Pittsylvania County BZA elects Herschel Stone chairman; Joseph Crater named vice chair

Herschel Stone was elected chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 13, 2025, after a nomination from board member Miss Ragsdale and a 7-0 vote by the board.

The board then opened nominations for vice chairman and approved Joseph Crater; the meeting record shows the motion carried but does not list a roll-call tally for the vice-chair vote.

The reorganization items opened the regular meeting of the board and preceded routine approvals of the agenda and meeting minutes. Miss Clark conducted roll call at the start of the meeting; members present included Mears, Craddock, Brumfield, Easley, Stone, Warren and Yaman.

Miss Ragsdale nominated Stone for chairman, saying she considered it “an honor and a privilege” to do so. After a second and a voice vote, the clerk announced: “The motion passed, 7 to 0.” The board then turned to vice-chair nominations; Joseph Crater was nominated and, after a second, the motion to elect him carried.

During the meeting the board chair thanked members for their support and said he would try to do as well as previous chairs. Board members also recognized a long-serving member, Mr. Merrick, who was thanked for 23 years of service. In response, Merrick encouraged other members to take the county’s zoning class; a staff speaker said the county budgets money for that training each year.

The board also heard a brief update from staff that a proposed zoning ordinance rewrite will appear for adoption next week after being postponed in December; staff said the draft will go before the full board at its next meeting for a public hearing and possible adoption.

The meeting adjourned after those organizational and routine items.