Going local

Goochland Town Hall meeting season is just about over. The District 2 and 3 session will be held at the  Goochland  Company 5 fire-rescue station on October 30, starting at 7 p.m.

GOMM attended the Districts 4 and 5 meeting, held on October 16 at the Hermitage Country Club.

Following brief introductory remarks by Supervisors Ken Peterson, District 5, and Bob Minnick, District 4, County Administrator John Budesky gave a brief summary of the county’s annual report.

“Goochland is a special place,” Peterson said. The generosity of the community has funded a new headquarters facility for Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services and supported Goochland Pet Lovers in its endeavors to fund a comprehensive adoption center as part of the new animal shelter, now under construction. He  touted the county’s AAA bond rating, better than that of the state or federal government.

“When we have a problem, we come together to find solutions,” Peterson said. “Because Goochland has the best citizens in the Commonwealth, we on the Board of Supervisors have an obligation to bring them the best government at the lowest tax rate.”

Budesky said that he is honored to work with  talented staff in pursuit of the same goal—delivery of excellent government services to the citizens. “If you don’t have trust in government, we can’t do our job effectively,” he said.

In an effort to ensure that citizens are informed about the doings in  county government, it has taken to social media, including Facebook and Twitter to get information out. This includes notices about upcoming meetings; holiday closures, including convenience centers; upcoming VDOT roadwork; and weather advisories. Follow the county on Facebook at Goochland County, VA and on Twitter @GoochlandGovtVA. The county website is www.goochlandva.us.

As many attendees live in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District, (TCSD), Budesky said that the county has added detailed information about it on the county website under the public utilities tab to  “demystify” its origins and operation.

 The ad valorem tax, which is levied on land in the TCSD to pay debt service on bonds issued to build its infrastructure, said Budesky, is expected to stay at its current 32 cents per $100 dollars of assessed valuation in addition to the countywide base real estate tax rate of 53 cents per $100 for the foreseeable future. The issue is revisited each year during budget deliberations.

Another topic on the minds of those living in the east end of the county is growth and development pressures.  

All property owners, said Budesky, have the right to petition the county to rezone their land for a different use. That doesn’t mean that the request will be granted, but the county must allow that request to go through the rezoning process, which includes community meetings and public hearings before the planning commission and board of supervisors. The media, he said, has a tendency to report on rezoning applications when they begin their way through the process as though they are “done deals” before they are approved, which is not necessarily the case.

To address mounting development pressures, the county, said Budesky, has retained consultants to craft a comprehensive capital impact model addressing all of the county’s capital needs, including roads. As residential communities have lifespans in excess of fifty years, their impact on county infrastructure must be evaluated over the long term. This model, expected to be complete around February 2018, will enable Goochland to understand the cost of growth so that it can better judge the merits of rezoning land.

“We see development as a major concern to you,” said Budesky. “Developers want clear rules to operate by, so it is critical to have this information to analyze the totality of the impact (of development)”.

There are approximately 2,400 housing units “on the books”  that are zoned but unbuilt, including the reconfigured Reader’s Branch subdivision, which will be heard at the November 2 planning commission meeting, said Budesky.

Budesky said that the county’s fall festival is coming up on Saturday, October 28 and the Christmas tree lighting will take place in December.

A citizen asked if Goochland is actively pursuing the second Amazon headquarters facility.  Budesky said that Goochland probably does not check all of Amazon’s boxes, but that the county always  tries to put is best foot forward and works with landowners to secure  beneficial economic development.

County owned property on Hockett Road has not yet been designated for any particular use, but is a “placeholder,” Budesky contended. Possible uses include a school, park, or convenience center.

Another citizen asked if the county is pursuing additional  internet choices. Budesky said that the supervisors declined to get into the internet provider business, but want to create an environment that attracts providers. The dearth of additional providers in the east end is the result of Verizon’s decisions not to expand FIOS and go in the direction of wireless, not any action taken by the county.  Residents in western Goochland, he said, would be happy to have any internet options.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeremy Raley told the assemblage about the great return on the investment of their tax dollars created in Goochland Schools. “We are preparing the next generation of leaders and maximizing the potential of every learner,” he said.

Raley listed the impressive achievements of Goochland Schools. Visit http://goochlandschools.org/2017/10/16/2017-annual-report/  for an in depth look .

