In an extraordinary show of support the Middleburg Town Council voted unanimously to send Mayor Tom Dimos to Leesburg on October 24 to urge the County Board of Supervisors to grant a special operating exception critical to the opening of the Salamander Inn and Spa.

The 7-0 vote at Thursday's regular meeting came despite the "unofficial" appearance of four council members at the Supervisors' public hearing on the matter, just two days earlier, with three of the four expressing "concerns" about the project.

At issue were sixteen "Conditions of Approval" for the County exception. On Tuesday, they had been debated vigorously before the Supervisors, who sent the matter back to committee for further review.

In the face of fears that the County might actually water down the minimum conditions required or Salamander, the Inn offered to abide by tougher restrictions negotiated with the Town "even if the Supervisors voted to remove them."

The Debate

Mayor Tim Dimos opened Thursday's debate by noting that the County's approval of a special-use exception was critical to the success of the Salamander project.

"We are heavily invested in it," Dimos noted, reminding the Council of "...the benefits that would accrue to the Town" with passage.

"No special exception, No sewer plant," the Mayor noted. "As a body we WANT Salamander to get this special exception."

He then asked for comment from the Council, with the Salamander Inn's Prem Devadas and the Town's professional staff on hand to answer questions.

The View from Salamander

Prem Devadas spoke for Salamander, noting his view that the original "Memorandum of Understanding" between the Town and Salamander "...meant that we would work together for a long-lasting and positive effect...and that together we could deal with any issue."

The County Supervisors, he noted, seemed particularly concerned about two things: 1) how many "special events" would be held on the Salamander property each year, and 2) traffic.

Concerns about traffic, he noted, seemed to have been addressed, with minor exceptions, to everyone's satisfaction. "Special Events" were another matter entirely.

According to Devadas, he was asked to provide a comprehensive list of "Special Events" planned for the Inn's first year of operation prior to the public hearing on Tuesday. Any event not listed and pre-approved, he was warned, might well be prohibited.

"Special Events", Devadas continued, were defined as any activity that would attract people to the Salamander site over and above those already staying at the Inn. A Middleburg "Fourth of July Fireworks" celebration on Salamander property, for example, would count as a "special event." Moreover, each day of such activity was counted as a separate "event."

Devadas thus compiled a list of 43 "special events"...including 27 he deemed critical for the economic success of the Inn and another 16 anticipated as "civic events", events to be done in partnership with the town, a school, or charity, and not intended as a revenue producer for Salamander.

Salamander's list of 43 special events created a furor until the County observed that the 17 "civic" events would each be subject to special governmental approval, and, thus, did not really belong on the Salamander list. The "Conditions" for approval were thus modified to include only 26 days of "special events" for Salamander.

By the time the Board of Supervisors sent the revised "Conditions of Approval" back to committee, seven of the nine County Supervisors had spoken in favor of approving the revised 16-point, 26-event, list of conditions. Two Supervisors, according to Devadas, were even arguing that the revised conditions were too restrictive.

When it became clear that the County might actually be willing to grant Salamander a special exemption with fewer restrictions that those negotiated with Middleburg, Devadas said he immediately called Mike Casey, Middleburg's Town Administrator, explained the situation, and promised to abide by Salamander's original more restrictive agreement with the Town, no matter what the County decided. Mike Casey confirmed the story.

Devadas then told the Council that he was willing to put that commitment in writing and go with Mayor Dimos to the Board of Supervisors and confirm it on the record.

Council Comments

Mayor Dimos then called for Council comment of any or all of the sixteen "Conditions of Approval", reminding everyone that "...as a Council, we badly want this. We should be working to make this happen." Referring to the "unofficial" appearance of four Council Members at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting Dimos offered some advice, observing that as Mayor, "I would not go to a public hearing and expect to speak as an 'individual.'"

Mayor Dimos warned the Council that despite disclaimers and the best of intentions, whenever a Council member speaks in a public forum, especially on an issue as important as the Salamander Inn, their remarks are all too often interpreted as "official".

Margaret New suggested that Salamander might well agree to limit itself to only ten "special events" per year "as a start" and then apply for more later. Prem Devadas replied that he could not operate at a profit with only ten special events and that he would keep his word to the council and limit the Inn to 26 days of such events, even if the County lifted all restrictions.

Bundles Murdock was particularly outspoken about events at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting. Though Murdock had long opposed the Salamander project on grounds of its impact on the character and environment of Middleburg, at Thursday's Council Meeting she said she was "very upset" about some of the talk in and around the Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. Murdock characterized the tone of much of the discussion as "horrendous" and decried any effort to depict Middleburg or the opponents of the Salamander project as racist.

In a show of agreement with Mayor Dimos, she noted: "It is so important that we work together and not show up at Board meetings and appear to work at cross purposes."

Helen Hyre noted that a better explanation of the definition and content of the proposed "Special Events" might be helpful, and Devadas agreed to meet with any and all council members who wished to review them with him. He also noted that the Inn was committed, on principle to meet or exceed all noise and light pollution standards set by the state, county or town.

Mark Snyder effectively brought the "special events' debate to a close by pointing out that the second "Condition of Approval" called for the County Zoning Administrator to keep a "record of complaints" associated with any and all such activities. The second "Condition of Approval," Snyder noted, stated that the County Administrator "...in consultation with the Town...may revoke an annual permit if the activities...result in complaints due to noise, odor, traffic impacts, or other life, safety, or health concerns."

Snyder's observations and a reiteration by Prem Devadas that Salamander would keep its word to the town even if the County lifted restrictions on special events led Mayor Dimos to call for what turned out to be a unanimous vote of approval.