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Board debates using CVTA funds to help private roads after Piney Slope request; staff asked to draft program
Summary
Following a resident request, staff proposed a CVTA-funded program to set aside about $50,000 annually to help private roads without HOAs pay for materials (gravel). Board members raised concerns about precedent, fairness and emergency access; members asked staff to draft criteria and return with a program rather than taking immediate action.
County staff presented a request on May 26 from residents of Piney Slope Lane — a private road without a homeowners association — asking for assistance to buy gravel (estimated at about $14,000 for 10 loads) to improve the road surface. Rodney Hathaway proposed staff develop a program using Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) funds with an annual set-aside (he suggested $50,000) that residents on qualifying private roads could apply to use for materials only.
Board members acknowledged the need to support residents who pay county taxes but raised questions about precedent and fairness: a long private road or multiple requests could exhaust a small set-aside; some older subdivisions lack HOAs and cannot assess residents. Members suggested a scored application process, limits to materials-only assistance, and safeguards to ensure emergency access and avoid county liabilities on private property.
Several members said they were uncomfortable approving a program immediately and asked staff to return with detailed criteria and parameters. The board did not adopt a funding program at the meeting and asked staff to prepare a proposal for future consideration.
Key details: staff estimated about $14,000 to stabilize Piney Slope Lane with roughly 10 loads of gravel; Hathaway proposed the assistance be for materials only and prioritized for private roads without an HOA. Members asked for scoring criteria to ensure equitable distribution and to avoid setting a difficult-to-manage precedent.