Our schools, said Raley, are being proactive by looking down the road 25 years in terms of enrollment and facility needs.  “There is no crystal ball,” he said. “So we had our consultants prepare  two growth models, one moderate, the other more aggressive.” Both enrollment models see the Goochland public school population remaining around 3,000. Currently, there are about 1,000 school aged children in the county who are either home schooled or attend private educational institutions.

Raley said that by the start of the 2027-28 school year, the goal is to have 1,400 elementary school seats. Schools will be renovated or replaced in phases and there will be an analysis of attendance boundaries at the beginning of each phase.

A 25,000 square foot career and technical addition to the high school is contemplated in along with other changes.  “Decisions need to be made,” said Raley. There will be a lot to discuss when the school board and supervisors hold a joint meeting on November 28. “Our goal is to provide an exceptional education experience for our awesome kids.”

There were some questions about public utilities. Apparently the smelly water problem plaguing the Parke at Saddle Creek has not been solved after upgrades to the TCSD water system.

Residents of the Hickory Haven subdivision, who have been patiently paying TCSD ad valorem tax for 15 years wanted to know when they will be able to hook on to the sewer lines. Budesky said that the Readers Branch proposal would bring  sewer line to the edge of Hickory  Haven. If that rezoning application is not approved, other connection strategies will need to be explored.

These meetings facilitate the citizen engagement that is vital to good government.

Doing the math

The Virginia General Assembly defanged the existing law regarding cash proffer policies during its 2016 session.  The new law took effect on July 1, 2016.

Since then local governments and developers have been scratching their heads over the convoluted language of the new law and searching for ways to use the rule change to their advantage. What might be described as the first skirmish in this conflict between Goochland County and developers took place at the October 5 meeting of the Planning Commission.

The agenda contained three residential rezoning applications. One, filed by HHH Land, LLC for a 55 plus community in West Creek, requested, and was granted, a 30 day deferral. Another submitted by Readers Branch Partners, LLC and Hockett Road Partners, LLC included substantially  revised proffers submitted on the day of the meeting. As its bylaws give the Planning Commission the option of declining to hear a case with proffers submitted fewer than eight days before the public hearing, the Commissioners unanimously deferred this case to its November 2 session. These two applications, if approved as submitted, could add more than 800 new homes to the eastern part of Goochland. Both are expected to be heard at the November 2 meeting of the Planning Commission,

A third application, filed by Dover Branch,  LLC for a dozen homes off of Hermitage Road near its intersection with Manakin Road, was heard.  It too submitted revised proffers within the eight day window, but they were deemed not to include substantial changes; the Commissioners waived the rule and heard the case.

Developer, Gibson Wright expressed frustration that he was obligated to go through the entire rigmarole of preparing a development impact statement (DIS) for a few houses that will have no impact on county facilities. There were other difficulties with his case—two different zoning categories in a single subdivision and lot sizes under two acres—that did not hinge on cash proffers. His amended proffers included a $3,063 per home cash proffer.

Wright contended that the studies needed to prepare a DIS “is a burden”  and that it would have been cheaper for him to pay the county’s previous full cash proffer, which was $14,250 per home before the new state law went into effect.

Wright’s application was recommended for approval by a 3-2 split, with Derek Murray, District 3; John Shelhorse, District 4; and John Myers, District 1, voting in favor. Commission chair Tom Rockecharlie, District 5, and Matt Brewer, District 2, were in dissent. The Planning Commission is an advisory board, the supervisors make the final pronouncement on land use matters.

Before the 2016 legislation, jurisdictions were  able to establish cash proffers—a “voluntary” payment by residential developers to mitigate the impact of new homes on capital infrastructure like schools, fire-rescue stations and equipment; parks; and roads. These amounts were computed with formulas that estimated the burden each new dwelling unit would place on county infrastructure, such as .3 students per home. Salaries for teachers, deputies, fire-rescue providers, and other staff are assumed to be paid for by revenues generated by the ongoing increase in real estate taxes resulting from development.

Goochland also has an EMS cost recovery policy that charges a fee plus a mileage cost for hospital transport that offsets part of the expense of fire-rescue staffing.

Cash proffers apply only to residential rezoning. Each time land is rezoned, it becomes an ordinance—a  law—that applies to the particular property in question. Not all new homes pay proffers. Kinloch, for instance, was zoned before the county adopted a proffer policy in 2000, and pays no proffers. Breeze Hill, currently under construction on Fairground Road, pays about $20 thousand per home, the cash proffer in place when that land was rezoned.

