Charlotte Supervisors to consider addition to solar project; Through truck restriction on Monroe Church Road before Prince Edward Supervisors
Plus: Lynchburg City Council to hold several land use resolutions
As I keep saying, the goal is to get these newsletters out a day before the meetings. Sometimes the routine is hard to maintain. Yet I am beginning to hatch a plan to bring on help to produce this newsletter.
The goal is to provide a better sense of what Virginia’s Fifth District Congressional District looks like from the level of local government. I’m confident there are many people who will benefit from its continued production and its future growth. For now, the best way to support is through the Patreon account for Town Crier Productions.
This time around, I need to dispense with the summary up top, but do confess here I missed the Mecklenburg Board of Supervisors. But you can watch the whole this here now:
Prince Edward Supervisors to consider through truck restriction on Monroe Church Road
The eight members of the Prince Edward Board of Supervisors meet at 7 p.m. in the County Board Room at 111 N. South Street, Third Floor, Farmville. (meeting packet)
The meeting begins with the call to order, the Invocation ,the Pledge of Allegiance, conflict of interest disclosures, recognitions, and public participation. There are 20 minutes set aside for the latter.
Then Supervisors will make their comments.
After the consent agenda, there will be community partner updates from Superintendent of Schools Barbara Johnson, Chip Jones of the Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Jake Romaine of the Farmville Downtown Partnership.
Then Scott Frederick will present Highway Matters with Scott Frederick of the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Next up is an update on through truck restrictions on Monroe Church Road. A public hearing on the matter was held in September.
“State Route 640 is approximately 1.7 miles of Rural Rustic, surface-treated roadway with a current speed limit of 35 mph,” reads a proposed resolution to request VDOT proceed with the restriction. “Large trucks are using State Route 640 as a ‘short-cut or cut-through’ between State Route 696 and U.S. 460 creating safety concerns for residents as large trucks are not compatible with the neighborhood and the width of the roadway.”
Supervisors opted to not make a decision last month and wanted to wait until after getting crash data for the road as well as a solution for site distance issue on a proposed alternative route.
There are three items under the Emergency Management Report. They are a mutual aid agreement with Charlotte County, a request for funding for motor replacements for two vehicles, and a Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant of $162,585 for 21 thermal imaging cameras.
The mutual agreement has been through the Public Safety Committee and the Prince Edward Area Fire Fighters Association. The latter voted to support the execution of the agreement on September 27.
“There was also discussion on approaching the other surrounding counties and executing similar agreements along with reviewing the fire department districts to ensure the closest departments are being dispatched to assist with incidents in Prince Edward County,” reads the staff report. (page 89)
Under the Finance and Human Services Report there are six items including a resolution to appropriate a two percent salary increase for state funded positions that is contained with the recently adopted Virginia budget.
Another item is an authorization of a public hearing for a request from the School Board for $1,763,012.93 from its CARES ACT budget. That would be at the November meeting.
Next is a discussion of Operation Green Light for Veterans to be marked from November 1 to November 11.
“This program encourages partnering communities to light up their courthouses with green lights to signify appreciation for the sacrifices of our United States military personnel,” reads the staff report. (page 113)
There are also reports from County Attorney Terri Atkins Wilson and a report from County Administrator Doug Stanley.
There are no public hearings.
Charlotte County Supervisors to hold public hearing to add land to the Tall Pines Solar project
The seven member Board of Supervisors in Charlotte County will meet at 5 p.m. for a work session on next steps for obtaining revenue from solar projects. Then the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Board Room of the County Administration Office, 250 LeGrande Avenue, Suite A, Charlotte Court House, Virginia, 23923. (meeting packet)
At the top of the meeting, there will be three public hearings.
One is on a request from Tall Pines Solar LLC to amend an existing special use permit to add 52 acres to the project. Supervisors voted to approve the permit on August 2, 2022.
“The applicant stated that this addition will ‘enable the project to achieve a more compact and efficient design,’” reads the staff report. (page 22)
The second is an amendment to the zoning code for poultry confined animal feeding operations in the wake of the closure of Tyson’s Hanover County processing facility. The Planning Commission was asked to find ways to amend the code and the Planning Commission voted unanimously to several changes.
