Daily Archives: August 4, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE The Spotsylvania County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 in the Board of Supervisors Chambers located on the Holbert Building, 9104 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania, VA, 22553, to consider the following: CPA17-0002, Spotsylvania County Planning Commission: Major update to the Spotsylvania County Comprehensive Plan (Plan) consistent with the Code of Virginia 15.2-2230, 15.2-2223, 15.2-2224, and 9VAC25-830-170. Specifically, this update proposes to amend the 2013 Comprehensive Plan as last updated July 28, 2020, as follows: repeal and replace: Chapter 1 Introduction and Vision; Chapter 2 Future Land Use; Chapter 4 Public Facilities including Sub-Chapters 4A-4H; Chapter 5 Historic Resources; Chapter 6 Natural Resources; and Appendices C-D; and amend and re-ordain: Chapter 3 Transportation, including Sub-Chapter 3A; and Appendices A-B. Proposed Sub-Chapter 4G Parks and Recreation would result in repealing the Spotsylvania County Parks and Recreation Master Plan adopted March 2009, last revised February 2011. Universally, document footers will be updated to note a new adoption date. Additionally, throughout the Plan, there are numerous hyperlinks to electronic mapping resources and referenced plans, studies, resources intended as informational resources. The proposed update is available for review on the Spotsylvania County Planning Department webpage at http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/draftdocuments. Details of the proposed update are described below: Cover Page and Table of Contents A new cover page is proposed with a new page design that identifies the Comprehensive Plan and will include an adoption date when complete. The acknowledgements page will reflect current and former Planning Commissioners, Board of Supervisors who have participated in the update process, and the County Administrator. The Table of Contents reflects standalone maps located within their respective Chapters as well as Chapter titles, Sub-Chapters, and Appendices. Chapter 1, Introduction and Vision The Vision statement has been relocated to follow the Chapter Introduction. Growth rates and projections data have been updated to reflect population related changes. The update also provides data on the local fiscal climate, and land use diversification. Guiding Principles and Policies include revisions concerning fiscal sustainability principles as follows: Maintaining consistency with the Code of Virginia Sec. 15.2-2303.4; seeking to ensure public infrastructure impact mitigations; and promoting study and documentation of significant historic sites, natural resources, and cemeteries. Under agriculture and silviculture as valued components of the County's economy, refer to the Primary Development Boundary (PDB) as the intended limit of public water and sewer service. Update to the major initiatives action plan includes: Continued monitoring of economic, demographic, socio-economic, and housing trends locally; suggestion that the Design Standards Manual be reviewed and updated; reference to the annual financial report as an ongoing task; enhancement of pursuit of transportation funding identification; continued work on regional planning issues; development of special area plans for areas where unique development opportunities exist. Chapter 2, Land Use Objectives are expanded to include: protection of historic and environmental resources, rural farms, forest uses, and character; reduction of land-use conflicts; promotion of enhanced proximity and accessibility between places to live, work, recreate, shop. A summary of local economic development and tourism and related initiatives are covered. Supporting maps within this Chapter include: Electric Transmission; PDB; Future Land-Use (County-wide, and PDB Focus); Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones); Opportunity Zones; Technology Zones; Tourism Zones. Minor expansions are made to the PDB totaling approximately 275 acres, including: Five Mile Road Area just north of Route 3, incorporating a project-specific stand-alone area located at Barley Woods within the PDB with adjacent lands; New Post area east of Mills Dr adding acreage primarily zoned Industrial 2; small boundary cleanup just north of Summit Crossing Road. Within the PDB, "difficult to serve" areas have been symbolized as areas that may not be readily developable for higher intensity uses requiring public water and sewer services. New policy specifies when a Plan Amendment is warranted. It establishes conditions under which development located outside of the PDB desiring to connect to public water and sewer would submit a Code of Virginia 15.2-2232 review versus when submittal of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment application is warranted. Additionally, exception 1.a clarifies intent to apply to public sewer extensions, and 1.b is added to allow for individual connections of public water and/or sewer outside of the PDB when existing Utility infrastructure is in place to make said connection feasible, as determined by County Utilities. As part of this update, the Land-Use Categories include: Agricultural and Forestal: This land-use designation is greatly expanded. This update seeks to avoid significant losses of agricultural and forestal acreage and to maintain as zoned by-right residential development potential to avoid residential proliferation. o Expansions generally as follows: from Orange Plank Rd west of Fawn Lake extending to the Orange County line and south of the Civil War Trail, replacing Rural Residential designation; from south side of Brock Rd extending between the Spotsylvania Courthouse Battlefield (NPS) and Oakley Wildlife Management Area divided by the Po River Corridor, replacing Rural Residential designation; from south side of Guinea Station Rd corridor and north of the Ni River corridor extending from the Caroline County line westward to Interstate 95, replacing Rural Residential designation; from lands south of Morris Rd and the Oakley Wildlife Management Area extending between the Caroline and Orange County line and southward to the north side of Lewiston Rd and Lawyers Rd except where other land-use designations are depicted, and areas generally to the west of Stubbs Bridge and Belmont Rd approaching the Louisa County line, replacing Rural Residential designation. This expansion area includes but is not limited to all lands within the County's Agricultural/Forestal District program, administered by the County Agricultural/Forestal District Review Committee. Residential: includes a subset of residential, land-use designations including: Rural Residential, Low Density Residential, and High Density Residential. o Expansions as follows: ? Low Density Residential include: from north side of Hazel Run, to include Avalon Woods subdivision, replacing Mixed-Use; River Meadows subdivision, replacing Mixed-Use. Mixed-Use: revises the Mixed-Use designation by creating three Mixed-Use classification tiers, which include: o Mixed-Use Light: envisions a mix of single-family detached and attached residential at densities of 4 to 8 units/acre. Except for the development of commercial corridors as described along higher functional classification roads, most of the land within this tier is envisioned to be a mix of residential uses. o Mixed-Use General: envisions a broad mix of commercial, office, and residential development in a horizontal or vertical mixed-use pattern. Residential densities in these areas are envisioned to exceed 8 units/acre and densities of 16 units/acre or more and resulting building scale are appropriate. o Mixed-Use Commercial Heavy: envisions a commercial and office "heavy" mixed-use district at a semi-urban or urban scale. Residential development within these areas is intended as a secondary or subordinate use encourages mixes of residential housing for diversification. Densities, except for the Lake Anna area, are intended to exceed 8 units/acre. Urban or semi-urban densities of 16 units/acre or more and resulting building scale are appropriate. At Lake Anna, the land use designation is described differently as a "village center" and mixed-use area with the primary focus on commercial. Residential development in this area is intended as a secondary or subordinate use and envisioned residential densities are lower than mixed-use areas within the PDB due to lack of public water and sewer. o Mixed-Use classification tiers expansions are as follows: ? Mixed-Use Light: Jackson Gateway and Thornburg area to the west of the Route 1 corridor following the PDB edge. The tier change in this area also slightly expands east towards Route 1, south of Morris Rd, replacing Employment Center; area west of Route 1 corridor generally north of the South Oaks subdivision extending north to Lee's Parke; Massaponax Church Rd corridor south of Mills Dr, extending as far as the Cosner Industrial Park and along the periphery of the northern boundary of the Lancaster Gate Subdivision; areas north of Mills Dr to Germanna Community College, extending from Interstate 95 to Lee Hill School Dr; periphery of north and east sides of Lee Hill Park to approximately Lee Hill School Dr; northeast and northwest corners of Mills Dr and Benchmark Rd intersection; Rappahannock Riverfront area and peripheral portions of the New Post development; southeast corner of Mills Dr at Tidewater Trl, Sandy Ln intersection, replacing Employment Center and Open Space; west of Jefferson Davis Hwy to east of Lafayette Blvd extending from Fredericksburg (City) line to Four Mile Fork; unless otherwise designated, the north and south side of Harrison Rd to the west of Interstate 95 extending adjacent to the east side of the Twin