Government Glance for June 13, 2022: Albemarle and Bedford to both consider panhandling; Buckingham may sell land to spur economic development
Another look at all meetings of local government elected officials from across Virginia's Fifth Congressional District
Welcome to the fifth week of an experimental newsletter that seeks to list what’s coming up at local government meetings in the 24 localities that are included within Virginia’s new Fifth Congressional District. Each week I am learning more about the commonalities between the various cities and counties.
There are a lot of meetings on Monday, and I still have some questions out about ones scheduled for later in the week. I am still learning a new beat, and this newsletter captures that initial research into a new political unit. This fascinates me, and I acknowledge I have much to learn.
It’s my hope you’ll continue with me on this journey. For now, there’s no paid subscription for this Substack, but contributions through Charlottesville Community Engagement are one way to support the work. You can also become a Patreon supporter to help me keep Town Crier Productions going.
Some themes this week:
Several localities across the district continue to sign the paperwork for regional broadband projects funded through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI)
The elected bodies in both Albemarle and Bedford will take up panhandling
Several localities will vote to formally endorse Smart Scale applications to submit to the Virginia Department of Transportation
Monday, June 13, 2022
Bedford Supervisors to amend by-laws for nursing home, adopt budget, endorse Smart Scale applications
The Bedford County Board of Supervisors has a work session that begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom in the county administration building at 123 East Main Street followed by a regular meeting at 7 p.m. (meeting portal)
Staff will update the Board on the FY23 budget at the work session, but there appears to be an error in the report. The document states the proposed budget passed by the General Assembly did not include an elimination of the state’s share of the tax on grocery products, but that is in the conference report adopted by the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate on June 1. Supervisors will also hear about a study of compensation for employees, and consider establishing a Nursing Home Advisory Board.
“The mission of the Bedford County Nursing Home is to provide the best quality of care to enhance residents’ quality of life in a healthy environment, which is the closest thing to being at home,” reads the proposed by-laws.
There are about 90 residents in the Nursing Home, which traces back to 1831.
In the evening session, there are several public hearings, presentations.
Further consideration of a rezoning from R-1 to R-2 and a special use permit for JAM89LLC to build 217 townhouses in New London. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend denial of the project.
Public hearing on an endorsement of Smart Scale applications for the current round. These include a roundabout at Route 122 and Route 24 and sidewalks on Route 221.
Public hearing on amending the county ordinance related to panhandling in public places
A vote on the FY23 general government and school budgets
Consideration of a resolution on a zoning ordinance related to site development plans in R-1 zoning districts to require units to be connected to public water and sewer to have a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet and 75 feet of frontage on a public street.
Buckingham Supervisors to consider sale of industrial land, permit for sawmill
The Buckingham County Board of Supervisors meets at 6:30 p.m. in the Peter Francisco Auditorium in the county administration complex. (meeting packet)
The first item on the regular agenda regards whether the county should dispose of land that is currently not generating and property tax revenue.
“This public hearing is to consider if the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors wishes to sell 125.28 acres of land in what is currently recognized as the industrial park to Atlantic Investment Corporation for the purpose of town homes, single family homes, and light industrial / commercial business,” reads the staff report (page 90 of the packet)
Staff estimates that could bring in $15 million over five years.
In other matters:
A landowner seeks a special use permit to operate a sawmill on Crumptown Road. This matter was before the Board last December, but they sought more information. The Planning Commission has recommended approval. This would be for an existing business that will move from Charlotte County.
There are two requests for special use permits for short-term rentals. One of them for a location in Dillwyn states that “it is unlikely that any hotels or large rental properties will be built in the area, this is a way to bring people into the area while maintaining the scenic quality of the landscape.”
The other on Maple Top Lane also seeks an event center for up to 1,500 guests at a time.
Buckingham County is still working on formal agreement for the public-private partnership with Firefly Fiber Broadband Initiative and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Buckingham has committed $1.5 million in funds and Supervisors will get an update on the negotiations.
Staff are working on a policy to limit the number of tires that can be on a property.
