After almost four hours of presentation, discussion,
and citizen comment on applications filed by local developer Scott Gaeser for
Manakintowne, which, if approved would be Goochland’s first mixed use planned
unit development (MPUD), the supervisors voted unanimously to defer a vote
until December 3.
The supervisors are to be commended for taking great
care to prevent overlooked details from leading to unintended consequences, but
they need to pick up the pace. People waited until well after midnight for the start
of the public hearing on a conditional use permit for Event Makers, which eded about 2 a.m.
For
everyone’s sanity, the county must schedule only one contentious hearing per
meeting. Marathon sessions are not fair to the citizens, staff, or the
supervisors, whose ability to make sound decisions degrades after midnight.
Miscellaneous
The public hearing on an ordinance amendment concerning
weeds and garbage was deferred until November 6
Fall town hall meetings are coming up. Districts 4 and
5 will meet on October 10 at Farm Bureau Headquarters on West Creek Parkway; District
1 will meet on October 15 at Hadensville Company 6; and Districts 2 and 3 will
meet on October 30 at the Central High School Educational and Cultural Center.
All start at 7 p.m. Each session will include a general wrap-up of the year in
local government and a preview of next year’s budget, followed by discussion of
more local concerns. The public is welcome at any and all sessions. No
political activity permitted.
County staff will hold meetings with residents of Hickory
Haven and Sammary Forest residents about installation of sewer lines on October
28 at 6:30 p.m. at Company 3. The county website also has a section with all
documents on the matter. Go to the county website http://www.goochlandva.us/and click on
the Hickory haven link under “latest news” on the right side of the page.
October 26 is the date for the Goochland Fall Festival
on the “old” football field behind the administration building.
Lyman Louis Beck was recognized on his September 30 retirement
after 30 years of service in the utilities and building departments.
The Supervisors approved a proclamation recognizing
October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Sally Graham, executive Director
of Goochland Cares introduced Heather
Salmon, its Sexual and Domestic Violence Services Program Coordinator. Goochland Cares also operates a 24-hour
domestic violence hotline 804-980-6267. Visit GoochlandCares.org for more
information. Spousal abuse is a scourge whose devastating effects undermine
family structure and harm the entire community.
VDOT
Marshall Winn, residency administrator for the VDOT
Ashland Residency reported that advertisement for traffic signal work at the
intersection of Rt. 288 and Broad Street Road has begun. He said that bids
close on November 15 and estimated that the work could start as early as March
1, 2020.
He reported that paving crews are working hard to
finish scheduled work before the asphalt season ends.
District 1 supervisor Susan Lascolette thanked Winn
for meeting with Georges Tavern residents and placing a stop sign at Davis Mill
Road.
Ken Peterson, District 5 said that a “no u turn” sign
is needed, even though VDOT traffic engineers contend it is not “warranted,” on
Route 6 near Creekmore. Peterson said that there are many accidents and near
misses there as people try to turn into the fast lane there and are t boned. He
observed that dangerous maneuvers on Rt.6 at certain times of the day are the
result of drivers trying to avoid clogged southbound lanes of Rt. 288 at rush
hour. He suggested that fixing 288 congestion will relieve issues on Rt. 6.
Fire-Rescue
Chief D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. thanked the board
for the support that enabled hiring of the new career providers to staff all
six stations 24/7 beginning on October 1.
Fire prevention week is coming up. Several county
stations will have events featuring safety tips and demonstrations. Stop in and
say “hello” to the intrepid people, career and volunteer, who save live and protect
property in Goochland. Check the battery in you smoke alarm when you turn back
the clocks.
Consent Agenda
The supervisors’ consent agenda included setting
November 6 public hearings on lease agreements with both the Goochland Chamber
of Commerce and Goochland Historical Society for county owned property;
approval of a revised FY 2019 & FY 2020 Performance Contract between
Goochland Powhatan Community Services (GPCS) and the Virginia Department of
Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS); and authorization for the county administrator
to sign a letter of acceptance of Virginia Department of Health funding for the
Jenkins Trailer Park pubic water connection. See the October 1 board packet for
details.
Money
Barbara Horlacher county director of finance presented
a review of the final FY 2019—which ended on June 30—fund balance assignments.
Once again, the county took in more than it budgeted to the tune of
approximately $7 million. Some of these funds will go to items not included in
the budget, including $850 k for the Fairground Road Extension, and to the
rainy day and contingency funds.
Peterson explained that the “rainy day” fund
is used, under very specific circumstances, to ease revenue shortfalls resulting
from a downturn in the economy. The contingency fund is set aside for extraordinary
events, like the 2011 earthquake that destroyed two schools in Louisa.
He also explained that this positive fiscal position is
what helped Goochland obtained two AAA bond ratings, which will save the county
money when it needs to borrow to build schools, a courthouse, and fire-rescue
stations.
Public hearings
Other public hearings held on October 1 included a
boundary line adjustment; renewal of a conditional use permit (CUP) for a day care
facility; and a CUP to allow a towing service to operate out of the old
Hadensville Fire-Rescue station. The
board unanimously approved the first two and approved the third 4-1 with
District 1 Supervisor Susan Lascolette in dissent. She was uncomfortable with
the applicant declining to proffer that he would not store large vehicles in
the building.
A gentleman from the Hadensville area protested the
towing company with an opposition petition signed by 70 people. He contended
that is not the kind of small business wanted in Hadensville and berated the
supervisors for not “giving us a grocery store”.
Board Chair Manuel Alvarez,
Jr., District 2, explained that the supervisors do not decide what kind of
businesses go in a particular location. Businesses open where they believe they
can operate at a profit.
The more potential customers near a location raised
the odds that a business will be profitable. The fewer people in an area, the
fewer businesses it will attract. The ten or so square miles considered to be
Short Pump, for instance, has more residents than all of Goochland County. That
is why there are so many businesses there.
The board adjourned until Monday, October 7 for a final
workshop on the zoning ordinance rewrite.
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