According to comments made by Director of Community Development Jo Ann Hunter to the Commissioners, Goochland has 39 proffered subdivisions in place— representing 2,336 homes that are zoned but unbuilt—which are estimated to generate more than $18 million. Cash proffers are paid at the time a certificate of occupancy is issued for a new home.

As no rezoning was involved to permit apartments in West Creek, proffers did not apply. However, donation of an as yet unidentified several acre site for a new fire-rescue station within West Creek was part of that arrangement.

The DIS requirement includes mitigation strategies, which may include construction of road improvements.  The catch seems to be that these do not have to take the cumulative effect of many new homes into account. For instance, if a residential project is estimated to add 30 students to the school system, the DIS must only address the expense of those students, not the current capacity of the schools. If those 30 new students increase the school population enough to trigger the need for a new school, the fiscal impact is greater than the additional children in our schools.

Some jurisdictions, like Henrico, do not use cash proffers. Henrico, whose population following the 2010 census was 306,935 versus Goochland’s approximately 21,000, may be better able to absorb increased capital costs by issuing bonds to pay for them and spreading the debt service among its many  residents. Henrico also has an airport, hospitals, malls, and soon a Facebook data center, to generate tax revenue.

Henrico takes care of its own roads, while Goochland is at the mercy of VDOT—the state agency whose motto is “Oops!”—for all transportation needs, a cumbersome and slow process.

Therefore, new homes, especially in large numbers,  have a significant impact on our facilities and how they are funded.

Several studies are underway to craft a clear picture of the cost of  responding to population growth, as well as replacing and renovating aging facilities. The school division recently completed a comprehensive facility master plan that includes costs for replacing, expanding and renovating schools. This replaces the long held notion that the county needs to build new elementary school somewhere in the eastern part of the county for about $24 million. A countywide capital impact model based on all of these studies is expected in February, 2018.

Goochland is not the only jurisdiction dealing with these issues, and there is hope that the General Assembly will address the confusion that the 2016 law caused. Until then, the county and developers will continue something akin to a porcupine mating dance as rezoning applications wend their way through the process.

Small town living

Lots of folks say they like Goochland’s rural character and small town atmosphere. Among the “life savors” of small town living are productions staged by the high school drama department.

Next weekend, October 13, 14, and 15, the GHS Drama Department will present “Little Shops of Horrors” in the GHS auditorium.

Lessons learned by the students involved in these plays, from lead actors to set builders who ensure that a myriad of components come together at the right time in the right place, will stand them in good stead wherever life’s journey takes them. Our kids work hard to put on a good show, and deserve a full house at each performance.

Neil Burch, Theater Educator, is entering his seventh year in Goochland. He is a catalyst who helps each of his students find the best within themselves, and best of all, enjoys his work.

Trading ten bucks for a couple of hours of enjoyable entertainment is a good deal. For the students, getting applause from people other than their parents is priceless. For ticket information, visit drama.goochlandschools.org.

Harvest Moon

As summer fades fast in the rear view mirror, Goochland’s Board of Supervisors worked its way through the waning year at a routine October 3 meeting.

Expansion of the parking lot in front of the administration building continues. A reliable source contends that it will be complete in late November. Leave extra time to find parking when conducting business or attending meetings here.

Goochland General Registrar Frances C. Ragland, who has been recognized numerous times for excellence in performance of her electoral duties, announced her retirement at the end of 2017.

A proclamation recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month and recognizing the contribution made by local organizations, including the Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services and Victim Witness Assistance Program, to combat this scourge of society, kicked off the agenda.

Board Chair Ned Creasey, District 3, announced the upcoming round of district town hall meetings. They are: District 1, October 16 at Hadensville Company 6Fire-Rescue Station; District 4 and 5, October 17 at Hermitage Country Club; and District 2 and 3 at Courthouse Company 5 Fire-Rescue Station. All meetings begin at 7 p.m. An overview of items of interest countywide will begin the sessions followed by question and discussion of matters in interest in each district. If you want to learn more about what is going on in the county and sound off on anything, this is the place to make your voice heard.

County Administrator John Budesky said that the Goochland Fall Festival is coming up on Saturday, October 28 with something for everyone. All events are free.

Budesky said that, due to Election Day, November 7, falling on the regular board meeting day, the November Board meeting will be held the next day, Wednesday, November 8.

