Government Glance for November 14, 2022: Two solar projects go before Cumberland Supervisors; One goes before Amherst Board;

Plus: Danville City Council to consider steps for Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority to obtain more lots

Nov 14, 2022

This newsletter has now been in publication for six months. I created this as a way of understanding a new Congressional district that made a lot of geographic sense with localities kept intact as opposed to being carved up to benefit a political party. That debate may still continue as the recent election results become history.

The election solidified the district into a political entity for the next eight years or so. This captures my imagination and fuels my desire to get to know the whole place. I learn each and every day.

This time around, a confession! I missed three meetings last week. I neglected to list the Bedford County, Lunenberg County, and Prince Edward County meetings that took place. November is when the year begins to wind down with meetings being moving around for holidays as well as the Virginia Association of Counties convention which kicked off yesterday. I will try to be more vigilant.

This first of two installment was delayed due to the shootings at the University of Virginia. I had two newsletters on the topic today.

Now on with some of what’s happening at local meetings.

Monday, November 14, 2022

Lynchburg City Council to meet with legislators at University of Lynchburg

The Lynchburg City Council will meet at the University of Lynchburg’s Drysdale Student Center for a legislative dinner. This begins in five minutes at 6 p.m. (agenda)

They’ll be welcomed by Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar, the president of the University of Lynchburg. Ward II Councilor Sterling Wilder will give the invocation.

Guest speakers are Michelle Gowdy of the Virginia Municipal League and Jim Regimbal, a principal with Fiscal Analytics.

After questions, Councilors will have a discussion with the area’s delegation in the General Assembly.

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Amherst Supervisors to consider special exception for solar field along U.S. 29 bypass

The five member Amherst County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. in the administration building at 153 Washington Street. (agenda)

There are four public hearings on the agenda and the first two involve the Amherst County Service Authority. That entity’s Board of Directors will also gavel in to the meeting.

The first and second are on an amendment to the ordinance that governs the Amherst County Service Authority related to how fees are calculated.

“The current method is to base the fees on the estimated average daily water use planned by the applicant,” reads the staff report. “The change will replace that with assessing the fees by water meter size; because ACSA does not meter wastewater, but bills for wastewater service using the water bills, this change will also apply to wastewater.”

Currently each type of business has a different fee.

The third is for a special exception for a project called Inner Estrada, a business operating on land zoned B-2 on North Amherst Highway. They want to be able to display granite countertops outside.

“The purpose of the special exception is to allow for the bulk storage and sale of sand, gravel, or rock,” reads the staff report.

The fourth is for a special exception for Partridge Creek, Solar LLC to operate a 10 megawatt utility-scale solar generation facility on land zoned R-1. This LLC traces back to SunTribe Solar.

“The project site will utilize the parcels 141.322 total acres, with approximately 85 acres being utilized for the solar arrays,” reads the notice for the public hearing. “The parcel has frontage on Izaak Walton Road and the Route 29 Bypass.”

Under new business, there will be an appointment of a new public safety director. There will also be a discussion of a proposal to add a fourth captain and to adjust shifts.

An aerial map of the proposed solar installation with the U.S. 29 bypass running north-to-south on the eastern side (Credit:

Pittsylvania Supervisors to discuss funding for School Resource Officers, investment in solid waste convenience center

The seven member Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors will meet at 4 p.m. for a work session followed by a regular meeting. Both take place in the Board Meeting Room at 39 Bank Street SE. (work session agenda) (work session packet) (business meeting agenda) (business meeting packet)

First, Supervisors will meet Lindsey Hodges, the new resident engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation for Halifax.

Then they’ll discuss the state grant the Sheriff’s Department has sought for school resources officers. The scheme covers the cost of such personnel for the first year, but localities are on the hook to pay soon in subsequent years. Pittsylvania has been awarded $475,170 for officers for ten elementary schools.

*A section of the application for the School Resource Officers*

Supervisors will also get an update on planning for updates to three of the county’s 21 convenience centers. The cost for the one at Mount Hermon has a preliminary estimate of $510,650. The one at Motley has a figure of $329,960 and the one at Berry Hill has a figure of $315,420.

“Due to limited funding, we need to prioritize which site to move forward on,” reads a presentation in the packet.

Then there will be a presentation on the annual audit of how the county has used funding from the Children’s Services Act. They’ll also review potential changes to the Board’s by-laws and will discuss funding of fire and rescue services. There wasn’t any information in the packet about the latter two items.

In closed session, they will discuss the acquisition of real property as well as potential expansion of an existing or the location of a new business.

In the evening session that begins at 7 p.m., there are two public hearings related to rezonings. Both relate to landowners who seek to rezone land from R-1 to A-1. Under new business there is an appeal of a solid waste violation.

