Board narrows delegation and adopts zoning text amendment to make county staff the site‑plan reviewer after public concerns

The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors voted April 13 to amend its land‑development regulations so that site‑plan approval authority rests with a designated administrative agent — a change required by 2025 Virginia legislation (chapter 594, Senate Bill 974). The board also narrowed the draft language to specify that delegation may be limited to employees of the Department of Community Development and then adopted the ordinance with that change.

County staff explained that the statute requires localities with populations over 5,000 to designate an agent (an employee or authorized local official) to review and act on subdivision plats, site plans and plans of development rather than having the planning commission function as the designated agent. Planning‑commission members had recommended the text amendment for adoption, and staff proposed that the zoning administrator serve as the designated agent with a named alternate.

Remote public commenter Bill Russell urged the board to preserve a role for advisory planning‑commission review on major projects, stressing public‑safety and site‑design concerns for battery energy storage and utility‑scale solar: "Battery storage facilities are not routine land uses. They involve concentrated energy, fire risk, and emergency response challenges that are addressed largely through site design." Russell proposed the county retain advisory planning‑commission review for major projects while keeping approvals administrative as the statute requires.

Board members and staff discussed how to balance statutory compliance, efficiency and public visibility. Staff said the planning commission would continue to serve an advisory role for major projects and that items will be posted on the planning commission agenda to permit public notice and comment. To reflect that intent in ordinance language, the board agreed to change wording to limit delegation to employees of the Department of Community Development rather than to any county employee.

After that revision the board moved, seconded and voted to adopt the zoning text amendment. The board also unanimously appointed Jason Tyrie as zoning administrator in a separate motion later in the meeting.

The ordinance takes effect 30 days after adoption unless otherwise specified in the adopted text; staff said they will publish the updated code language and continue to place major site‑plan items on planning‑commission agendas when warranted to preserve public visibility.