June 25, 2025: Hanover County Supervisors to consider permit for new fire station, new school
Plus: Nelson County Supervisors will meet with the Planning Commission for a work session on the draft zoning ordinance
Two meetings today and let’s get right to it! I’ve got a full slate of stories to write for Charlottesville Community Engagement, the older sibling to this newsletter. Both were created for slightly different reasons. What will become of each as they grow? Good question. Let’s come back to that another day.
I can say that both are experimental. I likely will not turn out paid subscriptions to this one so if you want to contribute, consider a paid subscription to the above or consider becoming a supporter through Patreon. All of it goes to Town Crier Productions, a company I created five years ago to fund my desire to bring people information about their communities.
In any case, here is information on two meetings.
Hanover County Supervisors to hold second public hearing on real property tax rate
The seven members of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors will meet at 2 p.m. in the Board Room at 7516 County Complex Road in Hanover. Public hearings begin after 6 p.m. (meeting info)
After the usual items at the beginning of the meeting, there will be a closed session. Hanover County very clearly publishes the reasons as you can see below.
The first public hearing after 6 p.m. is on the proposed real property tax rate for 2025. One was already held on April 2, 2025 but the staff report tells us that there was a technical error in the public notice in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
“THIS ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING IS BEING HELD TO ENSURE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL WISHING TO PRESENT THEIR VIEWS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO,” reads the agenda in all caps.
The tax rate is $0.81 per $100 of assessed value.
The second is on a change to the county ordinance for when disclosure forms have to be submitted. Take a look at the changes here.
There are five planning public hearings.
The first is for a special exception to allow a daycare on a portion of land in the Beaverdam District zoned Agricultural-1. The requester is Oak Tree Christian Montessori in an existing church and the maximum number of children would be 24. (learn more)
The second is for a request to amend a previous rezoning for a subdivision in the Ashland District to eliminate $8,700 in cash proffers agreed to in 2004. (learn more)
The third is for a request to amend a previous rezoning on land in Beaverdam District zoned light industrial to update the conceptual as well as other proffers. (learn more)
The fourth is a conditional use permit for land in the Beaverdam District requested by Hanover County Board of Supervisors. This would allow for a fire station to be constructed. (learn more)
The fifth is for a request from Hanover County Public Schools to amend a previously issued conditional use permit for a new school. (learn more)
Stories about Hanover County:
Hanover appoints two new faces to its School Board, Ryan Nadeau, WRIC 8 News, May 28, 2025
Hanover School Board members vote to double their salaries, Ryan Nadeau, WRIC 8 News, June 10, 2025
Hanover, Henrico supervisors meet to discuss future plans for water utilities, Lyndon German and Dean Mirshahi, VPM News, June 12, 2025
‘I was worried there may be low turnout’: Voter reacts to bleak attendance on primary day, WRIC 8 News, June 17, 2025
Water service issues in Hanover due to storms, power outage, Ryan Nadeau, WRIC 8 News, June 20, 2025
‘Certain questions have yet to be answered’: Henrico officials eager to discuss Richmond area water crisis with Avula directly, Ryan Nadeau, WRIC 8 News, June 23, 2025
Boil water advisory lifted for Hanover County’s Doswell area, Katelyn Harlow, WRIC 8 News, June 23, 2025
Nelson Supervisors to hold joint meeting with Planning Commission on new zoning ordinance
There appear to be three components to the Nelson County Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday. The first is a continued meeting that begins at 4:30 p.m. in the General District Courthouse. There’s no information about this other than the calendar item. (meeting info)
At 5 p.m. Supervisors will begin a joint meeting with the Planning Commission for a work session on the update of the zoning code.
“Nelson County has partnered with the Berkley Group, a local government consulting firm, to update, modernize, and restructure the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances,” reads the opening page of the staff report.
This particular meeting will look at the “Use Matrix” as well as “Use Performance Standards.” In zoning terms, a use matrix is a chart that states what can happen on what properties and whether a use can be unlocked by a special use permit or a special exception.
For instance, if you want to have a meat processing facility on land zoned Agricultural-1, you need a special use permit. There would be use standards that would have to be met in your site plan.
Under the draft changes, multifamily dwellings would be allowed by-right in the new R-3 High-Density Residential zones. You would need a special use permit in the Village Overlay and Route 29 Overlay district, but not allowed at all in the Route 151 overlay.
Short term rental units would require a special use permit on Agricultural-1 land, and by-right in R-1 and R-2 zones. They would not be allowed anywhere else.
I’m not plugged in enough to know how transformative these changes would be, but I do know there has been a lot of talk. I don’t believe this meeting will be televised. Maybe I’ll actually attend?
After the work session, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors will hold a joint public hearing on a zoning amendment to change language in regulations over floodplains.
“Proposed amendments would keep the County’s floodplain management ordinance and enforcement procedures in compliance with [National Flood Insurance Program] requirements,” reads the public notice.
Stories about Nelson County:
Perry Foundation grant supporting affordable housing project in Roseland, CBS19 News, June 11, 2025
Nelson County Social Services calls claims of degrading work 'unfounded', Emily Hemphill, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), June 12, 2025
Charlottesville council approves jail renovation plans, Gabby Womack, WVIR 29News, June 17, 2025
New historic sites designated in Charlottesville, Louisa and Nelson counties, CBS19, June 17, 2025
Fire crews put out 'major' commercial fire in Nelson County, officials say, Kaylee Shipley, WSET, June 19, 2025
Nelson board expected to adopt fiscal year '26 budget on June 25, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News and Advance (paywall), June 24, 2025
Army training exercise to take place over Wintergreen, CBS19 News, June 24, 2025
