[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6222687,"mediaKeyId","3587290-708c1cd8b656b7dd7dded6b64f390237","parentId",3587290,"title","Housing advisory committee: AutoZone hiring highlights New Kent County workforce housing shortage","audioSeconds",172,"startMs",2454000,"endMs",2626000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3587290-708c1cd8b656b7dd7dded6b64f390237&start=2454&end=2626","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3587290-708c1cd8b656b7dd7dded6b64f390237/thumbnail_2454000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6222687/New-Kent-County/Virginia/Housing-advisory-committee-AutoZone-hiring-highlights-New-Kent-County-workforce-housing-shortage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6222687-bd41f92e27ffd1115a296d87b2f4dee7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773135752&Signature=KYqbk4OCwesoAvds2t8sKpka-7OvOmtX01SNW8yTTgJeT-bVaxglsFKV~Us59wpBDpvlDvAeV6xAByRG0rOQ2MIa2PyEsUEtFFKXR9m0nVDu7r2BLfmX3WAJfV3pEWCfmDabRkOqTpjF3vXtiWBDJLXbKTr25jM3YAOSUx0RS9tnOlC2Q0uxOXY34DhajKggV5AL0DX6Gn4UbKKW7wZFk4pNOfR~O8psdHSfr89Uu0R3kx6-XBJE36xmRkFzqqRKCXjq63GzHs7ySfG2iFEfN6vuu-2SySZ7D5mWvOdEcSy3yRAb1prRRPxXhSD3qk-0iPpUesrlSCkm~Y7FyD5Otw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","newkentcountyva","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","Commissioner Reverend Hathaway, reporting on Plan RVA and the county’s housing advisory committee at the May 19 meeting, said an AutoZone presentation to the committee underscored New Kent County’s workforce‑housing shortage: of the employees hired so far, only \"20 of them live in New Kent,\" he said, and the company plans to employ about 325 people at the facility.

A housing‑committee presenter told commissioners AutoZone’s average wage is about $45,000 per year, with overtime pushing some workers into the $70,000–$75,000 range; however, first‑time buyers face difficulty saving for down payments, and affordable units are scarce. Commissioners discussed a developer presentation about 200 rental apartments but noted such projects, if approved, would take roughly two years before units become available.

Reverend Hathaway and other commissioners flagged both recruitment and retention concerns. One committee estimate mentioned in the meeting suggested that if a thousand jobs are held in New Kent but workers commute from outside the county, the resulting lost local economic activity is \"a little over $7,000,000 a year,\" a figure cited to illustrate the economic impact of workers not living locally.

No regulatory action on housing followed from the meeting’s reports, but commissioners used the report to underline the need to consider housing supply in tandem with economic development and to note the timing lag for new rental projects.

Speakers at the meeting encouraged ongoing attention to housing affordability and to coordination between employers, developers and county housing‑planning efforts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 19, 2025 New Kent County Planning Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At the May 19 meeting, the Planning Commission’s reports included a summary from the housing advisory committee and Plan RVA that AutoZone’s local hiring (325 jobs) has produced a workforce‑housing shortfall—only about 20 of the hires live in New Kent—creating commuting pressure and economic leakage.","taxTitle","New Kent County, Virginia","taxId",37846,"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},6222692,"Commissioners flag small setbacks, enforcement lapses and ask staff to clarify buffer rules",604,3217000,3821000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3587290-708c1cd8b656b7dd7dded6b64f390237&start=3217&end=3821","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3587290-708c1cd8b656b7dd7dded6b64f390237/thumbnail_3217000.jpg","/articles/6222692/New-Kent-County/Virginia/Commissioners-flag-small-setbacks-enforcement-lapses-and-ask-staff-to-clarify-buffer-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6222692-cd53ae71452e9eadaa2976029d3be851/orig.mp4?Expires=1773135752&Signature=Qb-cNr0GZs1ObylwILufJ1miGPju1E~PTF9gHl1fmZx9MsDqQv1mAxTuIU4qzAjqELIaVDkx7zi2knQA123A8e6bbxf98Mb3LBKmG1I~NdyLnv4VJivqXvtjhYS0GJM7qNonFf-jZpU8ErdaLT9tGTeKT3nOzahigbpnV4ycFaSUdpwrt-yGhBDaNWVyH8WWvPJuiKYMDBwPv2Uifi3DwMKHDR1mooxrpkNhfSW8sV0CT4u~9vE2YrtaaGL2TkeWWweP~RZ~W1LYigDyj62o-jdgAPDTGruyng6LLPUQ7bFhaR7UrOkOmL9cd3CfwfZiiXqNd~phLFxL5fPA9WfvKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning commissioners at the May 19 meeting expressed concern that some recent subdivisions and site plans rely on minimal setbacks and weak buffers, and they asked county staff to present a clear primer and visual examples showing current setback and buffer requirements across zoning districts.

\"We are really at a tipping point right at the moment of crisis with the way the traffic is dealing in that particular area,\" Commissioner Miss Townsend said during commissioner reports while raising safety and visibility concerns related to roadside development; she later pressed officials about nearby subdivisions where a 15‑foot setback left homes close to the state road. Townsend asked staff for visuals to show what a 50‑ or 75‑foot setback would look like on the ground.

Commissioner Mister Dabrowski argued the county should codify buffer content and thickness so developers cannot meet a numeric buffer with grass alone: \"If we can look at this and change the code and then there's no question, then the developer has to fall within those lines for what we say we wanna do,\" he said. Several commissioners described instances where approved site plans were later built differently, and they framed those as enforcement lapses.