Cumberland Supervisors to amend subdivision ordinance, hold hearings on two solar projects

The five-member Cumberland County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. in the Circuit Courtroom at Cumberland Courthouse at 17 Courthouse Circle in Cumberland. (agenda)

After a series of reports from department heads, there will be a motion to appoint a new fire and EMS chief.

There are several public hearings for various items or requests to schedule public hearings.

There’s a rezoning for a property owner to create something called Ground-Up Garage
The Parks and Recreation Department is updating its master plan and this needs to be added to the Comprehensive Plan. The actual public hearing will be on December 13.
There’s an amendment to allow convenience stores in business districts. The actual public hearing will be on December 13.
There’s an amendment to the subdivision ordinance to make several changes, including defining a monument, removing a clustering requirement, and eliminating a size limit for private roads.
There’s an appropriation from the county’s share of American Rescue Plan Act funds to roll over about $1.6 million in unspent funds to the current fiscal year.
There’s an amendment of various fees
Sun Tribe Solar has a conditional use permit request for a 100 megawatt utility scale solar project called Cumberland Solar
Sun Tribe Solar has a conditional use permit request for a 115 megawatt utility scale solar project called Boston Hill Solar

Danville Council briefed on positive financials; will consider ban on collective bargaining for city employees

The nine member Danville City Council will meet for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. followed by a work session. (regular agenda) (work session agenda)

The first item under regular business is a review of financials for the first quarter of the fiscal year, with all revenues coming in higher than the previous year.

“The increase over last year is primarily from growth in local taxes, permitting fees related to the casino, and an increase in reimbursement from the State for shared categorical expenditures,” writes Chief Financial Officer Michael Adkins in a report to City Manager Ken Larking.

The second item is an application to amend the geographic boundaries of what’s known as City Enterprise Zone #1 which provides tax incentives for entrepreneurial activity.

“Enterprise Zone #1 consists of approximately 1,822 acres throughout the City of Danville and includes the Central Business District, Tobacco Warehouse District, Cyber Park, Goodyear Boulevard, Dan River Schoolfield Complex, Riverview Industrial Park, and the former Corning Plant,” reads the staff report.

The proposal is to remove 32 acres and add 19.71 acres. A public hearing is required.

The third is a consideration of a moral obligation for the city to back financing terms for the costs to purchase and renovate an industrial building on a five-arce property at 1 Econmets Way in the Airside Industrial Park.

“City Council approved a Moral Obligation for this loan at its April 5th meeting,” reads that staff report. “Since this time, construction costs have increased resulting in the need to update the Commitment Letter and request an approval of a new Moral Obligation reflecting this increase. The total cost to purchase and renovate this building is now $3,325,000.”

The fourth is a request from the Department of Public Works for a Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program project to add flashing yellow lights at several signalized intersections. They are: Main Street at Holbrook Street, Piney Forest Road at Arnett Boulevard, Piney Forest Road at Audubon Drive, and West Main Street at Park Avenue.

Finally they will consider approving a policy to ban collective bargaining.

“It prohibits any official, employee, appointee, or agent of the City, vested with or possessing any authority, to recognize any labor union or other employee association or organization as a bargaining agent of any City officers or employees, or to collectively bargain or enter into any collective bargaining contract,” reads the staff report.

The policy seeks to promote other ways to encourage “orderly and constructive relationships between the City and its employees.”

In the work session there are several action items:

Council will consider a proposal to drop a city-held lien for a property on Cabell Street to to facilitate its donation to the Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. (staff report)
Council will consider the conveyance of three lots to the Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority in connection with the Monument-Berryman Master Plan. (staff report)
Another lien release is sought for one parcel of land on Stokes Street to facilitate its donation to the Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. (staff report)
Also a separate lien release for another property on Stokes Street. (staff report)
There will also be a consideration of tax exemption for the Wednesday Club. allow them to retain $2,916.48 in real property taxes for their location at 1002 Main Street. (staff report)

In other meetings:

The seven member Campbell County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Haberer Building at 47 Courthouse Lane in Rustburg in the Multi-Purpose Room for a work session. The topic is broadband and Supervisors will get an update on projects being conducted by Shentel and Firefly. (agenda)
The seven-member Buckingham County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Peter Francisco Auditorium in the County Administration Complex on U.S. Route 20 in Buckingham Courthouse. On the agenda is an update on a proposed hotel on Wingo Road as well as Centra’s planned move to open a facility next year.

More in the next installment which will cover meetings in Albemarle, Fluvanna, Charlotte, and Nottoway counties.

Fifth District Community Engagement

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