Government Glance for May 16, 2022: Reports from local governments across Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District
The first ever installment of what will be an interesting journey to learn about the new political landscape
Hello, and welcome to the first version of Fifth District Community Engagement, a newsletter that for now will consist solely of this Government Glance. I am Sean Tubbs and I’ve been a journalist for nearly 30 years. This is my latest project, and I wanted to go ahead and share it with the world. Some of you may be familiar with my work, but I may be a stranger to others. I look forward to changing that.
This weekly newsletter is another offering from Town Crier Productions, a company I set up to bring people more information about the mechanics of communities in Virginia. Since July 2020, I’ve produced Charlottesville Community Engagement and its Week Ahead newsletter. This pilot demonstrates I can create something similar one for Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District, as part of my practice of journalism.
Like its counterparts, this newsletter is intended to let you know specific things that are happening at the local and regional government level across the entire Fifth District of Virginia. In late December, the Virginia Supreme Court approved new Congressional districts that met the criteria of representing contiguous communities of interest.
For the first time in my life, the boundary of the Fifth District makes sense as a geographic space. The district looks like state in the western portion of the country. This makes it much easier for me to visualize. I’ve been doing research the last few weeks into all of it, and I’m looking forward to learning more though my research. I’m excited to have a new place to explore as a journalist and expand the work I do to cover more of Virginia.
I grew up in Campbell County and my parents still live there. I graduated from Brookville High School in 1991, graduated from Virginia Tech in 1995, and somewhere along the way I have written a lot about local government in the Charlottesville region.
I’ve spent the last 20 years here and I continue to live here. I’ve spent a good deal of time writing about land use and transportation planning in this area. I spent eleven years at the nonprofit Charlottesville Tomorrow and have been an independent journalist for the last two years. I’m driven to understand how government functions and explain it to others in the hopes of more productive conversations. I’m hopeful you will learn more about this new Fifth District through this work as I learn how all the pieces fit together.
For now, this newsletter consists mostly of material from Boards of Supervisors and City Councils. You will see some material that also appears in the Week Ahead newsletter each week.
It is my hope to eventually find a sponsor for this work, but for now, this is a product paid for by those who contribute through the Patreon account for Town Crier Productions. Consider becoming one to help support this work and my expansion efforts. I may turn this into a paid Substack but I need to get a couple done first.
Please let me know if you have questions. I’ll be back next week!
Monday, May 16, 2022
Appomattox BOS to consider facility acquisition, special use permit for event
The Appomattox County Board of Supervisors meets at 6:00 p.m. at the Carver-Price Educational Complex in Appomattox. They will begin with a closed session to discuss a proposal to consider the acquisition of a facility. (meeting info)
The five-member Board only meets once a month, so there’s a full agenda. After the citizen comment period, they’ll have several resolutions in honor of various individuals. One is for Gary Christie, who will retire as executive director of the Central Virginia Planning District Commission on May 31, 2022. (item info)
There are three public hearings. One is a request for a conditional use permit to operate a scrap and salvage services business on Watt Abbitt Road. The Planning Commission recommended approval on a 4-1 vote. Another is for the county’s plan for secondary road funding including rural paving. (item info)
Then there are several action items, including a special event permit request for the Evergreen Lavender Festival on Old Evergreen Road on June 18.
“This is a community event featuring music, food & craft vendors which will start at 11:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m.,” reads a description in the item info.
Charlottesville City Council to consider acquisition of land that would trigger new fee to register deeds
The five-member Charlottesville City Council meets at 4 p.m. for a work session in City Council Chambers, and again at 6:30 p.m. for the regular meeting. Community members can participate in public comment periods remotely. The work session is virtual only, but up to 23 people can attend in Chambers. (meeting info)
The first work session topic is an update from Jaunt and specifically an introduction to the new CEO, Ted Rieck. Rieck started at the organization in December and previously worked for a transit agency in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jaunt serves the localities of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District as well as Buckingham County.
