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Amelia County EDA advances Richter Road planning, eyes VDOT access-road grant
Summary
The Amelia County Economic Development Authority approved a change in scope to conduct a gravesite survey at the Richter Road property within existing grant funds, sustained B & B's master-plan work, and said it will pursue a VDOT access-road planning grant that could fund design and permitting work.
The Amelia County Economic Development Authority on Thursday moved forward on planning for the Richter Road property, approving a narrower archaeological approach and pursuing a VDOT access-road planning grant to fund next-phase design work.
Speaker 4, presenting the update for staff, said the board had previously authorized adding a Phase I archaeological study to B & B’s scope of work but that a full Phase I would exceed the remaining grant balance. "What was decided was that we would just move forward with a survey of gravesites on the property and which would come within the remaining balance of the grant and would not be any further cost to the EDA or county for that services," Speaker 4 said. That gravesite survey will be completed under the existing contract and budget, staff said.
B & B remains responsible for the master plan of development and the preliminary engineering report, Speaker 4 said, and the contract allows completion by November. Speaker 4 told the board the consultant is working through a busy schedule, which has slowed progress but left the project "still on track" for a summer delivery of certain items.
The board also discussed applying this fall for a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) access-road planning grant. Speaker 4 described the grant terms: VDOT "provides up to a $150,000 for design and planning work for access roads," and may provide an additional $50,000 with matching funds, producing a potential total project cost around $250,000. "So right now, we're trying to get a meeting of the key players, with the representative of VDOT, set up, hopefully, for the end of this month," Speaker 4 added. If awarded, staff expects to conduct engineering work in early 2026.
Speaker 1 thanked staff for the update and noted the county will await VDOT feedback and Commonwealth Transportation Board approval if the county pursues the planning grant. The update also noted that DHCD had approved the change to scope that allowed the gravesite survey in lieu of a costlier full Phase I study.
Next steps: B & B will complete the gravesite survey within the current grant balance; staff will schedule the VDOT meeting to refine scope and, if appropriate, submit a planning-grant application this fall. The EDA’s contract with the consultant remains in effect through November, and engineering work tied to the access grant would likely proceed in early 2026 if funding is awarded.
