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PC Minutes 07 02 2019 PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING July 2, 2019 MINUTES VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Planning Commission met on Tuesday, July 2, 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 Karen N. Hayes Deputy Director of Community Development Greg Sides Assistant County Administrator J. Vaden Hunt County Attorney ABSENT Dr. Charles H. Miller, Jr. Board of Supervisors Representative 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. Dudley, seconded by Mr. Haymore, and by a 7 to 0 vote (one (1) member, Dr. Miller, was absent), the agenda was approved as presented. Planning Commission July 2, 2019 Page 2 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES A motion was made by Mr. Horne, seconded by Mr. Stowe, and by a 7 to 0 vote (one (1) member, Dr. Miller, was absent), the June 4, 2019, minutes were approved as presented. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Mr. Motley reported on the letter the Board members received from the Olde Dominion Agricultural Foundation regarding their neutrality of solar facilities. He then recognized the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office on receipt of full reaccreditation and stated the sheriff’s office is 1 of 16 departments that is fully accredited out of 123 sheriff offices statewide. Mr. Motley announced that Mr. Dudley will be running unopposed as a candidate for the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors position in the Staunton River Election District. Mr. Motley welcomed Mr. Stowe’s wife and Mr. Leon Griffith, a member of the Pittsylvania County Board of Zoning Appeals, to the meeting. THE ZONING PRECEPTS WERE READ by Mr. Motley TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING at approximately 7:05 p.m. Case R-19-020, Ray L. Taylor & Eltha Jo Taylor – Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. Mrs. Hayes, Deputy Director of Community Development, reported that Ray and Eltha Taylor had petitioned to rezone 0.361 of an acre, located on Cardwell Lane, in the Dan River Election District from R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District to A-1, Agricultural District to combine with the adjacent 33 acres zoned A-1. She then stated once the property is rezoned to A-1, all uses listed under Section 35-178 are permitted. Mr. Taylor was present to represent the petition. He stated he had nothing to add. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Motley closed the public hearing at 7:06 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Horne, seconded by Mr. Haymore, to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (one (1) member, Dr. Miller, was absent). Case R-19-021, Thomas Judson Brown, III, & Janet Holley Brown – Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 7:08 p.m. Mrs. Hayes, Deputy Director of Community Development, reported that Thomas and Janet Brown had petitioned to rezone 20.73 acres, located on Randolph Drive and on Mount Tabor Road, in the Dan River Election District from R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District to A-1, Agricultural District to make the zoning consistent with the adjacent farm. She then stated once the property is rezoned to A-1, all uses listed under Section 35-178 are permitted. Mr. Brown was present to represent the petition. He stated he 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. Horne, seconded by Mr. Dudley, to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (one (1) member, Dr. Miller, was absent). This concludes the Rezoning cases. Case S-19-005, William C. Dawson, II – Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. Mrs. Hayes, Deputy Director of Community Development, reported that William Dawson had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 0.48 acre, located on Mount Hermon Circle, in the Chatham-Blairs Election District for a public garage. Mr. Dawson was present to represent the petition. He gave a brief description of the garage, stating the existing shop was built Planning Commission July 2, 2019 Page 3 approximately three (3) years ago, it has two (2) bays, and a closed fence surrounds the garage. Following questioning from several of the Board members, Mr. Dawson stated he currently has approximately eighteen (18) vehicles on his lot, but he could reduce that number to five (5) vehicles. He then stated his hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Thursday. Bonnie Meadors, Dianne McMahon, Gerald Hughes, and Joe Welcome, III, spoke during the hearing. Mr. Hughes and Mr. Welcome were not in opposition to the petition; they spoke in favor of the petition and as character witnesses on behalf of Mr. Dawson, stating he is a man of integrity. Ms. Meadors and Ms. McMahon spoke in opposition to the petition. Their concerns included, but were not limited to, the following: (1) Noise and lights on late at night; (2) Traffic is bad late at night; (3) Vehicles blocking the narrow road; (4) Inoperable (uncovered) vehicles on the property, etc. Ms. Meadors and Ms. McMahon presented photographs to the Board members, and Ms. McMahon also presented a petition in opposition to the petition containing a total of twenty (20) signatures. Mr. Dawson offered a rebuttal and stated he had made upgrades to his property, which