Charlotte Supervisors to meet in closed session on Randolph solar siting agreement
The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors has a special meeting at 5 p.m. to discuss a solar siting arrangement followed by a regular meeting at 6 p.m. (meeting info page)
Immediately after that closed session, another special meeting will be called to discuss in closed session to discuss an agreement with Empower Broadband related to the public-private partnership funded through the VIrginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI).
The regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. There are two public hearings. The first is for a solid waste management plan for the Southside Regional Public Service Authority, the entity that runs the Butcher Creek regional landfill. The Halifax Board of Supervisors had an update last week. (read the draft plan)
The second is for changes to the solar ordinance related to the revenue sharing program as well as small-scale projects. A public hearing for two solar projects has been set for July 5.
Also on the agenda is a discussion for contextualization on a Confederate monument in the county. They’ll also approve the redistricting boundaries for the seven magisterial districts.
Mecklenburg Supervisors to meet
The nine-member Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors meets at 7 p.m. As I am new at this community, I cannot find a full packet but just a two-page agenda. There’s a special use exception request, a public hearing on the Six Year Plan for Mecklenburg, and a public hearing on the same solid waste management plan mentioned above. (read the draft plan)
At this moment in time, I do not know anyone in Mecklenburg County. In my searches for information, the same community in North Carolina comes up more often. This research hopes to change that, as I very much want to learn all of the different pieces of the Fifth District. As defined now, I’ve lived here most of my life and I’m excited to get to know all of the localities.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Nelson County Supervisors to consider Smart Scale applications including proposed change to Lovingston light
The Nelson County Board of Supervisors meets at both 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. for their regular monthly meetings. (meeting info)
The afternoon session begins with four presentations. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission will present the regional hazard mitigation plan they are developing for the member localities. Actions specified for Nelson include are listed beginning on page 148 of the packet.
Then Supervisors will get an annual report from the criminal justice planner on how Nelson has utilized the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. That will be followed by Nelson County’s Smart Scale applications:
An R-cut intersection at the traffic signal at Front Street and U.S. 29 in Lovingston
Conversion of the intersection at Route 6 and Route 151 into a roundabout
Intersection improvements at Route 6 and Tanbark Road
Then a report from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Then there’s both new and unfinished business to complete. These include proposed amendments to the subdivision and zoning ordinance to update the definition of a kennel and a “assistance dog facility,” how to finances the $2.6 million the county wants to use to acquire a property, a request from the registrar to modify their offices, and the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.
In the evening session there are four public hearings.
A special use permit request for a two-site campground near Crabtree Falls
A special use permit request to allow an automobile graveyard on James River Road in Shipman
A special use permit to allow an outdoor entertainment venue at the former Mark Addy Inn in Nellysford
A special use permit to allow Blue Mountain Brewery to continue advertising on two trailers on U.S. 29 near their facility on Cooperative Way
One item on the consent agenda is also worth noting.
“Ryan Hall Elementary School is one of the few remaining examples of the type of schools attended by all African American children in Nelson County during the first half of the 20th century,” reads a resolution of support for the school’s nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.
According to the nomination, there were three classrooms on the main floor with one basement room. The older of two buildings dates back to 1919 and was closed in the early 1960’s.
“It is a tangible reminder of the segregated educational system that united the African American community in its efforts to overcome it,” the resolution continues.
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources’s State Review Board will take up the nomination at its meeting on Thursday. A property in Albemarle County is also up for consideration. (Read more about La Forche)
Another consent agenda item is Nelson’s agreement to participate in the Firefly Broadband public-private partnership.
Prince Edward Supervisors to hold public hearing on $1.1M in federal COVID funding for schools
The eight-member Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors meets at 7 p.m. (meeting packet)
After public comments, recognitions, and the consent agenda, Supervisors will hold a public hearing on using over $1.1 million in federal COVID funding for the school system. One of those recognitions is for the employee of the month.
