Amherst County board amends agenda to postpone solar petitions, hears reassessment and board appointments briefing

The Amherst County Board of Supervisors voted early in the meeting to amend the agenda, at the request of petitioners and a board member, to postpone consideration of several energy development petitions and to delay action on Planning Commission vacancies until August.

At the opening of the meeting staff said petitions from an energy developer would be postponed until August (items 5a, 6a and 6b) and that at the request of "Ms. Tucker" appointments to the Planning Commission would also be postponed. The board approved the amended agenda by voice vote.

County Administrator Bryant briefed the board on the reassessment process. He said Amherst County’s reassessment is underway and will become effective July 2026 and that state law (Code of Virginia) requires localities to establish a board of equalization to hear real-property assessment appeals. Bryant said Amherst County will need five members and two alternates and that state guidance expects a broadly representative membership, including that 30% of members be commercial or residential real-estate appraisers, builders, developers or legal/financial professionals. The county will advertise openings and bring appointments to the board at its second meeting in August; Bryant said no action was required that night.

Planning Commission liaison reported the commission unanimously voted down a utility-scale solar proposal on the north end of the county along the Buffalo River. The liaison also said the commission approved the Posterity Acres special exception (discussed elsewhere in this report) and had voted down a short-term rental request in a private subdivision in the Iowa area. The liaison said staff is working on a battery ordinance and will bring that back after required advertisement.

County Attorney Popovich told the board a second hearing is scheduled in the court case brought by the Fishers challenging their special exception; the hearing on Thursday, the 24th, will address the Fishers’ demurrer and motion to dismiss and the judge may issue a ruling at that time.

Board members used the "matters from members" section for routine announcements, including youth sports sign-ups and congratulations to county staff on a recent conviction. Supervisors also acknowledged the recent death of a volunteer first responder, Max ("Mac") Mays; the supervisor said the funeral will be at Randolph Memorial in Madison Heights with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m., followed by private burial on family property.

The board approved the consent agenda by voice vote later in the meeting and adjourned at the end of the agenda.