Residents press Wythe County for disclosure on 'Project Titan' and oppose proposed commercial rezoning near Whispering Pines

At the March 24 meeting of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors, residents urged the board to disclose more information about a confidential economic-development matter the public has dubbed “Project Titan” and raised alarm about draft zoning that would reclassify land near Whispering Pines Road as commercial.

Andy Keckley, who signed up to speak during the public-comment period, said the county’s use of an executive session and nondisclosure around the matter have left residents confused. “The folks you work for do not know what Project Titan is,” Keckley said, urging the board to provide full disclosure instead of relying on nondisclosure. He said his group has filed a FOIA request that staff did not reference in meeting reports and asked whether the county had records of covenants recorded for Progress Park that he said were provided to prospective industries in 2001.

Donna Nichter, a Whispering Pines Road resident, told the board she learned last week that a draft land‑use ordinance may zone her neighborhood — about 60 families — commercial. “What will the effect be on the land, air and water? What about the noise, and dirt, and light pollution created by all the construction?” she asked, saying neighbors who moved to the area for a pastoral setting are worried about traffic, property values and environmental impacts.

Chair James D. Smith responded to both speakers by reminding residents that the board will hold an informal land‑use classification and zoning information session Monday, March 30, at Port Chiswell High School and encouraged attendance. The chair also noted the board had entered a closed session during tonight’s meeting under the state’s closed‑meeting law to discuss “prospective business” and real‑property matters; after the closed session the board returned to open session and certified that the closed meeting complied with state law.

The speakers’ requests centered on two related concerns: (1) whether confidential negotiations or covenants exist for sites in Progress Park, and (2) how the draft land‑use ordinance — which, staff said, will be discussed informally on March 30 and later require formal adoption — would affect properties abutting residential lots in Whispering Pines. Keckley asked specifically whether FOIA requests submitted to staff and to the local industrial development authority (JIDA) had been handled and whether any documents related to Progress Park covenants were available; county staff told the meeting they would follow up on records and confirmed the upcoming public information session is intended to gather questions and feedback.

The board did not take immediate action on either the confidentiality questions or zoning changes. Board members repeatedly urged residents to attend the March 30 session, described by staff as informal (not a public hearing) and intended to allow one‑on‑one conversations with planning staff and commissioners prior to any formal adoption step.

What’s next: The county will hold the land‑use classifications and zoning information meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, March 30, at Port Chiswell High School, 1 Pioneer Trail, Max Meadows, Virginia. Residents who want their questions addressed at that meeting were advised to submit them in advance or attend in person.