King and Queen County Planning Commission to continue zoning overhaul after solar proposal withdrawn

Donna Elliott Sprouse, director of community development, told the King and Queen County Planning Commission on Aug. 4 that staff and the county attorney are preparing a full update to the county zoning ordinance and recommended the commission review draft text article by article.

"It had been more than 10 years since the last 'overhaul' had been completed," Sprouse said, and she distributed the American Planning Association's 'Key Bills for Planners' from the 2025 Virginia General Assembly to show how annual legislative changes affect local zoning requirements.

The meeting focused on Zoning Text Amendment ZA24-02 (Article 4, Table 4.1), which the Board of Supervisors returned to the commission for additional review. County Administrator and County Attorney Vivan Seay relayed questions from the Board and commissioners then raised new concerns about data centers and utility-scale solar farms. After staff listed and categorized the commission's concerns, members asked staff to conduct additional research and agreed by consensus to hold a special meeting on Aug. 18, 2025, at 6 p.m. to review new information and prepare a detailed response for the Board of Supervisors.

Sprouse also informed the commission that the Cauthornville Solar utility proposal — described to the commission as a Newtown District project off Indian Neck Road — has been withdrawn. She said her office has not received any other solar applications but that a potential developer held a community meeting in the Plain View area.

Commissioner David Campbell said the county should avoid short-term fixes. "Instead of putting band aids on this situation or to keep kicking the can down the road, the County needs to come to some solid agreement on what needs to be done," Campbell said.

The commission approved the May 5, 2025 minutes after Robert Coleman Jr. moved to accept them as amended and Mac Bradley seconded. The recorded vote was: For — Wilson, Coleman, Richardson, Fleming, Bradley, Massey, Jackson, Hendrickson; Abstain — Allen and Campbell; Against — none.

Chairman Hunter Richardson reminded members that they may revisit past decisions at regular meetings and described the process to call a special meeting if at least three members request one and the county administrator handles protocols. Richardson noted the next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 2, 2025, at 6 p.m., and the commission set a follow-up meeting for Aug. 18 to continue work on ZA24-02 and related solar and data center concerns. Robert Coleman moved to adjourn at the end of the meeting; the motion was ratified with members saying "Aye."