Supervisors approve mud bog festival

Amy Boucher
March 16, 2014

Grayson supervisors approve mud bog fest proposal

INDEPENDENCE -- Plans for a mud bog festival to be held on land off Cattle Drive near Fries May 9-10 will move ahead after unanimous approval by the Grayson Board of Supervisors last Thursday.
The festival will involve trucks and a mud hole, along with country music and camping. Proceeds will benefit three charitable causes, according to an application by organizer Crystal Leonard, one of which is the owner of the property on which the festival will be held, James Carico.
The Grayson Planning Commission recommended approval, with the condition that Leonard follow guidelines for erosion and sediment control. Zoning Administrator Elaine Holeton said at a public hearing on the matter that if Leonard disturbs less than 10,000 square feet of soil in digging her mud pit and with other festival ground disturbance, she will not need to submit a sediment and erosion control plan.
The mud bog lane is planned to be 18 feet by 200 feet.
Leonard said that she is planning just one festival for now, but could ask for permission to hold future events if the festival is successful.
"What kind of barriers did you run into getting your special use permit?" asked Wilson District Supervisor Glen Eddie Rosenbaum, who is seeking a revision of the county's zoning law to make it more user-friendly.
None so far, said Leonard, who has met not only with the county but also with the Department of Environmental Quality, which cleared the festival because it will not impact waterways or wetlands; the Virginia Department of Transportation; and the state Health Department, which is requiring the festival to supply one portable toilet per 95 attendees.
"It's been quite an adventure," said Leonard.
"We're going to try to make this more user-friendly," said Rosenbaum.
Leonard said clearing the festival with the DEQ was the biggest hurdle. The 73-acre property at 206 Cattle Drive includes the convergence of the two headwaters of Stevens Creek, a federally designated special flood hazard area, and marshy areas with potential wetlands on adjacent properties.
"I think anybody who wants to play in the mud ought to be able to," said Rosenbaum.
Holeton said the planning commission "really enjoyed working with Ms. Leonard."
"I'm glad to see Mr. James Carico be able to do what he wants to with his land," said Oldtown District Supervisor Kenneth Belton, a strong supporter of the county zoning law. He moved to approve the permit, Rosenbaum seconded, and the supervisors wished Leonard good luck.
In her proposal, Leonard says she expects 300-400 out-of-town visitors to the Mothers and Mudders Mudfest. She plans to run shuttles to "other recreational events in the area" in addition to offering activities on site. Campers arrive at 9 a.m. Friday and attendees at 5 p.m.
"Friday night is family night with several local bands, DJ Wolfman Jack and a Mud Queen competition," Leonard wrote. The mud bog takes place Saturday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in six classes of events. Saturday night music begins at 6 and lasts until 11 p.m. The creek banks will be fenced away from participants and will be lined with LED luminaries. The festival will be rescheduled if it rains.
Leonard promised complete cleanup of the site after the festival, including reseeding disturbed areas.
The county received one anonymous email objecting to the festival, predicting a "Stompin' 76” type disturbance. "This is a peaceful, quiet community that will be shattered by loud trucks going day and night, very loud music that also will be blasting, as well as the yelling, cursing and lord knows what else," the individual wrote.
Leonard wrote that she had discussed her plans with neighboring residents who would be affected and they were supportive. She supplied signed statements of support from the residents.
The event will raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the "Stop the Violence" campaign, and James Carico, "in an effort to save the farm that his family has owned for over 100 years," according to the advertisement sponsorship form submitted with Leonard's application. It says that donations are tax-deductible but it is unclear whether the festival has tax deductible status under the Internal Revenue Service code.
In other action, the supervisors:
*heard from Building Official Jimmy Moss about a stormwater control ordinance that the county must adopt under state law. Moss said the ordinance will meet the minimum requirements established by the state in 2012 and must be implemented by July 1. He said it is designed to be user-friendly and carry as few impacts as possible. The intent of the ordinance is to prevent pollution by stormwater runoff.
"I liked the word you used, 'minimally comply,'" said At-large Supervisor David Sexton.
Moss said he wants to review some recent legislation from the General Assembly before submitting a final draft. "We are going to do the very minimum we can."
County Administrator Jonathan Sweet quoted the county motto, protector of nature, "but with the utmost sensitivity to our citizens."
*unanimously voted to support an application for a grant to build a water line in the Nuckolls Curve area.
*heard from Michelle Pridgen, manager of the Independence Farmers' Market, which is held at the Independence Town Park (formerly the McKnight Lot) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, from May 9 to Oct. 31. She said the market is sponsoring a series of workshops and had 70 people attend the March 1 workshop. The next is April 12 and it is free and public.
The market sponsors children's activities from 10 to 11 a.m. with its partners Blue Ridge Discovery Center, the Grayson Public Library and 4-H. It holds a cooking demonstration the first Friday and demonstrations by a fiber guild on the third Friday. Vendor spaces are $10 per day or $30 for the season. Pridgen said the county's Comprehensive Plan says that young people want opportunities to stay in the area and farm, and the market provides such opportunities.
*Did not consider a resolution on "Preserving Our Virginia Way of Life" because it was moot. The resolution would have opposed action by the General Assembly to allow hunting on Sunday. The measure passed overwhelmingly and was signed into law by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Sunday hunting will be allowed beginning July 1.The Grayson resolution emphasized the county's support for hunting, "a tradition as old as the county itself," but opposed "any additional laws or regulations that would authorize expanded hunting on Sunday."