Springs and Carriage Hills subdivisions; area east of Gordon Rd including existing development associated with the Salem Fields development; peripheral areas in the standalone Spotsylvania Courthouse PDB; Smith Station Rd to reflect approved Courtland Park development; Five Mile Road Extended, replacing High Density Residential at Regency Park Villas. ? Mixed-Use General: central core of Spotsylvania Courthouse area; New Post at northeast corner of Mills Dr. and Tidewater Trl; area west of Benchmark Rd extending between the Massaponax Creek corridor and Mills Dr toward Lee Hill School Dr; area south of Mills Dr and east of the RF&P Rail corridor including Crossroads Pkwy; area west of Interstate 95 extending down the east and west side of the Route 1 corridor between Cosners Corner and the Commonwealth Industrial Park to north of Lad Land Dr; Route 1 at Riverstone Dr intersection area to include the east and west side of the Route 1 corridor, replacing Mixed-Use and Employment Center; south side of Harrison Rd to the west of Interstate 95 extending south approximately half way to Rollingwood Dr and west towards Carriage Hills Subdivision. ? Mixed-Use Commercial Core: Thornburg area including areas around the northeast and northwest corners of Route 1 and Morris Rd/Mudd Tavern Rd and then down the west side of the Route 1 corridor to the PDB line, replacing Employment Center; south side of the Cosners Corner retail development and extending along the south side of Mills Dr to the west side of the Cosner Industrial Park and then south of the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center along the east side of the Interstate 95 corridor; Four Mile Fork area extending down the Route 1 corridor to Exit 126, including Southpoint Pkwy, Market Street, portions of Spotsylvania Avenue, replacing Mixed-Use and Commercial; Spotsylvania Towne Center extending south of Route 3 between Bragg Rd and Interstate 95; area along the south side of the Route 3 corridor between Salem Church Rd and Kennedy Ln extending to General Semmes Rd; Spotsylvania Industrial Park/Bowman Center from City of Fredericksburg line to Rappahannock River, replacing Employment Center; Lake Anna area including east and west side of Route 208 corridor from approximately Lewiston Rd to Louisa County line. Commercial: descriptive language is added to include examples of complementary uses such as hotels, personal service establishments, office parks, entertainment facilities, and to promote better connectivity to and accessibility from nearby residential development. o Commercial land-use expansions include: along the Route 1 corridor extending southward from north of the PDB to Caroline County, replacing Employment Center and Rural Residential; Route 1 extending north from Four Mile Fork to Fredericksburg (City) line, replacing Mixed-Use; Route 1 at Hickory Ridge Rd intersection, replacing Employment Center; Route 208 corridor between Lewiston Rd to north of Bradley Ln, replacing Rural Residential; Gordon Rd and Brock Rd intersection, replacing Institutional and Rural Residential; Old Plank Rd and Catharpin Rd intersection, replacing Low Density Residential; east side of Bragg Rd from north of Route 1 to Fredericksburg (City) line; Bragg Rd and River Rd intersection; southwest corner of Plank Rd and Andora Dr, replacing Low Density Residential; Mills Dr at Tidewater Trl intersection, replacing Employment Center; east side of Gordon Rd, from Smith Station Elementary to north of Smith Station Rd, replacing Mixed-Use. Employment Center: Provision for traditional commercial development such as retail sales establishments within Employment Center areas have been revised for clarity and revises the Employment Center land use by creating two tiers: o Employment Center Light: primarily envisioned for light industrial parks, data centers and office parks. Light industrial uses are involved in manufacturing activities that use moderate amounts of partially processed materials to produce items of relatively high value per unit. Processing, assembly or disassembly operations, and warehousing and distribution centers may be appropriate in this land use category. Also, high technology businesses, data centers and "clean" industry are appropriate in this land use. Land-use designation changes reflective of Employment Center Light include all areas designated as Employment Center in the existing land use map except for areas where Employment Center Heavy has been employed. The extent of Employment Center Light has also been expanded to include Cosner Industrial Park and land area to the east, south of Mills Dr, replacing Mixed-Use; Industrial acreage in the area of New Post now part of the proposed PDB; south side of Massaponax Church Rd to Ni River and west of Route 1, replacing Mixed-Use. o Employment Center Heavy: described as larger in scale and intensity and may have pollution impacts (noise, odor, etc.) on the surrounding area. Such uses may have emissions or a large degree of outdoor machinery of equipment use as part of normal operations. Examples of heavy industrial uses include, but are not limited to: mining operations; refineries, power plants with emissions; scrap recycling operations; rail yards; and the fabrication and assembly of large items. Areas identified as Employment Center Heavy include along the north side of Mills Dr extending from Benchmark Rd to just west of Tidewater Trail, east and west side of the RF&P Rail corridor in proximity to the VRE Service Yard; in proximity to quarry operations off the Route 1 corridor and Smith Station Rd. Open Space: expands the geography of the land use throughout the County to include additional conserved lands established since the last Comprehensive Plan update and to reflect presence of wetlands and resource protection areas in place. Due to applicability county-wide, this expanded designation replaces a wide array of land-use designations. The land-use has also been expanded at Patriot Park and Harrison Road Park, replacing portions of Institutional designations there. Institutional: includes the governmental facilities necessary for the provision of public services and large public service uses such as airports. As such, Institutional land uses have application county-wide, both inside and outside of the PDB and across all land-use categories. As part of the update, uses such as golf courses, places of worship have been reassigned to other nearby land-use designations. The land-use designation was expanded to include a future public works/utilities campus identified in the Public Facilities Chapter, along the west side of Gordon Rd near Smith Station Rd, replacing Rural Residential. Historic or Scenic Corridors: a new addition, this includes text descriptions and mapping of existing designated historic or scenic corridors within the County. These designations do not change the underlying land-use designation but emphasize the importance of sensitive site and building design. Historic and scenic corridors include Scenic Byways and Roads and the Civil War Trail. Newly considered within the Chapter are economic development zones including tourism zones, technology zones, opportunity zones, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones). Virginia Business Ready Sites are also considered. Economic Development Zones and Virginia Business-Ready Sites are described within the Chapter and maps and/or tables of their locations have been provided for reference. Throughout the Chapter, substantive land-use policy amendments applicable to all land uses include: clarifying rezoning impact mitigations refer to public facilities impacts; reducing physical impacts between newly proposed and existing development; encouragement of design renderings or modeling to visualize proposals; added design and transitions guidance related to utility installations; location, size, scale and additional impact mitigation guidance concerning solar energy facilities; fire, rescue and emergency management friendly guidance to promote availability of firefighting water storage for new developments where public water and sewer are not available; avoidance of development within dam break inundation areas; promotion of back-up power generation capacity for critical infrastructure uses; encouragement of uses complementary to mapped economic development zones (provided impact mitigation); accessibility to alternative modes of transportation such as FRED Bus, bicycle or pedestrian paths; viewshed and character integrity protection; provide additional guidance concerning conservation of lands to accommodate planned infrastructure needs of the community; identify zoning district appropriateness to any given land-use based on new Tables of Zoning Districts Complementary to Land-Use Designations. Substantive land-use policy amendments include: Agricultural and Forestal: enhance emphasis on protection of prime agricultural soils and notable agricultural and forestal conservation value; expand emphasis on improvements to rural roads to consider agricultural freight, trailered equipment, to benefit rural uses, citizens, and tourist populations; specify land-use appropriateness for conservation easements; and promote well and septic capacity analysis when development is proposed. Residential: further clarify development transitions between newly proposed development adjacent to existing development; emphasize character integrity and viewshed protection along designated historic and scenic corridors outside of the PDB; remove rural commercial signage size guidance; clarify affordable housing; specify land-use appropriateness for conservation easements in rural residential land-use areas; promote well and septic capacity analysis when development is proposed. Mixed Use: promote design