Government Glance for June 6, 2022: Campbell County considering alternative procurement format for Brookville High School expansion; Halifax amending FY22 budget for $100M high school project
Another look at what's happening at local meetings from Virginia's Fifth District
Welcome to the fourth installment of an experiment to write up summaries of what’s happening at the meetings of local elected bodies all across the 24 localities of Virginia’s new Fifth District. This builds off the work I’ve been doing on local and regional government for at least the past 15 years as I look ahead to the next ten years.
Every week I learn a little more about the district, and I’m beginning to get a sense of what’s happening outside the place where I have lived for 20 years. I’m learning what localities are in what planning districts and who are the various county administrators and city managers. There’s a lot more to learn as I continue this work and I thank you for reading. There’s a lot that can be learned by finding out how other communities do things.
This newsletter is supported by contributions to the Patreon account for Town Crier Productions. For now, this Substack will remain a free one, but that could change as the work continues.
Some highlights:
Louisa County Supervisors to consider resolution opposing changing name of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library
Charlottesville City Council will officially cancel West Main Streetscape and return $12 million in Smart Scale funding to the state
Campbell County Supervisors will consider alternative procurement for Brookville High School Expansion while Halifax will amend FY22 budget to add $100 million high school project
Halifax gets an update on an ever-expanding list of solar projects while Lunenburg considers a new one
Danville to hold public hearing on skill games at downtown convenience store
Goochland County will hold two communities on two villages to accommodate additional growth
Monday, June 6, 2022
Charlottesville City Council to officially cancel West Main Streetscape project, renew contract for city manager services
There are a lot of transportation components to Charlottesville City Council’s meeting which has two segments. The work session begins in City Council Chambers at 4 p.m. and the regular session happens at 6:30 p.m. (meeting info)
At the work session, the five Council members will be presented with the current draft of the Regional Transit Vision plan that’s being crafted by consultants hired by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Two of the Councilors got the briefing when the Regional Transit Partnership got their briefing in May. (read my story)
The work entails imagining how the overall transit system might look if there was funding available through revenues that might flow through a regional authority. The consultants AECOM and Jarret Walker + Associates estimate that could bring in $26 million. They also produced a vision for what $70 million could bring.
“While the vision plan document has not yet been finalized, the consulting team for the study has started to identify community priorities and sketch out broad goals and recommendations,” reads the staff report written by Lucinda Shannon, a senior regional planner with the TJPDC.
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors got their look on June 1, and I’ll have a write-up on that discussion in a future installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Details about those revenues will likely not come until a separate governance study is conducted. Currently, the city of Charlottesville owns and operates Charlottesville Area Transit. A previous attempt to create a regional transit authority fizzled in the late 2000’s, and the partnership was set up to try to find ways to share ideas and increase cooperation.
Next, Council will get an update from the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau. That organization’s mission is to bring more tourists to the area from across the country. The presentation serves as an introduction to the organization to Council. They are funded by a portion of the transient lodging in both jurisdictions and the city contributed $946,848 to the county’s $606,281 in the FY22 budget. The presentation will detail how that money has been spent and what future initiatives are in the works.
One of these is the Discover Black Cville campaign which began in late March and is running throughout the country. There’s a digital passport that lists more than 20 Black-owned attractions and businesses which sends people to the Jefferson School to receive a prize, according to the presentation.
The report also notes that hotel occupancy was up to around 75 percent in April, slightly higher than in April of 2021. Hotel occupancy was under 25 percent in the first month after the pandemic began.
In the evening session, there’s a public hearing and first of two readings on the utility rates for FY23 for water, wastewater, natural gas, and stormwater.
“Thoughtful, deliberate planning and sufficient financial resources ensure efficient and orderly maintenance and operation of these systems,” reads the staff report. “This need for investment in our utility systems is not without cost, but our utility rates must also be balanced with the need for continued affordability for our customers.”
Rates for water and sewer are increasing because the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority has raised its rates for both the city and the Albemarle County Service Authority. In turn, the city is increasing rates for water and sewer, but is decreasing rates for natural gas. The city is also raising the connection fees for multifamily buildings.
