Government Glance for June 27, 2022: Powhatan to adopt several zoning changes to reflect 2021 comp plan update; Lynchburg to consider cemetery expansion, lighted sports complex
Another exploration of what's happening at local government meetings across Virginia's Fifth Congressional District
We’re very close to the end of the fiscal year, and the beginning of a new one! New state laws will go into effect on Friday, and new municipal budgets will commence.
This newsletter seeks to inform you of what’s happening at local government meetings in the 24 localities within Virginia’s new Fifth Congressional District. This is the seventh in a pilot project that’s changing the way I visualize the political landscape. I’m still learning the details, and this week there aren’t as many. It’s the fourth week of the month, and those tend to be a little slower.
For now, this weekly look at agendas focuses only on elected bodies as well as information about Comprehensive Plans. I will slowly add more information over time and this installment includes a couple of items that are included within this week’s Week Ahead, a regular feature on my Charlottesville Community Engagement. I am interested in infrastructure, and the two non-elected bodies in this one reflect the kind of information I want know more about as I continue this work.
This is a service of Town Crier Productions and consider becoming a Patreon supporter to keep this project going. At some point I will likely add a paid tier to this project, but for now, let’s get to it!
Monday, June 27, 2022
Bedford County Supervisors to review possible transportation projects
The new Fifth Congressional District only covers the easternmost portion of Bedford County, but that includes the unincorporated and fast-growing community of Forest. I’m looking forward to learning more about how things work in this urbanizing portion of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Bedford County had a population count of 79,462 in 2020 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The current projections from Weldon Cooper Center’s Demographics Research Unit estimates that will grow to 86,699 in 2035.
The final deadline to apply for funding in the next round of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Smart Scale program is coming up later this summer, but pre-authorizations were due on April 1.
Bedford County has five projects in the hopper, and the Board of Supervisors will have a work session beginning at 5 p.m. on the candidates under consideration. One of them also involves Campbell County and would see corridor improvements along U.S. 460 at the border in New London. (meeting information)
The others are:
A reconfiguration of the intersection of Route 803 and U.S. 460
Two applications for sidewalks on U.S. 221 in Forest
A roundabout at the intersection of Route 24 and Route 122
There are three public hearings In the regular session that begins at 7 p.m. The first is for a special use permit for a carwash in Moneta at the intersection of Route 122 and Rucker Road. The Planning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend approval for this permit which is on land designated as “Mixed Use” in the Future Land Use Map.
The second is for a special use permit to repurpose and expand an existing building on Enterprise Drive in Forest. PLS LLC also wants to build a printing plant on an adjacent property that is currently underdeveloped. The Planning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend approval.
The third public hearing is for the redistricting of the county’s magisterial districts.
In the first action items, Supervisors will be asked to adopt a resolution related to the county’s use of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. So far, Bedford has used nearly $10 million of its $15.3 million in ARPA funding for broadband infrastructure. Staff recommends the balance be used under a category related to “revenue loss” to make up for the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That will be followed by an official resolution on the Smart Scale applications, followed by a vote to approve a contract with Shentel related to a broadband grant from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI).
Budget adoption in Nelson County coming down to the wire
The new fiscal year begins on Friday, and the Nelson County Board of Supervisors will meet in closed session to adopt a budget that began developer under one administrator and will be finalized under a second. Candace McGarry has replaced Steve Carter in the position.
One of the biggest sticking points has been how much additional funding to give to Nelson County public schools to assist with retention and recruitment. Supervisors have settled on a $2.5 million boost for FY23, which will include a five percent salary increase for all employees, a $17-an-hour minimum wage, and a $1,000 bonus in December.
Supervisors have also agreed to increase the capital budget by $2.6 million to acquire property. That will take the form of an additional $2.6 million in bonds. They’ll convene in the General District Court Room at the Courthouse in Lovingston at 9 a.m. (meeting packet)
Nelson County’s population is expected to remain flat at just below 15,000 between the 2020 Census and Weldon Cooper’s 2035 projection.
Open house meeting for Charlottesville zoning code rewrite
Two of the three components of Charlottesville’s update of its overarching land use policies are complete, and the work towards the third is moving along. Tonight, the Cville Plans Together initiative will hold an open house at the Ting Pavilion to detail what’s known as the Zoning Diagnostic and Approach report. (read the draft)
“This zoning rewrite project is not about adding more plans, goals, or objectives – this work is entirely focused on implementing the Affordable Housing Plan and the Comprehensive Plan,” writes James Freas, the city’s director of Neighborhood Development Services.
What’s in the document? Take a look at my story from last week. The open house runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (meeting info)
Powhatan County to vote on zoning amendment to allow accessory dwelling units by-right in some areas
The Powhatan Board of Supervisors will hold their regular meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. They gather at the Village Building Auditorium. (meeting info)
Under old business, there will be a resolution of support for Powhatan’s Smart Scale Applications. These include:
A Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) Intersection at Route 13, U.S. 60, and Academy Road
An RCUT at Judes Ferry, U.S. 60, and New Dorset Road
An RCUT at Dorset, U.S. 60, and Batterson Road
A Continuous Green-T intersection at Red Lane Road and U.S. 60
There’s also a proposal to raise funds through the Public-Private Education and Facilities and Infrastructure Act (PPEA) of 2002 to build a solid waste convenience center, an extension of Cartier Gallier Boulevard to get there, and facilitate development of future commercial or light industrial properties.
