Wednesday, December 21, 2022: Amelia County Farm Bureau renews quest to extend land use taxation to forested land; Fluvanna Supervisors to hold rezoning for industrial site on U.S. 15

The third of three installments of this week's newsletter on local government in Virginia's Fifth District

This is most certainly the final edition of this year week, written hastily as I try to find my way out the door for a holiday trip. Next week I plan to use the time off from meetings to finalize the election work I want to do. It’s my hope to cover as much as I can in 2023. 

But for now, I must get on with this particular edition of the newsletter as the hour grows late for holiday travel. Rest assured, there will be more information to come! Thank you for reading and helping me grow the audience!

Amelia County Sheriff’s office wants review of all special permit applications

The five member Amelia County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. at the Amelia County High School. (agenda packet)

This final meeting of the year begins like every other with an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, consent agenda, and public comments. Then there will be several presentations. Here’s some information I gleaned from the packet:

• A Virginia Department of Transportation traffic study recommends retaining the 55 miles per hour speed limit on U.S. 360 but add additional signage for a traffic signal. A report on county Route 604 is forthcoming. 

• An audit of the Southside Center for Violence Program has concluded that the non-profit is in trouble following the end of funding from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services in FY22 for a victim services program. The specific phrase in Note 4 reads: “substantial doubt about the organization’s ability to continue as a going concern.” (page 104)

• The Sheriff’s Department is seeking an additional $130,000 for an “Enhanced Patrol” 

There is a public hearing on an amendment to the Special Event Ordinance to require that the Sheriff’s Office review each application to determine if deputies needs to be present. If so, the applicant would need to cover the costs. 

Under new business, the Amelia County Farm Bureau is requesting Supervisors extend land use taxation to forested land. There was a discussion about this in the spring, but the Farm Bureau is increasing their request. 

“Recent debate in Amelia County over the rise of utility scale solar facilities heightens the need for something that will incentivize a forest landowner to leave their land in forestry and timber production,” writes Amelia County Bureau President Paul Puckett.

One reason the Farm Bureau wants this to occur is that so landowners in Amelia County can be eligible for grants through the recently created Forest Sustainability Fund. 

Letter from Sheriff Ricky L. Walker explaining what the $130,000 for the “Enhanced Patrol” would cover 

Fluvanna Supervisors to take up 80-acre industrial rezoning on U.S. 15 

The five-member Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors meets at 5 p.m. for presentations from non-profit organizations seeking funding. Then the regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m. They meet in the Carysbrook Performing Arts Center at 8880 James Madison Highway in Fork Union. (packet)

Several non-profits are seeking funds in Fiscal Year 2024 and will have five minutes each to make their presentation:

• Foothills Child Advocacy Center seeks $15,000 (page 5)

• Hospice of the Piedmont seeks $3,000 (page 9)

• Jaunt, Inc seeks $117,070 for two programs (page 11)

• Legal Aid Justice Center seeks $7,500 (page 13)

• Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission seeks $41,174 for multiple programs (page 15)

• Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District seeks $22,279 for non-point source pollution control services (page 19)

• Thomas Jefferson EMS Council seeks $17,745 (page 31)

• Shelter for Help in Emergency seeks $11,020 (page 33)

• Piedmont Virginia Community College seeks $6,726 (page 37)

There are two public hearings associated with two different proposals which yet are almost identical to each other.  The Vaughn Property Group has two separate parcels on either side of U.S. 15 and they want to rezone each from agricultural to industrial for a business campus within the Zion Crossroads Community Planning Area. 

“The applicant proposes to develop a flex industrial distribution center / data center project which includes three buildings with approximately 200,000 square feet each for a total of 600,000 square feet,” reads the letter for Parcel 11-9-2.

Parcel 11-9-1 is essentially across the street.

The Fluvanna Board of Supervisors will hear two proposals for 40 acre parcels right across the street from each other for an industrial center (Credit: Bowman) 

There will also be two action items. 

One is for a request from the Fluvanna School Board to re-appropriate funds from fiscal year 2017. This relates to the cost of audio and visual upgrades for the School Board auditorium. (page 133)

There will also be a review of the structure of the Department of Emergency Services including personnel. There are three options for expansion of service. (page 135)

• Two county-staffed ambulances for 24 hours a day, seven days a week at an annual cost of nearly $1.7 million. 

• Three county-staffed ambulances for 24 hours a day, seven days a week at an annual cost of just over $2.485 million. 

• Two county-staffed ambulances for 24 / 7 with an additional weekday staff ambulance at an annual cost of nearly $1.92 million. 

Then there are several presentations: 

• One is the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for FY22 as prepared by Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates. (page 169) 

• There will be an update from the Economic Development Tourism Advisory Council. (page 395)

• There will also be a semi-annual update on the Children’s Services Act. (page 397)

• There will also be an update from the James River Water Authority. (page 399)

FY22 revenues for Fluvanna County (Credit: Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates)