Madison Heights master plan up for approval in Amherst
Plus: Campbell Supervisors to discuss changes to agricultural lot sizes
Four meetings today and lots happening. This very quick overview will give you an idea of the kinds of decisions that face local elected bodies across the Fifth District. Unfortunately I’m a little late in getting this out but I wanted to make sure people this got out in a somewhat timely manner.
Make sure you check out the “Reading Material” section to learn more about what’s happening in Amherst, Danville, Campbell, and Pittsylvania.
Revenue collections are up in Danville over last year
The nine-member Danville City Council meets at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers. (meeting overview)
After a fairly full meeting on October 5, the agenda is fairly light this time around.
Council will review the finance report for the first quarter of FY2024 with positive information from Chief Financial Officer Michael L. Adkins.
“After completing the first quarter of the new fiscal year, revenues are tracking well with budget and ahead of the previous year,” Adkins writes in the staff report.
Revenue collection is up over last year with Adkins attributing that a growth in local taxes as well as increased interest from higher rates.
Next, Council will consider a proposal where a property owner on Riverside Drive who owes $30,500 in taxes and fees will give the land to the city in exchange for the land.
“City staff is interested in acquiring ownership of the parcel directly, in order to facilitate safety improvements to protect the road from grading and related issues,” reads the staff report.
Finally, Council will consider a support agreement between the City of Danville and the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority. This relates to refinancing for and consolidation of two loans with the Danville Industrial Development Authority. (staff report)
Madison Heights master plan set for public hearing tonight in Amherst
The five-member Board of Supervisors in Amherst County will meet at 7 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room at 153 Washington Street. (meeting overview)
I want to begin this entry by highlighting the monthly “project status” report from County Administrator Jeremy Bryant. People want to know that their local government is doing and this really assists me in my work to try to get information out there. (read the status report)
There are three public hearings.
A landowner at 430 River Road seeks a special exception to operate a short-term tourist rental. (item summary) (staff report)
The second is on the update to the Comprehensive Plan that will add the Madison Heights Conceptual Master Plan as an appendix. The county hired EPR to conduct the work. (view the plan)
“This master plan creates a blueprint for Madison Heights that guides future public investment and private development in ways that contribute to a successful and prosperous community,” reads the item summary.
Other consultants include RKG for economics, LPDA for landscape architecture, and Hurt & Proffitt for utilities.
In 2011, much of the land was designated as Mixed-Use Traditional Neighborhood Development zoning district. During the master plan process, a developer submitted a plan for a 170 acre of property in this area.
“The proposed Town Center development included a mix of residential, commercial, and civic uses, including up to 75,000 square feet of commercial uses near the project’s entrance along US 29 Business, up to 1,100 new residences in a mix of single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments, a church site, and a 13-acre central park to be deeded to the County for public use,” reads the plan.
The Town Center development was approved in the summer of 2022 in two separate applications.
“However, detailed site plans for the development have not been finalized, and substantial construction has not begun,” the plan continues.
The plan’s scope also includes the now-closed Central Virginia Training Center. The Board of Supervisors recently declined an invitation to purchase the site, which has gone through its own planning process in 2022. The county is working with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance to market the site.
Finally, Supervisors will hold a public hearing on whether to enter into a revenue sharing agreement for utility-scale solar projects rather than taxing tools and machinery.
“Staff believes that through this ordinance, the County is able to receive higher tax revenue from utility-scale solar generation facilities,” reads the staff report.
Campbell Supervisors to get briefing on changes to agricultural lot sizes
The seven members of the Campbell County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Haberer Building Multi-Use Room in Rustburg. (agend)
The first portion is a joint meeting with the Economic Development Authority at which they will get updates on various broadband projects.
After that there will be a work session to discuss changes to agricultural lot sizes as well as changes to erosion and sediment control regulations. There’s no details available.
Pittsylvania County to approve two percent salary increase for county employees
The seven member Pittsylvania Board of Supervisors will meet for a work session at 4 p.m. followed by a regular meeting at 7 p.m. (work session agenda) (business meeting packet)
The work session begins with several presentations.
Cathay Gore, President and CEO of the Danville-Pittsylvania United Way will provide an update on recent efforts.
Telly Tucker of the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research will make a presentation on “Additive Manufacturing.”
Supervisors will learn about a revision to the Smart Scale project at the intersection of 29/703. The presenter is Jay Craddock of the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Economic Development Director Matthew Rowe will present on regional economic development efforts.
Finance Director Kim VanDerHyde will lead a discussion on a proposed two percent salary increase.
Patsy Budd will provide an update on the reassessment process.
The regular meeting begins with a consent agenda with 17 items. One of them (item #e) is the salary increase that will be discussed at the work session. That will come at a cost of $300,000 with $139.975 covered by the state. The increase will be effective December 1.
Another is an approval of a contract award for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. BerryDunn will conduct the parks plan at a cost of $102,536.
Another is an amendment to a performance agreement with Making Everything Possible LLC.
“On June 7, 2021, Governor Northam’s office announced that MEP, Ltd. of Aylesford, United Kingdom, would locate their first US manufacturing facility in the RIFA-owned Cyber Park, resulting in new capital investments of $6.4 and the creation of 45 high-wage jobs,” reads the staff report. (page 66)
The only amendment is to eliminate the phased approach to the development that had been planned.
Another is a memorandum of an agreement with with Danville and other partners for the expansion of the Cane Creek Industrial Park. If I had more time today I’d go through all of these. Unfortunately, my time to write this edition of the newsletter is wrapping up.
There are two public hearings.
One is a land use public hearing for a requested rezoning of 27.92 acres of land from Suburban Division District (R-1) to Agricultural (A-1).
The second is for the Southside Soccer Club’s request to be exempt from the real property tax. Their property is currently assessed at $200,400 and they pay $1,242.48 a year.
Reading material:
Danville housing authority starts new program in Southside to help homeless, John Crane, Danville Register & Bee (paywall), October 5, 2023
Amherst County declines to purchase CVTC site recently showcased to developers, Justin Faulconer, Amherst New Era-Progress (paywall), October 6, 2023
Danville council approves mixed-use project including more than 324 units, John Crane, Danville Register & Bee (paywall), October 6, 2023
Caesars Expects to Open Virginia Property on Schedule, Angel Hristov, Gambling News, October 10, 2023
Madison Heights master plan moving forward, Justin Faulconer, Amherst New Era-Progress (paywall), October 11, 2023
Amherst County pursuing revenue share ordinance with utility-scale solar farms, Justin Faulconer, Amherst New Era-Progress (paywall), October 11, 2023
'This is not a moment, this is a movement.' Navy breaks ground on regional training center in Danville, Charles Wilborn, Danville Register & Bee (paywall), October 11, 2023
Blair Construction to renovate Campbell County’s Brookville HS, Altavista Journal, October 11, 2023
Danville Casino revenue dips slightly again in September, but still well ahead of Bristol, Charles Wilborn, Danville Register & Bee (paywall), October 13, 2023
Fire, EMS study lays out recommended ways for county to improve services, Justin Faulconer, Amherst New Era-Progress (paywall), October 14, 2023
Pittsylvania County property assessment notices delayed a week, Charles Wilborn, Danville Register & Bee (paywall), October 14, 2023
Campbell County School Board receives SOL scores, accreditation results and donation, Rodney Robinson, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), October 15, 2023
Amherst County parks and recreation master plan process kicks off, Justin Faulconer, Amherst New Era-Progress (paywall), October 16, 2023
Danville launches first registered EMT apprenticeship program in state, Charles Wilborn, Danville Register & Bee (paywall), October 16, 2023