Southampton County approves Phase 2 rezoning for Flaggie Run subdivision amid resident concerns over traffic, drainage and trash

On Aug. 26, 2025, the Southampton County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a comprehensive-plan amendment and a conditional rezoning to allow a roughly 15‑acre Phase 2 expansion of a Flaggie Run subdivision. The comprehensive-plan amendment passed 5–1; the related rezoning was approved unanimously after public hearings and detailed staff review.

The board heard multiple resident objections during the public hearings, including concerns about traffic on the narrow Flaggie Run Road, overflow at nearby county dumpster sites, higher property taxes and potential impacts on school and emergency services. "Flaggie Run Road is a small, narrow road with a lot of traffic on it already, and I hate to see 46 more houses out there," said Jamie Lee, a resident who spoke against the project. Several speakers also asked whether existing graves near the railroad track had been identified.

Developer Joe Venn told the board he had purchased the Phase 2 parcel believing county GIS records showed it was already zoned R‑2, and that he discovered the zoning discrepancy later. "We actually bought the land based on the county GIS website showing that it was R‑2," Venn said, adding that the Phase 1 build of 27 homes is already underway and that Phase 2 is being proposed to avoid leaving unused land idle. He said the developer expects home prices in the "$300,000 to $350,000 range" and that the project will include an HOA to cover common infrastructure.

Planner Jay Randolph and other staff laid out the code and permit requirements for the project if rezoned and advanced to site plan: stormwater management with a State Department of Environmental Quality stormwater permit, construction of roads to VDOT secondary‑street standards and eventual VDOT acceptance into the secondary street system, provision of a community well system and on‑lot septic or permitted on‑site sewage treatment, sidewalks on one side of the street, and streetlights and other subdivision elements consistent with county ordinances. Randolph said stormwater infrastructure for the overall project lies beyond the 15 acres but would serve the entire subdivision; where stormwater ponds are proposed they would be fenced with HOA responsibility for maintenance to avoid county maintenance costs.

Staff and some board members emphasized that site plan review and required permits remain outstanding. "Both Phase 1 and, should Phase 2 be approved, [it] have to meet all the current applicable codes," Randolph said. Several supervisors and staff said planning‑commission scrutiny had addressed wetlands, drainage, and safety questions before the board considered the amendment and rezoning.

The board heard technical and policy perspectives from both sides: supporters argued the project would add housing supply and help concentrate development so as to protect other farmland; opponents warned of increased service costs and loss of rural character. Mr. Stroward, county staff, noted the county has discussed a shortage of available housing and that the proposed product could add diversity to the housing stock.

Votes at a glance: the comprehensive-plan amendment passed 5–1; the rezoning (A1→conditional R2 for the 15 acres) was approved unanimously. The board and staff noted that final approvals are contingent on site‑plan review, DEQ stormwater permitting, and compliance with subdivision and zoning ordinances.

The next steps for the developer include submitting a site plan, securing required stormwater permits from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and meeting VDOT street‑construction standards for secondary‑street acceptance. The board directed staff and the developer to continue community outreach and to address neighbors' concerns about trash service and drainage as the project advances.