Loading...
PC Minutes 06 04 2019 PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING June 4, 2019 MINUTES VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Planning Commission met on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, in the General District Courtroom, Chatham, Virginia. Mr. Motley, Chairman, called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. Mr. Motley called the roll. PRESENT Richard Motley Chatham-Blairs District Timothy Dudley Staunton River District Morris Stowe Tunstall District Janet Mease Callands-Gretna District Colette Henderson Banister District H. F. Haymore, Jr. Westover District Brian Horne Dan River District Dr. Charles H. Miller, Jr. Board of Supervisors Representative Karen N. Hayes Deputy Director of Community Development Greg Sides Assistant County Administrator J. Vaden Hunt County Attorney MOMENT OF SILENCE The Board observed a moment of silence. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance. HEARING OF THE CITIZENS No citizens came forward to speak. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA A motion was made by Mr. Horne, seconded by Mr. Dudley, and by a unanimous vote, the agenda was approved as presented. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES A motion was made by Mr. Haymore, seconded by Mr. Stowe, and by a unanimous vote, the May 7, 2019, minutes were approved as presented. Planning Commission June 4, 2019 Page 2 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Mr. Motley verified that all Board members had received a letter regarding a public meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. at the Cascade Community Volunteer Fire Department located at 5497 Cascade Road, Cascade, VA, regarding the upcoming Special Use Permit case in July, 2019, for Michaux Solar Center, LLC. He then stated he felt it would be a good idea for the Board members to attend this meeting. Following questioning from a Board member regarding the return of MapQuest directions in the Board packets, Mrs. Hayes notified the Board members that MapQuest directions will be included in the Board packets beginning in July, 2019. THE ZONING PRECEPTS WERE READ by Mr. Motley TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING at approximately 7:04 p.m. Case R-19-019, Matthew Paul Miller & Jennifer Lynn Miller – Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Mrs. Hayes, Deputy Director of Community Development, reported that Matthew and Jennifer Miller had petitioned to rezone 15.24 acres, located on Fairmont Road, in the Callands-Gretna Election District from R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District to A-1, Agricultural District for agricultural uses. She then stated once the property is rezoned to A-1, all uses listed under Section 35-178 are permitted. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were present to represent the petition. Mr. Miller stated he and his wife had recently moved from Oregon, where they had a “hobby farm”, which provided them no source of income. He then stated he wishes to raise produce on the 15+ acres to help pay the bills. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Motley closed the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. During the discussion, it was stated this parcel of land is surrounded by properties zoned A-1, Agricultural District. A motion was made by Mrs. Mease, seconded by Dr. Miller, to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed unanimously. Case R-19-014, Jasmine E. Barbee – Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 7:08 p.m. Mrs. Hayes, Deputy Director of Community Development, reported that Jasmine Barbee had petitioned to rezone 3.77 acres, located on Cascade Road, in the Tunstall Election District from R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District to A-1, Agricultural District to allow for subdivision of the property for family. She then stated once the property is rezoned to A-1, all uses listed under Section 35-178 are permitted. Ms. Barbee was present to represent the petition. She stated she had nothing to add. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Motley closed the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Stowe, seconded by Mrs. Mease, to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed unanimously. This concludes the Rezoning cases. Case S-19-004, Whitehorn Solar, LLC – Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. Mrs. Hayes, Deputy Director of Community Development, reported that Whitehorn Solar, LLC, had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on a total of 700.72 acres, located on Taylors Mill Road, Galveston Road, and East Gretna Road, in the Banister and Callands-Gretna Election Districts for a large-scale solar energy facility. Mr. Tom Green and others were present to represent the petition. Mr. Green provided a brief overview of the proposed solar project and stated this project is a 50-megawatt (“MW”) project, occupying approximately 700 acres. He then stated a community meeting was held on April 23, 2019, to address concerns of the community. Following questioning from the Board members, Mr. Green stated vegetative buffers would be Planning Commission June 4, 2019 Page 3 six (6) feet tall when planted and would grow to eight (8) feet tall within three (3) years. Michael Jones and Chris Doss spoke during the meeting. Mr. Jones was in favor of the project and stressed the importance of educating the public regarding the benefits of clean energy. Mr. Doss was neither in opposition to or in favor of the project, but had questions regarding buffers required, decommissioning program, battery storage, etc., and Mr. Motley suggested he speak with Mr. Green after the public hearing regarding his concerns. Mr. Green offered a rebuttal and addressed the concerns of both individuals. Mr. Motley closed the public hearing at 7:32 p.m. A motion was made by Mrs. Mease, seconded by Mrs. Henderson, to recommend to the Board of Zoning Appeals that the Special Use Permit request be granted. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Dr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Haymore, that the Whitehorn Solar, LLC, is substantially in accord with the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Motion passed unanimously. This concludes the Special Use Permit case. PUBLIC HEARING – PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY CODE Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 7:37 p.m. Mr. Sides presented a revision to the Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance, Section 35-406.MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS. The proposed amendment would add additional language, specifically: The maximum height of buildings in this district shall be eighty (80) feet. For parcels measuring 150 acres or greater in size, the maximum height of buildings shall be 150 feet. Buildings greater than 80 feet in height must incorporate on-site fire control provisions. Belfries, cupolas, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, television antennae, radio aerials, silos, and water tanks are exempt. Any building or structure shall be constructed, erected, installed, maintained, and be of an approved type in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code as amended and the Fire Prevention Code. No one was signed up to speak. Mr. Motley closed the public hearing at 7:39 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Stowe, seconded by Mr. Horne, to accept the changes as presented and recommend the proposed amendment to Section 35-406 of the Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance be referred to the Board of Supervisors for potential adoption at the June 18, 2019, Board of Supervisors Business Meeting. Motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Sides discussed with the Planning Commission the letter addressed to the Board of Supervisors from the Olde Dominion Agricultural Foundation regarding large-scale solar facilities in Pittsylvania County. He stated that it was to be discussed by the Board of Supervisors at a later meeting and that the Planning Commission would be updated in the future regarding their discussion. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:45 p.m.