Next, there’s a public hearing on the city’s resolution to grant an extension to the existence of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. The RWSA was created fifty years ago and needs both the city and Albemarle County to authorize another half-century. (staff report)
One side note, the consent agenda has an agreement for who will pay the capital costs for expansion of four water projects to expand capacity in Albemarle’s northern growth area. The ACSA will pay the full debt service for three of these, but the city will pay 10 percent of the cost of a future water storage tank to serve the Airport Road Water Pump Station. (staff report)
After the RWSA public hearing, there’s a first reading of an agreement of a new service agreement between the city and the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail. The agreement was originally adopted in November 1995 and the document has been updated with several new terms, such as “per-diem rate.” (staff report)
The final action item is a resolution that states clearly all of the changes staff seek to make to current transportation projects. These were discussed at a May 24, 2022 work session and my summary goes into more detail, but here’s a summary:
The Virginia Department of Transportation will take over administration of a project to extend the eastbound Route 250 Bypass left turn lane onto Hydraulic Road
A distinct project to add pedestrian improvements at Monticello Avenue and Ridge Street will be canceled and that function will be developed as part of a Smart Scale project with the title 5th Street SW Corridor Improvements
Signal coordination on Emmet Street will be canceled
The entire $55 million West Main Streetscape will be canceled and funding will be returned to VDOT for redistribution
The Preston/Grady Avenue Smart Scale project funded in Round 4 will be canceled
On the consent agenda:
The Board of Architectural Review and the Planning Commission would formally be authorized to hold hybrid meetings (staff report)
The city’s contract with the Robert Bobb Group will be extended to December 31, 2022 and interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers is authorized to hire a police chief (staff report)
Louisa County Board of Supervisors to get update on broadband, opposition of JMRL name change
There’s a lot of business on the agenda of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors meeting that begins in open session at 6 p.m. at the Louisa County Public Meeting Room. (agenda)
I’ll start with something on the consent agenda. The Louisa County Community Development Department has experienced a significant uptick in activity in recent years. For instance, building inspections have increased 139 percent in the past three years. Staff are recommending the Planning Commission take a look at fees in order to find more resources to hire more staff.
Next, there are updates from the Firefly Fiber project, VDOT, and the Louisa County Water Authority, as well a discussion on a proposal to waive landfill tipping fees. There’s also discussion about this November’s proposed referendum on a $16.5 million bond issue to cover the costs of four baseball fields, four rectangular fields, a field house for the Louisa County High School football team, and other amenities. (page 41)
Under action items, there is a resolution to oppose any name change to the Jefferson Madison Regional Library, which was formed in 1972. A group of descendants of enslaved laborers asked for the change at the JMRL Board of Trustees meeting in late May.
“According to information on Jefferson-Madison Regional Library's website, public libraries in Central Virginia have a rich heritage derived from the private libraries of leading forefathers - Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe, who each had extensive personal libraries,” reads the resolution. (page 54)
“The Louisa County Board of Supervisors are opposed to any proposed name changes of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library,” the resolution continues.
David Holtzman writes in The Central Virginian that Board Chairman Duane Adams is behind the resolution, but Tammy Purcel notes the resolution does not include language about defunding JMRL.
Halifax Supervisors to amend FY22 budget to add $100M school project
The eight-member Halifax County Board of Supervisors meets at 6:30 p.m. in the Mary Bethune Office Complex on Mary Bethune Street in Halifax. One thing I really like about their agenda packet is that the table of contents tells you exactly where you can find each item via page number. (agenda packet)
The first public hearing is for an amendment to the FY22 budget to add the $105.2 million bonds raised for a high school construction project. (page 77) The second is for a solid waste management drafted by the Southside Regional Public Service Authority, the entity that runs the Butcher Creek regional landfill. (page 82)
Under new business, Supervisors will officially accept the withdrawal of a conditional use permit for a meat processing facility on Sinai Road. Several people spoke against the project at a joint meeting with the Planning Commission on May 17.
There’s also a review of solar projects, of which there are 600 megawatts currently built and operating on 6,873 acres.
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Campbell Supervisors to hold public hearing on alternate contract process for $40M Brookville High expansion
The Campbell County Board of Supervisors meets at 6 p.m. in the Haberer Building Boardroom and people can watch remotely over Zoom. (agenda)
One of the first items on the agenda is a request to advertise a public hearing on July 19 for changes to the Campbell County Code to reflect changes made in this year’s General Assembly session as well as Supervisors’ directives. Another public hearing for redistricting of the magisterial boundaries will also be held that night.
There are several public hearings. In the first, the owner of a house on Timber Ridge Drive seeks a special use permit to allow a second dwelling unit on the R-1 zoned lot for a family member. The Planning Commission recommended approval 5 to 0. In the second, the owner of a lot on Evington Road that has a manufactured home upon it seeks a reduction in the minimum lot size for a dwelling, given that the existing structure is non-conforming. The Planning Commission also recommended approval on a 5-0 vote. The third public hearing for a lot on Peerman School Road in Altavista is similar.
There is also a public hearing to pursue a new management tool on a $40 million project to renovate and expand Brookville High School. The county seeks to pursue the project under the “Construction Management at Risk” method authorized by the General Assembly in 2017.
“It allows a locality to first procure architectural/engineering services and then select a construction management firm based on qualifications,” reads the staff report. “Since the renovation and expansion of Brookville High School is a complicated, multi-phased project, this procurement method gives better control over scheduling and costs.”
