PC Minutes 06 06 2023PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 - 7:00 PM
Board Meeting Room
39 Bank Street, SE,
Chatham,Virginia 24531
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
3. MOMENT OF SILENCE
The Board observed a moment of silence.
4. 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
resident or 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
Upon motion of Mrs. Mease, seconded by Mrs. Henderson, and by a unanimous
vote, the agenda was approved as presented.
RESULT: Approve
MOVER: Janet Mease
SECONDER: Colette Henderson
AYES: Colette Henderson, Janet Mease, Nathan Harker, Richard Waters, Fred
Webb, Justin Brown
NOES: None
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Upon motion of Mr. Webb, seconded by Mrs. Mease, and by a unanimous vote,
the minutes were approved as presented.
a. May Board Meeting Minutes Approval (Staff Contact: Robin
Vaughan)
a. May Board Meeting Minutes Approval
RESULT: Approve
MOVER: Fred Webb
SECONDER: Janet Mease
AYES: Colette Henderson, Janet Mease, Nathan Harker, Richard Waters,
Fred Webb, Justin Brown
NOES: None
8. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
There was no Chairman's report.
9. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Public Hearing: Case CA-23-001 Southside Investing, LLC;
Amendments to Pittsylvania County Code 35-295, 35-296, 35-298, 35-
301 and 35-305. (Staff Contact: Emily Ragsdale)
a. Public Hearing: Case CA-23-001 Southside Investing, LLC; Amendments to
Pittsylvania County Code 35-295, 35-296, 35-298, 35-301 and 35-305.
Mr. Harker opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale, Director
of Community Development, reported that Southside Investing, LLC has
requested a Code Amendment to Pittsylvania County Code 35-295
Special Use Permits,35-296 Area Regulations, 35-298 Minimum Yard
Dimensions (A) Front Setback (B) Side Setback (C) Rear Setback (D)
Minimum Distance Between Main Buildings and (E) Corner Lots, 35-301
Open Space Requirements and 35-305 Streets, Items (F) Alleys and (G)
Private Streets. A redline version was included in the agenda packet
showing all changes wanting to be made. Southside Investing, LLC was
present to answer any questions. Michael Kendrick spoke against the
rezoning and the size of the lots, he feels that the density is too high for an
area of this size. He stated he is not against a housing development, but
this is too much in this compact area. David Willis was next to speak, his
mother owns Axton Lodge on Martin Drive and he opposes this project.
Mr. Harker closed the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. Mr. Waters asked if
anyone from public works was present to address water and sewage.
Chris Adcock, Director of Public Works was present. Mr. Waters asked
about the size of the project as far as sewage and water needed. Mr.
Adcock said there is public water along 58 from the City of Danville to the
Henry County Line. He stated we have allocations from both localities that
equate to about 600,000 gallons a day. He stated that he does not know
what the total demands are for this particular development are, but we
currently use about 90,000 gallons a day for 500 connections in the
Brosville, 58 West area. He stated the sewer is a little further away, we
have sewer infrastructure on Whispering Pines Road that leads to the City
of Danville, so there would need to be additional studies done to see
what the capacity available in that line is. Mr. Waters asked if in his option
that the system could handle this particular project. Mr. Adcock stated
that water-wise he does think we could handle it, sewer wise he would
need to see some additional numbers and some additional studies which
they are expecting to be provided by the developer at some point in
time. Mr. Harker asked if the minimum distance between buildings or the
setbacks from a public works perspective, does that present any
challenges? Mr. Adcock said he cannot think of any. In this situation
without having to have a drain field or a well on a lot, it makes the size
allocation smaller, that normally dictates your drain field and well
proximity of those to each other. Mr. Harker asked if changing the current
rear setback from 30 feet to 20 feet, which is the proposed minimum
would cause any issues. Mr. Adcock said that from a public works
standpoint he does not see an issue. The proposed setback change only
affects the interior property lines within the project. Mr. Waters read a
positive motion for the proposed changes noted in the redline version
from Mr. Oakes during his absence. Mrs. Henderson seconded the motion,
that the code amendment changes be made. Motion passed by a six (6)
to zero (0) vote.
