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PC Minutes 01 03 2023January 3, 2023 Regular Meeting Pittsylvania County Planning Commission Regular Meeting January 3, 2023 VIRGINIA: The Regular Meeting of the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission was held on January 3, 2023, in the Board Meeting Room, 39 Bank Street, SE, Chatham, Virginia. Vice Chairman – Director of Community Development, Emily Ragsdale called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. The following members were present: Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Nathan Harker Vice Chairman - Staunton River District Present 6:19 PM Colette Henderson Member - Banister District Present 6:18 PM Janet Mease Member - Callands-Gretna District Present 6:19 PM Brian K. Horne Member - Dan River District Present 6:19 PM Gary Oakes Member - Tunstall District Present 6:20 PM Richard Waters Member - Chatham-Blairs District Present 6:19 PM Fred Webb Member - Westover District Present 6:19 PM Darrell Dalton Board of Supervisors Rep Present 6:20 PM ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN 1. Motion to Elect Chairman Mrs. Ragsdale, Director of Community Development opened the floor for nominations for Chairman. Darrell Dalton nominated Nathan Harker; Mr. Waters seconded the nomination. Mr. Horne moved that the nominations be closed. Mrs. Ragsdale closed the nominations, seconded by Mrs. Mease. By a unanimous eight (8) to zero (0) vote, Mr. Harker was voted Chairman of the Planning Commission. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN 1. Motion to Elect Vice Chairman Mr. Harker accepted nominations for Vice-Chairman. Mr. Waters nominated Mrs. Henderson, seconded by Mrs. Mease. Mr. Horne moved that the nominations be closed. By a unanimous eight (8) to zero (0) vote, Mrs. Henderson was elected Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commission. HEARING OF CITIZENS No citizens came forward to speak. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made by Mr. Dalton, seconded by Mr. Horne, and by an eight (8) to zero (0) vote, the agenda was approved as presented. RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Darrell Dalton, Board of Supervisors Rep SECONDER: Brian K. Horne, Member - Dan River District AYES: Harker, Henderson, Mease, Horne, Oakes, Waters, Webb, Dalton APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. PC Minutes 12062022 A motion was made by Mrs. Mease, seconded by Mr. Waters, and by an seven (7) to zero (0) vote, the minutes were approved as presented. RESULT: APPROVED [7 TO 0] MOVER: Janet Mease, Member - Callands-Gretna District SECONDER: Richard Waters, Member - Chatham-Blairs District AYES: Harker, Henderson, Mease, Horne, Oakes, Waters, Dalton ABSTAIN: Webb CHAIRMAN'S REPORT There was no Chairman's Report. PUBLIC HEARING 1. Public Hearing: Case R-22-038 Myrtle Shields; Rezoning from A-1, Agricultural District, to R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District (Waters) Mr. Harker opened the public hearing at 7:08 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale, Director of Community Development reported that Myrtle Shields had petitioned to rezone 0.31 acres, generally located on State Road 835/Pleasant Gap Drive, in the Chatham-Blairs Election District from A-1, Agricultural District to R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District, to allow the property to be consolidated with an adjacent property zoned R-1. Brian Shields represented the petition. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Harker closed the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Waters, seconded by Mr. Dalton to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed by an eight (8) to zero (o) vote. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Richard Waters, Member - Chatham-Blairs District SECONDER: Darrell Dalton, Board of Supervisors Rep AYES: Harker, Henderson, Mease, Horne, Oakes, Waters, Webb, Dalton 2. Public Hearing: Case R-22-040 Harold and Celia Hayden; Rezoning from A-1, Agricultural District, and R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District, to A-1, Agricultural District (Mease) Mr. Harker opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale, Director of Community Development reported that Harold & Celia Hayden had petitioned to rezone 6.59 acres, generally located on State Road 806/Ivory Branch Road, in the Callands-Gretna Election District from A-1, Agricultural District and R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District to A-1, Agricultural District, to allow the property to be consolidated with an adjacent property zoned A-1. Mrs. Ragsdale represented the petition. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Harker closed the public hearing at 7:13 p.m. A motion was made by Mrs. Mease, seconded by Mr. Horne to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed by an eight (8) to zero (o) vote. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Janet Mease, Member - Callands-Gretna District SECONDER: Brian K. Horne, Member - Dan River District AYES: Harker, Henderson, Mease, Horne, Oakes, Waters, Webb, Dalton 3. Public Hearing: Case R-22-041 Claudia and Willie Aaron; Rezoning from A-1, Agricultural District, and R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District, to A-1, Agricultural District (Mease) Mr. Harker opened the public hearing at 7:14 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale, Director of Community Development reported that Claudia & Willie Aaron had petitioned to rezone 45.58 acres, generally located on State Road 806/Ivory Branch Road, in the Callands-Gretna Election District from A-1, Agricultural District and R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District to A-1, Agricultural District, to allow the property to be consolidated with an adjacent property zoned A-1. Mrs. Ragsdale represented the petition. