LOCAL issues, such as land usage, solar sites, and other concerns that DIRECTLY affects the LOCAL residents, LOCAL tax payers, and the LOCAL community, must remain at the LOCAL level. One area of the state, such as the densely, over populated, concrete covered northern Virginia does NOT have the right to tell the tax paying residents of rural counties / communities how to use their lands - especially when the intent of Northern Va. politicians is to destroy the open, conservation districts located in our rural counties/communities for their benefit. THEREFORE, SB 679 must be defeated and the issue of land usage MUST remain at the LOCAL level because LOCAL residents know what is best for their LOCAL communities. PLEASE defeat SB 679 and prevent it from moving forward. .

The City of Portsmouth, VA strongly supports the proposed legislation as it will provide for an increase to the allowable renewal periods for the City of Portsmouth's two existing Enterprise Zones. This will provide for an extension of available state and local economic incentive programs and will encourage business development and private investment within the City of Portsmouth.