included upgrades to the fence, his driveway had been extended, the property is kept clean, etc. He then presented photographs of his property to the Board members for their review. Mr. Motley closed the public hearing at 7:39 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Dudley, seconded by Mr. Haymore, to recommend to the Board of Zoning Appeals that the Special Use Permit request be denied. Motion passed by a 6 to 1 vote (one (1) member, Dr. Miller, was absent). The Board members voting to grant the motion were as follows: Mr. Motley, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Stowe, Mrs. Mease, Mr. Haymore, and Mr. Horne. The Board member voting to deny the motion was as follows: Mrs. Henderson. Case S-19-006, Michaux Solar Center, LLC – Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 7:45 p.m. Mrs. Hayes, Deputy Director of Community Development, reported that Michaux Solar Center, LLC, had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on a total of 566.86 acres located in Pittsylvania County, (the actual total acreage is 900 acres, and the rest is located in Henry County), located on Cascade Road, Michaux Road, and Leaksville Junction Road, in the Tunstall Election District for a large-scale solar facility. Victoria Alexander was present to represent the petition. Ms. Alexander provided a brief overview of the proposed solar project and answered questions from the Board members. Jeffrey Woliver spoke during the hearing and stated he is in favor of the solar project. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Motley closed the public hearing at 7:57 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Stowe, seconded by Mr. Dudley, to recommend to the Board of Zoning Appeals that the Special Use Permit request be granted with the conditions submitted in the Board packet plus two additional conditions that at least a minimum of five foot trees to be installed at planting and a maintenance plan which would also include maintenance of a minimum of one foot outside the fenced area. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (one (1) member, Dr. Miller, was absent). Case S-19-007, Roark Mill Solar I – Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 8:01 p.m. Mrs. Hayes, Deputy Director of Community Development, reported that Roark Mill Solar I, had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on a total of 252.96 acres, located on Jacobs Road and Roark Mill Road, in the Staunton River Election District for a large-scale solar facility. Stephen Young was present to represent the petition. Mr. Young provided a brief overview of the proposed solar project and answered questions from the Board members. Jerry Watlington spoke in opposition to the petition. His concerns included, but were not limited to, the following: visibility and batteries. Mr. Young then offered a rebuttal and discussed Mr. Watlington’s concerns. Mr. Motley closed the public hearing at 8:15 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Dudley, seconded by Mrs. Mease, to recommend to the Board of Zoning Appeals that the Special Use Permit request be granted with the conditions that at least a minimum of five foot trees to be installed at planting and a maintenance plan which would include maintenance of a minimum of one foot outside the fenced area. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (one (1) member, Dr. Miller, was absent). This concludes the Special Use Permit cases. Planning Commission July 2, 2019 Page 4 PUBLIC HEARING – Appalachian Power is seeking a determination from Pittsylvania County, Virginia (the “County”), pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-2232, that the general or approximate location, character, and extent of the proposed Berry Hill Substation and the associated transmission line tap are substantially in accordance with the County’s adopted Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Motley opened the public hearing at 8:17 p.m. Mr. Sides, Assistant County Administrator, gave a brief overview of the proposed Berry Hill Energy Connection Project. He then introduced representatives from American Electric Power Company and Appalachian Power Company, who discussed the proposed project overview, proposed structures, proposed substation, etc., and answered questions from the Board members. Leon Griffith and Waverly and Barbara Cousins spoke during the public hearing. Mr. Griffith stated he was very excited about the proposed project. Mr. and Mrs. Cousins had concerns regarding the number of lines crossing their property and how this project would limit the usage of their property. A discussion followed regarding their concerns. Mr. Motley closed the public hearing at 8:57 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Stowe, seconded by Mrs. Mease, to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2- 2232, that the general approximate location, character, and extent of the proposed Berry Hill Substation and the associated transmission line tap are substantially in accordance with the County’s adopted Comprehensive Plan. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (one (1) member, Dr. Miller, was absent). OLD BUSINESS It was stated that Pittsylvania County is ahead of other counties in regards to our solar ordinance. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:03 p.m.