Government Glance for August 8, 2022: Charlottesville Supervisors to discuss solar policy; Both Louisa and Lunenburg Supervisors to consider solar projects
Plus: Charlottesville's Planning Commission will get a briefing on the rewrite of a zoning code that seeks to eliminate as many legislative decisions as possible
This is the 13th installment of a weekly newsletter I’ve created to help me better understand how the various communities of Virginia’s new Fifth Congressional District fit together. After three months, I’m beginning to get to know places where I have never physically attended a meeting. I’m really excited to see how this venture develops over the next few years.
This week was intended to be a shortened edition as I’m on my first vacation in many years, and I’m trying to make time to spend with my extended family. I feel a duty to not fully take the time off, because this work is what I’ve wanted to do my whole life. I graduated from Virginia Tech and take very strongly the alma mater of Ut Prosim.
I also recognize the need to recharge a bit, so this one may slightly shorter even though it’s the second week of the month. I’ll dispense with a summary.
I have decided to not turn on payments for this newsletter at this time, so if you would like to support the work, consider becoming a Patreon member for Town Crier Productions.
Monday, August 8, 2022
Charlotte County Supervisors to consider next steps on solar policy
The seven-member Charlotte County Board of Supervisors meets at 6 p.m. in the County Administration Building. I want to once against thank the clerk for putting pages for each item in the packet. That’s very useful and you’ll see that all referenced below. (meeting agenda and packet)
Supervisors will get straight to work with a public hearing on a Conditional Use Permit for an entity called Love Over Crisis. The proposal is to convert a “fraternal building” at 1839 Thomas Jefferson Highway for “office spaces for human services.”
Later in the meeting, Supervisors will opt for a way forward. This summer, the Board has approved two large utility-scale solar projects but in July they discussed whether to impose a moratorium.
“At the July 2022 meeting, the Board was provided with four options to consider,” reads the staff report. “By consensus, the Board did not want to remove solar as a permitted use, and, to a lesser degree, did not want to continue with the status quo.”
The county’s Comprehensive Plan is currently under review, and one option is to see how that process plays out. There has been interest for at least three more developments.
Other items on the agenda include:
A vote on a policy to allow for remote participation by Supervisors in specific instances
According to the report from administrator Daniel Witt, there will be a presentation from Riverstreet Networks about a request for that firm to seek more funding through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) in the 2023 cycle. Charlotte County is applying much of its American Rescue Plan Act funding to VATI projects through public-private partnerships.
Also according to the report, staff is working to get Heartland Park cleared as a Tier IV ranking through the Virginia Business Ready Sites program
The launch of a new website for Charlotte County is tentatively scheduled for October 15
Buckingham Supervisors to get update on creation of metal mining ordinance
The Buckingham County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Peter Francisco Auditorium in the county complex on Route 60 in Buckingham County Courthouse.
After the usual opening items, there will be three presentations.
A representative from the Virginia Department of Forestry will make the annual presentation on why DOF seeks a payment in lieu of taxes for sale of timber from the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest
There’s a presentation on a resolution in memory of Bonnie Lou LeSueur Wood
Brian Watson of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources will seek support for a plan to restore James River spinymussel into the James River within Buckingham County.
There are several land use public hearings. Supervisors were introduced to these items at a previous meeting.
A landowner on Banton Shop Road in the Maysville Magisterial District seeks a special use permit to operate a private school on a 108.5 acre agricultural property.
A landowner on Bransford Road in Arvonia in the Marshall Magisterial District seeks a special use permit to operate an AirBnB, campsites, and an event center for up to 1,500 guests.
Piedmont Companies seek a special use permit to open a Family Dollar Tree on two acres at 25766 North James Madison Highway in New Canton in the Marshall Magisterial District.
The property owners who are selling those two acres to Piedmont Companies also seek a special use permit to operate a feed store on another section of the land that they will retain the use of.
Tiger Fuel seeks a zoning text amendment to allow for Natural Gas Storage and Distribution as a use in B-1 districts as well as a special use permit to operate such a facility on Buckingham Centre in the Curdsville Magisterial District.
