The Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt text amendment TA25‑0002, revising the county subdivision ordinance to update family subdivision rules, remove redundant plat notes and clarify the waiver process for private streets.

Jordan Mitchell, director of Community Development, described the package as a short set of changes that bring local subdivision rules into compliance with the Code of Virginia and resolve inconsistencies. Among the revisions, the family‑subdivision section was amended to conform to state requirements (including establishing a 10–20‑foot minimum easement where required by state code) and to add a five‑year retention period intended to prevent a family conveyance from being treated as a circumvention of county subdivision rules.

The amendment also removed a redundant note from subdivision plats that required applicants to contact applicable utility agencies (Mitchell said that step is already required elsewhere), updated procedures for vacating plats with lots sold, and clarified the county’s waiver authority for private streets. The private‑street change clarifies that waivers may apply to extensions of existing private streets and creation of new lots along private streets in residential zoning districts; the previous language limited expansions to 10 lots, and that numeric limit was removed so waiver requests can be considered on a case‑by‑case basis through the public hearing process.

The Planning Commission recommended approval. A resident who spoke during the hearing opposed expanding public access across private streets and urged that private communities remain private; the board discussed the item and emphasized that the waiver and special‑use processes include public hearing components and conditions the board may apply.

The board adopted ordinance 0072825‑05 on a roll call vote. Planning and development staff said they will update subdivision plat checklists and guidance to reflect the new easement dimensions, the five‑year anti‑circumvention retention and the clarified waiver process.