BZA Minutes 06 09 2020
PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
REGULAR MEETING
June 9, 2020
MINUTES
VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Board of Zoning Appeals met on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at the
Community Center, Chatham, Virginia. Mr. Talbott, Chairman, called the meeting to order at
approximately 7:00 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale called the roll.
PRESENT
Kenneth Talbott
R. Allan Easley
Ann Deering
Helen Glass
Joseph “Jay” Craddock
Ronald Merricks
Carroll Yeaman
Emily Ragsdale
Karen N. Hayes
Christopher Dadak, Attorney
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Upon motion of Mr. Merricks, seconded by Mrs. Glass, and by a unanimous vote, the agenda was
approved as presented.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Upon motion of Mr. Easley, seconded by Mrs. Deering, and by a unanimous vote, the May 12, 2020,
minutes were approved as presented.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Ragsdale reported there is a Special Use Permit case for July for a solar energy facility, RE Blue
Ridge Solar,
LLC.
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June 9, 2020
Page 2
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
There was no Chairman’s report.
THE ZONING PRECEPTS WERE READ by Mr. Talbott TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING at
approximately 7:04 p.m.
Case S-20-005, Timothy O. Thompson & Rhonda N. Thompson – Mr. Talbott opened the public
hearing at 7:04 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale, Director of Community Development, reported that Timothy and
Rhonda Thompson had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 1.03 acres, located off Blue Ridge Drive,
in the Staunton River Election District to allow for placement of a single-wide mobile home to be used
for their daughter’s residence. She then stated the Planning Commission recommended by a unanimous
vote, with no opposition, that the petitioners’ request be granted. She further stated the staff summary
was in the board packet for their review. Mrs. Thompson was present to represent the petition. She
stated the home would be for her daughter and future son-in-law. When questioned by a Board member,
she stated there are two (2) driveways on her property; one leading to her home, and the other driveway
leading to the petitioned lot behind her home. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Talbott
closed the public hearing at 7:06 p.m. The Board discussed the petition as the Committee of the Whole.
Upon motion of Mr. Easley, seconded by Mr. Craddock, the following motion was adopted: Whereas,
Timothy and Rhonda Thompson have petitioned the Board of Zoning Appeals for a Special Use Permit
to allow for placement of a single-wide mobile home for their daughter’s residence, and, Whereas, we
find no substantial detriment to adjacent property, that the character of the zoning district will not be
changed thereby, and that such use will be in harmony with the purpose and intent of the Ordinance,
I move the Special Use Permit be granted. Motion passed unanimously.
Case S-20-006, John S. Orebaugh – Mr. Talbott opened the public hearing at 7:08 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale,
Director of Community Development, reported that Jon Orebaugh had petitioned for a Special Use
Permit on 0.91 acre, located on Lakeside Road, in the Callands-Gretna Election District to allow for
placement of a single-wide mobile home to be used for his personal residence. She then stated the
Planning Commission recommended by a unanimous vote, with no opposition, that the petitioner’s
request be granted. She further stated the staff summary was in the board packet for their review.
Mr. Orebaugh was present to represent the petition. He stated the home would be his future retirement
home. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Talbott closed the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. The
Board discussed the petition as the Committee of the Whole. Upon motion of Mr. Merricks, seconded
by Mr. Yeaman, the following motion was adopted: Whereas, John Orebaugh has petitioned the
Board of Zoning Appeals for a Special Use Permit to allow for placement of a single-wide mobile home
for his personal residence, and, Whereas, we find no substantial detriment to adjacent property, that the
character of the zoning district will not be changed thereby, and that such use will be in harmony with the
purpose and intent of the Ordinance, I move the Special Use Permit be granted. Motion passed unanimously.
Case S-20-007, Linda M. Holley – Mr. Talbott opened the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale,
Director of Community Development, reported that Linda Holley had petitioned for a Special Use
Permit on 0.69 acre, located on Tightsqueeze Road, in the Chatham-Blairs Election District for a beauty
shop. She then stated the Planning Commission recommended by a unanimous vote, with no opposition,
that the petitioner’s request be granted. She further stated the staff summary was in the board packet for
their review. Ms. Shelby Clark, Mrs. Holley’s daughter, was present to represent the petition. She stated
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June 9, 2020
Page 3
she wants to slow down and ease into retirement, and she would be working part-time. There was no
opposition to the petition. Mr. Talbott closed the public hearing at 7:14 p.m. The Board discussed the
petition as the Committee of the Whole. Upon motion of Mr. Easley, seconded by Mrs. Glass, the
following motion was adopted: Whereas, Linda M. Holley has petitioned the Board of Zoning Appeals
for a Special Use Permit for a beauty shop, and, Whereas, we find no substantial detriment to adjacent
property, that the character of the zoning district will not be changed thereby, and that such use will be
in harmony with the purpose and intent of the Ordinance, I move the Special Use Permit be granted.
Motion passed unanimously.
Case S-20-008, Monroe Solar Partners, LLC – Mr. Talbott opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m.
Mrs. Ragsdale, Director of Community Development, reported that Monroe Solar Partners, LLC, had
petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 62.12 acres, located on Climax Road, in the Callands-Gretna
Election District for a utility scale solar energy facility. She then stated the Planning Commission
recommended by a unanimous vote, with opposition, that the petitioner’s request be granted with the
amended condition submitted by staff as follows: (2) Height. Except for weather station pole not to
exceed 30 feet, the collection yard and substation or otherwise as required by applicable building code,
the maximum height of the solar panels and other above-ground equipment will be 15 feet. She further
stated the staff summary was in the board packet for their review. Chris Gordon and Geoffrey Suttle
with Monroe Solar Partners, LLC, and David Lipscomb with Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative were
present to represent the petition. They provided a brief overview of the solar project, answered questions
from the Board members, and provided each Board member with a packet of information regarding
the solar facility. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Talbott closed the public hearing at
7:44 p.m. The Board discussed the petition as the Committee of the Whole. Upon motion of Mr. Easley,
seconded by Mrs. Glass, the following motion was adopted: Whereas, Monroe Solar Partners, LLC,
has petitioned the Board of Zoning Appeals for a Special Use Permit for a utility scale solar facility, and,
Whereas, we find no substantial detriment to adjacent property, that the character of the zoning district
will not be changed thereby, and that such use will be in harmony with the purpose and intent of the
Ordinance, and Whereas adverse effects upon adjacent property are mitigated through the attached
Pittsylvania County Special Use Permit Conditions for Utility Scale Solar Energy Facilities submitted
by staff as amended, I move the Special Use Permit be granted. Motion passed unanimously.
This concludes the Special Use Permit cases.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:55 p.m.