The minimum acreage required would be reduced from 100 acres to 15 acres
The minimum number of animals required would be reduced
The third public hearing is to amend the boundaries and the incentives for Enterprise Zone 48.
“Joint Enterprise Zone #48 consists of the Counties of Charlotte, Prince Edward, and Lunenburg,” reads a staff report. (page 48)
County staff have been working with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and the Town of Keysville to expand its boundaries to that locality. There are various incentives for businesses in these areas.
There is a report from the Planning Commission on their September 21, 2023 Comprehensive Plan review of the 150 megawatt CPV County Line solar project. That appointed body found that the project would be “substantially in accord” with the plan. If Supervisors concur, the item will go to the Planning Commission in November.
Then there are various items from the Commonwealth Regional Council. (page 73)
The CRC is assisting Charlotte County with an update of the Comprehensive Plan. The last work session with the Planning Commission was on September 21 and the group agreed to not proceed with a proposal to put a cap on the total acreage that could be used for solar projects. The PC’s public hearing for the draft plan is on October 19.
Several land use items before Lynchburg City Council including 44 units on Leesville Road
The seven member Lynchburg City Council will meet for a work session at 4 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 900 Church Street in Lynchburg. The regular meeting is at 7:30 p.m. (meeting portal)
There are three work session items.
The first is on the process for how non-profit organizations are funded. This report lays out which ones must be funded by law and which ones are by contract. (staff report) (presentation)
The second is on the hazardous waste program offered by Public Works. (staff report) (presentation)
The third is for an easement with Appalachian Power Company. (staff report)
There is one business item. This is for the 12th Street Stabilization project for which Council selected an alternative on September 26. (staff report).
Under roll call, there are two items brought forward by Councilmembers. Councilmember Hegelson wants a public hearing on harmful regulations. Councilmember Misjuns wants an ordinance to establish terms for Council appointees.
The work session ends with a closed session. This one is for:
“Consideration of a closed meeting to discuss the investment of public funds to assist in securing the expansion of a prospective business where bargaining is involved, where if made public initially, the financial interest of the City would be adversely affected, pursuant to Sections 2.2-3711(A)(5) and 2.2-3711(A)(6) of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended.”
There are several public hearings.
There are six business item briefings that preview future votes.
There is an appeal of a decision by the Historic Preservation Commission to deny a Certificate of Appropriateness at 713 Pearl Street. This will be before Council at the October 10, 2023 meeting. (staff report)
There is a request for a Conditional Use Permit for 333, 335, and 337 College Street to allow the University of Lynchburg to operate office space in the R-2 zoned neighborhood. (staff report)
The University of Lynchburg also wants to operate a laundry facility at 504 Westwood Avenue. That also takes a conditional use permit. The public hearing is on October 10. (staff report)
There is a discussion for a 44-unit development at 532 and 536 Leesville Road that requires a Conditional Use Permit. This is also on the October 10 agenda. (staff report)
The University of Lynchburg also wants to operate a laundry facility at 504 Westwood Avenue. That also takes a conditional use permit. The public hearing is on October 10. (staff report)
There’s a conditional use permit and request to amend the Future Land Use Map to allow a 19-unit apartment complex at 3146 and 3150 Wards Ferry Road. Also October 10. This is across the street from Heritage High School. (staff report)
The aforementioned easement with Appalachian Power Company is the final public hearing. (staff report)
There are several people who have signed up in advance to speak under public comment. Several of them relate to the closure of T.C. Elementary School.
Under general business, Council will adopt the 2024 legislative agenda for Lynchburg. Here’s a link to the draft with edits from some Councilmembers.
The final items are action on the 12th Street Stabilization project (staff report) and budget adjustments for FY24 (staff report).
Reading material for the jurisdictions above:
Clarksville gets money to start Cove Project, SoVaNow.com. September 27, 2023
Business alliance touts opportunities from solar projects, SoVaNow.com. September 28, 2023
Prince Edward Supervisors look to the future at NAACP forum, Brian Carlton, Farmville Herald, October 4, 2023
Board addresses community questions after school closure vote, Emma Martin, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), October 5, 2023
Commissioner of Revenue candidates answer questions at forum, Brian Carlton, Farmville Herald, October 6, 2023
Prince Edward School Board may raise substitute teacher pay, Brian Carlton, Farmville Herald, October 9, 2023