The rest of the meeting will contain several updates. These include:
Updates on High Bridge Trail, Twin Lakes State Park, and Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park
An update on 2022 home canning season
An economic development update and the tourism council seeks an amendment to its by-laws
Amendments to the regulations for fishing tournaments on the Sandy River Fishing Tournament
Consideration of designation of a surplus county-owned building on Griffin Boulevard so it might be sold and used for another purpose. Evaluation by the Timmons Group found that the building is no longer usable by Meals on Wheels and may have “surpassed the point of useful life and demolition of the existing structure should be considered.”
In other meetings:
According to the schedule, the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors is supposed to meet but I do not see an agenda at publication time. I do see a site visit scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday as part of the Cobb’s Creek Reservoir project. I also see an item for the meeting in the CivicPlus scheduling software for a meeting at 7 p.m. in the Circuit Courthouse, but no agenda. (meetings)
The seven-member Lynchburg City Council is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. I could not find an agenda on their meetings page. Perhaps I am not looking in the right place?
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Albemarle Supervisors to address panhandling, get jump start on 2023 General Assembly
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors meets in Lane Auditorium at 1 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. (meeting info) (agenda)
The work of the 2022 General Assembly is not technically done, as the special session is still happening pending Governor Glenn Youngkin’s action on the recently approved conference report for the FY23-24 biennium budget. However, local governments are always thinking of what they may need addressed next year.
Albemarle Supervisors will have an initial discussion on what potential legislation they may seek to have filed on their behalf next winter. They’ll review what happened in 2022, such as the defeat of a bill that would have allowed localities to use photo-speed cameras in rural areas. Delegate Rob Bell carried HB747 but it did not make its way out of the House Public Safety Committee. (staff report)
Next, Supervisors will hold a work session with the title “Homelessness, Panhandling, and the System of Care.” Staff wants a direction on how to proceed with approaching panhandling and have included in the packet a memo from July 27, 2019 on the topic. In it, Anthony Haro of the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless states that stopping panhandling is not one of the direct goals in a continuum of care “that includes prevention services, street outreach, day shelter, low barrier and traditional emergency shelter, transitional housing programs for families, rapid re-housing program, and permanent supportive housing.” (staff report)
After that, there is a presentation on the Acquisition of Conservation Easement program which uses county resources to pay for conservation easements for property owners who might not otherwise qualify for other programs.
The staff report notes that the program has not been changed since 2001. Supervisors last got an update on the program in September 2021. Conservation easements have been part of a growth management policy that discourages suburban sprawl. About a quarter of the rural area is under easement. (view that presentation)
The discussion will also cover the role of the Albemarle Conservation Easement Authority as well as Rural Preservation Developments.
Following that, there will be a presentation on the regional hazard mitigation plan being put together by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors had a similar briefing earlier this month. Take a look at the staff report for more details on mitigation steps that are recommended for Albemarle.
There is one public hearing In the evening session that begins at 6 p.m. Supervisors will consider a request from the developers of the Albemarle Business Campus to allow 25,000 more square feet of non-residential use. The cover letter to the staff report notes a request to allow for the construction of a parking garage is no longer part of the project. Five members of the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval.
On the consent agenda:
Supervisors will officially vote to direct staff to prepare an affordable dwelling unit program to allow for the county to take additional steps to require more units be rented or sold to people who make less than the area median income. This follows a May 4 work session on the item. See also: Albemarle Supervisors discuss incentives for housing plan, May 19, 2022 (resolution)
The Galaxie Farm development seeks a special exception to allow for some of the approved Code of Development to be changed to allow what the developer says will be more flexibility. (request) (materials)
A special exception is requested for a cell tower (materials)
The Building Report for the first quarter of the year shows 179 permits issues this year so far, with 134 in the development area. (staff report)
There’s also a report on Certificates of Occupancy as well. There appears to have been a decline in the past two years. (report)
The county’s Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment report is complete and available for review. I’ll have something in an installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement before Wednesday. What jumps out at you? (staff report)
Like the details of tracking road projects? Take a look at the June 2022 VDOT report!
