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Board advances revised Comprehensive Plan to public hearing, adds animal shelter language and survey tool
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Summary
The Board authorized staff to advertise an April public hearing on a revised Comprehensive Plan that reorganizes chapters, updates maps, adds solar siting guidance (with zoning controls), discusses reservoir feasibility, and incorporates a Planning Commission-recommended animal shelter update noting FINCAS's offer to build if land is provided.
The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors authorized staff on March 2 to advertise a public hearing in April on a revised Comprehensive Plan recommended by the Planning Commission.
County Planner Stuart McKenzie told the Board the Planning Commission voted unanimously on a draft revision in July 2025 and that the draft was reviewed by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in late 2025. McKenzie said chapter order was changed, county maps were updated, and new guidance was added for developers considering solar projects; he noted that a 3/4-mile setback requirement related to water is reflected in the zoning ordinance rather than the plan itself.
Planning Commission member John Kost asked the Board to accept an amendment to the animal shelter language. Kost read the suggested replacement language describing the shelter: "A fenced animal shelter is located on the property currently used for solid waste disposal on U.S. 360 near Horsehead. This facility can house 36 dogs and 14 cats. It is operated by volunteers and managed by the Shelter Manager who is supervised by the Sheriff. The Friends of the Northumberland County Animal Shelter (FINCAS) have recently suggested the current facility is in poor condition and lacks space to meet demand. They have proposed constructing a new facility, at their expense, if the county will provide sufficient land for a new facility. At the request of the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission is currently working with FINCAS to develop a plan and recommendations for consideration by the Board of Supervisors."
Kost also called attention to a Planning Commission addition about forestry recommended by the Virginia Department of Forestry and reminded supervisors to share the plan's 'pillars of growth' community survey. Supervisor Keith Harris and Supervisor Chip Williams supported authorizing staff to advertise the public hearing; the motion carried with supervisors James W. Brann, Chip Williams, AC Fisher, Jr., and Keith Harris voting aye.
What happens next: The public hearing will be scheduled at the Board's regular April meeting; staff will post the survey and finalize any page renumbering or table-of-contents edits required by the text changes.