Planning staff acknowledged the issue and agreed to provide more visual material and a briefing on how setback and buffer requirements currently apply across zoning districts. Patrick Silva, principal planner, indicated staff time permitting they could present \"a primer on setbacks and buffering\" to help commissioners recognize when a proposed layout meets code and when it may warrant further enforcement or a condition on approval. Commissioners suggested the primer include example site plans, recommended plantings (evergreens and year‑round screening), and clear language so developers understand both distance and planting requirements.

No formal motion or regulatory change was adopted at the meeting; commissioners instead asked staff to prepare material and to consider buffer standards as part of the broader zoning rewrite work already underway.","Planning commissioners raised concerns May 19 about recent subdivisions sited close to state roads, small setbacks (15 feet) and buffer enforcement. Commissioners requested a staff presentation on setback/buffer standards and visuals to improve review and enforcement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6222697,"Planning Commission approves accessory-structure and BZA ordinance amendments",1395,970000,2365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3587290-708c1cd8b656b7dd7dded6b64f390237&start=970&end=2365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3587290-708c1cd8b656b7dd7dded6b64f390237/thumbnail_970000.jpg","/articles/6222697/New-Kent-County/Virginia/Planning-Commission-approves-accessory-structure-and-BZA-ordinance-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6222697-2c7e8e2f0a39d16cf91522002b4d3b07/orig.mp4?Expires=1773135752&Signature=iTZfqDqI1F~1maznbCl7uViKSDjsxkB~FsarPWPR5bLU-jdXkp5NLnza41~95ZmuJzLTcAHPe89mfYIq9vkB-Zxo0lbAi~CdtH35ixMYGGg6PNqZdKdv06bqA~e~kEMpVappRucdmFOWLAp4xUrTAx0sLv-3IUa9EHOCKiIPTEFQSExboxCGpoBChWi31wU81kfD05L~iYXiNGUDqYr0FpZehrYr-ZEV7jedbuxEfRmg6Ma0Ei5OZ5AeSaO6fQC0xXQPg-sBYILiEI~tfKZ2h4S8VzJRZ1t0YaPzftMZZTb~jQxImVx3PNzYPTBK3C-6TezR8aFtzNi-o9NvOqLUFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","New Kent County’s Planning Commission voted May 19 to approve PC‑0725, a package of zoning ordinance amendments that raise residential accessory-structure limits, add a definition for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), create a farm-use exemption from certain square-footage limits, and revise the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals chapter to align with state law.

The amendments approve changes to Chapter 98, Section 98‑10 of the New Kent County code. Angela Lefflet, New Kent County zoning administrator, told the commission the proposal changes the residential rule so \"the cumulative total of all detached accessory structures may not exceed 60% of the total floor area for the primary structure.\" For A‑1 (agricultural) lots, the ordinance retains the existing standard that accessory structures may total up to 5% of the lot area beyond the front setback line but not exceed 10,000 square feet, whichever is less, Lefflet said.

The package removes a prior numeric cap on the number of structures for smaller A‑1 lots and adds a farm exemption: \"Buildings or structures accessory to a farm use as defined in the Code of Virginia ... are hereby exempt from the provisions listed above in section 98‑10(c)(3),\" Lefflet said. She described acceptable evidence of farm use to include \"active business licenses, farming registrations, AFD designation, and other similar documentation that staff finds sufficiently confirms the farm use is being operated.\" The transcript records the county referencing the state farm definition in its explanation.

The amendments also add a separate definition for accessory dwelling units and leave the existing ADU size restriction language in place: ADUs are limited by the ordinance provision that they \"must in no case contain in excess of 25% of total square footage of [the] single‑family home to which [it is] accessory or 450 square feet, whichever is greater,\" language the commission discussed but did not change at this meeting. Commissioners asked staff to study whether that ADU cap should be revisited as part of the county’s larger zoning rewrite.

On Board of Zoning Appeals procedures, the ordinance aligns the local variance and administrative‑modification language with the Code of Virginia, removes the local special‑exception process that duplicates Board of Supervisors authority, and clarifies administrative modification thresholds. Lefflet said the administrative modification provision will specify that an encroachment \"does not exceed 1 and 1/2 linear feet,\" language intended to match common practice in other localities.

Staff and commissioners also clarified fees: variance applications to the BZA remain $750; the prior administrative‑modification fee (previously $450) is not applicable under the revised structure; and the farm exemption does not carry a fee, Lefflet said.

The planning commission voted on the motion to approve PC‑0725. Roll call recorded the votes as: Mister Lowder Schall — aye; Mister Moyer — abstain; Miss Rose — aye; Doctor Schmidt — aye; Miss Johnson — aye; Mister Grabroski — aye; Miss Townsend — aye; Reverend Hathaway — aye; Ms. Thomas — aye; Mr. Bennett — aye; Mr. Davis — aye. The motion carried.

Commissioners and staff noted the item had been discussed at earlier hearings in February and April and that the language incorporated feedback from commissioners and the county’s AFD advisory committee. Several commissioners asked staff to analyze ADU size limits further during the county’s longer zoning‑code rewrite so the commission can consider potential ADU adjustments with more research and time.

The commission’s approval at this meeting constitutes the Planning Commission’s action on PC‑0725; the transcript does not record any additional formal action beyond the motion and roll call.","The New Kent County Planning Commission on May 19 approved PC‑0725, recommending amendments to Chapter 98 to change accessory-structure limits, add an accessory dwelling-unit definition, exempt farm structures, and align the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) rules with the Code of Virginia.","actionData","errors"]

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Housing advisory committee: AutoZone hiring highlights New Kent County workforce housing shortage

Commissioners flag small setbacks, enforcement lapses and ask staff to clarify buffer rules

Planning Commission approves accessory-structure and BZA ordinance amendments