By Linda Cicoira — The kinks have been worked out of Rocket Lab’s site plans for the Wallops Research Park, approval has been obtained for all but the lighting, and construction is expected to begin in a month or two, Accomack County officials said this week.
The New Zealand-based company wants to send small rockets from Wallops Island and build a local facility at the park. The company is known in the aeronautics world for delivering “small satellites to low earth orbit at an unprecedented frequency.”
Rocket Lab will be the first to occupy space in the $8 million WRP, which is about a decade old.
District 2 Supervisor Ron Wolff, an avid supporter of NASA and space programs, said Tuesday that construction restrictions were too stringent in the initial 2009 covenants at the park, which is likely what keeps tenants away. Wolff was recently elected chairman of the WRP Council.
The council voted unanimously last week to approve the final site plan as presented by VA Space / Rocket Lab. The vote was based on the recommendation from the Site Plan Review Committee, which was composed of council members.
The detailed plans provided to the county were marked “not for public release” and were not made available to the Eastern Shore Post. But according to the council meeting minutes, which were provided, requirements were waived for design, delivery, loading doors and docks, and dumpster enclosures. Security fencing and designs and plans for storage tank systems were approved.
“I’m glad to see that things are starting to move forward in a more positive way,” said Wolff. “We’ve been a long time without too much activity. This is a good thing,” he added. “Building materials have changed” in 10 years. “We need to update those.”
There was a lot of give and take,” Wolff continued. “In the process, there was a lot of looking back at the covenants.” Since Rocket Lab announced its intentions, there has been more interest in the park, Wolff said.
According to the minutes, the building will be all metal. The covenant called for a maximum of 20 percent metal roofing or siding. Also, more than 5% listed in the covenant will be permitted for a corporate identity or accent color.
A waiver was also made in regard to the pavement in all parking, delivery, and loading areas. In the covenants, no truck entrance doors, loading areas, bays or docks were allowed along a street frontage. Since the Rocket Lab lot is on a corner, the areas would be allowed to face the side road and would be partially screened instead of totally screened.
Security fencing was also approved. A lighting plan will be required before a building permit will be granted. In addition, a fuel tank will be permitted behind the building and the dumpster enclosure will be permitted to be constructed of something other than metal.
