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Planning commission recommends permit for CPV power plant in Atkins despite residents’ objections
Summary
The Smyth County Planning Commission on Nov. 15 recommended approval of a Special Use Permit for CPV Smyth Generation’s proposed 108-acre electric generating facility in Atkins after a contested hearing in which residents raised groundwater, traffic, noise and property-value concerns.
The Smyth County Planning Commission recommended approval on Nov. 15 of a Special Use Permit for CPV Smyth Generation Company LLC to build an electric generating facility on a 108.15-acre parcel behind 369 and 371 Mulberry Lane in Atkins (Tax Map No. 48‑A‑45).
The recommendation followed a joint public hearing with the Smyth County Board of Supervisors at which CPV representatives described the company’s plans, permitting steps and timeline. Gener Gotiangco, a CPV vice president, said CPV held an “Informational Open House” on Nov. 8 to brief neighbors and that the project would go through state and federal permitting, including the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Corporation Commission for power-market matters. CPV engineers said preliminary borings on the site found no groundwater at the sampled depths.
Several nearby residents told the commission they opposed the project. Opponents raised concerns about potential effects on private wells and the local water table, increased truck traffic, noise, changes to the view shed, possible reductions in property values and survey stakes placed on adjacent property. One resident submitted a petition opposing the application. Planning Commission minutes record that Donald Stacy, James Grubb, Kay Russell and Linda Logan spoke in opposition; others including Charlie Clark and Marvin Craig spoke in favor, citing jobs and tax-base benefits.
Commission discussion focused on the many outstanding technical and permitting issues CPV still must satisfy with state agencies. Zoning Administrator Clegg Williams and CPV engineers noted that several regulatory reviews — including Virginia Department of Transportation access approval, Department of Mines/DEQ environmental permitting and Appalachian Power interconnection reviews — remain part of the formal permit and site-permitting process. A VDOT email in the record said it was confident a “low volume commercial entrance” could be installed, with final approval at permit time.
The Planning Commission recorded a recommendation to approve the Special Use Permit (vote recorded in the minutes as four in favor, one opposed, two absent). Commissioner discussion in the record shows some members said CPV had done substantial pre-application outreach and due diligence; others emphasized residents’ water and quality‑of‑life concerns.
Because a Planning Commission recommendation is advisory, the decision must now go to the Smyth County Board of Supervisors for final consideration and any conditions the board may impose. The minutes note CPV’s projected earliest construction start as spring 2015 pending required permits and approvals.
Actions recorded: the Planning Commission’s formal recommendation to approve the Special Use Permit was made during the Nov. 15 joint hearing and will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
