Bedford Supervisors to get update on property appraisals; Historic marker review in Charlotte; Buckingham to vote on solar proposals
The first of at least three installments of this look at local and regional government in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District
Welcome to another installment of this experimental newsletter that seeks to expand my knowledge of the local government across the entire Fifth District. I say “experimental” because I’m still improvising it as I try to also cover the area around Charlottesville as close as possible on Charlottesville Community Engagement.
But over these past seven months, I’m learning how to find the rhythm of all of the localities that make up the Fifth District. I am no expert at all, but my hope is to become knowledgeable about all of these places. In the past two weeks I’ve been adding information about Supervisor seats across the various counties that are up for election next fall. I’m not clear yet to what extent I will be able to cover all of that.
I shall give it the old college try. After all, I am a 1995 graduate of Virginia Tech, a place where my journalism career got its start. I truly believe the education I received in my time in Blacksburg prepared me for the public service work that I have practiced for all of these years. Ut Prosim, after all.
What will 2023 bring? Too far in the future. I can say that this is perhaps the last busy week of 2022. I will be keeping an eye on things, but it’s likely there will not be an installment next week. But, I don’t know that yet, for the research has not been done yet. The future hasn’t happened yet! If this is your first installment, sign up. And please drop me a line by responding to the email to ask any question you might have.
Monday, December 12, 2022
Bedford to hold work session on upcoming reassessment; rezoning for Forest property from commercial to agricultural
The seven-member Bedford County Board of Supervisors meets for a work session at 5 p.m. and a regular meeting at 7 p.m. They meet in the administration building and this is their last meeting of the year. (meeting info)
The work session will feature a discussion from Wingate Appraisal regarding assessments in Bedford County.
“Wingate staff members are now compiling market data from different areas of the County, verifying existing information, photographing properties and collecting additional data, as needed,” reads the website of the Commissioner of the Revenue. “Wingate staff members carry County identification and have “Real Estate Assessment” magnetic signs on their automobiles. Wingate vehicle descriptions will also be registered with the Sheriff’s Office.”
The real property tax rate for the current calendar year is $0.50 per $100 of assessed value.
There are three public hearings in the regular meeting:
A property owner seeks a rezoning of 10 acres in Election District #4 from Office District (C-1) to Agricultural Village (AV) to establish agricultural uses. The Planning Commission recommended approval 6-0. The Comprehensive Plan currently designates the land as mixed-use but it is nearby but not directly adjacent to land labeled as “Agricultural / Natural Resource Stewardship” upon which a historic home is located.
The description for AV district states: "The purpose of the AV, Village center district is to establish areas which will serve as the focal point for cultural and commercial activity of the rural service areas of the county.”There’s an amendment to county’s taxation ordinance which would allow the Commissioner of the Revenue to make refunds up to $10,000, up from the current $5,000 threshold. Another change would alter the way new buildings are assessed.
There’s an amendment to the fire prevention and protection ordinance to create a new position to handle emergency management functions. Currently that role belongs to the fire chief.
There are two action items.
One of the consideration of an award to Jamerson-Lewis Construction for the renovation and improvements to the Bedford County Courthouse. This project was previously bid in 2019 and bids came in over estimate. The project has a $1.4 million estimate now and a second solicitation came in at $15,000 over that amount.
There will be a consideration of approval of the county’s 2023 legislative priorities. These include support for broadband expansion, locating an Amtrak station in the Town of Bedford, incorporating technical education at the middle school level, defense of the right to own guns with no government restrictions, and the ability to impose impact fees to help cover the cost of development.
They also seek an independent review of credentials for volunteer fire and rescue personnel.
“The increasing levels of complexity to serve one’s community in these roles are driving potential qualified candidates away from assisting and by default creating a no-win situation,” reads priority #11. “The County recognizes that industry, credentialing standards are important; but urban friendly, large budget policies are being propagated as a one size fits all solution by the State oversight agencies.”
Supervisors also seek the allowance of 200-foot no wake zones on navigable bodies of water such as Leesville Lake and Smith Mountain Lake.
Bedford also is putting in for specific requests in the state budget.
