Pittsylvania County adopts MSVMS rezoning for Berry Hill megasite after heated public comment

Pittsylvania County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Jan. 15 to rezone roughly 3,500 acres at the Berry Hill/Southern Virginia Megasite (Case R‑26‑008) from M‑2 heavy industrial to a new MSVMS (Southern Virginia Megasite) district, following a long joint meeting with the county planning commission and more than two hours of public comment for and against the change.

The vote implements a county‑initiated amendment to Chapter 35 of the Pittsylvania County zoning ordinance that creates a tailored zoning district limited to the megasite. Supporters said the new district matches prior site investments and gives the locality flexibility to market and host large, campus‑style industrial projects. Opponents said the change was rushed, reduces public oversight, and could permit high‑impact uses without adequate safeguards.

“The proposed new zoning district called MSVMS allows nearly any industry with essentially no restrictions,” said Jeff Love of the Stanton River District during public comment, adding the short public notice and timeline undermined trust. “The board is quickly attempting to force substantial changes so that they can do whatever they want to do, wherever they want to do it.”

County economic development director Matt Rowe told the joint bodies the rezoning is limited to the megasite parcels, is supported by existing infrastructure investments and by the Danville‑Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA). Rowe said the site is served by municipal water with significant existing capacity, has force‑main wastewater…