Tuesday, June 17, 2025: Halifax Supervisors to consider rezoning of county-land to add more workforce housing
Plus: Meetings in Campbell, Danville, Halifax, and Pittsylvania
There are five meetings of governing bodies across Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District today and this may be one of the most terse overviews yet. It’s also party primary day, and I lack the capacity to fully contain in this edition what’s on the ballot.
But I do feel a duty to write out as much as I can about these five meetings and to provide some sort of a sense of what’s happening in those communities by linking to the meetings that are happening on an election day.
Please take a look at the articles for each. The idea behind this newsletter is to expand awareness of the communities within.
Amherst County Supervisors to adopt new agreement with Economic Development Authority
The five members of the Amherst Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. in the public meeting room at 153 Washington Street in Amherst. (agenda packet)
There are three public hearings at this meeting.
The first is a public hearing on the Rural Rustic Six Year Road Plan with the Virginia Department of Transportation (learn more)
The second is a special exception for a short-term rental at 156 Mountain Lake Trail but the agenda states this is postponed. The Planning Commission unanimously recommend denial. (learn more)
The third is for another special exception to allow for a veterinary clinic at 351 Peters Hollow Road. (learn more)
Under new business, there is an updated memorandum of agreement between Amherst County and the Economic Development Authority. This relates to construction of a new Fire and EMS station within the Amelon Commerce Center. (learn more)
There’s also an approval of employee budgets funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. (learn more)
The meeting ends with a closed session. Here’s how that appears on the agenda:
“A closed session pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(5) for discussion concerning a prospective business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business's or industry's interest in locating in the county.’
Stories about Amherst County:
Amherst board wrestles with next move for Gateway Sewer project, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News and Advance (paywall), June 9, 2025
Amherst sheriff pursuing gun vaults for officers in schools, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News and Advance (paywall), June 11, 2025
Amherst supervisors discuss bonuses, composition of service authority board, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News and Advance (paywall), June 11, 2025
Campbell County Supervisors to meet with Industrial Development Authority
The seven members of the Campbell County Board of Supervisors will sit with the Industrial Development Authority for a joint meeting. This will take place in the Haberer Building Multi-Purpose Room in Rustburg. (agenda packet)
There does not appear to be a full packet for this meeting but the items seem important.
There is to be a review of industrial building construction projects.
There is to be a presentation on incentive programs. Both this and the above will be facilitated by Nina Rezai, the director of economic development.
Then a discussion of other economic development matters.
Then the IDA will adjourn and then the Supervisors will take up a special exception from the county’s noise ordinance for a family reunion in Naruna so they can be loud outside until 1 a.m. I recognize the family name from growing up in Campbell County.
A story about Campbell County:
Campbell County welcomes $19M investment, boosting local lodging and dining options, Rachel Branning, WSET, June 4, 2025
Halifax County seeks rezoning to create space for more workforce housing
The Halifax County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6:30 p.m. in a joint public meeting with the Planning Commission. (agenda packet)
There are three public hearings.
The first is for a conditional use permit for a dog training and boarding facility at 6218 Bailey Memorial Highway. (learn more)
The second is for a rezoning for 1036 Belt Boulevard from M-1 Industrial to a mix of residential districts. An interesting thing to note in the agenda is that the Planning Commissioner for District 4 wrote a letter to his colleagues and Supervisors recommending approval. (learn more)
The third is for a rezoning from Agricultural-1 to a mix of residential districts on Philpott Road to allow for a multifamily apartment complex. The applicant is the Halifax County Board of Supervisors. The plans themselves are not in the packet. Learn more about this rezoning in this Gazette-Virginian article. (learn more)
Under new business, there will be a request to consider amending the county’s rules on energy storage.
“The request is for the consideration to include Energy Storage provisions into the County Zoning Ordinance,” reads the staff report. “Currently, the Solar Energy portion of the ordinance does not include provisions for Energy Storage.”
This would be to support a request from Samsung to build a battery energy storage project on a 30 acre site near Alton. The hope is to construct it by 2030.
Then the Planning Commission will then give their recommendations on the items mentioned above. Then the Board of Supervisors will do the same. I have to learn more about this process works.
The Board of Supervisors will next meet on Friday for a tour of the titanium factory.
