Terence J. Wehle, Candidate for City Council - www.TWForCouncil.com for details.

Smart growth: I support growth that meets the stated goals of the comprehensive plan and the citizens; to protect and preserve the character of our City. Applications for Special User Permits must only be approved if they show adherence to this goal AND show additional benefits to the community which are not achievable without granting the applied for special exception. We must resist those pressures which increase density at the expense of green space. We must guard our character as our city’s crown jewel. Solutions: Developer must show the community is willing to consider a special project by collecting 25 citizen signatures as part of the initial SUP application to Planning. Commit to early discussions with the public on SUP applications. Add specific language to the SUP guidelines as to what the criteria should be used for consideration. Return to the 1990 rule where all subdivisions required a public hearing. Hold meetings of public import after the regular work hours to allow maximum public participation. Rewrite the 2007 Comprehensive plan to reflect recent changes.

Government must not be a part of private property deeds: This is contrary to the constitutional principals of private property rights. This policy grants tremendous power to government without scrutiny or vote by the public. It creates a monopoly over private property (now 60+ units have these government imposed deed restrictions) it discriminates against affordable rentals and so limits housing opportunities for young and old alike.

Preserve Green Space: Secure by lawful means, in voluntary purchase from the landowners, those tracts of land that have yet to be developed, in order to preserve what natural and open areas we can for future generations. I support leaving those protected areas we now have, protected.

Fiscal: The City must operate within a clear budget, establish strong reserves, and delay unneeded expenditures rather than incur debt. Fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraint should be the guiding principles.

Duties as a member of Council:  To support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia and to represent the wishes of the Citizen majority while protecting the rights of the minority

Community table: The health of our city is supported as a four legged table: The College, Colonial Williamsburg, The Business Community, and the Citizens. Each component is essential. Each component benefits the others. Mutual respect is the key to the continuing success of our close knit community.

Transportation: On a local level I support increasing the times that public transportation is available. I support a pay for service fee structure to pay for extended hours for the riders who are willing to pay and need transportation during off hours. I support the concept of a trolley or other open air transport to continuously run between Merchants’ Square and the Williamsburg Shopping Center . I support bus stop shelters. On a regional level I support rail and public transportation. I support creative solutions to the traffic problems rather then more taxes to build more lanes. We should consider tolls, payment for use, trucks restricted to the right lane, or being assigned their own lane for a fee. We should enforce passing lane is for passing only. We should invite the private sector to offer solutions. As part of Smart Growth, we need to understand and consider the impact on traffic that the developments we approve will engender. High Street and Quarter path together will add 1500-2000 new vehicles to our roads.

Three Person Rule – CONSIDER allowing up to 4 persons ONLY WHERE IT MAKES LOGICALSENSE. For EXAMPLE, the home next to mine is rented to 3 students. It has 4 bedrooms in the main house AND a 500 sq ft detached servants’ quarters. It does not make sense to restrict these living arrangements to 2 persons in the 4 BR home and 1 person in the detached quarters.
Parking: Consider restricting “on street” permit parking to two vehicles per household. Consider increasing the parking fine amount; and update the ability of the police to quickly track violations by using a license plate scanner.

Business: Protecting free markets has made America great. Freedom, and the willingness to take risk, is essential to creative progress. As a government we must be frugal with the people’s money, keep taxes low, encourage open competition, allow the free market to work, and use Smart Growth to keep Williamsburg as attractive as our visitors remember it to be.

Education: We must stop teaching to the test. We must provide standardized textbooks so teachers are not required to re invent lesson plans each year for basic subjects and so parents and students are able to anticipate what is expected of them. To help our children we must insist on basic respect and close attention to both academic performance and behavior. Only with real consequences and real rewards can we prepare our students for real life. Technology is a tool and should be used as such. Like the calculator and the typewriter – technology is an adjunct and not a substitute for math, language and writing skills.

Quiet Enjoyment: We must be clear on our commitment to protecting each citizen’s rights to quiet enjoyment, and work on policies to guarantee this. The key to community harmony is in respecting the rights of our neighbors.