Last Chapter For PE Board

Published 2:18 pm Tuesday, January 7, 2014

PRINCE EDWARD — December officially closed the door on an era. Buffalo District Supervisor William G. “Buckie” Fore will no longer have his familiar chairman’s seat center of the board of supervisors bench.

After 16 years on the board and ten years as its chairman, he chose not to seek reelection.

November elections ushered in two new board members — C.R. “Bob” Timmons, Jr. will fill Fore’s seat and Jerry Townsend defeated Leigh District incumbent Don Gantt.

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“Buckie, I’d just like to say I’ve enjoyed working with you,” commented Lockett District Supervisor Robert “Bobby” Jones at the December 10 meeting. “I know this is your last meeting and I appreciate what you’ve done for the board and for the county. And Don, also, you too. Appreciate working with you the last four years. Both of ya’ll will be greatly missed.”

The two board members were each presented with plaques prior to closed session, recognizing their service, and joined in for one last group photograph.

“It’s been an honor to serve with ya’ll on the board, thank you,” said Gantt, who was greeted with applause prior to the photograph.

Fore was also greeted with applause, as Vice-Chairman Howard Simpson presented the plaque.

“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to serve as your chair,” Fore stated.

Public Hearings

Following the recommendation of the County’s planning commission, supervisors approved the rezoning of 13.383 acres of County-owned property on State Route 786 (Granite Falls Boulevard) from Agricultural Residential (A-2) to General Commercial (C-1).

The commission had held its own public hearing on the proposal prior to the recommendation, but there were no speakers reported.

The purpose of the rezoning, Bartlett was noted, is to more closely align the zoning of the property with the County’s Comprehensive Plan’s envisioned use of the property. It is in the enterprise zone and is across from one of the major commercial activities in the county.

Supervisors unanimously approved the zoning.

The board had scheduled a public hearing on an amendment to the County’s zoning ordinance regarding emergency communications on cell towers. Supervisors had directed the planning commission to review the county’s zoning ordinance to review the feasibility of requiring that the county be provided space on new cell towers, enabling the location of equipment for emergency communications purposes.

There was some discussion on the appropriate amount to be set aside (so that it would not be onerous for those building the towers) and the method for setting it aside for use for emergency providers—whether it should be through ordinance or handled on an individual level through special use permits. They could require that there be space available on each tower.

Speaker Dallas Tinsley said he felt they needed to have it written into the ordinance that space be set for emergency services. A speaker with National Communications Towers (they have two applications in close to the Meherrin area) commented that they did not have any opposition to granting space on any of their towers, expressed a willingness to work with the County on a site by site basis. Every county they work in they proffer free space on the tower, but normally it’s a 10-foot vertical space. He assessed that it’s a “prudent thing to do to give something to the counties,” but added that on the other hand, if the county wants to take 50 percent of their usable space “that’s a little onerous…for us.”

Rescue Squad President Bill Hogan also noted that they and the sheriff’s department have “spots in the county” that they can’t get out of. It’s a major problem now, he offered, adding that it’s only going to get worse.

“…The need to have this space on these towers is gonna get worse and worse as we go and the more towers there are, the better coverage for police and emergency services is (going to) be when you do go to a VHF frequency to be able to get communications,” he said. “’Cause when you have a deputy out there…by himself or the squad out there, or fire department out there, they’re in a house and that mobile radio can’t get out, they’re in trouble. And the cost to the County could be significant if you lose one of them or us out there just because you can’t communicate. So, please, don’t cut yourselves short.”

Supervisors opted to table the matter and to continue the public hearing in January. Fore selected a committee to work with the County administrator and County attorney “to hammer this thing out, wordsmith it and bring it back in January.” He asked that supervisors Howard “Pete” Campbell and Jones serve.

Corridor Overlay

County supervisors held a public hearing and approved a proposed corridor overlay district that will be limited to a section on U. S. Route 15 from the southern boundary of the U.S. Route 460 bypass right-of-way, south approximately 1.1 miles to the Farmville Lake Road and the Granite Falls Boulevard corridor from the intersection with Zion Hill Road.