An applicant seeks to reopen a convenience center at 2626 W. James Anderson Highway in the James River Magisterial District. This requires a special use permit.
There are several other zoning matters being introduced for a future meeting and for the sake of brevity I’ll wait to detail those for now.
Other items of note:
Supervisors will take an official vote on whether to approve $5,000 to help with travel expenses for the Youth League’s recent travel to the World Series in Dothan, Alabama. The Coach Pitch team took third place.
Buckingham will hold a public hearing on September 12 for a budget adjustment related to new information related to the school’s budget.
There will be an update on the metal mining ordinance
Halifax County Supervisors to hold redistricting public hearing
The Halifax Board of Supervisors met last week, but have business they have continued to a special meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. According to the clerk, “the location of tonight’s meeting has been moved to the downstairs conference room at the Mary Bethune building.”
The first item is a public hearing on the redistricting ordinance. Learn more about what’s in the proposal in this article in the South Boston Gazette-Virginia.
After that, Supervisors will vote on several zoning matters to be advertised for public hearing on September 20 with the Planning Commission. These are:
Proposing Retail Stores to be allowed in A-1, Agriculture District with approved CUP
Proposing RV/Camper Parks to be allowed in a B-2 Commercial District with approved CUP
Add Definition for Temporary Housing
Proposed Requirement of an approved Septic and Well System where 2 or less Campers or
RVs are on a single lot with no other dwelling
Add Definition for Self-Contained Camping Unit
In another meeting:
The Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. but there is no agenda posted on the meeting materials page. You can watch live at that time on the county’s YouTube channel.
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Charlottesville PC to get update on zoning rewrite
The Charlottesville Planning Commission will meet in CitySpace at 5 p.m. for a pre-meeting followed by a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. City Council usually joins them at 6 p.m. for a joint public hearing, but that’s not the case this time around. (meeting info)
There’s only one item on the agenda, and that’s an update on the Zoning Approach and Diagnostic report. There’s not much in the agenda packet, which is good because I want to keep this one short. But more information is on the way.
“Next week (week of the August 16th), we will have a report describing the inclusionary zoning proposal and an analysis of the potential real estate market response to new zoning based on the policies of the adopted Comprehensive Plan,” writes James Freas, the city’s director of Neighborhood Development Services.
There are answers to some questions Planning Commissioners asked since the last update in July as well as other clarifications.
The idea is to eliminate the Entrance Corridor Review Board and write rules into the zoning code that would give staff authority to make determinations
The approval of critical slopes by City Council would be eliminated in favor of approvals by staff
The calculation of building heights would be altered to allow more flexibility and height bonuses would be allowed for medium intensity and higher intensity residential districts, as well as for mixed-use nodes.
Staff is considering eliminating parking requirements in General and Medium Intensity residential areas and the decision on whether to provide parking would be up to property owners rather than the zoning ordinance.
Properties that redevelop with more than four units would be required to provide amenities
A final draft of the Zoning Diagnostic and Approach will go to the City Council and the Planning Commission at a meeting on September 27.
Nelson County to get an update on Comprehensive Plan, public hearing on kennel changes
The Nelson County Board of Supervisors meets at 2 p.m. at the General District Courtroom in Lovingston. The public hearings will happen at the 7 p.m. meeting. (packet)
In the afternoon session, there are two presentations. One is from the Virginia Department of Transportation and the other is from the Berkley Group on the Comprehensive Plan review that has gotten underway this summer.
“The Nelson 2042 website was published in mid-June,” reads a written update. “Since then, the site has gained over 100 subscribers and the Idea Wall has an active list of comments and ideas on a variety of topics.”
The results will be presented to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors at a meeting in September.
An online survey has had over 540 responses with 87 percent coming from county residents, and half are over the age of 65. The Berkley Group is also suggesting holding additional community engagement due to a lack of diversity at two of the three public workshops held to date.
Under new business, there will be further consideration of the naming of a railroad carrying Route 6 over the Norfolk Southern railroad line after the late Goffrey Edward Miles, who served more than 45 years with the Faber Volunteer Fire Department.
