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Planning commission sets work session and Oct. 8 public hearings for Virginia Space rezoning applications
Summary
Virginia Space submitted two rezoning applications — Darby Farm (about 167 acres) and the former seafood-plant site (about 55 acres) — seeking Ag-to-Industrial rezonings. The commission authorized a Sept. 23 work session and Oct. 8 public hearings; staff said proffers and confidential economic-development details remain under discussion.
Accomack County staff introduced two rezoning applications from Virginia Space on Sept. 10 and the Planning Commission authorized a Sept. 23 work session and Oct. 8 public hearings to consider the proposals.
The first application, referred to as Darby Farm (REZ-000141-2025), would rezone roughly 167 acres from agricultural to industrial. Staff said the site consists of five tax parcels in a largely agricultural area adjacent to the existing Rocket Lab / Virginia Space Neutron Complex. The county presentation identified the applicant's representative as local attorney John Custis and legal counsel Deborah Bridal; Virginia Space is the property owner. Pandit said the applicant has submitted draft proffers but that staff and the applicant are still refining proffer language.
Pandit said staff understands the applicant has an economic-development end user in mind and described the prospect as a company similar to Rocket Lab; he said some details remain confidential. "We are privy to certain details. Unfortunately, I can't repeat those as they are confidential," he told the commission.
The second application (REZ-000142-2025) covers about 55 acres, including an existing former seafood-processing plant and associated lagoons near Route 13 and Kecoughtan Elementary School. Staff said Virginia Space owns the property and that the application would change the property’s zoning from agricultural to industrial with proffers. Staff and commissioners discussed potential industrial uses, proximity to homes and a school, and whether proffers could limit particular hazardous activities; staff said proffers run with the land.
Commissioners raised questions about buffers, proffers to limit hazardous materials or uses, wastewater lagoons and prior industrial uses at the seafood plant. Pandit said staff has asked Virginia Space to identify which specific industrial uses are needed and to consider proffering out unwanted uses so the rezoning better matches the anticipated aerospace and defense activity.
The commission agreed to a work session on Sept. 23 to review staff analysis and the applicant proffers and authorized staff to advertise Oct. 8 public hearings for both applications. Pandit said the county could complete an expedited schedule and forward a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for possible November action, though he cautioned the typical timeline is longer. The commission did not approve or deny the rezonings at the Sept. 10 meeting; the items were introduced and hearings scheduled for public comment.
