Tuesday, May 13, 2025: Lynchburg City Council to adopt new franchise agreement with Hillcats, consider 54 townhouse units on Leesville Road
Plus: Meetings in Cumberland County, Nelson County and Prince Edward County
I attended my first baseball game in City Stadium in 1980 when the local team was still the Lynchburg Mets. I was six and my family had just moved to a cul-de-sac in Campbell County, very far away from the suburbs of Chicago and frequent trips to the old Comiskey Park to see the White Sox play. I was aware we were in a much different place, but I would grow up with frequent trips as the Mets became the Red Sox became the Pirates became the Hillcats.
I’ve not seen a game in two years when my parents still lived down that way. I’m hoping to go down soon because I have a need to clean out a storage shed. In the meantime, I’m pleased to be able to write at least a little bit about the next chapter of that team and the prospects of a $5.25 million investment in improving the “fan experience.”
When I write about local government, I’m writing about places. I don’t know most of the localities I’m writing about in this newsletter and I’m enjoying learning about each one by documenting meetings in advance. I want to travel and visit places but to do that I need a larger audience. That’s going to happen because I very much want a reason to be connected to a place where my family no longer lives. I hadn’t expected that to happen.
This time around I’m trying something different. At the end of each blurb I am putting links to stories about that locality. If I had an intern, one of their tasks would be to collect and curate these links. I do not want an algorithm to do that work. I want humans to learn about each other and to find a way to make genuine connections across this Fifth District.
In any case, back in the future with another edition!
Quiet meeting today in Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Supervisors meet at 6 p.m. in the Circuit Courtroom of the Cumberland Courthouse at 17 Courthouse Circle in Cumberland. That’s a lot of courtrooms and Cumberlands. (meeting packet)
The elected officials will immediately go into closed session for contract negotiations. The motion cites the specific reference in state code that allows them to meet without the public present. They’ll adjourn until 7 p.m.
This is a fairly technical meeting with no public hearings or resolutions. There are just a lot of reports. One of them is on activity on planning projects. Cumberland has the smallest population of any locality in the Fifth District but there’s quite a lot of planning activity as you can see in this map. Take a look at the details beginning on page 13 of the packet.
Among the few resolutions on the agenda is one to authorize a public hearing on June 10 for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Secondary Six Year Plan.
There’s also a resolution to set a date of June 10 for a public hearing on a conditional use permit for the Green Ridge Recycling and Disposal Facility in District 2.
“Staff has received a Conditional Use Permit request to construct and operate a non-hazardous municipal (sanitary) landfill and related uses, including a convenience and recycling center, transfer station, composting operation, and gas energy power plant,” reads the staff report for that authorization.
The Planning Commission recommended denial of the conditional use permit on a vote of 4-3, according to this story from WRIC 8 News.
I’ll also note that there’s a monthly report on building inspections that tracks the value of construction work underway. For Cumberland, that’s a total of $8,641,580.87 in total estimated value.
Other stories about Cumberland County:
Green Ridge project voted on by Cumberland commission, Brian Carlton, Farmville Herald, April 24, 2025
Cumberland County community cheers recommendation to reject Green Ridge landfill project, Charles Paullin, Cardinal News, April 25, 2025
Cumberland supervisors will set Green Ridge date Tuesday, Brian Carlton, Farmville Herald, May 9, 2025
Prince Edward Supervisors to hold public hearing on 5 megawatt solar facility
The seven members of the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. The meeting begins with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, and disclosures of conflict of interest. Then recognitions, public participation, and comments from Board members. (agenda packet)
Then there will be a presentation from the National Weather Service office at Wakefield on the Storm Ready Community Program.
“StormReady is a nationwide program through the National Weather Service designed to help communities take a proactive approach to the kinds of severe weather that affect their areas by improving local hazardous weather operations and heightening public awareness,” reads the staff report for the presentation.
Prince Edward County and many area partners have been preparing to become StormReady since last October and will be presented with recognition they’ve completed the program.