After that there will be an update from the interim county administrator. In the written report, we learn that the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is considering applying for a Safe Streets for All grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. An official request for Nelson County to participate will come before the Board at their September 13 meeting.
Before the evening meeting, Supervisors will go into a closed session at which potential litigation pertaining to the Region 2000 Services Authority.
In the evening meeting, there will be a public hearing on the definition of “kennel” and a proposal to require a special use permit for that use on agriculturally zoned land. The proposed new definition is:
“A place where the primary use is to house board, breed, handle, groom, train, or otherwise keep or care for dogs, cats or similar small animals for sale or in return for compensation. Kennels may include associated facilities necessary to support the operation including but not limited to office space, meeting space, and temporary lodging accommodations exclusive to those clients training with the animals.”
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the change at their July 27 meeting.
Prince Edward County to consider local match for improvements to industrial park
The Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors meets at 7 p.m. There’s a lot of mundane business, but my view is that nothing is mundane or unworthy of review. (agenda packet)
One interesting item on the consent agenda included in the packet is a review of services rendered by the county attorney for various services rendered. There is a detailed list ranging from an email discussion with County Administrator Douglas Stanley on July 2, 2021 about suspending comp time for certain employees to a September 27, 2021 email about an unclaimed body.
Also on the consent agenda is a request from the Appomattox Young Farmers to hold a truck and tractor pull on September 3 at the Five County Fairgrounds, as well as a request from the Five County Fair Association to hold a fair from September 27 to October 1.
As with Buckingham County, Prince Edward Supervisors will get a review from the Virginia Department of Forestry about a payment in lieu of taxes on timber sales, but this one is for the Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership considers Prince Edward County to be “doubly distressed” which means they will only have to pay 25 percent of a match for a grant for water and sewer improvements for the Heartland Innovative Technology Park. That will still require Supervisors to pay $359,900 toward the project.
In other meetings:
The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. in the Cumberland Courthouse at 17 Courthouse Circle. There’s no agenda at publication time.
The two committees of the Lynchburg City Council meet, but there’s no agenda on the main meeting page. The Physical Development Committee meets at 8 a.m. and the Finance Committee meets at 11:30 a.m. There are seven members of the City Council. (meeting page)
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
There may or may not be a relevant meeting today. I’ve checked, but don’t see one, so it’s time to move on to the next day.
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Lunenburg to hold public hearing on solar installation
The Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Lunenburg County Courts Building. (meeting packet)
The main item on the agenda is a public hearing for a conditional use permit for a medium-scale solar array in Kenridge for 4 megawatts. The public hearing will also cover a solar siting agreement. Apex Clean Energy is the applicant. The Planning Commission recommended approval 5-1.
The rest of the meeting features a lot of updates and small actions. One is a resolution honoring the Lunenburg County Youth Baseball Majors Division II All-Stars for a successful season. They won both the District Five Championship as well as the State Championship. They also traveled to the World Series in Anderson, South Carolina and were runners-up. That’s the highest title ever received by a Lunenburg County team.
Louisa County Planning Commission to have five public hearings, one on a solar installation
The Louisa County Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. in the Louisa County Public Meeting Room. (meeting packet)
There are five public hearings:
An applicant seeks a rezoning of nearly 19 acres from Resort Development to Agricultural for a family subdivision at the site of the Small Country Campground.
An applicant seeks a rezoning request from C-2 to R-2 to allow for a special exception request for a minimum lot size reduction.
An applicant seeks a request to exceed the maximum building heights in R-2 districts for a specific building on Lake Anna. The structure would 46 feet and 8 inches, above the 40 feet restriction.
The Louisa County Industrial Development Authority is asking to rezone 61.749 acres from industrial to agricultural for land south of the Louisa County Airport.
Turkey Solar LLC is seeking a conditional use permit for a 15.6 megawatt solar installation that will be connected to Dominion’s power grid. The property is two miles south of the Town of Gordonsville. The property was a turkey farm until the pandemic when those operations ceased. The LLC is associated with Pinegate Renewables.
