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Resident urges environmental study, public hearing before county buys property near Damascus homes
Summary
A Damascus-area resident told the Board the county should hold a public hearing and perform environmental testing before closing on adjacent property, citing possible buried gas tanks, historical oil pits, asbestos and a trout-bearing creek.
Chris Blevins, a local resident and self-described engineer, used the public-comment period to urge the Washington County Board of Supervisors to delay any closing on a property adjacent to his homes until the county completes a community hearing and environmental studies.
Blevins said he learned the board was considering purchasing a property next to his and that the closing ‘‘was gonna happen at the end of this week.’’ He asked the board to hold a public hearing and cited county code language he said permits ‘‘a solid waste disposal convenience station operated by the county after a public hearing shall be held by the board of supervisors.’’
He described site-specific concerns: possible remaining gasoline tanks from a historic garage/gas station, reported oil pits inside the older building, likely asbestos if demolition is required, and a creek on the property that he said contains native brook trout tying into local scenic resources. He also recommended a boundary survey, noting the road alignment has changed and the parcel size may differ from assumptions.
Blevins concluded by urging investigation before purchase and said he ‘‘would hope you take my advice and do some investigation before you buy it.’’ The board acknowledged his remarks; no vote or formal board action on the property purchase was taken during the meeting.
The board proceeded to presentations and other agenda items; staff later discussed a separate land-option extension for another parcel during general business.
