a splash pad and natural play areas.

·         Allow for more buffers and incorporate more naturalized areas.

·         Devote area to a large soccer complex (Baseball fields where they are and maybe add more at other locations).

·         Incorporate an outdoor basketball court

·         ADA compliant baseball and soccer fields.

·         The baseball fields need to have 300 foot fence. 

·         Concern for the roundabout concept entering the facility 

·         Concerns about the spring and small stream downhill from the spring being covered and placed in pipes instead of open flow

·         Questions about size of parking areas

·         Is the complex large enough and adequate to meet our current and future needs?

·         Keep the parking areas farther away from the Creeper Trail.

·         Provide additional security for the access point from the sports complex facility to the Creeper Trail.  

Town of Abingdon Schedule Changes for 1-22-15

Please share these schedule changes:

Town of Abingdon Administrative Offices will be CLOSED Friday, January 22^nd, 2016.

The Harry L. Coomes Recreation Center will be CLOSED Friday, January 22^nd, 2016.

All Town of Abingdon Trash Pickup Services are CANCELLED for Friday, January 22^nd, 2016. Services will resume on Monday, January 25^th, 2016. 

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