Board approves Walnut Hill settlement, renews Crown Castle lease and reallocates school fund balance

The King George County Board of Supervisors voted on a set of major actions Tuesday, ratifying a settlement with Walnut Hill developers, authorizing an extended lease for a cellular tower at 8562 Dahlgren Road and reallocating $1.32 million from the school division’s FY2024 fund balance.

The three votes put the Walnut Hill dispute to rest: the board ratified the settlement agreement, rezoned the listed parcels from A-2 to R-3 as required by the agreement and approved a final special-exception request allowing the subdivision to be served by one entrance. County officials said completing those steps fulfilled a court order entered Jan. 17 that resolved an appeal of December 2023 zoning decisions.

The settlement increases Walnut Hill’s proffer for school contributions from $240,000 to $440,000 and includes a three‑year, phased development schedule. Charlie Clark, chief deputy commonwealth’s attorney, told the board the signed proffers were submitted to community development earlier the same day.

Separately, the board authorized county staff to finalize and execute an amended lease with Crown Castle for the “King George County Tower” (site ID 881054) at 8562 Dahlgren Road. According to county counsel, the amended lease removes a previously proposed right of first refusal on sale of the property, raises the monthly rent to $4,000 starting in January 2027 and adds a 3% annual escalator thereafter. The matter had been the subject of a public hearing; no public speakers spoke on the item during the hearing.

On the schools item, School Superintendent Jesse Boyd reported the audited FY2024 fund-balance return to the county was $1,322,606.22, roughly 2–3% of the division’s operating budget. After discussion, supervisors approved a motion reallocating most of that amount into instruction, a portion for facilities work and a smaller amount to reimburse school activity accounts. The roll-call vote distributed approximately $996,000 to instruction, $200,000 to facilities (suggested for CTE building needs) and $100,000 to activity‑account reimbursements.

Board members said the school division will use part of the funds to purchase a state‑aligned math curriculum that otherwise would have been requested in next year’s operating budget and to avoid recurring personnel obligations. Supervisors also noted the funds could be applied toward facilities projects if the board and schools agree.

Votes at a glance - Ratify Walnut Hill settlement agreement: motion passed (ayes recorded; one nay). Action: settlement agreement ratified and signed proffers submitted to community development. - Rezoning (2202Z01) parcels from A‑2 to R‑3 to implement the Walnut Hill settlement: approved (motion passed). - Final special exception to allow a single entrance for the Walnut Hill subdivision: approved (motion passed). - Crown Castle lease (King George County Tower, site 881054) — authorize county administrator/county attorney to execute amended lease, subject to county attorney approval: approved (motion passed). - Allocation of FY2024 school fund balance ($1,322,606): approved (motion passed by roll call — distribution: ~$996,000 instruction; $200,000 facilities; $100,000 activity-account reimbursements).

What happens next: County staff will process the rezoning and special-exception documents required by the Walnut Hill settlement and complete lease paperwork for Crown Castle in the form approved by the county attorney. The school division and the board will coordinate use of the reallocated funds, including purchase of math curriculum and consideration of facility work such as Career and Technical Education upgrades.