RESULT: Approve
MOVER: Richard Waters
SECONDER: Colette Henderson
AYES: Colette Henderson, Janet Mease, Nathan Harker, Richard Waters,
Fred Webb, Justin Brown
NOES: None
b. Public Hearing: Case R-23-015 Wayne and Sandra Troxler; Rezoning
from RC-1, Residential Combined Subdivision District, to A-1,
Agricultural District (Mease) (Staff Contact: )
b. Public Hearing: Case R-23-015 Wayne and Sandra Troxler; Rezoning from
RC-1, Residential Combined Subdivision District, to A-1, Agricultural District
(Mease)
Mr. Harker opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale, Director of
Community Development, reported that Wayne & Sandra Troxler had petitioned to
rezone 1.61 acres, located at 221 Locust Lane, in the Callands-Gretna
Election District from RC-1, Residential Combined Subdivision District, to A-
1, Agricultural District to allow for a second dwelling. Wayne Troxler was
present to represent the petition along with a set of proffers stating 1. We
forfeit all uses allowed in the A-1, Agricultural District, that are not allowed
by-right in the RC-1, Residential Combined Subdivision District, as shown in
the Pittsylvania County Code § 35-267. 2. The second dwelling will not be
manufactured housing (i.e., single wide or double wide.) Mr. Harker read
the proffers aloud. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Harker
closed the public hearing at 7:18 p.m. Mrs. Mease stated she had 3 phone
calls regarding this case that were of concern because of the Agricultural
zoning. She feels that Mr. Troxler is trying his best to be
a good neighbor in that area and has come forward and offered offers
that are self-explanatory. A motion was made by Mrs. Mease, seconded
by Mr. Webb to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning
request with proffers offered by the Troxler's. Motion passed by a six (6) to
zero (0) vote.
RESULT: Approve
MOVER: Janet Mease
SECONDER: Fred Webb
AYES: Colette Henderson, Janet Mease, Nathan Harker, Richard Waters,
Fred Webb, Justin Brown
NOES: None
c. Public Hearing: Case R-23-016 Southside Investing, LLC; Rezoning
from A-1, Agricultural District, to RPD, Residential Planned Unit
Development District (Oakes) (Staff Contact: )
c. Public Hearing: Case R-23-016 Southside Investing, LLC; Rezoning from A-1,
Agricultural District, to RPD, Residential Planned Unit Development District
(Oakes)
Mr. Harker opened the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale, Director
of Community Development, reported that Southside Investing, LLC, had
petitioned to rezone 13 parcels, 614.45 acres, generally located on State
Road 855/Martin Drive, Route 58, State Road 851/Peach Orchard Road
and Sugar Tree Lane in the Tunstall Election District, from A-1, Agricultural
District, to RPD, Residential Planned Unit Development to allow for a
mixed-use development and to include commercial and residential use.
Tom Gallagher from Southside Investing, LLC, represented the petition.
Some of the properties that are listed in this rezoning case have been for
sale for over 30 years, looking at the housing needs for the future
employers at the mega site. These developments while they are compact
and dense, give new homeowners and existing home owners possibly a
wide variety of housing types. It will allow for multi-family rental, and
townhouses for first time home buyers, a variety of single-family detached
homes. With this being a mixed-use concept, so this would contemplate in
the future subject to further approvals, the inclusion of a commercial
center. We will have a hotel on site, an independent living campus and a
senior living facility. The other benefit of this type of development is that as
the county grows and allows it to concentrate on housing and at the end
of the day, preserve more rural and agricultural area. This project will take
approximately 10 years to complete. It will take approximately 18 months
to get started, as they will need to go through the process with the county
DEQ and the Corps of Engineers and VDOT before they are in a position
to start moving earth, their first goal will be to provide housing to the area.
Mr. Waters asked if this group has completed projects like this in the past.
Mr. Gallagher states that he has, but this partnership Southside Investing,
LLC, consists of people that grew up in this area and went to Tunstall &
Dan River respectively. Between the partners they have 54 years’
experience, Mr. Gallagher has been in real estate development for about
28 years and he has worked on various communities in Virginia, Maryland
and Delaware. The closest one that he has done to Pittsylvania County is
in Charlottesville, VA at the intersection of 29 and Hydraulic Road. Mr.
