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Board hears that Cardinal Glass cannot close stormwater permit after running short on nutrient credits; Exit 22 rezoning tabled
Summary
David Matlock told the IDA that Cardinal Glass is reportedly '12 or 13' nutrient-credit units short and cannot close its stormwater permit; the board was also informed the county's consideration of rezoning at Exit 22 was tabled until July and the Planning Commission will be the next step.
David Matlock, a member of the Board of Supervisors, told the Washington County Industrial Development Authority that Cardinal Glass is unable to close out its stormwater permit because the project is short "12 or 13" nutrient-credit units, a deficiency he said emerged late in the permitting process. Matlock said the firm has invested more than $70 million in the county over the last 24 months and would buy credits if they were available on the market.
Matlock described how nutrient credits are typically obtained—purchase from a nutrient bank, dedicating land (conservation easements) or constructing stormwater ponds that reduce phosphorus runoff—and said the region’s credit market is tight because of concurrent construction projects. "There's none out there for them to purchase," he said.
Matlock also updated the board on a separate matter at Exit 22: the county’s previously considered property purchase and a rezoning request have been tabled by the Board of Supervisors until July. He said four speakers supported the rezoning and four opposed it at the supervisors’ hearing and that the planning commission has not yet met on the request. "We felt as Board of Supervisors we didn't need to get ahead of the planning commission," he said.
Board members asked procedural and technical questions and suggested inviting planning staff—specifically Eddie Counts—to a future meeting to explain the DEQ process for credits and the county’s options. Other board members described the regional regulatory context, noting Chesapeake Bay-related water quality requirements factor into phosphorus accounting and credit availability.
The exchange was informational; no formal action was taken by the IDA on either Cardinal Glass’ permitting or the Exit 22 zoning matter. Members asked staff to notify planning staff and to follow developments ahead of the planning commission meeting.
The IDA’s chairman said he would share further updates as staff learns more and encouraged staff to invite DEQ or planning staff to an upcoming meeting.