guidelines and architectural features; address project transitions considerate of adjacent development patterns; remove language that discourages drive-through uses; promote affordable housing harmoniously designed into mixed price-point developments; connect support for commercial and office developments in the Mixed-Use Light tier to functional classification of road; establish Residential as an intended secondary or subordinate use within the Mixed Use Commercial Heavy tier; promote an additional point of access to the Bowman Center area as supported by the Thoroughfare Plan. Employment Center: recommend large Interstate-dependent, distribution facilities be located within three miles of Interstate access; promote sidewalks and path connectivity to include industrial uses; clarify that commercial development should be secondary or subordinate (in total land area and square footage devoted) to the intended uses associated with the Employment Center land-use designation; promote user diversification, economic diversification; and efforts to enhance economic development readiness of sites. Open Space: recognize that this designation is appropriate for conservation easements, environmentally sensitive areas, and significant historic resource areas. Additional subject matter addressed includes Utility, Telecommunications, and Internet infrastructure including recognition of value, location, impact mitigation, and identification of action items to promote expansion of broadband services to rural areas. Also included is a section devoted to housing, addressing housing inventory; residential building activity; multi-family development; occupancy; type of units; student generation; growth rate; housing ratio; and affordability. Chapter 3, Transportation and Thoroughfare Plan Proposed amendments are specific to the Thoroughfare Plan and corresponding map and include identification of additional road projects as follows: Shannon Airport access road from Shannon Park Dr to Shannon Airport Cir; Northwest Quadrant connector road as a new concept road between Rt 1 and Hood Dr; I-95 Exit 126 SB On Ramp Improvements resulting in additional left turn from US 1 SB, widen on ramp; Roxbury Mill Rd bridge as a new two-lane bridge with 10-foot shared-use path. Proposed route revisions to road projects already identified within the Thoroughfare Plan include: Guinea Station Rd Extension concept road from Guinea Station Rd, east of Rte 1 to Massaponax Church Rd, incorporating existing road infrastructure associated with River Run Pkwy as an alternative possible alignment in addition to an existing depicted concept route; expanding Lansdowne Rd Extension from Russo Dr to Main St in the Bowman Center; revise map depiction and Thoroughfare Plan Table description for Market St extension. Plans to further widen Salem Church Rd and Leavells Rd to 6-lanes, extending from Rte 3 to Courthouse Rd are removed. Already depicted in the Thoroughfare Plan map a corresponding Table description is added for entrance improvements at Rte 1 and the planned VA Hospital entrance. Intersection improvement description at Rte 1 and Market St updated. All other Chapter 3 content remains as previously adopted July 28, 2020. For further detail and clarity, an additional Thoroughfare Plan Map is proposed with focus on the Primary Development Boundary. The map depicts the same projects identified within the County-wide Thoroughfare Plan Map. For additional clarity, within goals and strategies, the draft elaborates on the referenced County Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) threshold by describing it in Goal 2, Strategy 2. Chapter 3A, Trailways Master Plan Proposed amendments are specific to the maps of planned improvements including the Trailways Master Plan, Greenways, and Road-Based Bicycle and Pedestrian improvements. Specific amendments to the aforementioned maps are as follows: change designation of Mudd Tavern Road from the east side of Interstate I-95 bridge to Caroline County line from shoulder improvements to shared-use path; scale back Po River Greenway (off-road) to terminate at Route 1 with future connectivity to previously approved plans along the Route 1 corridor; reflect revised Guinea Station Rd alignment noted in Chapter 3 Transportation amendments to include a shared-use path consistent with Ni River Trail implementation. Chapter 4, Public Facilities Updates to the Public Facilities Introduction include adding reference to utilities, solid waste, and general government. A duplicated list of principle needs concerning provision of public facilities is removed. One additional Key Goal appears in the update: to continue to monitor economic, demographic, socio-economic, and housing trends locally to assess service and facility needs. Under Relationship to the Capital Improvement Plan, the update outlines the importance that future public facilities have support in the Plan for Code of Virginia 15.2-2232 compliance and outlines exceptions, and instances related to provision of public utilities or small scale building expansions whose installation will be considered shown in the Comprehensive Plan. Site Adequacy content related to public facility location selection and design purposes elaborates on convenience and safe accessibility to include provision of bicycle and pedestrian friendly improvements. Public facilities maps references are updated to reflect an updated suite of maps in the Chapter. Chapter 4A, Schools This update includes a general overview of services and programs, accounts for the inventory of schools, provides current and projected student enrollment figures, notes student generation rates by housing type, provides reference to a 2019 schools demographics study and the Schools Strategic Plan that provide insights into identified recommendations for the school system going forward. An updated schools map is also included, accounting for the schools inventory. Level of service standards for middle school design/build capacity is increased from 940-960 students to 940-1100 students. To address school specific capacity concerns, the Spotsylvania Public Schools has identified realigned attendance zones and targeted renovation and expansion projects to address capacity issues that exist. Updated recommendations include: realignment of attendance zones; continuing to analyze existing educational environments to determine whether they can be re-purposed to support research-based, best-instructional practices; identification of capital projects including renovation and expansion of Spotsylvania Middle School, improvements at Chancellor High/Middle School, added classroom capacity at Thornburg Middle School, and space reconfiguration for new programming at Spotsylvania High School and Career and Technical Center; considering expansion or enhancement of specialized educational programs and their necessary capital facilities considering potential student demand, market demand for skills (future employment opportunities) and cost to implement. Additional updates for clarification purposes, to provide examples, and to show efforts should be ongoing. For capital projects, the update previews need for an upcoming bond referendum. Chapter 4B, Fire, Rescue, Emergency Management (FREM) This update includes a general overview of services and programs, accounts for the inventory of fire and rescue stations, including reference to level of service standards for response time and service areas. A report on station capacity versus call volume is provided. Level of service standards have been reduced from four to three and are based on response times specific to identified fire and rescue stations considerate of the geography and development patterns served. A 1:11,000 ratio of stations per capita standard is removed. The updates to General Recommendations include: coordinate with lead/ support agencies and implement regional and Spotsylvania County-specific mitigation action strategies associated with the current iteration of the George Washington Regional Commission Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan; work with local and regional stakeholders to update the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan; and explore development of a County Wildland Fire Mitigation Plan in partnership with the Virginia Department of Forestry. Short-term recommendations include: integrate technologies and adopt procedures necessary to measure performance using the Unit Hour Utilization and Assembled Fire Fighting Force metrics; study fire and rescue calls and responses, as well as Unit Hour Utilization to determine whether Level of Service needs dictate the construction of additional stations in some areas, and/or staffing additional fire apparatus and ambulances in existing facilities; build replacement fire and rescue station (FC/RS) 3 in the Partlow area; delete recommendation to build replacement FC/RS 5 on Route 3 and FC/RS 11 in the Mills Drive/Benchmark Rd area; secure land for and build FC/RS 12 in the Jefferson Davis Highway/ Massaponax Church Rd. area; build the Classroom and Logistics Facility at the Rappahannock Regional Training Center to facilitate improved system-wide training and meet logistical storage needs; implement traffic management strategies and technology to facilitate improved response times; continue efforts to update the aid agreement with Culpeper County, resulting in an automatic aid agreement. The updated Chapter removes a short-term goal to secure land for and build a new fire and rescue station to split the call volume handled by Stations #4 and #6. Updates to long term goals include: removing secure property for the replacement of the FC/RS 3 facilities into a new consolidated-use site, now a short-term goal. Updated land acquisition goal includes