The second work session topic is an update and review of property that the city leases to others. Or is it on leases the city pays to others? Not sure, because there’s only a placeholder in the agenda.
One item on the consent agenda is first of two readings for a $141,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development from Virginia Housing Solutions Program to fund various for the current fiscal year. The funding goes to programs across the continuum of services offered by the Haven, PACEM, the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless, and the city of Charlottesville. (staff report)
In the first action item, Council will vote to authorize the issuance of up to $26 million in bonds for various capital improvement programs. Council has already approved these projects by adopting a budget so this is a technical matter. (staff report)
Next, Council will hold a public hearing on a proposal to use funding from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to purchase property adjacent to the western side of McIntire Park for the purposes of building a trail. As one of the conditions, the Charlottesville Circuit Court must begin charging a $3 fee for the recording of each deed with the proceeds going to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the benefit of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.
“The benefit of this VOF grant program is that it provides an ongoing source of funding which will be separately maintained as designated solely for the purpose of providing grants to localities acquiring fee simple title or other rights, interests, or privileges in property,” reads the staff report explaining the new fee. The recording of an open space easement with the VOF triggers the Circuit Court’s ability to collect the fee.
The parcel in question is a triangular-shaped parcel behind three homes on Grove Road that would allow for a public easement to connect with the U.S. 250 Commuter Trail.
Next, Council will consider approval of an action plan for federal funding intended for housing projects. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides funding to municipalities through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and the HOME program.
“Federal law and regulations require this funding to be spent through a very detailed and specific planning process,” reads the staff report.
Mainly, the money must be spent and used before the end of the next fiscal year. More clearly, that’s June 30, 2023. The city doesn’t exactly know how much it will receive yet, but Council and the Planning Commission had a joint public hearing on how the money should be spent.
Finally, Council will hold the first of two readings on a proposal to use $1.5 million in city funds as a grant to help low- and moderate-income households and individuals with the costs of home ownership at a time when assessments are up and the real estate tax rate has begun an upward trend.
“In the face of a continuing—and worsening—affordable housing crisis, there is a significant number of persons whose status as homeowners is tenuous due to rising transportation, utility and food costs, rising real estate and personal property taxes, and other circumstances that result in costs of homeownership exceeding reasonable portions of a family’s income,” reads the staff report.
Under the proposal, the Director of Social Services will be responsible for disbursing the money according to eligibility rules that will be determined by the Commissioner of Revenue. Applications will be made to the Commissioner of Revenue. Recipients must be individuals with no other real estate holdings and must live within their home. The home can’t exceed a value of $420,000.
In other meetings:
The seven-member Louisa County Board of Supervisors meets at 5 p.m. in closed session and then in open session at 6 p.m. On the agenda is the Human Services Advisory Board Annual Report and a resolution to authorize a budget supplement to the Parks and Recreation Department for a grant from the Virginia Department of Education for Child Care Stabilization. (meeting packet)
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Amherst County to get update on Madison Heights master plan process
The five-member Amherst Board of Commissioners will meet at 7 p.m. at the Administration Building at 153 Washington Street in the public meeting room. (agenda packet)
On the agenda are several public hearings, including the priority list for rural rustic paving. Others include amendments to the election districts related to redistricting, changing rules on abandoned vehicles to allow for civil penalties, and allowing the county more authority to require abatement of refuse and weeds.
Three special exceptions are also sought. One landowner wants to operate a short-term rental on River Road in land zoned R-2. Another wants to operate several short-term rental rooms and a wedding value on land zoned agricultural on Kenmore Road. In the third, the Tractor Supply Company wants to have a propane tank that is 1,000 gallons in size in Amelon Square Plaza.
Under old business, Supervisors will get an update on the master plan for Madison Heights from consultant EPR. Madison Heights is an area designated for growth just north of the James River in the southern portion of the county.
“Amherst County is creating a “blueprint” for the future of the Madison Heights area,” reads the website for the plan development. “The purpose of this Master Plan is to reinforce the sense of community, improve the quality of life, expand public services, and increase economic development through future growth.
