An appeal for the BURG legal fund

Dear neighbors:

Your hard work and passion was key in the success of Ordinance 1450. We now turn to you for help in the next phase of our efforts. After consulting with several attorneys and legal experts, we have decided that the interests of the town's residents must be represented in the ongoing legal proceedings. We will not remain passive observers while so much is at stake.

BURG has retained a first-rate land-use and environmental attorney named Philip C. Strother. He is one of the most experienced attorneys in Virginia at representing citizen groups against corporate interests in land use cases. In 2006, he won against Walmart in Front Royal. In 2005 he helped residents of Orange County stop the construction of a mining road through a residential neighborhood. He comes highly recommended by former and current clients.

The specific legal action we will take has not been determined yet, and cannot be determined until our lawyer has studied the case. But it can only be determined if we go ahead with the retainer. If we wait until we must react to a decision that goes against us, we will be at a huge disadvantage. Our readiness to act in court will also show the South Main developers that we are serious.

We are assembling a list of residents who live close to the site of the planned big-box store, who would be most adversely affected by the planned project, and who have decided to take a stand. Their legal standing as aggrieved parties is likely to be recognized by the courts. But we cannot let them shoulder the burden of the considerable expenses of any legal action. The proposed S. Main project would affect us all. It is our community that will be damaged if the project goes forward as planned, and it is as a community that we will rise to the challenge.

For these reasons, we are now appealing to you, the residents of Blacksburg , to help with the expected legal expenses. Any legal action is expensive, but if we each contribute according to our ability, no one will have an unreasonable burden.

BURG has obtained seed money from individuals in the community, enough to cover the initial retainer costs. Based on the costs of similar cases, and our attorney's advice, we have set an initial goal of $20,000.

Donations can be made through the Paypal link on our website, or by check, to Blacksburg United for Responsible Growth, 125 N. Main St., Suite 500, Box 213,
Blacksburg, VA 24060

Please contact Daniel Breslau, BURG Steering Committee Chair, at burg@bburg.org with any questions or to make alternate arrangements. All donations will go directly to our legal fund, or to finance further fundraising activities.

Thank you for taking a stand on behalf of our town.

The BURG Steering Committee

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