Visit our Facebook page --- Friends of Rural Nelson --- join in the Discussion Groups and post your favorite photo of Nelson County. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPCOMING: - Tuesday, August 11th – BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 2:00/7:30pm Courthouse - Wednesday, August 26th – PLANNING COMMISSION 7:30pm Courthouse - Thursday, August 27th – BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 7:30pm Courthouse ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION Thursday, August 6, 2009 Present: Ms. Philippa Proulx, Ms. Emily Hunt, Mr. Mike Harman, Mr. Mike Tapager, Ms. Linda Russell and Mr. Tommy Bruguiere (Board Liaison) Commissioners discussed and considered additions and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance as follows: SMALL WIND ENERGY ORDINANCE – After discussion of the comments received during the Public Hearing, Commissioners agreed to add lattice towers as a use allowed by Conditional Use Permit in all districts. They directed staff to develop a definition of a lattice tower for inclusion. Commissioners then voted 6-0 to recommend adoption of Article 22. Small Wind Energy Ordinance. The draft ordinance will now go to the Supervisors for review. LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS IN A-1 ZONING DISTRICT – The Board of Supervisors, at the request of the Board of Zoning Appeals, referred the question of whether a smaller lot size should be allowed in A-1 Districts if public infrastructure is available. After discussion and noting that a two-family detached dwelling is a permitted use by right in A-1, Commissioners directed staff to add the following under “Division Rights and Area Regulations”: “One two-family detached dwelling unit is permitted per lot with a minimum lot size of 30,000 square feet if utilizing the Nelson County sewage disposal system.” Staff will return the draft to the Commissioners for consideration at their regular August meeting. RETAIL STORE, NEIGHBORHOOD – Ms. Proulx presented a survey of “historic country stores” in Nelson (completed by a volunteer) noting that all of the stores are in agricultural or business zoning districts with only two in residential (R-1) districts. She reported that all of those in A-1 can request conditional or special use permits for the commercial uses discussed in the country store draft ordinance, plus additional uses. Ms. Proulx said that those in B-1 districts already have commercial operations. She reported that of those in R-1, one area has three listed – one has been a residence for over 33 years; the second has not been a store for over 60 years; the third is Arrington Mini-Mart which is still operating as a store with activities there grandfathered; and the fourth is Anderson’s Store which is suitable for rezoning to A-1 which would make the conditional and special use options available for consideration. She said that there did not seem to be a reason to create a new ordinance, noting that the draft was based on Albemarle County’s where ordinances are stricter on historic country stores. Commissioners voted 6-0 to forward a resolution to the Supervisors that after review, no amendments regarding country stores are needed with the reasons noted above. COMMUNICATION TOWER ORDINANCE – Ms. Russell reviewed the primary changes recommended by the committee as follows: - Class I Towers – increased height from 80’ to 95’ with administrative approval and appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals instead of the Planning Commission (as per state code); - Class II Towers – from 95’ to 130’ with the same process as currently used; - Class III Towers – over 130’ by Special Use Permit granted by Supervisors after a recommendation by the Planning Commission; - Removal of Scenic Byway restrictions; and - More specifics about co-location policy Further discussion tabled for Commission review of the draft. DAM BREAK INUNDATION ZONES – Mr. Boger presented a proposed amendment to Subdivision Ordinance to add Section 4-9. He noted that the draft was created by Mr. Payne (County Attorney) to meet the state code requirements to establish a process for review (by the Department of Conservation and Recreation) of a development proposed within the boundaries of a mapped dam break inundation zone. Commissioners directed staff to prepare a resolution of intent for the regular August Commission meeting. WORK SESSION – Commissioners directed staff to schedule a work session for August 13th, August 18th, or August 20th depending on Mr. Payne’s availability so that he could provide a summary review of proposed amendments to Sections 12, 13 and 16 of the Zoning Ordinance dealing with major and minor site plans. Commissioners agreed to also review the draft Communication Tower Ordinance at that session. Meeting adjourned. Copyright 2000-2009 by Rural Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Reports may be reprinted or excerpted with attribution. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- OF INTEREST: - Wednesday, August 19th – 10:00am – 40th Anniversary Remembrance of Camille – the Flood – at Rockfish Valley trail head on Rt. 151 at site of Historic Camille marker. Story of the tragedy in the Rockfish Valley through the eyes of those on the scene for the search and recovery. Exhibit of local photos from 1969 and scrapbook kept by John Phillips who was VDOT resident engineer then. Early Swift, author of “The Day the Rains Came” will also be present. Contact info@rockfishvalley.org or 434.361.2251 for information. - Thursday, August 20th – 7:00pm – Camille Remembrance – Nelson County High School Auditorium. Slide show of rarely seen photos of the storm’s effects followed by music by The Fortune Family. Open to the public at no charge. Contact Woody Greenberg at Greenberg@lynchburg.edu or the Oakland Museum for information. - Nelson County Community Job Club – Mondays at Rockfish Valley Community Center in Nellysford; Wednesdays at Nelson Center on Rt. 29 – 10:00am-1:00pm – Job Search assistance and one-on-one job counseling. Sponsored by RVCC; The Nelson Center and the Virginia Employment Commission. Hours also available on Thursdays 10am-12pm at RVCC and 2pm-4pm Nelson Center. Call VEC at 434.906.1716 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