October 20, 1998

Approving in principle a plan calling for all buildings at the Avtex Fibers Superfund site to be removed except one will send a message to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the director of the Front royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority said Monday night.

The authority has asked the council and the county Board of Supervisors to adopt a "general concept plan" for the site.

The authority earlier this year received a consultant’s proposal for reuse of the site, which the supervisors have already approved.

On Monday, the council was to discuss the authority’s request in a work session. Included in the council’s information packet was a memo from Planning Director Kimberley P. Fogle outlining several amendments to the plan.

The study, by North American Realty Advisory Services, doesn’t integrate the town’s comprehensive plan in its proposals, she says.

" Avtex Fibers has long been a facility that has stood off by itself," her memo says. "It has not been integrated in to the fabric of the town as a whole. This new plan provides a fresh opportunity to bring this land in as a part of the community,"

Ms. Fogle proposed amending the plan to address proposed roads that don’t comply with the town’s road plans and inclusion of the Ed Stump Park soccer, football and parking facilities.

But authority Director Stephen a. Heavener told the council that the authority isn’t seeking approval of specific details of the Avtex reuse plan.

"We’re looking for generic acceptance of the concept," he said.

The authority is looking for approval of two concepts: removal of all buildings at the site except for the former administrative building and a mixed use redevelopment of the site.

"That sends a real message if we can go on the record saying the political leadership of the town and county want that site clear," he said.

The federal agency has torn down about 30 acres of contaminated buildings at the site, but left standing several other buildings and the on-site electrical plant that served Avtex. Those buildings have been emptied of most hazardous waste, but contain asbestos, which the EPA doesn’t cleanup.

"At some point the EPA is going to say, "We’re done," and there’s still going to be a power plant there, buildings there, and it’s going to cost us $5 million to get to square one," Heavener said.

The council took no action on the matter, but Councilman Clifford L. "Clay" Athey said he supports the authority request.

" I certainly think it’s in the interest of all the citizens of Front Royal that the site be cleared," he said.