acquiring land for fire/rescue joint-use sites in order to relieve the burden on existing fire/rescue facilities. Considering level of service standards, new locations are in the Shady Grove, Post Oak, and northwestern Spotsylvania County (north of Route 3). Complementary maps including: Public Safety Facilities; FREM First Response Zones; FREM 5-Mile Response Areas; and FREM Population Density in Service Areas have been added. Chapter 4C, Sheriff This update includes removing the short term goal of enclosing the outdoor kennel at the Public Safety Building and identifying a future capital project to expand the existing public safety building to meet space needs. Sheriff's office facility inventory is reflected in an updated Public Safety Facilities Map. Chapter 4D, Solid Waste Collection and Disposal This update includes a general overview of services and programs, accounts for the inventory of existing facilities and collections statistics. Lifespan figures for the Livingston landfill are updated. Updates to short-range recommendations include: implementing a County decal program that enables solid waste convenience site staff to effectively identify residents of Spotsylvania County; adopting a policy that restricts commercial disposal to a select number of disposal sites; revising tipping fees and disposal of select items with current market rates; evaluating strategies to make brush and yard waste recycling operations sustainable, in cooperation with the County's composting facility; continuing to implement goals of the Solid Waste Management Plan; reviewing and referencing the Solid Waste Management Plan consistent with the Code of Virginia, replacing a similar long-range recommendation; and updating applicable Chapters (to be determined) of the Plan upon completion of updates to the Solid Waste Management Plan update considering any future needs, opportunities, or recommendations that apply. Updates to long-range recommendations include: monitoring recycling industry trends and markets on an international and national level; updating educational recycling programs and continue to build partnerships with commercial recycling businesses; continuing to develop sustainable solutions for biosolids, yard waste, and brush recycling; evaluating the benefits of managing the solid waste division as an enterprise fund; evaluating the potential to enhance efficiency by expanding the capacity and viable lifespan of the Livingston Landfill through landfill mining. The draft includes a complementary Solid Waste Five Mile Service Areas Map. Chapter 4E, Water and Sewer This update includes a general overview of services and programs, service parameters tied to the PDB, and accounts for the inventory of existing facilities. The latest version of the Water and Sewer Master Plan is incorporated by reference. An update to the description of sewers and interceptors removes a reference to design a regional pump station to serve the Jackson Gateway service area. Updates to the Goal, Policy and Strategies section include: clearly specifying the PDB as the area targeted to supply public water infrastructure; adding a goal to support capacity and efficiency enhancements within a growing community; adding a policy to invest infrastructure enhancements in areas intended for growth, and strategically locate new facilities to improve operations and customer service. Strategies include: focusing infrastructure expansion and enhancements to the PDB; discouraging and avoiding potential cost, maintenance, and management risks associated with private utility systems with mass drainfields outside of the PDB; seeking to co-locate the County Utilities and Public Works Department to a new facility to be constructed on TM 21-A-84 located along Gordon Road; identifying need for a new water tower near Massaponax High School; and exploring opportunities to co-locate additional public facilities onsite, including a park site on the remaining acreage. Chapter 4F, Library Facilities This update includes a general overview of services and programs and accounts for the inventory of existing facilities. Level-of-Service standards are updated to recommended standards as approved and adopted by the Library of Virginia Board. These address collections, facilities size, and location. The Plan envisions an improved Service Level for collections and facilities from Level E? Level to EE??. For collections to achieve Level EE?? libraries must: comply with all standards of Level E (Essential), and; provide digital resources to supplement those made available by the Library of Virginia to serve community needs; have a preservation policy, if it holds special collections, it reviews at least every three years; and evaluate its collection to determine strengths and weaknesses, allocating resources to address the identified weakness. For facilities-size and location this enhanced standard establishes that the libraries: comply with all standards of Level E; create additional library space based on a standard from current .3 to .7 sq ft per capita; enhance energy efficiency, lighting, waste reduction, and air quality; utilize sustainable construction practices for new or renovated facilities; and adopt site selection guidelines for urban, rural areas with consideration of public transportation where possible. Chapter 4G, Parks and Recreation This update is intended to consolidate and replace information and planning recommendations initially approved as part of the standalone 2009 Spotsylvania County Parks and Recreation Master Plan (last amended February 2011). The 2009 Plan would be retired. The update includes: providing a general overview of services and programs, accounting for the inventory of existing facilities, identifying park classification tiers, accounting for non-County operated parks with inventory updates, and inventorying meeting spaces at community centers and libraries. Level-of-service standards are updated. A level-of- service standard for pickleball courts is added requiring per capita 1/15,000. Recommendations updates include referencing the Code of Virginia, 15.2-2232 as basis for supporting future Capital Improvement Plan projects associated with Parks and Recreation. General recommendations include: having sufficient park facilities to meet County Park Standards for current and future demand; providing community, district, and special-use parks that meet a 100% level-of-service standard, including schools; encouraging all new schools and community centers to include provisions for public recreational acres and amenities; co-locate future schools, community centers, and parks to add more recreational opportunities and avoid duplication of recreational facilities. A number of existing recommendations are relocated under the an umbrella recommendation heading that seeks to protect, maintain, and enhance current parks and open space areas, and acquire additional park land and facilities within the County, consistent with adopted level-of-service standards. These sub-recommendations include: acquiring park lands and developing park amenities based on population estimates; providing an annual Capital Improvements Plan submission of needed facilities based on adopted standards and replacement schedules; optimizing existing parks that are not built out by improving or adding new facilities to enhance efficiencies or reduce known level-of-service deficits; emphasizing current utilization of the parks with installation of artificial lighting to enhance and extend the availability of current athletic fields; preserving natural areas, parks, open space area, archaeological and architectural sites and cultural resources in Spotsylvania County; encouraging protection, accessing, and interpretation of significant cultural or historical resources within new or existing park land; maintaining and update a database and/ or mapping project that includes an inventory of all parks, open spaces, nature preserves, historic and cultural sites, park amenities, trail systems; preserve and expand upon existing recreational trails network within the County by implementing the Spotsylvania Trailways Master Plan consisting of off-road greenway trails and roadside-based trail corridors; encouraging construction of bicycle lanes and/or paths complementary to recreational trailways plan implementation efforts in conjunction with road-widening projects, where appropriate, removing exclusive reference to VDOT; considering additional specialized recreational amenities that do not warrant a specific level-of-service standard based on their uniqueness and fit within the community as well as projected demand; continuing to support development of privately managed and maintained neighborhood parks and recreational amenities that will ultimately serve County residents within their particular developments. Short-term recommendation updates include: replacing the Harrison Road and Lick Run Community Centers near where formerly located; and locate a new community center in the Partlow Area. Long-term recommendations include: exploring acquisition and/or development of an indoor aquatic recreation center; developing master plans for the Hilldrup and Belmont Properties (relocated from existing short-term goals); explore the acquisition of land in the Lee Hill/ Massaponax area for a new district park; continuing to implement the County Trailways Plan through various means including Parks and Recreation projects, Transportation projects, private development frontage and amenity improvements with target candidate projects to include trails and trailhead construction as described associated with: Deep Run Trail, Ni River Trail, Virginia Central Trail, East Coast Greenway, and Massaponax Creek. The update includes a complementary Parks and