03/17/2014PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
JOINT SETBACK STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE
MARCH 17, 2014
MINUTES
VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors Joint Setback Study Subcommittee met on
Monday, March 17, 2014, in the C. Wayne Ashworth Classroom located in the Olde Dominion Agricultural
Complex, Chatham, Virginia. Mr. Modey, Chairman, called the meeting to order at appro�mately 2:00 p.m.
Mr. Modey called the roll.
PRESENT
Elton W. Blackstock Pittsylvania Counry Board of Supervisors
Coy E. Harville Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
Richard Motley Pittsylvania County Planning Commission
Curtis Arthur Pittsylvania County Planning Commission
George Winn Agricultural Development Board
Roger Jefferson Agricultural Development Board
Robert Anderson Real Estate/Community Development
Timothy Clark Real Estate/Community Development
Greg Sides Assistant County Administrator/Director of Planning & Development
Odie H. Shelton, Jr. Director of Code Compliance/Zoning Administrator
Fred Wydner Director of Agriculture Development
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion was made by Mr. Harville, seconded by Mr. Blackstock, and by unanimous vote the March 17,
2014, agenda was approved as presented.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Mr. Modey recognized and welcomed Mr. Barksdale, Chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of
Supervisors (Banister District); Mr. Hagerman (Board of Supervisors member, Callands-Grema District); Mr.
Blackstock (Committee Member and Board of Supervisors member, Staunton River District); and Mr.
Harville (Committee Member and Board of Supervisors member, Westover District).
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mr. Jefferson, seconded by Mr. Winn, and by unanimous vote the February 24, 2014,
minutes were approved as presented.
Joint Setback Study Subcommittee
March 17, 2014
Page 2
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS SUBMITTED FROM PUBLIC IN WRITING
Mr. Sides asked if there were any written questions or comments from the audience; however, no questions or
comments were submitted to the Board for review.
PRESENTATION FROM GUEST SPEAKERS
Mr. Trey Davis, Lobbyist for Virginia Farm Bureau in Richmond, Virginia, and Dr. Jesse Richardson,
Professor at Virginia Tech, were unable to attend the meeting. Mr. Winn stated that Dr. Richardson would
be available to reschedule for April 14 or 21, 2014, or if anyone had questions for him, he would be available
for a telephone conference unti12:30 p.m. on March 17, 2014.
The Board members agreed to schedule the next Setback Subcommittee Board meeting for Monday, April
21, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. Mr. Winn stated he would contact and reschedule Dr. Richardson to speak on that
date.
DISCUSSION OF REQUIRED SETBACKS TO PROPERTY LINES ON NEW LOTS
ADJACENT TO AGRICULTURAL ZONED PROPERTIES
Mr. Sides stated as requested at last month's meeting, he had checked with the IT Department regarding the
preparation of a sample layout of a lot with setbacks; however, the IT Department did not have the software
to perform this task, and Mr. Sides presented a drawing he had prepared by hand to the Board members for
their review.
Additional handouts presented to the Board members for their review included Comparison of State
Mandated Setbacks from Dwellings or Wells When Spreading Different Nutrient Sources and Comparison of
Minimum Lot Size and Setbacks Between Counties.
During the discussion, Mr. Sides stated if homeowners were required to meet a 200-foot setback from
property lines, the homeowners would be required to have appro�mately a four-acre lot, and a 100-foot
setback from property lines would require at least a one-acre lot. In Pittsylvania County, the minimum lot
size is 20,000 square feet, appro�mately one half acre of land. It was also stated that building lots can be
even smaller than 20,000 feet if the lots have public water and sewer. Mr. Harville stated he felt the minimum
lot size in A-1, Agricultural District zoning should be no less than one acre, and he felt this would help the
County move forward and would be a good starting point. It was also stated the increase in the minimum lot
size would only affect properties zoned for agriculture and would not affect land zoned for residential or
subdivision use.
Mr. Clark suggested the drafting of a new zoning district, Agricultural-Residential or Rural-Residential, which
would offer protection for both homeowners and farmers, in that it would require a minimum lot size of one
acre but would not be large enough for farnung, which requires a minimum of five acres. It was also stated
Joint Setback Study Subcoininittee
March 17, 2014
Page 3
this would create smart growth in the County. Mr. Sides was asked to research and locate other counties that
have rural-residential zoning, and he stated he would provide this information at next month's meeting.
The Board then discussed the questions and comments received from the public in writing. It was stated that
all questions, especially duplicate questions, pertaining to setbacks need to be reviewed, as they can be very
tricky. A motion was made by Mr. Blackstock, seconded by Mr. Clark, that all questions submitted from the
public pertaining to setbacks are to be directed to Mr. Sides and Mr. Shelton to research, answer, and put into
writing. After the questions have been researched, answered, and put into writing, they will be forwarded to
the Board members for their review and approval, then forwarded to the Board Chairman for his signature,
and then posted to the County website. Those voting in favor of the motion were Mr. Blackstock, Mr.
Modey, Mr. Clark, Mr. Arthur and Mr. Anderson. Those voting in opposition to the motion were Mr.
Harville, Mr. Winn and Mr. Jefferson. Morion passed by a 5 to 3 vote. Mr. Sides stated before the questions
and answers are posted to the County website, this may require a vote by the Pittsylvania County Board of
Supervisors. Mr. Blackstock stated if this is required, he will have this item placed on the agenda and get a
vote.
The meeting was adjourned at appro�mately 2:55 p.m.
Richard G. Motley, Chairman
Kathy H. Belton, Clerk