Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environment And Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge caution as Board referral on floodplain lot‑area calculations comes to Planning Commission
Summary
Multiple residents at the May 5 Powhatan County Planning Commission meeting urged commissioners to heed public concerns about proposed floodplain changes; staff reported a Board of Supervisors referral to study lot area calculations tied to floodplain and indicated the commission may discuss it in June with a possible vote in July.
Several Powhatan County residents used the public‑comment period on May 5 to press the Planning Commission to consider environmental and plan‑consistency concerns before changing how the county treats floodplain areas for development.
Betty Walters urged the commission to “listen to the public regarding the floodplain changes.” Morag Weatherhead raised specific concerns about inconsistencies between the county’s comprehensive plan and the density of housing permitted when parts of a parcel fall in the floodplain. Jamie Fisher said she worried about traffic impacts and fairness for existing neighborhoods adjacent to proposed developments; Theresa Kelly warned the county risked losing its rural character; Bob Reilly asked how the floodplain changes would affect wetlands and referenced recommendations from the Citizens Working Group.
Planning Director Ligon Webb told commissioners the Board of Supervisors had referred a question about calculating lot area in relation to the floodplain to staff. Webb said staff could bring the issue to the commission in June and that a vote might occur in July, though he added additional time could be necessary. He explained that recalculating lot area relative to floodplain boundaries could limit the ability to subdivide a 20‑acre parcel if part of that parcel lies within the floodplain.
Commissioners asked about the motivation for the referral and whether the change would apply to rezonings and subdivisions. Commissioner Jessica Winall noted past ordinance language (a former large‑lot exception) and urged clearer wording to express intent. Commissioner Kenneth Hatcher observed that past ordinance practices had contributed to current conflicts. The record shows the item remains a referral for study; no ordinance change was adopted at the May 5 meeting.
Next steps: staff will research approaches to calculating lot area in relation to floodplain boundaries and present findings to the commission, with the potential for further hearings before any ordinance change.