Stories about Halifax County:
Plans for primitive camping rejected in Halifax County, Miranda Baines, Gazette-Virginian, June 4, 2025
Halifax County Board of Supervisors give themselves $5,000 raise, Miranda Baines, Gazette-Virginian, June 4, 2025
Potential mini-golf course, custard stand stirs buzz in Halifax County, Evan Snead, Gazette-Virginian, June 9, 2025
As finish line draws closer, school board hears update on Halifax County High School construction, Miranda Baines, Gazette-Virginian, June 11, 2025
Halifax County Democrats join national ‘No Kings Day’ protests, Evan Snead, Gazette-Virginian, June 16, 2025
Additional land for housing units sought, Miranda Baines, Gazette-Virginian, June 16, 2025
Danville City Council to consider floating of bonds for parking garage
The nine members of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. for their regular meeting followed by a work session. The regular session is in City Council Chambers and the work session is in the 4th floor conference room. (regular session) (work session agenda)
I have to confess I’ve never been to Danville. I know Lynchburg so I know something about the place when I write about City Council meetings. I hope to change this over the summer with a visit to Danville. I don’t gamble, though. But I do hope to get to know Danville while I’m able to do this newsletter.
The consent agenda includes the minutes from the May 20 meeting, an amendment to the FY2025 budget to add $5.25 million in revenue from the casino gaming taxes, and an appropriation to accept a land and water conservation grant.
Under old business, Council will adopt the budget for FY2026. The public hearing was held on June 3.
Under new business, Council will a look at the city’s finances.
“After completing eleven months of the fiscal year, revenues are tracking well with budget and are ahead of the prior year,” writes Chief Financial Officer Michael L. Adkins.
Next there is an application for various funds to cover the costs of public transportation.
“The City of Danville submits grant applications annually to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation,” writes Marc Adelman, director of transportation services. “This agency administers and allocates federal and state operating aid and capital assistance for rural transit systems in Virginia.”
The third item is an application for a $1 million grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The money will be used to address blighted property.
“This funding is crucial to support the Five Forks Project in the Old West End,” reads the staff report from Aisha Gwynn, a grant administrator with the city. “Upon completion, the 400 Block of Jefferson Street will feature over 9,000 square feet of versatile mixed-use space, including commercial areas for a restaurant, office spaces, and residential units.”
The fourth item is for the issuance of lease revenue bonds by the Industrial Development Authority of Danville. This relates to a project to acquire a property at the corner of North Union Street and Spring Street for use as a 434-vehicle parking garage.
“This financing through the Master Lease Program will be an issuance of federally tax-exempt lease revenue bonds not to exceed $8,500,000 and federally taxable lease revenue bonds not to exceed $10,500,000, both supported by an annual appropriation of lease payments from the City to the IDA,” Adkins writes in the Council letter.
The fifth item is a budget appropriation of $60,000 to serve as a local match for a Virginia Tourism Corporation grant. (read the letter)
Stories about Danville:
Agenda Danville: Environmental stewardship plan presented to planning commission, Grace Mamon, Cardinal News, June 9, 2025
State grant for Danville park effort, Chuck Vipperman, Chatham Star-Tribune, June 10, 2025
Tuesday primary for Danville, Pittsylvania County voters to narrow field for 49th District race, Charles Willborn, Danville Register & Bee (paywall), June 11, 2025
Regional partnership formed to address Southside healthcare worker shortage, Makayla Shelton, WDBJ, June 11, 2025
Caesars Virginia gives Danville a winning hand with $34M in May earnings, Cherisse Hoffman, WSET, June 13, 2025
State approves application for historic marker about Danville canal, Grace Mamon, Cardinal News, June 16, 2025
Pittsylvania County Supervisors to meet
The seven members of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. for a work session followed by a regular session scheduled for 9 p.m. (work session agenda) (business meeting agenda)
There are two items on the work session agenda. They are a discussion of a grant opportunity through the Safe Streets for All federal program and a discussion of how much the Supervisors get paid.
There will be a closed session to get an economic development update and a closed session to talk about the Comprehensive Plan. They’ve cited both Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(5) and Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(29).
There are many items on the consent agenda including a joint usage agreement between Pittsylvania County Parks and Recreation and Pittsylvania County Schools. Learn more here.
There is one rezoning for land use issues. This is a request to rezone a parcel of land from Residential-1 to Agricultural-1. This seems to happen a lot in Pittsylvania County.
There are four other public hearings.
One is for a Dog Controlled area in the Bridgewood Subdivision. (learn more)
The second is on a one-time bonus for eligible county employees in the Department of Social Services. (learn more)
The third is for a solar siting agreement and a request for an extension. (learn more)
The fourth is for a renewal of a cell tower lease. (learn more)
Stories about Pittsylvania County:
Aerial spraying to deter spongy moths underway in Pittsylvania County, WDB7, June 12, 2025
Aerial spraying underway to manage spongy moths in Pittsylvania County,
Shorter named new County Administrator, Chuck Vipperman, Chatham Star-Tribune, June 12, 2025
Scearce guilty of assault of county supervisor, Chuck Vipperman, Chatham Star-Tribune, June 13, 2025
Pittsylvania selects treasurer Vincent Shorter as county administrator, Grace Mamon, Cardinal News, June 16, 2025