Wednesday, November 9, 2022: Hanover to hold public hearing on fire station on school land; Amelia Supervisors to consider Comprehensive Plan amendment to further regulate solar projects

Plus a round-up of news articles with results from Tuesday's election

Nov 09, 2022

Today is a quick one due to the need to take stock a day after an election and prepare for 2023. I’ll spare readers of this newsletter a full accounting of what’s on the ballot in 363 days, but I did that for readers of Charlottesville Community Engagement for the planning district there. I plan to do that for this newsletter between now and the end of the year.

Just two meetings today, as well as a brief round-up of some news articles with election results. I may also add weekly newsletter rounding up news articles from across the district. Thanks for reading and please share with others you think might be interested in learning more about the Fifth District and the localities within.

Hanover County Supervisors to consider employee bonus, 120 units on Meadowbridge Road

The seven-member Hanover County Board of Supervisors will meet at 2 p.m. They meet in the Board Room in the Administration Building at 7516 County Complex Road. (meeting portal)

The first major item of business is a presentation on the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report from finance director Lauren Null. The item is not in the packet.

Then there will be a presentation on a $5,961,047 budget supplement for a project to consolidate Henry Clay and John Gandy Elementary Schools. Construction bids came over the expected amount.

Then a presentation on a bonus for employees of Hanover County Public Schools and local government.

“The Virginia Department of Education, through the General Assembly, allocated

funding for a bonus for state supported instructional positions,” reads the staff report. “To make this bonus equitable across the workforce, staff recommends a bonus be paid on December 15th to all eligible employees in the amount of $625 for full time employees and $375 for non-seasonal part time employees who were employed by either entity on December 1, 2022.”

This will cost $2.455,617 and the state is picking up about two-thirds of that amount.

Then economic development director Linwood Thomas will present the annual report for fiscal year 2022. Also not in the board packet. This concludes the afternoon portion.

The Board reconvenes at 6 p.m. with more presentations and public comment under the agenda heading “Citizens’ Time.”

Then there will be a presentation from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority. Also not in the packet.

There are seven public hearings for seven specific land use applications. Two of the bulleted points below include two separate applications for the same project.

A landowner seeks a special exception permit to allow an accessory structure on a 0.49 acre parcel zoned agricultural in the Beaverdam District.
Green Top Sporting Goods seeks an amendment to a rezoning to change the proffers related to signage. This is in the South Anna District. There is also a special exception permit request to allow a taller sign.
Another landowner seeks a rezoning from two different zoning categories to Multi-Family Residential District (RM) on about 8.46 acres at the intersection of Shady Grove Road and Meadowbridge Road. The plan is to build 120 apartment units at a gross density of 14.2 dwelling units per acre. This is in the Chickahominy District.
The Hanover School Board seeks to reduce the amount of land a conditional use permit applies to from 23.1 acres to 19.6 acres. This will allow the Hanover General Services department to apply for a conditional permit for a new fire station in the Henry District.
The final public hearing is to amend the county’s zoning ordinance to add provisions regulating the installation and use of battery energy storage systems.

*Location map for the Meadowbridge Apartments*

Amelia Supervisors to consider Comp Plan amendment promoting agricultural use over solar

The five-member Amelia County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. at Amelia County High School. (meeting info)

After the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, there will be a series of presentations beginning with the Virginia Department of Transportation. The School Board will present a series of finance reports, and there will be a report on the transition of Emergency Medical Services.

Next, there will be a consideration of changes to two policies related to energy.

The first is an update of the Alternative Energy ordinance to further regulate utility-scale solar projects. Review the changes here.

The second is a proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan make it to place restrictions of the use of agricultural land for utility-scale solar projects.

“The County is increasingly being considered as a potential location for the siting of utility-scale solar facilities,” reads a portion of the resolution. “The Board of Supervisors desires to update the County’s Comprehensive Plan to ensure that the preservation of the County’s best suited farmland that has a recent history of being in active production is encouraged, consistent with the long held community vision and goals set out in the Plan.”

The additional language under consideration to be added to the Comprehensive Plan related to utility-scale solar projects

Under other business, there will be a report from the Virginia Cooperative Extension for one staffer’s accomplishments from 2007 to 2022. (read the list)

There will also be a discussion of further tax exemptions for antique vehicles, farm items, and certain household goods.

Fifth District Community Engagement

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