Rural pitted against industrial: Proposed asphalt plant in Powhatan brings up familiar land-use issues.

Byline: Jamie C. Ruff

Mar. 18--Much of life is a clash of cultures and ideals. There is the battle between the haves and the have-nots; Republicans vs. Democrats; believers of the big-bang theory vs. divine intervention; and, since we are in the midst of March Madness, let us not forget VCU vs. Duke. But for political leaders in rural or increasingly suburban counties, the seemingly eternal battle is between maintaining traditional rural qualities vs. providing a tax base for increasingly demanded services. And the fight is often played out in the public hearings and discussions that precede land-use decisions. Last week, the Powhatan County Board of …