The process is expected to run through the summer of 2023.
Danville City Council to adopt tax rate, get briefing on Comprehensive Plan update
The nine-member Danville City Council meets in the Danville Municipal Building at 7 p.m. for a regular meeting followed by a work session. (regular meeting packet)
In the regular meeting, they will adopt an amendment to the real estate tax exemption program for certain elderly and disabled persons and will consider adopting the School Board’s budget. They’ll also affirm the city’s real estate tax rate of $0.84 cents for every $100 of assessed value.
The work session will see an update on the city’s Comprehensive Plan update from Planning Director Doug Plachcinski on efforts to hire a consultant to facilitate the process. The last plan was adopted by Council on September 15, 2015. (link to current plan)
Fluvanna Supervisors to hold work session on public utilities planning, consider name for new county-owned business park
The five-member Board of Supervisors will meet for a work session at 5 p.m. followed by a regular meeting at 7 p.m. They’ll be at the Carysbrook Performing Arts Center in Fork Union. (meeting packet)
Dewberry Engineering is working with the county’s Public Works Department on a master plan for public utilities.
“The purpose of this Utility Master Plan (UMP) is to provide the Fluvanna County (County) and its Public Works Department (PWD) with a roadmap for its planning of improvements, upgrades, extensions, and expansions to meet future needs while maintaining cost-effective water and wastewater service to a growing number of County costumers,” reads the executive summary. (page 10)
The plan looks at Fluvanna’s section of Zion Crossroads, the Fork Union Sanitary District, and service areas in Palmyra with an eye of looking at the year 2045. Dewberry concludes there is currently not enough water supply to meet the projected demands for urban residents and businesses and suggests ways to meet demand. This is a very important study for the future of Fluvanna and worth reporting on later in the month.
One public hearing is on the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Secondary Six-Year Plan for the county. Another is for a rezoning of county-owned land from A-1 to I-1 for the future county-owned business park at Fork Union (page 137). Draper Aden’s master plan for the site is also available in the packet (page 157).
But what will be its name? Fork Union Commerce Park? Fork Union Business Park? Fork Union Industrial Park? Fork Union McFortUnionFace Park? Probably not the latter, as this isn’t up for a poll. (page 189)
Pittsylvania County to discuss Wayside Park, adopt FY23 budget and tax rate
The seven-member Pittsylvania Board of Supervisors will have a work session that begins at 2 p.m. and a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Both take place in the Board Meeting Room at 39 Bank Street in Chatham. (work session packet) (regular meeting packet)
The work session will include a presentation on how the reassessment process might change for 2024. A consultant has been hired to suggest an alternative process. There will also be a discussion for how to pay for upgrades at Wayside Park. The park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the county has received multiple grants to improve it with several new amenities, including a new bridge. The county needs to cover the balance of the project at a cost of $205,303.94
In the evening session, there will be an update on the potential of a referendum on the levying of a one percent sales tax to be devoted to public school construction. Pittsylvania County has the enabling authority to proceed, unlike many other communities that sought that ability during the 2022 General Assembly.
In other meetings:
The seven-member Campbell County Board of Supervisors will meet for a work session at 6 p.m. in the Haberer Building in Rustburg in the multi-use room. The meeting is also accessible via Zoom. They will be briefed on redistricting of magisterial districts and the potential move to twice-yearly tax collections. They’ll also have a closed session on the potential expansion of an existing business that may be eligible for county incentives. (agenda)
The five-member Cumberland County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting to discuss debt refinancing and will vote on a resolution to a lease/leaseback for real property owned by the county. (agenda)
The eight-member Halifax County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet with the Planning Commission at 6:30 p.m. in the Mary Bethune Office Complex in Halifax. There will be a public hearing on a conditional use permit for a meat processing facility. (agenda)
However, the county website is experiencing issues with agenda delivery. I will update this post when I have more information. (meeting agendas page)
The five-member Powhatan Board of Supervisors and the Powhatan School Board will have a virtual joint meeting on the budget and transportation. (meeting packet)
Wednesday, March 18, 2022
Amelia County Board to consider special exception for 635-acre solar installation
The five-member Amelia County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. at Amelia County High School. As with Appomattox, Amelia’s elected officials meet once a month so there’s a full agenda. (agenda packet)
One of the main items on the agenda is a review of sketches for the renovation of the Amelia County General District Court. There’s also a monthly report from the Virginia Department of Transportation and an update on a Virginia Telecommunications Initiative grant for broadband being administered by the West Piedmont Planning District Commission with a $3.7 million from the county.
