Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission reorganizes officers, adopts bylaws and forwards three exception requests to supervisors
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the Planning Commission elected officers for 2025, adopted bylaws and a meeting schedule, approved the 2024 annual report, and forwarded two exception requests (PC03‑25 and PC04‑25) to the Board of Supervisors with favorable recommendations.
The New Kent County Planning Commission carried out annual officer elections, adopted its bylaws and meeting schedule for 2025, approved minutes and the commission’s 2024 annual report, and forwarded two exception requests to the Board of Supervisors with favorable recommendations on Jan. 21.
Elections and appointments • Chair: Joseph (Joe) Davis was elected chair in a roll‑call vote. The commission then elected Mark Bennett as vice chair and Laura Rose as public hearing chair. Dr. Joanne Smith (listed as Doctor Joanne Smith in the record) was elected public hearing vice chair. The commission also nominated and recommended Reverend Milton Hathaway as the Planning Commission’s representative to Plan RVA for 2025. Commissioners who are also members of other county boards notified staff of related abstentions where required.
Bylaws, schedule and minutes • The commission adopted its bylaws for 2025 by roll call and approved the 2025 meeting schedule (generally the third Monday of each month with February exceptions) and the Dec. 16, 2024 meeting minutes.
Annual report • The commission approved its 2024 Annual Report, which summarizes land‑use items, attendance and permit volumes for the calendar year and compares 2024 activity to prior years.
Exception requests forwarded to the Board • PC03‑25 (New Kent County Department of Public Utilities): Staff presented an exception request to allow replacement/relocation of existing chain‑link fencing and installation of two sliding chain‑link security gates at the county’s proposed new operations center at 7051 Poindexter Road, portions of which lie in the Commerce Corridor Overlay District. Staff recommended approval and commissioners discussed adding landscaping/screening along the overlay frontage; the motion forwarded the exception with a favorable recommendation and included additional screening. One commissioner abstained; all others voted aye.
• PC04‑25 (Adams and Gammon families, family subdivision exception): Staff recommended approving an exception to subdivision roadway standards (width, surface and 50‑foot deeded right‑of‑way requirements) for a proposed family subdivision across several parcels on Steel Trap Road and Old Church Road to create multiple family lots accessed by driveways designed for emergency vehicle passage. Staff noted the roads are low volume and recommended approval; the commission forwarded the recommendation to the Board with one abstention and the rest voting aye.
Other business • A commissioner resigned from the county Housing Advisory Committee; the commission recommended Reverend Milton Hathaway to the Board of Supervisors to fill that seat. The commission also discussed tracking inactive conditional use permits and the practicality of sunset clauses for non‑performance.
All forwarded items will be considered by the New Kent County Board of Supervisors at upcoming public meetings.