Next there will be community partner updates from Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College, and the Town of Farmville.
Then there will be a presentation from the Virginia Department of Transportation on Highway Matters. The first public hearing will be on the VDOT Secondary Six-Year Plan for Fiscal Years 2026 through 2031.
There are two public hearings related CEP Solar’s application to build a 5 megawatt facility on about 194 acres. The first request for Oak Lane Solar is for a special use permit and the other is for a siting agreement. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the permit with conditions after a public hearing on March 18.
The applicants have made a few revisions since the public hearing.
“We hope that you recognize our sincere intention to bring forward a responsibly designed solar project for your consideration,” wrote Harry Kingery, project development manager fo CEP Solar.
The next item is a deferral of a public hearing for Green Bay Solar.
Then there will be a proclamation for Building Safety Month.
Then Supervisors will consider a grant application through the VDOT Transportation Alternatives program to build sidewalks along Zion Hill Road to connect three schools to the 138 unit Poplar Forest apartment complex. Learn more here.
There will be a report from Finance and Human Reports which includes a request to authorize a public hearing on the use of carryover funds for renovations for elementary schools.
Lynchburg City Council to review proposed 54-unit townhouse on Leesville Road
The seven members of Lynchburg City Council divide today’s meeting into two sections. The first is a work session at 4 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Training Room in City Hall at 900 Church Street and the second is a regular session in Chambers at 7 p.m. (workshop agenda) (regular agenda)
There are four work session agenda items and two business item briefings. Then there will be a closed session on two items. The first is related to an intergovernmental agreement and the second is for an ongoing interpersonal issue.
The first work agenda item is the annual report from Horizon Behavioral Health, considered by the city to be an external service provider.
“Horizon Behavioral Health's mission is to support and promote the health, independence and self-worth of individuals and families in Central Virginia by providing a continuum of community-based treatment, prevention, early intervention, and aftercare services for persons affected by mental health, intellectual disabilities, substance use and co-occurring disorders,” reads the staff report.
The second item regards accepting a bid to enter into an encroachment agreement with Rosedale Investments and Rosedale Owner’s Association with regards to a culvert. (learn more)
Next up is a new franchise agreement with the new owners of the Lynchburg Hillcats governing capital expenses to be made to a city-owned stadium.
“Under the proposed franchise, the city will collect annual rent, parking rights fee, naming rights fee, and local taxes (sales, meals, amusement) as a result of baseball operations,” reads the staff report. “This revenue will support $5.25M in up-front investment for improvements to the city-owned Stadium.”
It should be noted that at the end of the meeting there is a resolution that describes going “to create a fan experience project at the City of Lynchburg’s Bank of the James Stadium in conjunction with the 2025 Hillcats Franchise Agreement.”
The fourth item is a work session for the FY2026 budget. No information in the packet. There’s not too much information on the Budget Engagement website.
Business item briefings serve as a first introduction to an item before action at a later meeting. The first such item today is for a proposal to rezone three lots on Leesville Road from Low Density Residential (R-1) to High Density Residential (R-4C) to allow for construction of 54 townhomes.
“The Comprehensive Plan 2013-2030 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) recommends a Medium Density Residential use for the portion of the properties where the proposed townhomes would be located,” reads the staff report.
The Planning Commission recommended denial on a 5-1 vote at their meeting on April 9. There were no proffers at the time and since then the applicant offered to build more parking.
The second item is a change to meeting procedures governing Council meetings. There are two changes according to the staff report. One of them would prevent Councilmembers from leaving the dais during public comment periods to interact with speakers of other members of the audience.
Lynchburg City Council to take action on Hillcats franchise agreement
The regular meeting will open at 7 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance being led by Scout Troop 180. Then there are three proclamations but no information is available for any in the agenda packet.
National Economic Development Week Proclamation
National Travel and Tourism Week Proclamation
Recovery Court Month Proclamation
There are several public hearings this evening.