Recreation Facilities and Needs Map. Chapter 4H, General Government The content is wholly new compared to the prior approved Plan. It includes an overview of some of the services represented, population considerations, prior space-needs studies, identification of capital projects needs and recommendations, including: 50,000-60,000 sq.ft. new build in the Spotsylvania Courthouse area for the Department of Social Services and VA Department of Health offices; construction of a joint-use complex along Gordon Road, specifically Tax Map# 21-A-84 for Spotsylvania County Utilities and Public Works; review and update the County's space needs assessment and recommendations for future long-term capital project needs. The update includes a complementary Government Facilities Map. Chapter 5, Historic Resources The update provides additional insight into local historic preservation and tourism and provides an overview of some of the major resources involved in historic resource documentation and interpretation. The update acknowledges Spotsylvania County's 300-Year Anniversary. Also included are revisions to historic resource strategies, including: expanding promotion of rural character, scenery, and economy protection with reference to forestry and open space; expanding support for important scenic and historic land preservation efforts, removing reference to the rezoning process; clarifying language supportive of historic preservation efforts related to historic structure rehabilitation as part of development projects, and preservation of scenic byways, roads, and rural character outside the PDB; considering expanding scenic byway designations in the County; supporting historic markers associated with significant persons, places, and events associated with a project area; promoting living history events to include the County's 300th anniversary. Chapter 6, Natural Resources Updates include revisions to content referencing enabling legislation form the Code of Virginia to include 9VAC25-830-170 in addition to additional references carried over into this update from the existing Plan. Reference to corresponding Appendix D is also included in the update. Substantive amendments proposed to Natural Resource Policies and Implementation Strategies include adding strategies to: protect designated open space and agricultural and forestal land for their intended uses; support new approaches to enable landowners to generate revenue from these land uses; promote conservation and/or reforestation within 300 feet of perennial streams, lakes, and reservoirs; support development of a County Wildland Fire Mitigation Plan in partnership with the Virginia Department of Forestry; consider guidance of the latest Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, and incorporate by reference; continue to pursue development of a fresh-water mussel farm along the Massaponax Creek Corridor. The Plan replaces a stated strategy to initiate a county-wide study to identify and protect aquifer and groundwater recharge areas with language that seeks groundwater hydrology studies for development proposals increasing density or intensity of development reliant on well water. Strategies proposed to be removed include promoting dark sky lighting and alternative water treatment methods. Content summarizing a variety of potentially available natural resource related grants and funding opportunities is removed. Appendix A No substantive amendments are proposed. Appendix A Land Use- Fort AP Hill Approach Fan and Joint Land Use Study would be maintained in the update from the existing Comprehensive Plan with only formatting changes to reflect new footer design. Appendix B No substantive amendments are proposed. Appendix B Transportation Exhibit was last adopted on July 28, 2020 as part of a Comprehensive Plan amendment package including Chapter 3 and Sub-Chapter 3A. As part of this major Comprehensive Plan-wide update, Appendix B would be re-ordained with only formatting changes to reflect an updated adoption date. Appendix C Appendix C Historic Resources provides background survey and study information consistent with the Code of Virginia, specifically 15.2-2224, Surveys and studies to be made in preparation of plan; implementation of plan. Content of Appendix C includes updates: overview documenting the history of Spotsylvania County; inventory of protected battlefields lands; documenting historic preservation efforts and actions; identification of the County's historic properties identified on the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places; resource recognition identifying the Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Cultural Resource Information System (V-CRIS) with summary and link. Appendix D Appendix D Natural Resources provides background survey and study information consistent with the Code of Virginia, 15.2-2224, and 9VAC25-830-170 Comprehensive Plans. Within this Appendix updates include: physiography; climate hazards, referencing the 2017 Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan; radon; light pollution; physical constraints on development with links to complementary County mapping resources; geology; mineral resources and industries (past, present, future); soils with an overview of soil conditions and specific consideration of steep slopes, shrink-swell soils , hydric soils, erodibility/permeability of soils, septic suitability, septic limitations, soil depth to water table, soil drainage, groundwater recharge areas, contaminated soils including storage tank related contamination; potable water; water reservoirs; dam break inundation areas; wetlands overview; watersheds; stream, river corridors and shorelines considering the Virginia Scenic River Program, public and private access to waterfront areas, shoreline and streambank erosion, resource protection policies overview and inventory of known impaired resources; content addressing the requirements of the Code of Virginia 15.2-2223.2. Plan to include coastal resource management guidance; Chesapeake Bay Septic Pump-out program; consideration of local zoning and ordinances, including identification of resource protection areas, resource management areas, reservoir and river protection overlay districts, floodplains and floodplain overlay district, Massaponax Creek Watershed Plan; Flora and Fauna including Spotsylvania County Natural Heritage Resources and the Natural Heritage Data Explorer resource, 2015 Virginia Wildlife Action Plan, Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service (VaFWIS). Additional subject matter explored in the Appendix includes: forestry, including an analysis of in County production and trends and land use consideration of forest conservation value; production of food and fiber including data from the census of agriculture, commercial fisheries and aquaculture; land use suitability models including agricultural suitability, agricultural soils, forest conservation value, ecological cores, consideration of the George Washington Regional Commission Green Infrastructure Plan; land conservation considering various programs and tools such as the land use program, conservation easements, zoning ordinance, Comprehensive Plan support and guidance. Persons interested may appear and present their views at the public hearing described above. The proposed application is on file with the Planning Department, located at 9019 Old Battlefield Blvd, 3rd Floor, Spotsylvania, Virginia 22553, and may be inspected between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Planning Commission encourages the participation of all interested county citizens. For those with special needs, please notify the Planning Department of any accommodations you may require at least five days before the meeting you wish to attend. Revised Public Hearing Procedures During the Coronavirus Emergency For your safety and the safety of the community at large during this on-going coronavirus emergency, citizens wishing to comment are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to submit written comments to be read into the public record by County staff in front of the Board at the televised hearings rather than attending in person. Those desiring to submit written comments to be read publically to the Planning Commission may do so immediately by emailing Paulette Mann at pmann@spotsylvania.va.us, or by placing written comments in the Community Development drop box at the Merchant Square Building located at 9019 Old Battlefield Blvd, Spotsylvania, VA 22553. Comments submitted via the drop box should be in a sealed envelope which is clearly marked with the case number or case name and Attn: Paulette Mann, Commission Secretary Additionally, comments may be mailed to the attention of Paulette Mann at 9019 Old Battlefield Blvd, Suite 320, Spotsylvania, VA 22553. Mailed comments must be received by close of business on the Monday prior to the BOS meeting date in order for them to be read into the public record at the hearing. Submissions of written comments must include the citizen's name and voting district. Please construct your written comments in such manner that they are limited to three (3) minutes when read at a typical oral reading pace. For comments provided in representation of a group, the time limit is five (5) minutes. Citizens choosing to attend in person will be required to maintain recommended social distancing at all times and will be guided by County staff in accomplishing this. If you or a member of your family is sick, in the interest of public health, you are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED not to attend in person, but rather submit your comments in writing to be read aloud and heard by the Board during the public hearing. By the Spotsylvania County Planning Commission

