Government Glance for October 18 and October 20: Danville City Council considering camping ban on public land; Pittsylvania Supervisors to review zoning rewrite
The second of two newsletters on what's coming up in local government across Virginia's Fifth Congressional District
Welcome to the second of two newsletters for this week on items happening today and one item happening Thursday. I’m still trying to get the rhythm of paying attention to the agendas of 24 localities in Virginia’s new Fifth District, and there’s a lot to learn. Make sure you check out yesterday’s installment to see what happened Monday and to find out what’s coming on Wednesday.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Danville City Council to take up ban on camping on public land
The nine member Danville City Council will meet at 7 p.m. in the Danville Municipal Building. (regular agenda)
The first item under new business is a review of the city’s financial results through the first quarter of the fiscal year. As of September 30, Danville had collected 18.05 percent of its general budget, slightly higher than this time last year.
“In the prior year, the timing of revenues from the Commonwealth resulted in a temporary decrease of about $700,000 in Non-Categorical Aid (State),” reads an October 7 staff report from Michael L. Adkins, the chief financial officer. “The remainder of the increase over last year is primarily from growth in local taxes, as well as permitting fees related to the casino and an increase in interest on investments.”
Next, Council will be asked to release liens on a property on Colquhoun Street as part of the landowner’s decision to give the land over to the Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The liens are related to violations of the grass ordinance from 2002 to 2016, and are worth more than the property’s assessed value.
In the third item, Council will be asked to adopt an ordinance making it a crime to camp on public land.
“The Cities of Roanoke and Bristol passed ordinances to prohibit camping on public property in unpermitted locations earlier this year,” reads the staff report. “Passing a similar ordinance in Danville would give the Police and other City staff tools to prevent potential issues related to unpermitted camping, including street and sidewalk obstructions as well as damage to City property, and dangerous conditions faced by unpermitted campers.”
Under the proposed ordinance, police officers would be required to give information about shelters to people being removed from parks or sidewalks.
In the work session that begins immediately after the regular meeting, Council will be presented a housing study produced by Economic Development Strategies.
“The study examined existing conditions, current demand, projected demand, and other data related to our housing market, and compared it to peer cities,” reads the staff report.
The report does not appear to be available in advance.
Amherst County Supervisors have a light meeting with two land use hearings
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 two land use public hearings, both for special exceptions. The first is a request from a property owner on Royal Circle to be able to rent out a house as a short-term rental. The form for this asks “How is this use in harmony with the uses permitted by right in the district?”
“It’s cool,” said the applicant.
“How will the use promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the community?”
“Improve it,” the applicant responded.
The second special exception request is from Clayton Homes of Lynchburg representing a couple who want to install a manufactured home on land zoned for agricultural use.
In late September, a majority of Supervisors asked former County Administrator Dean Rodgers to resign according to the Amherst New Era-Progress. They have appointed Community Development Director Jeremy Bryant to be the interim administrator.
Pittsylvania County to get zoning review update from Berkley Group
It’s a busy day for the seven member Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, who are currently down to six due to the resignation of Banister District representative Jesse Barksdale in September. The Board stalemated last week when they could not agree on the agenda for a meeting to select a replacement, so it’s likely a judge will make a temporary appointment until the November 2023 election.
Anyway, the six-member Supervisors begin their meeting at 2 p.m. with a joint meeting with the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission. This will take place in the Board Meeting Room at 39 Bank Street in Chatham. They will all get an update on the zoning ordinance update being conducted by the Berkley Group. (joint work session packet)
The staff report reminds us of the four goals of this update.
Provide streamlined and user-friendly regulations
Incorporate best planning practices and current Code of Virginia requirements
Address the goals and strategies identified in the Comprehensive Plan
Consider citizen needs and issues identified through the public engagement process
The work got underway in June and a public survey was open in August through mid-September. The Berkley Group has put together a diagnostic evaluation of the current city code. All of this can be reviewed in the packet.
At 3 p.m. Supervisors will have a work session with three presentations. (work session agenda)
The Virginia Department of Transportation will provide an update on recent activity.
There will be a request from Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services for funding for something called the Crisis Receiving Center. There is additional funding in Fiscal Year 2023 from the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services for this purpose. Currently the DPCS operates two mobile units and the Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Center.
“The CITAC site is a receiving center for law enforcement in the community to bring individuals in a behavioral health crisis to seek services,” reads the staff report. “This can be a voluntary or involuntary process.”
The new funding would allow a transition to 23-hour crisis stabilization by setting up a new location at 366 Piney Forest Road. The building is vacant and the DCPS Board of Directors will consider a vote to purchase it at their meeting this Thursday. DCPS wants $100,000 from both Danville and Pittsylvania County to help cover the cost of renovations.
There will be a discussion on changes to the make-up of the Partnership for Regional Prosperity Council.
After this work session, Supervisors will go into closed session to discuss unannounced business prospects, legal consideration over a solid waste contract. They’ll also review potential county administrators.
The Board voted 4-3 to fire David Smitherman at the first meeting of the year according to WSET. One interim resigned in August and the position is currently held by the county attorney Vaden Hunt.
In the regular meeting, there are four public hearings. In each of them, the applicants are seeking rezonings from R-1 to A-1.
Campbell County Supervisors to hold work session on assessment process
The seven-member Campbell County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Haberer Building’s Multiuse Room. (agenda)
Campbell County currently assesses properties every four years and the next new values will come out in 2023. The county has hired the Wampler-Eanes Appraisal Group to assist this year, according to the Real Estate office. Supervisors will get an update on the process. There are no advance materials.
Last week, the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors voted to speed up their assessment cycle from six years to four years. Learn more in the Farmville Herald.
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Nottoway Supervisors meet twice this week
This may be the first time I’ve actually listed the Nottoway County Board of Supervisors meeting! Nottoway County is perhaps the locality in the Fifth District I know the least about. I can tell you there are three towns and that the 2020 Census counted 15,642 people. The slogan is “On the growing edge of Virginia’s Golden Crescent.”
What I can’t tell you much about is the agenda, which does not have any public hearing and does not have any staff reports. I may ask for them to read them, and possibly to update them. (agenda)
There will be an update on Fort Pickett, which is a major employer in the county. There will be several reports. I can also tell you I missed the October 17 listing for a special meeting today. I definitely have work to do in Nottoway. Check back in a year.