There’s also another special use permit request for an event on June 11 at the Windsor Lavender Farm at 3110 Burton Road. This is the first annual event and the organizers are expecting between 500 and 1,000 people throughout the day.
One of the public hearings is for a special exception for a utility-scale solar facility on 1,103 acres, of which 630 acres would see installation of solar panels. Torch Clean Energy is the developer and they claim that the site will power 21,000 Virginia homes.
“The rest of the land would be used for to achieve a landscape buffer and required setbacks,” reads the staff report. (page 125 of the packet)
Albemarle Supervisors to consider accepting land to expand Byrom Park
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors will meet in Lane Auditorium beginning at 1 p.m. with a hybrid option available for public comment. (agenda) (meeting info)
Albemarle County has a knack for encouraging donations of land for public parks. The 20.4 acre Brook Hill Park is the newest and comes from a gift from the Oglesby-Haugh Family. There’s also the 400 acre William Woods Natural Heritage Area donated to the county in 2011 and the 600 acre Patricia Ann Byrom Forest Reserve Park donated in 2004.
Now the county has been approached by a woman who wants to purchase an additional 65 acres adjacent to Byrom Park to expand it. (staff report)
“As population grows and development takes up more and more precious forest habitat and scenic farmland, the need for outdoor space in Albemarle County will only increase,” wrote Terry Grant in a October 27, 2021 letter to parks director Bob Crickenberger.
Grant is requesting the land be used for hikers, birdwatchers, and more passive uses.
“I know there’s a lot of pressure to open up our public parks to mountain bikers, and their volunteer corps is very helpful in cutting trails,” Grant wrote. “However, my preference is to limit the recreational use of this parcel to people on foot who are interested in the ‘slow’ appreciation of the place.”
Next the Supervisors will get a briefing on the role that the county’s Emergency Management Coordinator plays within the Department of Fire Rescue. The position was created in November 2019, before the pandemic. This briefing is intended to clarify what is expected of elected and appointed officials during an emergency which has the four phases of “planning for, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from.”
“Board members play an important role in supporting the community in each of the four phases of disaster,” reads the staff report. “Clarity on that role allows for effective and efficient communication between Board members, staff, and the community.”
Now that the local COVID emergency is over, in person meetings for top Albemarle bodies have been held. Now it’s time for a timeline for a second tier of bodies including the Architectural Review Board, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and others. Details weren’t fully available at publication time but take a look at the staff report for more information.
There are four public hearings in the evening:
The first is for Albemarle’s proposed uses for its Secondary Six-Year Improvement Plan, which includes paving of rural roads. (staff report)
The second is for a request from the Albemarle County Service Authority to grant easements on two county-owned parcels to upgrade what’s known as the Airport Trunk Sewer Upgrade project (staff report)
The third is for a request to extend the jurisdictional area for public water to a barn near Scottsville that is not currently authorized to receive it. (staff report)
The fourth is a request from the Crozet Sports Community Foundation to lease more space at the Crozet Library. (staff report)
In other meetings:
The Nelson County Board of Supervisors has a continuation of last week’s meeting scheduled at 4 p.m. (calendar item)
The Powhatan Board of Supervisors will have a budget workshop meeting at the Village Building that will also be offered remotely. They will take public comment on a proposal to raise the real estate tax rate from $0.75 per $100 of assessed value to $0.79 per $100. They’ll also vote to adopt the $150.3 million budget for FY23. (agenda packet with Zoom link)