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PUBLIC NOTICE The Spotsylvania County Planning Commission will hold a - Fredericksburg.com

Ny-lesund Research Base. Photo: Christopher Michel

The Arctic has recently assumed considerable strategic significance as it has been underlined by the policies of major powers. The interests and concerns of the Arctic states are vast and varied. India, being an observer in the Arctic Council, has legitimate interests in the region and has created its own Arctic policy. Indias Arctic policy, notified as a draft document in early January 2021, continues along the lines of the countrys science diplomacy.

Indias Arctic Policy (IAP) was notified as a draft document in early January 2021, and the draft policy is in line with Indias fast expanding scientific-technological (SciTech power) status which has both national and international dimensions. As per the global ranking, India currently occupies the third position in scientific and technical manpower in the world. Its Research and Development (R&D) expenditure and Science and Technology(S&T) publications also rose significantly. With the surge in S&T publications, India is globally at the third position.1)India, Ministry of Science & Technology (2020) Indias R&D expenditure & scientific publications on the rise: India is placed 3rd among countries in scientific publication. 1 May. Government of India, https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1620083/. Accessed on 20 March 2021

IAP has been drafted in a strategic milieu of big powers (like China) having invested with great ambition in the Arctic region. Chinas Polar Silk Road is essentially a part of its robust Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which seeks to reinforce its geopolitical and geoeconomic posture in the region. India has stepped in at the right time with its sustainable engagement diplomacy and SciTech power in the Arctic.

Geospatially, the Arctic is located above the Arctic Circle, which encompasses the Arctic Ocean basin (roughly 6.1 million square miles) and the northern parts of Scandinavia, Russia, Canada, Denmark (Greenland), and the U.S. state of Alaska. Canada, Russia, Denmark, Norway and the U.S. state of Alaska have direct access to as well as jurisdiction over the Arctic Ocean.