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Harker closed the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. A motion was made by Mrs. Mease, seconded by Mr. Horne to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed by an eight (8) to zero (o) vote. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Janet Mease, Member - Callands-Gretna District SECONDER: Brian K. Horne, Member - Dan River District AYES: Harker, Henderson, Mease, Horne, Oakes, Waters, Webb, Dalton 4. Public Hearing: Case S-22-024 The Dock at SML, LLC; Special Use Permit for a Marina (Mease) Mrs. Ragsdale informed the Planning Commission that this case was been moved to the next month (February), due to issues with placement and height of signs as required by the ordinance. 5. Public Hearing: Case S-22-026 Michael Eanes; Special Use Permit for the Placement of a Doublewide Mobile Home (Oakes) Mr. Harker opened the public hearing at 7:17 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale, Director of Community Development reported that Michael Eanes had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 0.50 acres, generally located on State Road 841/Whispering Pines Road, in the Tunstall Election District for placement of a double-wide mobile home. Mr. Eanes represented the petition. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Harker closed the public hearing at 7:13 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Oakes, seconded by Mrs. Mease to recommend the Board of Zoning Appeals grant the Special use Permit. Motion passed by an eight (8) to zero (o) vote. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Gary Oakes, Member - Tunstall District SECONDER: Janet Mease, Member - Callands-Gretna District AYES: Harker, Henderson, Mease, Horne, Oakes, Waters, Webb, Dalton 6. Public Hearing: Case CA-23-001; Solar Ordinance; Amendment to Pittsylvania County Code (“PCC”), Chapter 35, Division 4, Supplementary Regulations; PCC § 35-141(C), Utility Scale Solar Energy Facility; and PCC § 35-141(D), Permitting Requirements for Large and Utility Scale Solar Energy Facilities. Mr. Harker opened the public hearing at 7:21 p.m. Mrs. Ragsdale stated that in October of 2022, the Board of Supervisors had asked staff to review the solar ordinance and recommend further restrictions on solar development within the county, present proposed revisions to the Planning Commission and, with that input, bring it back to the Board of Supervisors for their final review. Staff’s recommendation proposed revisions to Pittsylvania County Code § 35-141. The revisions include an increase in the one (1) mile radius buffer, back to a five (5) mile radius and implement a two (2) percent cap on the total number of acres within any single zoning district that can be approved for solar. Mr. Oakes had questions for the Board of Supervisors representative Mr. Dalton. He would like to see the county take in enough funds from the large solar projects to fund infrastructure on upcoming projects, like the new jail and courthouse that are needed. Mr. Oakes stated that he would like some insight on what the Board of Supervisors has discussed. Mr. Dalton stated they met with Mrs. Ragsdale and discussed options they wanted to come before the Planning Commission for review. A decision was not made on what changes to make. Mr. Dalton stated there are some solar projects currently in development that may generate money during certain stages. Mrs. Ragsdale stated that there are currently three (3) solar projects that the Board of Supervisors approved siting agreements for, and they have applied for their Special Use Permits. Mr. Oakes asked how many acres are currently involved with solar projects, Mrs. Ragsdale stated that as of October 2022 there were 18,505.69 acres that Special Use Permits have been issued on. She stated that figure did not include the total acreage for the project that would be presented to the Planning Commission at the February 7th meeting. Mr. Oakes asked the difference in large scale and utility scale projects. Mrs. Ragsdale stated that large-scale projects do not produce power to be put back onto the grid. She said utility scale solar projects are projects that generate energy that is put back into the grid which a power company would then utilize and distribute per the definition in the Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance. She also stated that large-scale projects are projects that are supplying power to a single company. Mrs. Ragsdale stated they may be roof- mounted or ground-mounted but they only generate power for that one use, it does not go back into the grid. Mrs. Henderson asked what benefit is it to the community at large for large scale solar if it is not going back into the grid? Mrs. Ragsdale stated she does not have an answer for the community as a whole but it is beneficial to the individual user. She stated that would be the same as you placing panels on your home, it will reduce your electrical cost. Mrs. Ragsdale stated that some of the schools are currently putting solar panels on some of their buildings to reduce their electrical needs, stating that is considered large scale. She clarified that this is not a residential use, it is an institutional use so that falls under the large-scale definition as opposed to small scale which would be something more like a house. No citizens came forward to speak. Mr. Harker closed the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Oakes made the motion to adopt the amendments, seconded by Mrs. Henderson. Motion passed by an eight (8) to zero (o) vote. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Gary Oakes, Member - Tunstall District SECONDER: Colette Henderson, Member - Banister District AYES: Harker, Henderson, Mease, Horne, Oakes, Waters, Webb, Dalton OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. NEW BUSINESS For the February meeting, there will be 8 rezoning cases and 3 special use cases. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m.