PC Minutes 04 04 2023PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 - 7:00 PM
Board Meeting Room
39 Bank Street, SE,
Chatham,Virginia 24531
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Harker called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
ROLL CALL
3. MOMENT OF SILENCE
MOMENT OF SILENCE
The Board observed a moment of silence.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
5. HEARING OF THE CITIZENS
Each person addressing the Board under Hearing of the Citizens shall be
a resident or land owner of the County, or the registered agent of such
residentor land owner. Each person shall step up, give his/her name and
district in an audible tone of voice for the record, and unless further time
is granted by the Chairman, shall limit his/her address to three (3) minutes.
No person shall be permitted to address the Board more than once
during Hearing of the Citizens. All remarks shall be addressed to the Board
as a body and not to any individual member thereof. Hearing of the
Citizens shall last for a maximum of forty-five (45) minutes. Any individual
that is signed up to speak during said section who does not get the
opportunity to do so because of the aforementioned time limit, shall be
given speaking priority at the next Board meeting. Absent Chairman’s
approval, no person shall be able to speak who has not signed up.
HEARING OF THE CITIZENS
No citizens came forward to speak.
6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion was made by Mr. Horne, seconded by Mrs. Mease, and by a seven
(7) to zero (0) vote, the agenda was approved as presented.
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mrs. Mease, seconded by Mr. Oakes, and by a seven
(7) to zero (0) vote, the minutes were approved as presented.
a. Planning Commission Minutes 03-07-2023 (Staff Contact: Robin
Vaughan)
a. Planning Commission Minutes 03-07-2023
8. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
There was no Chairman's report.
9. PUBLIC HEARING
PUBLIC HEARING
a. Pursuant to Article V, Division 7, of the Pittsylvania County Zoning
Ordinance, we the Planning Commission have been empowered to hear
and decide specific applications in support of said Ordinance and make
recommendations to the Board of Supervisors or Board of Zoning
Appeals. In accomplishing this important task we are charged with
promoting the health, safety, and general public welfare of the citizens of
Pittsylvania County. We must ensure that all our decisions and
recommendations be directed to these goals and that each be
consistent with the environment, the comprehensive plan, and in the best
interest of Pittsylvania County, its citizens, and its posterity. Anyone here
to speak to the Board, other than the applicant, regarding zoning cases
will be limited to (3) three minutes.
a. Pursuant to Article V, Division 7, of the Pittsylvania County Zoning
Ordinance, we the Planning Commission have been empowered to hear
and decide specific applications in support of said Ordinance and make
recommendations to the Board of Supervisors or Board of Zoning
Appeals. In accomplishing this important task we are charged with
promoting the health, safety, and general public welfare of the citizens of
Pittsylvania County. We must ensure that all our decisions and
recommendations be directed to these goals and that each be
consistent with the environment, the comprehensive plan, and in the best
interest of Pittsylvania County, its citizens, and its posterity. Anyone here
to speak to the Board, other than the applicant, regarding zoning cases
will be limited to (3) three minutes.
1. Public Hearing: S-23-003 Christy Hicks (Staff Contact: Emily
Ragsdale)
1. Public Hearing: S-23-003 Christy Hicks
Mr. Harker opened the public hearing at 7:07p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale, Director
of Community Development, reported that Christy Hicks petitioned for a
Special Use Permit on 13.47 acres, generally located on State Road
724/Mill Creek Road, in the Westover Election District to allow for a
summer camp. Ms. Hicks represented the petition. Ms. Hicks stated that
she wants to create a youth day camp to promote gardening, and have
small animals such as chickens and rabbits. She stated that the summer
camp will be a non-profit organization. She said activities will be held
outside and she hopes to have several rustic barn structures on the
property as well. Mr. Horne said he thinks this is a great thing. Mrs. Mease
said she admires Ms. Hicks for doing this and asked how many children
would be there each day. Ms.Hicks stated that starting out she will only
have six (6)-twelve (12) children on a daily basis. Mrs. Henderson said she
loves this idea. Mr. Waters said he appreciates this idea and he would
send his children if they were younger. He asked about her business
model. He wanted to know if the children be dropped off and picked-up
later? He also asked about background checks for the staff. Ms. Hicks
said there will be three (3) people helping her from the start that are
employed by the school system and she hopes they have already been
through the background check process since they are employed by the
school system. She said the parents will drop the children off at eight (8)
or nine (9) in the morning and they will be picked up at one (1). She said
she may extend the hours for the camp after being in business a while.
Mr. Harker said there are two staff recommendations that he wants to
make sure she's familiar with: (1) Uniform State Building Code regulations
and Virginia Department of Health regulations. Ms. Hicks said she had
questions regarding the structures. She said that due to wanting them to
look like they are from the nineteenth century, she has concerns with
building codes due to building structures that will look antique. Mrs.
Ragsdale said this will depend on the use of the buildings and staff would
work through this with the code official, as code requirements vary on the
type of use for each structure. She stated that buildings being occupied
by people will be handled differently per the building code than
buildings being used for storage. Mr. Hunt stated that Mrs. Ragsdale and
staff will work with the applicant and walk her through which building
codes will apply for each structure on this project. Mr. Webb asked if the
Virginia Department of Health will oversee the number of youth per adult.
Mrs. Ragsdale said they would not regulate that, but they will regulate
required restrooms and any food that will be served. The Department of
Education will oversee permitting if needed, as there are different
regulations for camps. Mr. Harker closed the public hearing at 7:23 p.m.
There was no opposition to the petition. A motion was made by Mr.
Webb, seconded by Mrs. Mease, that the Board of Zoning Appeals grant
the Special Use Permit with the two conditions recommended by staff.
Motion passed by a seven (7) to zero (0) vote.
10. OLD BUSINESS
OLD BUSINESS
Mrs. Ragsdale stated that next Wednesday, April 12th will be the Board of
Supervisors, Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals joint work
session for the zoning ordinance update. The meeting will be held at 5:30 pm at
39 Bank Street, Chatham, VA .
11. NEW BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Ragsdale introduced the new County Administrator, Stuart Turille, to the
Planning Commission. The May meeting will have eight (8) cases, five (5)
rezoning cases and three (3) special use permits. Mr. Horne offered
condolences to the family of Tim Chesher, Dan River District Board of
Supervisors representative, on the passing of his daughter-in-law after a long
battle with cancer.
12. ADJOURNMENT
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.