Marshall Wynn of VDOT reported that improvements to the Rts. 288/250 intersection in Centerville, which have been approved and funded, have moved into the detailed design phase. He did not mention of this means that the upgrades to this dreadful interchange will be completed before 2020.

New signage for the Fairground Road/Rt/ 250 interchange have been ordered.

The board appropriated up to $60,000 for thirty percent of the cost to design a Three Chopt Road underpass at Rt. 288. Given the time that VDOT—the state agency whose motto is “Oops!”—requires to complete improvements to the Rts. 288/250 interchange, it will be fascinating to see how much this will cost and how long it will take to complete. Would it have been so difficult to preserve the connection for Three Chopt and Ashland Road when Rt.  288 was originally designed? Have these people never heard of the maxim “measure twice, cut once”?

Blair Road has been paved at last!

Fire-Rescue Chief Bill MacKay reported that approximately 60,000 people attended this year’s Field Day of the Past in September. He said that October is fire prevention month and urged everyone to make sure that their homes have an adequate number of working smoke alarms and every family take the time to make and practice an evacuation plan. America, said MacKay, leads the world in residential fire fatalities, but has experience none in public schools. If we can keep our kids safe in school, “why not do it at home?”

Goochland Fire-Rescue, said MacKay, observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also in October, with commemorative tee shirts. This year’s shirt honors the memory of our late County Administrator Rebecca Dickson.

 Lisa Beczkiewicz
Administrative Assistant/Deputy Clerk models the commemorative shirt honoring the late Rebecca Dickson

The Board tended to “housekeeping” matters. It voted  to formally change the name of the Goochland Powhatan Community Services Board to Goochland Powhatan Community Services. 

The supervisors endorsed wider use of the county logo, rather than the county seal, on government vehicles. The logo, which prominently features the words “Goochland County” is easier to read than the seal,  a complicated heraldic symbol. The seal will continue to be used on official documents.

Budesky presented the annual report for FY 2017, which ended on June 30.  He said that the county is working its way through a series of  studies,  and an updated thoroughfare plan reflecting actual growth patterns, to understand all future needs for space, staffing, and equipment countywide. This will provide the basis for a public facilities plan to include parameters that trigger creation of new fire-rescue stations and other capital needs.

The school division is engaged in a similar initiative; the supervisors and school board will hold a joint meeting on November 28 to discuss their needs.

All of this information will  be part of  capital impact model, expected to be completed in February, 2018, to help  gauge the burden new residential projects  place on the county. This will help determine if developers are doing their part to mitigate the strain that their projects place of public facilities and services.

These studies were prompted by revised cash proffer legislation passed in 2016 and the flood of residential rezoning applications lapping at the county’s borders. Goochland’s response to growth should be  a topic at this fall’s Town Hall meetings. 

Paul Drumwright, Administrative Services Manager, presented the first draft of the county’s legislative agenda. This outlines the county’s position on matters that could come before the Virginia General Assembly. Goochland’s envoys in the GA include two delegates, Lee Ware of the 65^th District, which includes the western art of the county; an open seat in the 56^th District, and 22^nd District  Senator Mark Peake, who took office in January.

Goochland has taken great care to keep lines of communication with our GA delegation open. This has resulted in passage of legislation beneficial to the county.

The draft includes evergreen items like requiring political parties to pay for primary elections; the state to reimburse the cost of local electoral boards and registrars; increased regulation of sludge transportation; broadband expansion;  and elimination of the state mandate that the school year being after Labor Day. (See page 89 of the October 3 Board Packet on the county website http://goochlandva.us/ for the complete list.)

One item of particular importance on the legislative agenda is  a clarification of the “capacity of public facilities” used to craft development impact statements that are now a required part of all residential rezoning applications. Another is the restructuring or repeal of the state’s Certificate of Public Need (COPN), which governs when and where new medical facilities can be built.

During even session public hearings, the supervisors approved a Conditional Use Permit for Victory  Christian Church to expand the footprint on its Maidens Road site by approximately 37,000 square feet in the next 30 years. The new space will accommodate a larger auditorium and expanded food pantry area.

A CUP for a199 foot monopole communications tower in the Ashland Road corridor north of Interstate 64 was also approved. The applicant, PI Tower Development, LLC, said that it has a commitment from T-Mobile to locate on the tower and interest from other providers. The tower will increase signal and data capacity for the area.

Revised ordinance amendments for matters including public utilities; fire hydrant painting; and procurement policies to conform with state statues were also approved.