Culpeper Planning Commission formally designates planning staff to send public-hearing notices under Virginia law

The Culpeper Planning Commission voted to designate town planning staff as the commission's representative for sending notices to affected property owners required under Virginia Code §15.2-2204.

Town planning staff told the commission that the designation would authorize staff to prepare and sign an affidavit stating that required notices were sent. “Notice is required to be sent per Virginia Code section 15.2-2204,” planning staff said, and the designation would allow staff to send those letters on the commission’s behalf and sign the accompanying affidavit.

A commissioner moved the designation during the meeting and the motion passed with members voting in favor; no opposition was recorded on the transcript. The vote followed a brief staff explanation and a short period for questions. The commission also approved the previous meeting’s minutes during the same session.

The designation makes formal the process the commission already uses to notify property owners before public hearings, according to staff. The action covers future legal notices required under §15.2-2204 until the commission takes further action to change the designation.

Staff said the change is administrative: it permits planning staff to act as the commission’s agent for the limited purpose of preparing and filing the affidavit that documents the mailing of required notices. No changes to notice content, timing, or the underlying public-hearing process were proposed during the meeting.

The commission did not set any new procedural deadlines or alter the content of notices during the vote. Staff said they will continue to coordinate with the commission on scheduling and materials for public hearings.