Harker called residents to speak that have signed up. Joshua Jennings
was first to speak, he lives in the Chatham-Blairs District but is also a
landowner in the Tunstall District, close to this project. He feels that the
developers will meet the needs and that we can balance the need to
preserve what we have here in Pittsylvania County, but also grow. He
says we need people to move to the area to retain our youth in order to
keep things economically in this area. Our children's futures depend on
opportunities such as this planned development to go forward. Census
data shows that the population in this area has decreased the last two
decades, we need to augment our growth and he feels that Southside
Investing, LLC, is able to do this in a positive manner. He urges the board
to support this rezoning as a resident and a land owner in the vicinity.
Individuals who spoke in opposition to the petition were as follows: Ryan
Gusler, Kim Greer, David Willis, Heather Watlington, Pamela Henry-Mays,
Michael Kendrick, Jane Kendrick, Josh Austin, Carlos Valderrama, Denisse
Valderrama, Alaina Kiskadden, Stephanie Smith and Keith Whitlock. Their
concerns included, but were not limited to, the following: Southside
Investing, LLC, not notifying residents in a timely manner. An increase in
traffic and safety with the increased traffic volume, access to Martin Drive
being limited, they would like to see the bulk of traffic handled from
Highway 58, distance to existing residences, increase in property taxes,
increase in crime, privacy issues, noise, pollution, too costly to install sewer
and connect to City of Danville sewage system, limited Emergency
Medical Services coverage, construction issues (blasting if required), exit
strategy if project fails and maintaining agricultural uses. Mr. Harker read
an e-mail from Gary Oakes who is the representative for Tunstall District
and was not present at the meeting. Mr. Oakes thanked Southside
Investing, LLC, for considering Pittsylvania County for this project. Housing
will be needed when the Berry Hill Mega park starts operation, the county
has the infrastructure to support this project other than sewage and that
will need updating. He states all roads should be built to state codes. Mr.
Harker called Tom Gallagher back to answer any questions and address
concerns of the residents. He stated they did conduct three community
meetings at Brosville Volunteer Fire Department, Shiloh Baptist Church and
Faith Memorial Baptist Church, all meetings were fairly well attended.
Some of the same concerns were heard tonight and with respect to
traffic, he stated they have had a number of meetings with VDOT and
they do envision the bulk of traffic being handled by entrances on
Highway 58. He stated they included other access points to show the
benefits of ancillary access. He also stated that having it listed on the map
does not mean it's going to happen, they will be working through the
process with VDOT. He stated they have heard concerns with safety on
Martin Drive, and regarding lowering the speed limit which is currently 55
mph. He also stated that stormwater management will be addressed with
Pittsylvania County, DEQ and the Corps of Engineers. Sewer concerns
were addressed by Chris Adcock. He stated there are pump stations in
place now and it's quite possible they will need upgrading. Mr. Gallagher
stated they have met with Dr. Jones regarding issues with schools and
there is about 25 to 30 percent capacity available in the Tunstall District,
between the elementary, middle and high schools. Concerning
agricultural uses, he stated these type of developments enable
jurisdictions to retain more agriculture uses and properties. He stated
setbacks would be addressed, there will not be any closer to properties
than the 40-foot setbacks that are currently in place by the A-1,
Agricultural District zoning. Mrs. Mease asked if Mr. Gallagher could
elaborate on buffers since Stephanie Smith raised concerns. He stated
they will be using the current A-1, Agricultural District, set-backs which are
40 feet, so any home that would be built would be 40 feet
notwithstanding, internally they would like to have reduced setbacks in
terms of the perimeter, that will not change. Mr. Harker closed the public
hearing at 8:14 p.m. Mr. Waters made a motion on behalf of Mr. Oakes,
who was not present, seconded by Mr. Webb, to recommend the Board
of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed by a six (6) to
zero (0) vote.
RESULT: Approve
MOVER: Richard Waters
SECONDER: Fred Webb
AYES: Colette Henderson, Janet Mease, Nathan Harker, Richard Waters,
Fred Webb, Justin Brown
NOES: None
10. OLD BUSINESS
Mrs. Ragsdale reminded everyone that the next bi-monthly meeting for the
zoning ordinance update this Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
11. NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Ragsdale stated there will be four rezoning cases and two special use
permits for the month of July.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m.