The Arctic Council was formed as an intergovernmental forum with these countries along with Finland, Sweden and Iceland, following the Ottawa Declaration in 1996. The Declaration has provisions [3(a), (b) and (c)] for non-Arctic states and organisations to participate in and contribute to the working of the Council with an Observer status. The Council is envisaged as a forum to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic states, Arctic Indigenous peoples and other Arctic actors on common issues such as environmental protection and sustainable development in the region.2)The Arctic Council (1996) The Ottawa Declaration 1996, https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/85. Accessed on 30 January 2021

There are currently five states from Asia holding Observer status in the Arctic CouncilIndia, China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, all of which joined in 2013. India renewed its membership in 2019 for another five-year period. The admission of Observers in the Council was made conditional upon recognizing the Arctic States sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the Arctic besides recognizing the broad international legal framework that has a bearing on the Arctic Ocean, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The United States had insisted that the Council should not deal with matters related to military security and this was added as an addendum upon signing the Ottawa Declaration. Curiously, after twenty years, the former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a 2019 statement that since the situation in the Arctic region had changedhaving become a terrain of power and competitionand the eight Arctic States should adapt to this new future.3)Sengupta S (2019) United States Rattles Arctic Talks With a Sharp Warning to China and Russia. The New York Times, 6 May. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/climate/pompeo-arctic-china-russia.html. Accessed on 30 January 2021 Obviously, the reference to power and competition was aimed at the expanding role and activities of China against which the Trump administration had serious reservations.4)Seethi KM (2019) A New Washington Consensus: IndoPacific and Indias Emerging Role. Economic and Political Weekly, Vol.53, No.8, 23 February, https://www.epw.in/journal/2019/8/commentary/new-%E2%80%98washington-consensus%E2%80%99.html. Accessed on 20 March 2021 However, geostrategic concerns continue to generate anxieties among the Arctic States and, consequently, countries like Russia, Canada and Norway have to bolster defence infrastructure in the region.

Indias Arctic contacts began a century ago with its signing of the Svalbard Treaty in February 1920 in Paris.5)Royal Ministry of Justice Oslo (1988) The Svalbard Treaty, 9 February 1920, https://www.spitzbergen.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Spitsbergen-treaty_English.pdf. Accessed on 20 March 2021 A breakthrough in Indias Polar research came in 1981 when the country joined the states engaged in Antarctic exploration. However, its engagements did not make much headway until 2007 when the scientists undertook Indias first Arctic expedition with the goal of initiating studies in glaciology, biological sciences, and ocean and atmospheric sciences. The following year, India set up the research station Himadri at the international Arctic research base at Svalbard, Norway.

In another six years time, scientists from the ESSO-National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) and the ESSO-National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) set up another facility at Kongsfjorden (which is part of the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean). The facility is Indias first multi-sensor moored observatory called IndArc which is to undertake studies and collect real-time data on the Arctic climate and its impact on the monsoon. The successful deployment of this facility is seen as a model of Indo-Norwegian scientific and technical cooperation in addressing global climate change.

Another atmospheric laboratory was established in 2016 at Gruvebadet in Ny-Alesund with the aim of initiating studies on clouds, precipitation, long-range pollutants, and other background atmospheric parameters. The Arctic research has obviously helped to initiate studies on glaciers in the Himalayan region. The importance of such comparative studies is underlined by The Annual Report 2018-19 of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), which acts as the nodal agency for Indias Polar research programme, that also includes Arctic studies. According to the Report, the glaciers are melting world over and those in Arctic and Himalaya are no exception. The Svalbard glaciers and ice caps cover an area of 34,600 square kilometers while Himalaya occupies a nearly 38,000 square kilometer area. Observation revealed that for the last one and half decades, the process of glacier retreat has been significantly enhanced in both the regions.6)NCPOR (2019) National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research: The Annual Report 2018-19, Government of India, https://ncpor.res.in/annualreports. Accessed on 20 March 2021

Needless to say, this has tremendous implications for the agro-climatic conditions of countries like India whose food security itself is dependent on ecosystem stability. The draft IAP itself says that there are several synergies between polar studies and the study of the Himalayas. Arctic research will help Indias scientific community to study melting rates of the third polethe Himalayan glaciers, which are endowed with the largest freshwater reserves in the world outside the geographic poles.

There are not many institutions involved in polar studies in India. The Goa-based NCPOR, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, focuses on polar studies and research. While the Ministry of External Affairs looks after the engagements with the Arctic Council, other ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Space are involved in polar research. Since Indias first scientific expedition to Antarctica in 1981, the country has been invested in polar studies, and has several projects underway in the areas of the Arctic, Antarctic, Southern Ocean and the Himalayas.

According to the note attached to IAP, India seeks to play a constructive role in the Arctic by leveraging its vast scientific pool and expertise in Himalayan and Polar research. India would also like to contribute in ensuring that as the Arctic becomes more accessible, the harnessing of its resources is done sustainably and in consonance with best practices formulated by bodies such as the Arctic Council.

The IAP is enunciated with five major areas of engagements(i) Science and research; (ii) Economic and human development cooperation; (iii). Transportation and connectivity; (iv) Governance and international cooperation; and (v) National capacity building. It is clear that the IAP, apart from underlining the significance of science and research, sees the Arctic region as a potential area of engagement in diverse areas of human development and commercial activities. The document says: India seeks to engage in economic development in a manner that is sustainable and is of value to the Arctic residents, especially indigenous communities. The Arctic offers viable opportunities in different sectors where Indian enterprises can be involved, become part of international commerce, promote traditional indigenous knowledge, businesses and best practices.

IAP sees the Arctic as the largest unexplored prospective area for hydrocarbons remaining on earth besides its vast reserves of mineral deposits. It also keeps in perspective Indias investment in Russia which amounts to $15 billion in oil and gas projects. Hence India seeks to explore similar opportunities in other Arctic nations as well.7)U.S. Energy Information Administration (2012) Arctic oil and natural gas resources. EIA, 20 January, https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=4650. Accessed on 20 March 2021

The draft policy document is also confident of utilising Indias expertise in the digital economy for facilitating establishment of data centres for commerce in the region. It further explores opportunities for investment in Arctic infrastructure in areas such as offshore exploration/mining, ports, railways and airports. This inevitably calls for encouraging participation by Indian public and private sector firms with an expertise in these sectors. Indias chambers of industry and commerce will be encouraged to enhance private investment in the Arctic and explore the public-private-partnership model. The draft policy also indicated that Indian companies will be encouraged to obtain membership of the Arctic Economic Council.

Another area where India has leverage in the Arctic region is human development. The document says: Specialized cultures of the Arctics indigenous inhabitants are being inexorably impacted by climate change as well as economic development and improved connectivity. This is similar to the socio-ecological-economic predicament of the Himalayan peoples. The disruption of unique ecosystems and erosion of traditional knowledge are common to both. India has substantial expertise in addressing such issues and is uniquely placed to make a positive contribution in assisting the Arctics indigenous communities cope with similar challenges.8)Ghosh S & Mayank A (2021) Indias Draft Arctic Policy Explores What the Two Regions Can Do for Each Other. Science The Wire, 23 January, https://science.thewire.in/environment/india-draft-arctic-policy/. Accessed on 30 March 2021

In the realm of transportation and connectivity, India has vital stakes. According to IAP, India ranks third in the list of seafarers supplying nations catering to almost ten per cent of global demand. Indias maritime human resources could contribute towards meeting the growing requirements of the Arctic.