The zoning ordinance amendment—developed in line with the County’s comprehensive plan—aims “to protect scenic beauty and viewsheds, enhance levels of transportation service along the major County access roads, and increase property values…” It outlines that specific attention will be given to access management, multimodal transportation, landscaping, and site design along potential commercial development corridors.

Though the service area has been significantly pared down, the overlay district outlines design standards for access and circulation, parking lot areas, pedestrian circulation, new or redeveloped building design, landscaping, utilities, signs and lighting.

Among its very detailed provisions:

*Parking lots are to be located to the sides and rear of the buildings they serve “to the greatest possible extent.”

*A continuous sidewalk not less than five feet wide is to be provided from any public sidewalk or the end of any parking area crosswalk to all customer entrances of the building.

*Design and construction “of new or redeveloped buildings for commercial or civic use shall be based on and coordinated with the sale, mass, height, materials, color, texture, construction methods, and orientation of nearby buildings, as suggested in the design guide.”

*That new commercial or civic use development in a corridor district is to “incorporate as much existing vegetation as possible,” and that the planting “of major trees for stormwater management and heat-island reduction shall equal 10 percent of the aggregate parking area in islands not less than eight feet wide.”

*All utility lines are to be installed underground.

*Freestanding signs are to be mounted on bases a maximum of three feet high. “If the special location of a sign requires a base of more than three feet to provide adequate visibility the zoning administrator or planning commission may approve a taller base. No freestanding sign shall exceed fifteen feet from grade.” No sign is to project beyond the surface of the building or above the roofline.

*And exterior lighting is to be limited “to that necessary for safety, security, and to complement architectural character.” And “no light shall spill onto an adjacent property or interfere with the character of the surrounding areas.”

The issue has long been on the board’s plate. The board had considered a corridor that included sections on Routes 360, 460 and Route 15. The board postposed action from May to November before agreeing to hold the December public hearing on a pared down proposal.

Supervisors eliminated a section of the proposal that referenced possible future corridor additions. It was minus any reference to other highways.

In Further Action…

*The board approved a dance hall permit for New Fevers Restaurant and Lounge (which will run from January 1-December 31, 2014).

*Supervisors appointed John F. Townsend III and Mark Jenkins to serve four-year terms on the County’s planning commission. Long-time commission member Sam Coleman did not seek reappointment. The board also appointed James W. Barnett Jr. for a five-year term on the board of zoning appeals and agreed to re-advertise for an opening on the Piedmont Senior Resources Board. The board did not have any applicants for that opening.

*The board approved the Town of Farmville’s use of Mottley Lake as a temporary emergency water supply for a year, effective January 1 to December 31. County permission, it was noted, is contingent upon the state’s Department of Environmental Quality permit to draw the water.

*Bartlett reported that Director of Public Works Ronald VanEps has taken a class for the Virginia Waste Management facilities operators license permit and has passed the exam. (The County has other operators as well.)

*Supervisors agreed to pay $1,000 to Halifax County for temporary administrative assistance provided when the circuit court judgeship and secretarial position were vacant. Circuit court judge offices are paid by Prince Edward. Costs are shared equally among Prince Edward, Appomattox, Buckingham and Cumberland counties. The county’s portion, with the reimbursement of other localities, would be $250.

*It was reported that County Planner Alecia Daves-Johnson has resigned, which leaves no one in the County’s department of planning and community development. Bartlett said he has placed an advertisement to fill the director of planning and community development position.

*Board members approved an exclusive underground 10-foot wide easement across the courthouse parking lot to allow Kinex Telecom and to authorize the county administrator or board chairman to execute an easement agreement once it is in final form acceptable to the county’s attorney. Farmville Baptist and Pairet’s Inc. are seeking to obtain phone service from the firm and, it was cited in a memo to the board, for them to provide the level of service requested, they need to run new fiber lines.

The line would be underground and not require tearing up the pavement.

*Board Vice-Chairman Howard Simpson was reappointed to serve on the County Social Services Board.

Fore asked newly elected Buffalo District Supervisor Robert “Bob” Timmons to serve on Commonwealth Regional Council with Hampden District Supervisor Charles McKay as the alternate.