The first is an approval of the use of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funding for projects recommended by the Community Development Advisory Committee. In all there is $722,622 in CDBG funds and $402,774 in HOME funding, though the exact amounts are not yet known. (learn more)
The second is related to that Rosedale agreement (learn more)
The third is for the removal of an exemption that has so far kept the Lynchburg Hillcats and previous franchises from having to pay the amusement tax. The tax is being levied to cover the cost of improvements to the city-owned stadium. (learn more)
The fourth is for the overall franchise agreement between the city and the Lynchburg Hillcats. (learn more)
The fifth is for a fixed rate contract between the city and CertainTeed for the provision of water and sewer services. (learn more)
The sixth is for adjustments to the city’s FY2025 budget related to various changes. (learn more)
The seventh is to take public comment on the nominations to three seats on the Lynchburg School Board. (learn more)
Next up is citizen comment. To speak at meetings of the Lynchburg City Council, you have to sign up in advance in writing with that request publicly available. Here are the subjects of tonight’s comments:
Hear from a group representative regarding "the City Public Library at the Plaza,
health and safety concerns"
Hear from a citizen regarding "fears members of the LGBTQ+ encounter"
Hear from a group representative regarding "lighten the burden"
Hear from a citizen regarding "capital improvements at the library”
Hear from a citizen regarding "Council member Misjuns inappropriate email to city employees"
Hear from a citizen regarding "what's happening in Lynchburg". (Peter Cefaratti)
Hear from a citizen regarding "Lynchburg Public Library oversight needed”
Hear from a citizen regarding "support [of] the current tax rate and funding for the library, schools, and pool"
Stories about Lynchburg:
Misjuns asks about waste, fraud in survey sent to Lynchburg city employee, Mark Hand, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), May 7, 2025
Lynchburg City Council member asks city workers to report fraud in anonymous survey, Brittany Slaughter, WSET, May 7, 2025
Lynchburg City Council postpones budget reading, members discuss tax rates, Rachel Tillapaugh, WSET, May 7, 2025
From 'tariffs' to hiring freeze, GOP-led council discusses ways to reduce taxes, Mark Hand, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), May 8, 2025
Nelson County Board of Supervisors to hold public hearing on FY2026 budget
The five members of the Nelson County Board of Supervisors are expected to convene at 2 p.m. in the General District Courtroom at the Courthouse in Lovingston. North District Supervisor Tommy Harvey has not attended since May 2024, according to a report from Justin Faulconer of the Nelson County Times (paywall).
Four is a quorum and the meeting will feature three proclamations:
May is Older Americans Month (learn more)
May 15 is Nelson County Garden Club Day in honor of that organization’s 90th anniversary (learn more)
May 11 through May 17 is National Police Week (learn more)
There are four presentations.
The first is on the audit of Nelson County’s books for FY2024. (learn more)
The second is from the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Secondary Six Year Road Plan. (learn more)
The third is the final approval of the design of the new Social Services building as well as an authorization to put the project out to bid on May 16. Bids are due by June 26 and the county hopes to go to construction soon afterward. The current cost estimate is $8,270,212. (learn more)
The fourth is on financing options for the Social Services Building as well as the High School Renovation. Nelson County is issuing around $22 million in bonds through the Virginia Public School Authority for the school project. (learn more)
Under new business there is an update on the Move Safely Blue Ridge plan as well as an authorization to hold a public hearing on updates to the floodplain ordinance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency requires localities to update their maps on a periodic basis for the purposes of flood insurance. (learn more about the floodplain ordinance)
Then there are a series of reports before a closed session. The agenda packet includes a copy of the entire motion allowing for elected officials to meet without the public present.
The evening session begins at 7 p.m. is solely dedicated to the $51,088,536 total budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The budget is based on a real estate tax rate of $0.65 per $100 of assessed value and a personal property tax rate of $2.79 per $100 of assessed value. The transient occupancy tax is at seven percent and county budget staff anticipate a decline in revenues due to “a possible decline in the number of short term rentals or overall bookings.”
