[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6055521,"mediaKeyId","3318386-9b783707ef03dd1ecf02ef23989190d5","parentId",3318386,"title","Supervisors discuss evaluating former poor farm, surplus county lands for recreation or tourism uses","audioSeconds",127,"startMs",2443000,"endMs",2570000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3318386-9b783707ef03dd1ecf02ef23989190d5&start=2443&end=2570","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3318386-9b783707ef03dd1ecf02ef23989190d5/thumbnail_2443000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6055521/Northumberland-County/Virginia/Supervisors-discuss-evaluating-former-poor-farm-surplus-county-lands-for-recreation-or-tourism-uses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055521-a1d3807be96a06c4efd336c19dd942e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770988928&Signature=J5pB~kzcxuShdGlpkSKK7vguMqYvDjeyDrqEsMq6Ut-EyTtni3IZhwkMvCUJWYC4Zsa06~d-kde83o~plBilzZYjSXVvwW8l7RSTZPztCxk4wdeHpi~jiEPvd6YnJ7FRRqn5~sxcdL8Nf7eZNTkEWR1GEl4uHDeMbew7AAX1d01aI6q5rUlwZwW2KVFKRkIfc3JH~ov1Rn1TZQmI1EzMENgTt99Db81jZLgj06vhOwJ5oZ3DNFr3WK0w0E33ffMNemyD9hLfhd28CgahbG5c~tTm67TTXx82mMFje-9ulhd3-hqnCmcTNX4oHVX6i80h9e8vWbGya3O2J9vTY7H6pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northumberland County, VA","date","2025-05-14T13:46:40Z","article","Members of the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors discussed adding a recommendation to the comprehensive plan for the county economic development division to evaluate the former poor farm and other surplus properties for potential historic, recreational or mixed-use development.

A supervisor identified the former poor farm tract near Donut Road — described in the meeting as the largest surplus parcel the board had previously reviewed — as a candidate for evaluation. The supervisor said local historical-society members believe there are graves and other artifacts on the site and recommended an archaeological survey before any development, noting the cost of such studies.

Board members described the property as isolated but potentially suitable for trails, passive recreation, or a tourism asset if archaeological and historical value justify investment. The discussion noted that previous county reviews of surplus properties had identified a short list of parcels for further consideration and that one of those parcels was already in active sale. The supervisors did not take a formal vote to transfer or rezone the parcel during this meeting; rather, the topic was discussed as a planning recommendation and possible action for the economic development division to study further.

The board also discussed county capacity for recreation programming and observed that the county currently relies on allocations to local providers (including the YMCA) rather than operating an in-house recreation department. Several supervisors said they support further study so that surplus land is not simply left unused, and recommended that any evaluation include historic-architecture or archaeological review and cost estimates for remediation or conversion into trails or other low-impact uses.

Historical-society members were reported to be interested in the property and likely to be vocal in any future proceedings. Supervisors suggested adding the recommendation to the plan so the economic development division can examine options and report back to the board at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northumberland Planning Commission - 5/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members recommended that the county economic development division evaluate a large surplus tract (the former poor farm on Donut Road) for possible historic, recreational or tourism uses, and noted historical-society interest and the potential need for an archaeological survey.","taxTitle","Northumberland County, Virginia","taxId",37847,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6055526,"Northumberland supervisors approve three chapters of comprehensive plan, set public hearing for July",2838,207000,3045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3318386-9b783707ef03dd1ecf02ef23989190d5&start=207&end=3045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3318386-9b783707ef03dd1ecf02ef23989190d5/thumbnail_207000.jpg","/articles/6055526/Northumberland-County/Virginia/Northumberland-supervisors-approve-three-chapters-of-comprehensive-plan-set-public-hearing-for-July","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055526-41ef0bddf5a97dd1902100f813075a71/orig.mp4?Expires=1770988928&Signature=HgA9YsGgYVEu5uKvryEcHBwgXz3CF8s78s5s9iSlNkSeqTx9SeZZimaSf1RWSHNrAQNiOz8m6d8fvogtuffkLgYvsnlfXpbNNGQLIIl9LCWEEtAKRaLAeQZubVDtzcBu1mjHk86IcL-Vu9pJ52ifGUaprLZzSvdas-jbMhwTh-Q0pB1652g2aZ4k3wFhNoDN7MlZyRzp81LTaLGGaQYf34~FsKhcgC7sIWd-JOej5OUDEWNDS3uS7MWODuuBLdiQFYusXfLNx7NRyPssp8pJqN6xqN1fN2II7FVG77egnk8-O-Tn5WwRoDcpqBR5nftXXbdgRp6r-uhMkp2Tur6rwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Northumberland County supervisors voted to approve revised drafts of chapters 1, 2 and 4 of the county comprehensive plan and scheduled a public hearing on the full plan in late July as staff works to finish Chapter 3 on water quality.

The approvals came after staff presenter Stuart Klaus walked the board through a red-line version and said the edits were largely rhetorical or clarifying, changing many instances of “should” to phrasing such as “should continue to” so the text reads as existing policy rather than new directives. Klaus told the board he expected to circulate Chapter 3 — the water-quality chapter — to a technical reviewer and to deliver an updated appendix before the next meeting.

Board members said the revised draft is more readable and moves the plan closer to final approval. “We are making very good progress,” Klaus told the supervisors, adding that with the remaining technical edits the county could hold a public hearing and seek final approval the following month. Supervisors agreed to meet Wednesday, June 18, for their next work session and set a likely public hearing for Tuesday, July 22.

The board’s discussion also covered stylistic and substantive placement changes: portions of the draft that look like recommendations were relocated out of Chapter 1 (which the board agreed should describe the status quo) and placed into the chapters addressing goals and implementation. Klaus said Appendix A will be finalized after the remaining chapters are decided because it contains material dependent on multiple chapter edits.

Supervisors debated where to encourage light industry and manufacturing in the county’s village-and-support-area framework. One supervisor said Lotsburg (transcribed variously in the meeting record as “Lotsburg,” “Locksburg” and “Lockspur”) is primarily a support area — a mix of residences and small local businesses — and questioned whether promoting light manufacturing there matched the support-area intent. The supervisor noted that conditional use permits would be required for many new businesses in those areas and suggested the plan reserve the larger or more intensive industrial uses for the county’s identified commercial hubs, such as Calleo and Burgess.

Others urged flexibility in the plan so prospective businesses can choose suitable sites, and the board ultimately decided to retain the language in the current revision rather than remove the line that refers to encouraging light industry and manufacturing in some villages. Supervisors said economic and infrastructure conditions would remain the dominant determinants of where businesses locate and that the plan should provide flexibility rather than a prescriptive mandate.

Klaus said he would circulate Chapter 3 to Philip Marsden and other technical reviewers for water-quality input, incorporate agreed edits into a consolidated Version 3 of the draft, and provide the revised appendix for review. The board instructed county administration to set meeting logistics for the June 18 work session and the July 22 public hearing on the plan.

The board approved the three chapters by unanimous voice vote; the supervisors present indicated “aye” when the motions were called.

The board’s next substantive steps are completion and circulation of Chapter 3 (water quality), finalization of the appendix material, a public hearing on the consolidated draft, and then a final vote on the comprehensive plan.","The Board of Supervisors approved revised drafts of chapters 1, 2 and 4 of Northumberland County’s comprehensive plan, agreed wording changes to clarify policy language, and set a public hearing in July after staff circulates the remaining water-quality chapter.","actionData","errors"]

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Supervisors discuss evaluating former poor farm, surplus county lands for recreation or tourism uses

Northumberland supervisors approve three chapters of comprehensive plan, set public hearing for July