$500,000 for a master plan for the 145 acres in Montvale currently occupied by fuel tanks that are no longer in use. “Site readiness, utility upgrades, decommissioning, and remediation needs review in collaboration with the tank operators to yield a document helpful for redevelopment opportunities in what is currently an economically depressed area only 20 miles from Interstate 81.”
$3,000,000 to cover cost overruns for the Bedford Regional Water Authority to upgrade a sewer lift station to accommodate further growth in Forest.
Charlotte Supervisors to review historic markers, adaptive reuse rezoning
The seven-member Charlotte County Board of Supervisors will meet at 5 p.m. for a work session and a regular meeting at 6 p.m. (meeting info) (agenda packet)
The work session is a presentation on a study of Charlotte County fire and rescue results. This is not available online.
After the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, there will be a public hearing for a conditional use permit for a multi-family apartment complex. This would be an adaptive reuse of a commercial building at 125 Garden Road in Red Oak. The property owners wants to convert it into three apartments with no more than five bedrooms. The Planning Commission recommended the approval 11 to 0.
Next, Supervisors will be asked if it wants to purchase two additional communications towers. One pair had been donated to the county on school property in September 2019. They had been bought for something described in the staff report as “the failed TV white space project.” The county now brings $935 a month in revenue from the tower. Does the county want to go through with this additional transfer?
Supervisors will also get more details on historic markers throughout the county. In October, the Board agreed to pay for a new sign at the Lunenburg County border. They asked for an update on the rest.
Some highlights from the report from Administrator Daniel Witt.
The county received one inquiry from a developer seeking to install a solar facility, but the county has a moratorium on new applications until January 1, 2024. The Berkeley Group has been hired to work the county on updating the Comprehensive Plan with respect to solar and other renewable forms of energy.
A county compensation study is being implemented and employees will be sent emails explaining how they are effect. Changes take effect on January 1, 2023.
The position of 911 Coordinator is now advertised as is a deputy position in the Commission of Revenue’s office. Take a look!
Buckingham Supervisors to consider one solar project, terminate rights for another
The seven-member Buckingham County Board of Supervisors meets at 6 p.m. in the Peter Francisco Auditorium in the County Administration Complex on Route 60. (packet)
After the regular start to the meeting, (invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, public comments, and presentations) there will be a presentation from the Virginia Department of Transportation. There are no public hearings at this meeting, but there are three zoning matters.
Riverstone Solar wishes to vacate a previous application approved by the Board in November 2021. This would end any rights conveyed at that time.
Rosney Creek Solar LLC seeks to operate a five megawatt facility on 55 acres of a 439 acre property. That company is associated with Apex Clean Energy of Charlottesville.
An applicant seeks to operate a medical office at a home on Troublesome Creek Road.
In other matters, there will be a resolution on having the Commonwealth Regional Council conduct the Comprehensive Plan review. There’s also a discussion and a potential vote on the formation of a committee to review the recent report from the Governor and the General Assembly on the potential impact of gold mining and processing in Virginia. (read the study)
Reading material for this installment:
Solar expected to bring $45M in revenue to Halifax County over 35-year period, Miranda Baines, South Boston Gazette-Virginian, December 6, 2022
Albemarle County launches Affordable Connectivity Bridge Program, Dominga Murray, NBC29, December 8, 2022
Historic courthouse in Fluvanna County needs more than $1 million in funding for restoration project, Madison McNamee, NBC29, December 8, 2022
Lynchburg Fire Department welcomes new tower, medic trucks to fleet, Bryson Gordon, Lynchburg News & Advance, December 8, 2022
Amherst County staff permitted to hold officer positions in volunteer agencies, Justin Faulconer, Amherst New Era-Progress, December 9, 2022
Large crowd attends Virginia MetalFab/Stallworks open house in Appomattox; Gov. Youngkin speaks, Charles Conrad, Appomattox Times-Virginian, December 9, 2022
Five-year enrollment projection trends downward in Bedford County public schools, analysis shows, Shannon Kelley, Lynchburg News & Advance, December 9, 2022
Amherst board targets funding options for Gateway sewer project in Madison Heights, Justin Faulconer, Amherst New Era-Progress, December 9, 2022