Farmville Looks To Expand Boundaries

Published 1:12 pm Thursday, July 16, 2015

FARMVILLE — The town could soon be getting a little larger.

A proposal for a boundary adjustment between Prince Edward and Farmville will soon be off to the county for consideration.

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Town council members, at their July 8 meeting, were presented with drawings for a proposed boundary change, including 91.24 acres off Milnwood Road and 241 off Germantown Road. The adjustment is a voluntary request and has been discussed with Prince Edward County officials.

The Milnwood property includes tracts owned by Cedar Level LLC and Puckett Funeral Home.

The town’s attorney will draw up a draft agreement to present the county, which would have to hold a public hearing.

“It’s just a formality,” Spates told council members. “And this is a citizen-initiated … boundary adjustment.”

The size of the proposal, however, has grown since last summer’s discussion at a joint town council-board of supervisors meeting. The Puckett Funeral Home property is a recent addition.

The reason for the change on Milnwood Road, Spates explained, is that if they had stayed with the Cedar Level LLC property “the Puckett Funeral Home would have just been the one piece of land out there that was in the county and was completely surrounded by the town. So I talked to (property owners) Dayton Puckett and Dr. Gordon and also to the county and they’re agreeable to including that in there with it.”

The sites are already served by water and sewer, and developments locating on the properties would come at the expense of the property owners.

The county administrator’s office had not received the proposal as of Tuesday.

In Other News…

  Carl Eggleston, speaking in the public comment section of the meeting, asked the board for an update on a dilapidated house on Highlawn Avenue and expressed concerns on the narrowness of the dead-end road. He cited problems passing in the event there are emergency vehicles responding to calls.

Spates reported that the house is being torn down. He also noted there are a lot of dead-end streets in Farmville, noting that the street is plenty wide for two vehicles to pass one another.

The council’s street committee had already looked at the site and committee chairman Thomas Pairet reported that they had looked at exit possibilities. He said it physically didn’t look possible without spending “a whole lot of money across several pieces of property to be able to tie it back into the town streets.”

Mayor David Whitus asked Pairet’s committee to take another look to see if there are other options for the council to consider.

  Longwood University’s Director of Commuter Life Jennifer Cox reported some Longwood students (RAs) would be returning as early as Aug. 11 to start training. First-year students move in Aug. 20 with others coming in throughout the weekend. Classes begin Aug. 24.

• Morgan Dunnavant, president of the Experimental Aircraft Association, reported that the chapter is partnering with Fuqua School. He said they plan to build a kit aircraft, a process that would take two years. They are soliciting sponsors to help purchase the kit.

Dunnavant asked the Town to also consider a wording change in a proposed policy that prohibits abandoned or unworthy aircraft at the airport. If they do get a maintenance facility, there would be times when there would be unairworthy aircraft being repaired. Wording could stipulate that unairworthy aircraft be placed out public view.

Council approved the tie down policy with the suggested language changes.

• It was reported that the town attorney is working with the Patrick Henry Boy’s home on a lease purchase on the former library building finalized.

• Spates reported there would be a delay on the Osborne Road project (which includes curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements) of four weeks to six weeks.

He also reported that pavers are expected to be on site in September. Projects include Germantown Road, Doswell Street, First Avenue and Winston Street along with a portion of Longwood Avenue. They will also look at the possibility of adding Stuart Road.

• The town manager reported that they are looking at an ordinance change to bring to council members on the number of unrelated people living in a dwelling in a residential area.

• Several town officials visited the dog park in Lynchburg in advance of the construction of the Town’s approved site. The park off of Virginia Street has been cleared, though many trees were saved. The total initial cost including fencing, parking, signage, benches and a water hydrant, is $31,340. (As previously reported, $15,000 has already been donated toward the project.)

• The town manager noted they are working on getting prices on the brick pavers for the holiday plaza, which would be located off the west side of Main Street near the High Bridge Trail. Spates was uncertain they would be able get the pavers in place by Christmas.

• Council members approved the purchase of three Ford patrol vehicles with fewer than 60,000 miles. The vehicles cost $4,000, with the additional cost of $1,800 per vehicle to be marked and have outside light packages. The total cost would be less with the sale of five vehicles.

• The council approved the partial refund of business licenses for Crystal Image Photography (whose storefront closed at the end of May), refunded partial payment on a business license for Frank’s Italian Restaurant, and approved a payment of $793 to Pairet’s to purchase 26 polo shirts with embroidery. Councilman Pairet abstained on the vote.

• The council agreed to hold a public hearing on the proposed inclusion of a dog park, plaza and asset forfeiture transfer in the budget.