Amelia Supervisors to consider funding for new economic development entity, support for tiny home project to house homeless
The Amelia County Board of Supervisors meets at Amelia County High School at 7 p.m. (meeting info)
One item on the agenda is a discussion of building setback in M-1 and M-2 zoning districts. There’s also a public hearing on the Secondary Six-Year Improvement Plan.
Other business includes a GO Virginia grant application to create a new entity for economic development to be separate from the Commonwealth Regional Council. They seek $100,000 to create a business plan for the future entity. The CRC wants $2,500 each of the seven localities in the CRC footprint as well as Longwood University.
There’s also a letter of support for federal funding for STEPS, Amelia County’s homeless solutions provider. They make placements in hotels for individuals in need.
“Amelia County has no access to a homeless emergency shelter in the region, with all potential shelters outside of the region,” reads a letter to Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. “STEPS is working with Amelia County to implement a critically needed solution to this problem.”
STEPS seeks to build 14 tiny homes around a community center on a 3 acre property within the jurisdiction of public water and sewer.
Then there is consideration of a special exception and siting agreement for a 630 acre utility-scale facility known as Amelia Energy, as well as special event permits for National Night Out and the Amelia County Fair. There will also be a discussion of a sidewalk project.
Fluvanna Supervisors to get briefing on transit vision plan, public hearing on Louisa utilities
The five-member Fluvanna Board of Supervisors meets in the Fluvanna County Library in Palmyra beginning at 7 p.m. That is a change from the recent location of the Carysbrook Performing Arts Center. (meeting packet)
After the usual beginning to the meeting including updates from County Administrator Eric Dahl, there will be three public hearings on two items.
In the first, Supervisors will consider whether to grant Louisa County permission to build major water and sewer lines from Ferncliff to Shannon Hill along U.S. 250. The Planning Commission recommended approval on a 4 to 0 vote on May 10.
In the second and third, Johnston & Co. seek a conditional rezoning from agricultural to business for a property near the intersection of Turkeysag Trail. The use would be a contractor’s storage yard as well as a 60,000 square foot self-storage facility.
“The applicant has proffered out higher B-1 land uses such as retail convenience stores and fast food restaurants,” reads the staff report. “These land uses can be more obtrusive to surrounding residential uses and they can generate higher amounts of traffic beyond neighborhood land uses serving the surrounding neighborhoods or the community.”
In other business, Fluvanna County will approve an agreement to move forward with participation in the regional broadband initiative being administered by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. That agency secured a $79 million grant from the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative. Fluvanna will pay $601,500 in matching funds.
The TJPDC will also brief the Board of Supervisors on the Regional Transit Vision plan, which extends to the rural localities. The plan, funded by Albemarle, Charlottesville, and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, imagines what could be done with a hypothetical $70 million in annual funding. The plan does not identify where that funding would come from.
“What would you do if the region could build a network to meet its land use, climate, and other policy goals?” is the question asked in the vision.
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Nottoway Supervisors to meet
In the same spirit of not quite knowing how things work in all 24 of the localities in the new Fifth District, I say I do not know if there is a place I can get a detailed agenda for the Nottoway Board of Supervisors’ meeting that will take place in-person at the Nottoway County General District Courthouse in Nottoway.
On the agenda is an adoption of the budget as well as department reports. As this email is long already, I will see if I can get something in an addendum later this week. (agenda)
Friday, June 17, 2022
Albemarle County will hold a virtual open house on the Comprehensive Plan update from noon to 1 p.m. They are calling these meetings “office hours.” (meeting info)
“Our AC44 Comp Plan team will be available to share information about the County's current growth management policy, recent development trends in the county, and how our Development Areas may potentially build out in the future,” reads the information page. “We will be asking community members to share input on various options for growth management in our county, and how these options impact equity, climate action, and other quality of life factors.”
So: What do you think?
If you are reading this, it means you got to the end of a very long list of specifics of what is happening at top-level meetings in a political unit that includes just under a million people. I am experimenting with trying to research the entire place as a journalist. Please feel free to share this with others.