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Board rejects $149,344 consultant contract to update Powhatan County comprehensive plan
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted 2-3 on April 27 to deny authorizing a $149,344 contract with Line and Grade to support a comprehensive-plan update, citing concerns about cost, scope overlap with prior studies and timing; the proposal had been contingent on a $185,000 FY27 budget line.
Powhatan County’s Board of Supervisors on April 27 declined to authorize a $149,344 contract with planning firm Line and Grade to support an update of the county’s Comprehensive Plan.
Staff described the consultant’s scope as community engagement, land-use analysis and creation of a future land use map and key chapters including housing and transportation. Planning Director Ligon Webb and Deputy County Administrator Brian Haney said the consultant would pick up work where staff and previous studies left off and could model long-range financial scenarios tied to land-use choices. Haney and County Administrator Will Hagy said existing documents — including the county’s strategic plan and a recent housing study — would be incorporated into the work.
Board members split over cost and necessity. Vice Chair Mark Kinney said he "could not support the expenditure given the demands already placed on citizens during the current budget season," questioned why community engagement already completed could not be reused, and urged tighter scope or enforceable timelines. Mr. Kinney also asked whether a future board could discard the finished plan. Supporters argued the consultant brings modeling capacity beyond staff capacity; Mr. Powers called the proposal "reasonable" after reviewing Line and Grade's past work and scope of deliverables, and Mr. McClung said the price was appropriate for the work.
Mr. McClung moved to approve Resolution R-2026-28 and Mr. Powers seconded. The motion failed 2-3: McClung and Powers voted AYE; Chairman William Donati Jr., Mr. Kinney and Mrs. Denise Morrissette voted NAY. Haney said the consultant fee was expected to be funded from a $185,000 community development line in the proposed FY27 budget but noted that the resolution was contingent on budget approval.
The board recorded concerns about phase definitions and whether Phase 4 (an optional $36,000 addition covering remaining chapters and final adoption) was necessary; staff said Phase 1–3, including the land-use map, were committed through January 2027 in the proposed schedule. Chairman Donati emphasized that the Planning Commission would need to review any completed product before adoption.
Next steps: because the motion was denied, staff did not proceed with a contract authorization that evening. Haney and Hagy said they would follow up with board members to refine language and options for how staff might advance portions of the update with existing resources if the board directs.