India expects that ice free conditions in the Arctic would soon result in the opening of new shipping routes and thereby lowering costs and reshaping global trade. Traffic, especially through the Northern Sea Route, is rising exponentially and is projected to quadruple by 2025. The draft policy also seeks to explore the possibility of linking the International North South Transport Corridor with the Unified Deep-Water System and its further extension to the Arctic.India expects that the North-South connectivity will result in lowering shipping costs and overall development of the hinterland and of indigenous communities more than East-West connectivity.

India is well aware of the fact that the Arctic governance is very crucial in the geopolitical milieu and the region itself is governed by numerous national domestic laws, bilateral agreements, global treaties and conventions and customary laws for the indigenous peoples. Hence the Arctic states respective sovereign jurisdictions as well as areas beyond national jurisdiction need to be reckoned within the framework of international and national regulations.

Through IAP, India is expected to enhance its human resource capabilities and as part of its Arctic engagement, the overall approach is to expand capability, capacity and awareness for Arctic-related scientific research by strengthening NCPOR, involving academic and scientific institutions in India and identifying nodal institutes. While the overall focus of capacity building is on science and technology, the draft document does not seem to have given adequate space for social sciences, including strategic components, in the making of Indias Arctic policy through the four sections of the five pillars that the IAP outlines to deal with these diverse areas.

India put together the IAP at a crucial time of global and regional power realignments, even in the midst of the pandemic. It was in 2018 that China declared itself a Near Arctic State and brought out a white paper outlining its plans for the region. Though China does not have territorial sovereignty and related sovereign rights in the Arctic, it has been eager to establish a foothold in the region with its self-professed identity as a near-Arctic state. The strategic significance of Chinas Arctic Policy (2018) outlined through its white paper cannot be glossed over. It underscores that the Arctic is a region having global implications and international impacts. Referring to the Arctic situation, the white paper says that the geopolitical scenario goes beyond its original inter-Arctic States or regional nature, having a vital bearing on the interests of States outside the region and the interests of the international community as a whole, as well as on the survival, the development, and the shared future for mankind.9)The Peoples Republic of China (2018) Chinas Arctic Policy, White Paper. The State Council of Information Office, 26 January, http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/white_paper/2018/01/26/content_281476026660336.htm. Accessed on 20 March 2021 China has also gone to the extent of conceding, perhaps for the first time, that its interests in the Arctic region cannot be limited to scientific research but would move to an array of commercial activities. This obviously becomes a part of its project to build a Polar Silk Road that links China with Europe through the Arctic and fits in with the new blue ocean passages extending from Beijings Maritime Silk Road (MSR), put in place in 2013.10)Wenwen W (2014) Silk Road economic belt concept pushes trade, investment between China, Central Asia. Global Times 30 June, https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/868211.shtml. Accessed on 20 March 2021 A document by the European Parliament Think Tank (EPTT) says that Chinas Arctic policy suggests a strong desire to push for the internationalisation of the Arctics regional governance system. The white paper is not a strategy document, and is more interesting for what it omits, such as the national security dimension that is a major driver of Chinas Arctic ambitions.11)Grieger G (2018) Chinas Arctic Policy: How China Aligns Rights and Interests. European Parliamentary Research Service, May, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)620231. Accessed on 20 March 2021 By calling itself as a responsible major country, China, however, tries to dispel concerns of the Arctic or non-Arctic statesabout the extent of its geopolitical ambitions in the regionby emphasising Beijings commitment to international law and cooperation and balancing economic interests with environmental protection as EPTT pointed out.

Though there were frequent references to UNCLOS in the white paper, experts contest Chinas sincerity and credentials. In 2016, for example, as EPTT document says, China bluntly disregarded the Permanent Court of Arbitrations ruling on Chinas maritime claims in the South China Sea versus the Philippines claims, and on the environmental damage Chinas large-scale artificial island-building on several maritime features entailed.12)Grieger G (2018) Chinas Arctic Policy: How China Aligns Rights and Interests. European Parliamentary Research Service, May, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)620231. Accessed on 20 March 2021

China became more assertive in its maritime policy during the last decade, but the scholars and experts were already absorbed in reimagining the Chinese power in the global strategic landscape. For example, Li Zhenfu of Dalian Maritime Universityone of the most ardent Chinese commentators on Arctic issueswrote a decade go that Whoever controls the Arctic sea route will control the world economy and a new internationally strategic corridor Li said that China must play an active, pre-emptive, and vigilant role in Arctic affairs.13)Lasserre F et al. (2015) Chinas strategy in the Arctic: threatening or opportunistic? Polar Record, online version, doi:10.1017/S0032247415000765; Wright D (2011) The Dragon Eyes the Top of the World: Arctic Policy Debate and Discussion in China. China Maritime Study No. 8, August. U.S. Naval War College, https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=cmsi-red-books. Accessed on 20 March 2021

In 2010 a Chinese admiral Yin Zhuo said that the Arctic belongs to all the people around the world, as no nation has sovereignty over it China must plan an indispensable role in Arctic exploration as we have one-fifth of the worlds population. However, such statements cannot be dismissed as mere academic or far-fetched opinions given the new tempo of Chinese maritime strategies under Xi Jinping. No doubt, the Arctic is rich in resources (with as much as 13 per cent of the worlds undiscovered oil and 30 per cent of its undiscovered natural gas reserves). However, the Arctic has become geopolitically sensitive14)Folland R (2021) Arctic Security: Deterrence and Dtente in the High North. The Arctic Institute, 30 March, https://www.thearcticinstitute.org/arctic-security-deterrence-detente-high-north/. Accessed on 30 April 2021 and the region is warming far more rapidly than anywhere else on the planet. Scientists say that temperatures mounted almost 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 Celsius) in the past decade alone. It certainly calls for extreme vigilance when powers like China and Russia think about transforming the Arctic into a terrain for big business and rapid economic development.

Plausibly, Indias draft Arctic policy is embedded in its basic approach which underlines the significance of sustainable engagement through its SciTech power. IAP is also cognizant of the vulnerability of the Arctic to unprecedented changes in the climate. Hence its emphasis on rule-based governance architecture in the region fits in with Indias long-standing policy.

This article was originally published by Economic and Political Weekly, 13 May 2021.

KM Seethi is Director of the Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension (IUCSSRE), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. He also served as Dean of Social Sciences and Professor of International Relations and Politics in MGU.

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The Contours of India's Arctic Policy - The Arctic Institute