Former Town Council member Helen Hyre appeared before Council on April 9 to request that Salamander Development install a buffer of trees or other large greenery to screen the ongoing construction near her property in Middleburg. The unsightly "mess" associated with construction of the Inn, and especially that at the site of the Town's new wastewater treatment facility, she claimed, was both unpleasant and not conducive to the sale of real estate.

Liz Thomas supported Hyre's complaints, noting that, in her opinion, the construction sites were "appalling" and the town's buffering ordinance "superficial." She asked that the town amend its ordinances, and insist that a landscape architect be consulted and large-scale planting begin "immediately." She also contended that the construction was having "a tremendous impact on the value of our houses and the value of our lives . . . . "

Council Member Bundles Murdock, herself a realtor, pointed out that Salamander development had already agreed to a significant program of planting of mature trees and shrubs, and that the development company didn't actually own a significant part of the property on which Hyre and Thomas requested plantings.

Town Planner Beniamino, contending that the town's screening ordinances were far from "superficial," noted that the Town's Streetscape Committee included a number of well-credentialed professionals, including landscape architects, and that they had developed a "fine plan" to protect both the aesthetic and financial value of Middleburg's neighborhoods.

Town Administrator Jerry Schiro noted that planting while heavy construction work still going on was probably not wise, that construction work on the waste water treatment plant was moving along on schedule, and that planting would, in any case, begin as soon as the work was completed.

Salamander, Schiro noted, could be ASKED to do more, or plant early, but, in no case did the town have the right to DEMAND that they do so.

Salamander's Prem Devadas, on hand to celebrate the Council's recognition of tourism awards presented to two outstanding employees of Salamander Market, promised to look into the matter, and do whatever he could do to begin planting wherever he could legally do so, and as soon as it could be done with any hope of success.