Final approval on Criminal Justice Academy road exceptions granted

On Monday night the Front Royal Town Council gave final approval for special exceptions on road work to the Skyline Regional Criminal Justice Academy at the end of Progress Drive in the Happy Creek Technology Park.

Above, looking back up (northeast) Progress Drive from the boundary with the Skyline Regional Criminal Justice Academy’s property. Photos/Roger Bianchini

Only Bébhinn Egger dissented, though Eugene Tewalt prefaced his “yes” vote with the qualification “RELUCTANTLY”.  Both Tewalt and William Sealock had joined Egger in opposing granting all five requested exceptions at the March 27 first vote.  Mayor Hollis Tharpe broke THAT 3-3 deadlock, siding with Jacob Meza, Chris Morrison and John Connolly to allow all five requested exceptions.

But Monday, Egger stood alone in supporting the Planning Commission recommendation NOT to allow delaying sidewalk and street lighting until other development was planned near the Academy’s 18-acre parcel.

That parcel stands at the undeveloped end of the Economic Development Authority’s 150-acre Technology Park, just west of the Humane Society’s Wagner Animal Shelter.

Other exceptions granted included extending the road beyond the 800-foot maximum length for dead-end streets; a “hammerhead” turnaround in lieu of a standard, 40-foot cul-de-sac; and a 30-foot road width matching the existing width of Progress Drive instead of the current code minimum width of 36-feet on such roads.

LFK promotes kindness

And on another front, students from Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School accompanied Principal Danelle Sperling to open the meeting with a presentation about their “Great Kindness Challenge of 2017”.  They joined millions of students in thousands of schools in 19 countries around the world in promoting kindness as a social status quo – First the schools, tomorrow the world!

Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School students and principal Danelle Sperling recall their ‘Great Kindness Challenge’ efforts and national certification. Photos/Roger Bianchini

KINDNESS, now there is an agenda worth supporting.