Editor, The Smithfield Times:

I am very impressed with Renee Bevan’s letter of April 7th (“Comprehensive plan should guide”).

She is right about the soil. In the Soil Survey of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, put out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, it states that a substantial portion of the Mallory Scott area has Chickominy soil, which is very deep and is subject to ponding.  Permeability of this soil is very slow; shrink-swell potential and low strength limit the use as sites for buildings and roads.

Another thing to consider is the use of fertilizers and other chemicals that homeowners would use that would be in the runoff and end up in Morris Creek and marshes. This would affect the wildlife in the area by changing nature’s balance.

In this location are many birds, including eagles and other critters. This should be a wildlife preservation area. It makes more sense to me to develop areas away from creeks and marshes.

I understand that we need growth, but it needs to be as minimal as possible.

Thank you, Ron Struble, for your valuable input on this matter with your letter of April 28th (“Oppose developers, unbridled growth”).

Diane Roselius

Smithfield