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Supervisors update subdivision/site‑plan rules and approve bonding policy; fee changes set for public hearing
Summary
The board adopted text amendments to bring Botetourt County’s subdivision and site‑plan review process into compliance with recent state law changes, approved a revised public‑improvement bonding policy, and authorized staff to advertise proposed fee schedule updates for public hearing next month.
The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors adopted text amendments to the county’s subdivision and site‑plan ordinances to comply with changes enacted by the Virginia General Assembly and approved an updated public‑improvement bonding policy. The board also authorized staff to advertise fee schedule revisions for planning, zoning and building services for a public hearing next month.
Planning staff explained the state law changes that took effect July 1. SB 974 removes the planning commission as the approving agent for ministerial site‑plan and plat approvals, and HB 2660 (as discussed at the meeting) shortened administrative review timelines and tightened requirements for how review comments are written. Key timeline changes described by staff included shortening the initial agency forwarding period from 10 to 5 business days, cutting agency comment periods from 45 to 30 days, and reducing the final comment response window from 35 to 20 days. The staff also explained an abbreviated review path after a third resubmission.
The board approved an updated bonding policy for public improvements. Staff emphasized the statutory requirement to require surety in the amount of 110% of estimated construction costs for facilities dedicated to public ownership (roads, water/sewer, stormwater). The policy adds clarified processes for reviewing developer cost estimates, using outside engineering reviews, and establishing development agreements with timelines and covenants. Staff said existing approvals remain grandfathered: an approved plat or final site plan remains valid for five years, and development agreements commonly run three years with review and potential extension.
Planning and zoning staff asked for authorization to advertise a revised fee schedule for planning, zoning and building services; staff said many of the county’s fees date from the 1990s and early 2000s and that updated fees are designed to recover actual review costs while keeping low fees for agricultural uses and small businesses. The board authorized a public hearing on the fees next month.
Staff also described updates to bonding practice drawn from lessons learned in recent local subdivisions and negotiations with neighboring jurisdictions; the recommended policy is consistent with practice emerging in nearby counties.
The board adopted the text amendments in a motion after a brief public hearing with no speakers, approved the bonding policy by motion, and directed staff to advertise the fee changes. No board member opposed the actions taken at the meeting.
