Town of Blackstone offers $651,000 for county land adjacent to Blackstone Municipal Airfield

Representatives of the Town of Blackstone told Nottoway supervisors Thursday they have made a formal offer to purchase county land north of the Blackstone Municipal Airfield.

Town representatives presented what they described as a $651,000 offer for roughly 72 acres that the town and county have marketed for years. The nut graf: Town officials said the parcel is suited to aviation‑oriented development tied to research and unmanned aircraft operations already occurring at the nearby airfield, and they urged the county to consider the proposal because state aviation and tobacco‑commission grants could help fund site preparation.

County and town staff and supervisors discussed a number of technical and funding details: whether the town or county would apply for aviation or tobacco‑commission grants, how ownership of the airport (currently the town) affects eligibility, and whether clearing and stump removal could increase market value and prospects. Planning staff also described the county’s draft aviation zoning/ordinance work intended to guide aircraft‑oriented uses on nearby parcels.

Supervisor and staff discussion led to a closed session negotiation item at the end of the meeting; supervisors did not vote on the sale in open session and deferred any public action while they review the offer and related grant paths. County staff said a formal public offer would trigger required public notification and, if the board moves forward, public hearing requirements.

Ending: County officials said they will provide the board additional due diligence materials, including mapping and grant‑eligibility analysis, before taking any sale or disposition action.