UPCOMING: - Thursday, May 28th - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 7:30pm Courthouse - Tuesday, June 2nd - PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION 7:30pm Courthouse - Thursday, June 4th - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 3:00pm The Nelson Center -------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Present: Ms. Philippa Proulx, Ms. Emily Hunt, Mr. Mike Harman, Ms. Linda Russell, Mr. Mike Tapager and Mr. Tommy Bruguiere (Board Liaison) CLASS III COMMUNICATION TOWER/NTELOS - Mr. Boger reported that nTelos has applied for a permit to construct a 122' steel monopole on property owned by Mr. William C. Parrish on the north side of Beech Grove Road. In addition, nTelos applied for a special exception to Section 20-7-2e prohibiting towers within the viewshed of a designated Scenic Byway. Ms. Valerie Long, representing nTelos, presented photos of the site and balloon test. With no Public Comment, Commissioners voted 6-0 to recommend approval of the permit and special exception. Ms. Russell noted her concern that the tower can be seen coming down Beech Grove Road but said that she does not believe coverage can be accomplished with a shorter pole. FINAL SUBDIVISION/MS. WANDA BALLOWE - Mr. Boger presented a final plat to divide 4.57 acres in Horseshoe Mountain Subdivision located on Rhue Hollow Road (Rt. 528) into 2 lots of 2.29 and 2.28 acres. He noted that the required soil work has been approved by the Health Department. With no public comment, Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve the final plat. PROPOSED SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE AMENDMENT/ WATER & SEWER - With no public comment, Commissioners voted 6-0 to recommend adoption of the following amendment: Section 4-4 Water and Sewer, Item D., Individual Septic Systems, Subsection 3), Exceptions to the above provisions, b. to amend the exception to read: 'A lot with an existing on-site septic system.' (eliminating the phrase 'approved by the Virginia Department of Health'). PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT/CABINS - Having held a public hearing on February 11th, Commissioners voted 6-0 to recommend adoption of the following amendment: "Article 2. Definitions. 2-15a Cabin: A single, permanent detached dwelling unit, which may or may not contain cooking facilities and electrical service, and/or bathroom facilities, dedicated to temporary occupancy of no more than 180 days per year, for purposes of recreation, education or vacation. Rental properties meeting this description shall be considered cabins. If approved, the property owner agrees to place a restrictive covenant on the property that would limit the occupancy/use of the cabin to 180 days per year." The amendment would allow cabins in Conservation Districts (C-1) and Agricultural Districts (A-1) by Conditional Use Permit only. ADDITION TO AGRICULTURAL/FORESTAL DISTRICT - Mr. Boger presented an application to add 19.4 acres to the existing Davis Creek Ag/Forestal District. Commissioners voted 6-0 to accept the application, direct staff to provide notice of application and refer the application to the Ag/Forestal Committee for review and comment. PROPOSED ADDITION TO ZONING ORDINANCE/SMALL WIND ENERGY - Commissioners reviewed a draft ordinance to allow small wind energy systems with a rated capacity of not more than 20 kW to produce on-site utility power. The draft would allow monopoles only (no guyed monopole structures) with tower heights as follows: a) properties of less than one acre - towers not permitted; b) properties of one to two acres - 45 feet; c) properties greater than two acres to five acres in size - 60 feet; and d) properties greater than five acres in size - 100 feet. The draft permits towers in all zoning districts and requires a minimum setback distance equal to 110% of the extended tower height (height from base level to top of extended blade) from property lines, overhead utility lines and public and private roads. The draft includes prohibitions on interference with television or other communication signals as well as siting in such a manner as to cause shadowing/flickering on adjoining properties. Installation will require compliance with all electrical and building code requirements as well as a building permit. In addition, the draft provides for county remedy and removal if the wind system is out-of-service for a continuous 12-month period and therefore deemed abandoned. Commissioners agreed to review the revised draft at a work session on Tuesday, June 2nd at 7:30pm prior to advertisement for public hearing. Meeting continued until June 2nd at 7:30pm. Copyright 2000-2009 by Rural Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Reports may be reprinted or excerpted with attribution. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- OF INTEREST: - Saturday, July 18th - 1:30pm at Oakland Museum on Rt. 29 - 40th Anniversary of Hurricane Camille - Workers from Central Virginia Electric Cooperative and the Virginia Department of Transportation will discuss their efforts to restore utilities and county roads. Admission is $5 for adults. Children 12 and under will be admitted free of charge, as will family members of flood victims. Visit www.historicnelson.org for more information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This report, sent to over 600 Nelson County citizens, was made possible by the generous donations of Rural Nelson members and supporters. We need your help to continue this service. Please consider donating. Kim T. Cash Field Officer Rural Nelson, Inc. P. O. Box 401 Lovingston, VA 22949 434.263.5000 www.ruralnelson.org