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Urbanna officials report completed sidewalk repairs, plan street sign replacements and weigh $20,000 comprehensive-plan update
Summary
Planning staff said sidewalk repairs were completed, the county will install reflective 911-standard street signs, and commissioners discussed funding, staffing and timelines for the long-overdue comprehensive plan and town code recodification.
Planning staff told the Urbanna Planning Commission that sidewalk repairs identified in an earlier inventory have been completed and that the county will replace street signs with the 911-standard reflective design (white lettering on green). "The sidewalk repair... has been done," planning staff said, and described the street-sign change as ongoing work with the county that includes replacing missing posts.
Commissioners and staff discussed the town's comprehensive plan, which staff said appears to be about 15 years overdue: "You're probably 15 years overdue," planning staff said, adding that the last plan looked to be completed around 2012. Staff reported an estimate from the regional planning district commission of roughly $20,000 to prepare a comprehensive-plan update if the town outsources the work; alternatives mentioned included applying for grants to fund specific components or outsourcing discrete elements (for example, an environmental chapter) to find partial funding.
The commission also raised lingering problems with the town code recodification process. Staff said Municode proofs were sent in January 2019 but no completion was confirmed; commissioners discussed follow-up options. On staffing and administration, planning staff said the town's personnel policy dates from the 1990s and flagged it as a priority and potential liability that should be addressed in coming budgets.
Other operational matters discussed included water and sewer infrastructure, boundary adjustments and the fiscal constraints of a small tax base. Staff noted the town's reserves remain in good shape but emphasized that many grants are reimbursement-based and that obtaining outside help (for example, an outsourced comprehensive-plan consultant or a grant writer) would require budgetary trade-offs.
Commissioners thanked departing staff member Martha for her service and closed the meeting. The commission agreed to forward the planning recommendation on the recreational facility application to the town council, which will consider it at its next meeting.
