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Wythe County update: broadband build on schedule; county seeks federal funds for Lots Gap tank and cannery; minor subdivision plats recorded
Summary
County staff said broadband contractor Citizens is on track to complete much of the eastern build by June; county submitted federal funding requests including $5 million for a Lots Gap water tank and funding for a new cannery/commercial kitchen. The commission also recorded recent minor subdivision plats for Hager and a Jonas→Repass conveyance.
Wythe County officials told the Planning Commission on May 4 that the county's broadband buildout is progressing and that the county has submitted federal requests to support several infrastructure priorities, including a water‑storage project and a proposed cannery relocation.
County staff said Citizens Communications (the broadband contractor/operator) reported progress across multiple roads and is targeting substantial completion of core builds by the end of June to meet BEAD‑funding deadlines. Staff listed recent completions (Old School Road, Foxton Den Road, Harmon Road and Marble Road) and said work remains on long runs such as Millers Creek and several easement issues are being resolved. Staff estimated a potential customer base of roughly 8,000 on the eastern end of the county if all eligible customers subscribed.
In the executive report, county officials said the county submitted congressional/federal funding requests (through Congressman Griffith and Senators Warner and Kaine) that include a request for support to build the Lots Gap water tank (county requested $5 million) and a proposal to relocate and expand the county cannery into a new facility on county property that would include a commercial kitchen and offices for extension staff. Officials said the cannery relocation is contingent on federal funding and, if funded, would move operations off school property and transfer some existing equipment to the new site.
Planning staff also reported recent subdivision recordings: John and Linda Hager created a 42.868‑acre agricultural lot on Peppers Ferry Road (residual parcel 88.571 acres); the commission had previously granted a variance to section 5.3.18 to allow that division despite insufficient road frontage and the plat recorded April 9. Staff also reported Michael and Lisa Jonas conveyed 325 acres to adjoining owner Evan Gay Repass and that a lot‑line revision resulted in a new 3.666‑acre parcel and a 3.155‑acre residual; that plat also recorded April 9.
Separately, staff said a variance application for James Staley and Linda Brogden that had been tabled was withdrawn after the applicant agreed to leave the primary house lot as an existing 1.5‑acre parcel rather than enlarging it to five acres, so no variance was required.
