While not in Ohio, the state has had to face similar battles. This is an overview of the relentless push by greedy developers to descreate hallowed ground. They state that the quarry (25% of the land is quarry while the rest is in near pristine condition) is "moon-like". The mayor states it will bring jobs. But in the end, it is all about the money and greed!

 

Park chief: Harpers Ferry Battlefiel development is ‘desecration’

 

Key --

1. A developer wants to develop 638 acres at an abandoned quarry.

2. The sprawling development could damage the adjacent Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. The NPS does not trust the developers to respect the historic integrity of the battlefield site near the Old Standard Quarry -- and cites examples from other developments near the NHP in which "darn near every tree and every blade of grass is cut down."

3. Envrionmental and historical concerns are paramount, and certain artifacts might still be within the annexation site (of Harpers Ferry).

4. The Civil War Preservation Trust declared the NHP one of the top 13 most endangered battlefields in the country. Residential and commericial development were among the biggest threats.

5. A request to annex the former quarry was brought before the Charles Town Planning Commission on March 21, but action was delayed because of an issue with the petition.

5a. Mayor states it would bring "much needed revenue and job opportunities."

5b. Developer states it could bring "thousands of jobs." The developer would also "remediate the quarry grounds" which are considered "unsightly and moon-like."

5c. However, the Old Standard Quarry is comprised of 25% quarry and 75% untouched Civil War battlefield.

 

Article information: "Park chief: Harpers Ferry Battlefiel development is ‘desecration’, By CHRIS BROWN, Journal Staff Writer, 3/29/2007"

 

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HARPERS FERRY — The development of 638 acres at an abandoned quarry would damage Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, the park superintendent said this week.

 

“I think it would be a desecration of the national park,” said park Superintendent Don Campbell, who called the site of the proposed development “hallowed ground.”...

 

 

Developer balks at accusations

 

"An area developer and his attorney denounced the National Park Service’s claim that a proposed annexation would desecrate hallowed ground."

 

Key --

1. The developer is proposing _27_ buildings for an office park. It will enhance the landscape of the quarry, Alstadt's Corner and Bugler's Rest properties which are "dominated by burnt lime slag pits."

1a. It would also feature 150-room hotel, conference center and seven retail outlots.

1b. There would also be a riverside park.

2. The "pristine" grounds are a landfill, with trees on it only 30-50 years old, according to the developer.

3. The NPS released information in 2002 that legislation would be required to expand the park's boundaries. Private lands can only be added to the park on a "willing seller basis" and that no eminent domain can be used. (Yet, cities can use eminent domain to hand over lands to greedy developers! WTF?) As a result, the Harpers Ferry NHP never contacted the owners of the quarry with the intention of purchasing it.

 

Article information: "Developer balks at accusations, By CHRIS BROWN, Journal Staff Writer, 3/31/2007"

 

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CHARLES TOWN — An area developer and his attorney denounced the National Park Service’s claim that a proposed annexation would desecrate hallowed ground.

 

Far from it, said attorney Michael Cassell.

 

A proposed 27-building office park will enhance the landscape of the Old Standard Quarry, Alstadt’s Corner and Bugler’s Rest properties, which are currently dominated by burnt lime slag pits, he said...

 

 

In 10-15 years Harpers Ferry will be surrounded by office parks and strip malls irregardless of what the Park Service does here. W.Va. is planning to build an expressway from CharlesTown to the VA state line...pretty close to Harpers in order to alleviate traffic.

Charles Town votes against annexation of Civil War site

 

Key --

1. Approved 3-2 by the city's planning commission (recommendation to approve the annexation), but the annexation voted down 4-3 yesterday by the council.

 

"The property was the site of an 1862 battle in which Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall'' Jackson won the surrender of some 12,500 Union troops, said Don Campbell, superintendent of Harpers Ferry National Historic Park."

 

Article information: "Charles Town votes against annexation of Civil War site, by The Associated Press, Tuesday April 03, 2007"

 

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CHARLES TOWN -- City Council has rejected a request from developers to annex a 683-acre property that was the site of a Civil War battle.

 

Council members voted 4-3 Monday against the annexation of the property near Millville Road and U.S. 340, just hours after the city's Planning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend approval of the annexation...