Dear Friend,
As your Delegate, I represent your voice in the General Assembly on issues that affect the state. In addition to being your Delegate, I’m also your neighbor in Colonial Heights and a former teacher at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County. My duty lies in state public service, but my family and home are rooted in Colonial Heights and Chesterfield, and I have always said that I would do what I thought was best for this community.
I hear often about local issues that affect our everyday lives. Lately, people have expressed to me strong concerns over the proposed Matoaca Mega Site.
In September, following the announcement of the mega site project, I sent a letter to the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors requesting they hold additional public meetings to ensure that nearby residents and community groups had ample opportunity to learn, ask questions, and provide feedback to their elected officials. I have always emphasized the importance of transparency, community engagement, and keeping the public fully informed. It is imperative that citizens have the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts on issues that affect their neighborhood.
While I believe industrial site development in general is merited, it is clear the Chesterfield location does not have the community support necessary for such a significant project to succeed. I hear from constituents regularly who have not been satisfied with the handling of this project and do not approve of building a mega site in Chesterfield.
Given the lack of community support for the Matoaca Mega Site, I cannot support the continued progress of this project. I have shared this news with Chesterfield County officials, encouraging them to consider a different approach.
As the Chesterfield County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors have the final approval of the zoning, I hope they will take into consideration the concerns of the community above all else.
Sincerely,
Kirk Cox
Dear Friends,
As a Virginia state senator, I have worked hard to make government transparent. I co- founded the Transparency Caucus to increase accountability and communications throughout state government. A large component of those communications involve listening to my constituents.
One of the issues that concern constituents is the Matoaca Mega Site. The name itself is somewhat misleading - the site is located in the Bermuda district, and should bear that name. Furthermore, I stand with the thousands of homeowners who bought their properties under the current residential zoning and under the Comprehensive plan at the time of purchasing their home.
Beyond this one project, an overarching concern exists. Economic Development Authorities are comprised of non- elected members who are not held accountable to the people they represent. This is a core reason as to why I could not support the Mega Site, or economic development authorities in general. I introduced SB 714 during the 2018 Legislative Session in order to increase budgetary accountability and oversight of economic development authorities. This bill was continued into 2019 in order to have a full report by the Virginia Secretary on Commerce and Trade on EDAs throughout the Commonwealth.
I will continue to discuss this issue with the Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield County elected officials, and concerned citizens. Please feel free to contact my office for further questions.
Sincerely,
Amanda