Danville City Council to hold public hearing on ordinance on dwelling unit quality
The nine-member Danville City Council also has a full meeting followed by a work session. The event begins in City Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. (meeting agenda)
The first item under old business is an ordinance to continue the real estate tax rate at 84 cents per $100 of assessed value. (staff report)
Under new business, there’s a public hearing on a change to the zoning ordinance to require minimum building standards.
“The proposed standards address dwelling unit floor area, minimum conditions, storage, perimeter foundations, public utilities, roof construction, gutters, and energy efficiency,” reads the staff report. “The proposed amendment also contains additional standards for one-family dwelling to two-family dwelling conversions and additional standards for Accessory Dwelling Units.”
There’s a second hearing to amend the definition for urban agriculture to allow property owners to have up to four chickens and four beehives. (staff report)
Next, the owner of a convenience store at 900 South Main Street seeks a special use permit to operate a commercial recreation facility that can have up to six skill games. Permission from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority for the machines expired on June 30, 2021, but they were in operation anyway and the city issued a zoning violation. The permit is the remedy, and staff initially recommended denial in early May due to the pending expiration of a court ruling that has allowed the games to continue to operate. That expiration date has been extended to November, so staff is recommending approval with conditions but only until the end of 2022. (staff report)
The fourth public hearing regards an application for $1 million in mass transit funding for FY23. (staff report)
The fifth public hearing is for the city’s budget. Learn more about that on the city’s budget page. Final adoption will be at the June 21 meeting. The budget factors in some fee increases (sixth public hearing) and an increase in the personal property tax on aircraft (seventh public hearing) (staff report)
The work session is for consideration of changes to the city’s personnel system.
Goochland Supervisors to hold public hearing for self-storage facility
The Goochland County Board of Supervisors meets twice at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Board Meeting Room at 1800 Sandy Hook Road in Goochland. (agenda)
The afternoon session begins with presentations from the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Fire-Rescue department, an introduction to new employees, an update from the Planning and Development Department, and a review of accounts payable.
The evening session includes several public hearings. The first is a renewal of a conditional use permit that allows a wedding venue in the 5600 block of Broad Street Road. The second is for a rezoning for 6 acres from R-3 to B-1 to allow a landscape business to operate on Patterson Avenue in District 5. The third and fourth both relate to a proposal to operate a self storage facility in District 4.
Lynchburg City Council to consider school board appointments
The seven-member Lynchburg City Council will meet in Council Chambers for a business item meeting before they go into closed session to consider three appointments to the school board. (agenda) (School Board candidates)
Before that, they’ll discuss several items that will come before the Council at a future meeting.
The FY23 Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds will go to public hearing on June 28. (staff report)
New Vista School seeks a conditional use permit for construction of a new 6,262 square foot gymnasium and classroom. The property is split-zoned B3 and R3. This will also go to public hearing on June 28. (staff report)
Spring Hill Cemetery seeks an expansion which also requires a CUP. (staff report)
Liberty University seeks to build a 4,121 seat lighted multi-sport athletic complex for Liberty Christian Academy (LCA). A previous CUP was granted for a larger facility in March 2017, but that has since expired. (staff report)
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Goochland County to hold first of two community meetings for new villages
Goochland County is considering land use changes in two areas to prepare for future growth by adding villages with more development opportunities.
“The planning process for both villages aim to ensure that Goochland County elected officials’ decisions relate to and are made in accordance with the desires of the community,” reads the announcement for two meetings this week. “The village plans will provide guidance for land use, economic and physical growth, recreation, public facilities, and community development.”
One of them is called Courthouse Village, and the draft concept will be held at 7 p.m. in the Goochland County Building Board Room and accessible via Zoom.
There was an update on the two plans in May on YouTube.
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Solar public hearing in Lunenburg County
The Lunenburg Board of Supervisors meets at 6 p.m. in the Lunenburg Courts Building in Lunenburg, Virginia. On the agenda is a public hearing on a proposed solar siting agreement with Red Brick Solar LLC for a proposed solar facility, as well as a hearing on a conditional use permit. Under the terms of a revenue sharing agreement, the county would get $1,400 per megawatt. Red Brick Solar is a subsidiary of Apex Clean Energy. (meeting packet)
Centreville Village meeting in Goochland
The second new area would be called Centreville Village and that community meeting will be held at the Grace Chinese Baptist Church at 850 Broad Street Road in Manakin Sabot. (Zoom link)
“The County is experiencing significant growth pressures, especially in the Courthouse and Centerville Villages,” reads the announcement page. “The County’s Comprehensive Plan addresses these areas at a high level, but small area plans will provide more specific guidance including land uses, residential densities, and design attributes for these corridors.”
Thanks for reading! Please share with others as it appears I’m going to keep doing this into the future!