There will be a public hearing on an ordinance change related to extending the personal property and real estate tax deadline.
There are several public hearings related to changes to the zoning code.
One would eliminate the need for a conditional use permit for accessory dwelling units in several zoning districts including R-2, A-10, Rural Residential 5, and others.
Another would create new definitions under the zoning code to create a new use of wood and stump recycling.
Another would add contractor storage yards as a by-right use in industrial districts and a conditional use requiring a permit in areas zoned A-10 and Commerce Center.
Another would update several more intense zoning districts to be in line with Economic Opportunity areas identified in Powhatan’s 2021 Comprehensive Plan
The final public hearing relates to property that Powhatan County wishes to acquire through condemnation for the Eastern Convenience center described above.
In other meetings:
The Halifax Board of Supervisors meet today, but I can’t seem to figure out how to download the agenda. You have a go at the meeting information page! In any case, Weldon Cooper projects the population of Halifax declining from the U.S. 2020 count of 34,022 to 31,317 in 2035.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Lynchburg City Council to vote on LCA lighted sports complex, derelict building rules
The seven-member Lynchburg City Council meets for a work session beginning at 4 p.m. followed by a regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. (work session agenda) (regular meeting agenda)
Before we start, Lynchburg is projected to add about 13,000 residents between 2020 and 2035. The Census count is 80,395 and the Weldon Cooper projection for 2035 is 93,741.
The main component of the work session is redistricting. The 2010 Census recorded 75,532, indicating that rebound in Lynchburg has occurred and is underway.
Four of the seven members are elected at-large and in May, Council asked for some changes. None of those four districts are up for election this year, and a public hearing is scheduled for July 26, 2022. The three at-large seats are up this fall as Lynchburg holds its first November elections for Council. (staff report)
Later in the regular meeting, Council will consider a switch to move the mayoral election to January to align with the new election schedule. Otherwise they would happen in July.
Council has the practice of holding a work session on an item that will be the subject of a public hearing and vote at a future regular meeting. At this meeting, they’ll review two rezoning applications.
In the first, a developer seeks a rezoning from R-3 to R-4 for 2237 Rivermont Avenue to allow for expansion of an existing building constructed in 1912 to ten apartments. The current use of seven is nonconforming and the rezoning is a necessary step. The Planning Commission voted 5 to 0 with one absence to recommend approval.The Future Land Use Map designates the property as Traditional Residential. (staff report)
In the second, there is a request to amend the Comprehensive Plan for an undeveloped property on Leesville Road. KAL Holdings seeks to change the designation of 620 Leesville Road from Community Commercial to Medium Density Residential. That’s a first step toward a rezoning from B-1 to R-3 to allow for the construction of four duplexes.
In the evening session, there are four public hearings.
The first is for approval of the FY23 Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program. (staff report)
The second is for a Conditional Use Permit for a lighted sports complex for the Liberty Christian Academy. A previous permit that allowed for a larger capacity has expired and this one asks for the ability to hold up 4,121 spectators. (staff report)
The third is for a conditional use permit for the expansion of Spring Hill Cemetery with a new exit onto Stadium Road. (staff report)
The fourth is for a Conditional Use Permit for the New Vistas School to build a gymnasium and an addition to provide more classroom space. (staff report)
In general business, Council will be presented with amendments to City Code to allow for enforcement of action on derelict buildings. (staff report)
Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority to vote on alternative for Central Water Line
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority was formed in 1972 to build and operate the municipal water and wastewater system for both Albemarle and Charlottesville.
Last week, staff with the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority presented City Council with information about their preferred alternative for the Central Water Line, a five-mile pipe that will connect the Observatory Water Treatment Plant with the Pantops area. The preferred option would run underneath Cherry Avenue.
At their meeting today at 2:15 p.m., the RWSA Board of Directors will vote to finalize an alignment for the project. Staff’s recommendation is based on an analysis that claims this route would have the lowest impacts to traffic, the lowest costs, and greatest benefit to the overall system. (meeting info)
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Community meeting for major solar project in Albemarle
Hexagon Energy is proposing a utility-scale solar facility across nine parcels of land in the Scottsville District totaling 2,259 acres with panels on 650 acres. They need two special use permits for the 138 megawatt “solar energy system” and “energy and communications transmission facilities.”
A virtual community meeting will be held at 5 p.m. (application narrative) (meeting info)
“The property has been historically used for timbering of planted pine over the last 80 years and a significant portion of the site is already cleared,” reads the narrative. “The project will deliver over 315 million kiloWatt hours of clean, emissions free power to our electrical grid, enough to power over 25,000 homes each year.”
Thursday, June 30, 2022
It’s the final day of the Fiscal Year. Goodbye, FY22! What lessons have you learned? What are you policy hopes and dreams for FY23?
Friday, July 1, 2022
Welcome, FY23!
Will there ever come a time when the fiscal year gets more recognition than news articles about what new state laws take effect? Today, 24 municipal budgets take effect, making changes in each of the localities I’m hoping to cover in this newsletter. Thanks for reading this ongoing experiment. Please share it with others you think might want to know more about how local government works for nearly a million Virginians.