Council updates: utility-scale battery storage under review; new officer announced; VDOT re-milling issue flagged

Stephens City council received several committee reports and manager updates June 3, including next steps on utility-scale battery storage, a personnel announcement, and concerns about a VDOT inspection change that may require costly re-milling.

Town Manager Mike Majher said the Planning Commission corrected zoning-map errors for Newtown Landing and an adjacent Schilinskis property, and directed drafters to prepare three ordinances on utility-scale battery storage — one restrictive, one lenient and one in between — because the use was not considered when the town code was written. Mayor Michael A. Diaz asked whether the town could regulate such installations; Town Attorney Dave Griffin said yes but added the state might preempt local authority and that a locally adopted ordinance might be grandfathered if passed before state action.

Councilman Brian Woodruff, reporting for the Public Safety Committee, announced that Levi Troxell is a new police officer with 12 years’ experience and summarized recent departmental training and grant purchases; he also said the committee plans to move parking-restriction reviews in Chapter 17 from every two years to every five years and intends to send notices about a proposed Water Street parking restriction.

Public Works representative Richard Runion told council that a change in VDOT inspector expectations following sewer-main replacement could require re-milling and repaving; staff estimated re-milling would cost about $20,000 and said they believed it unnecessary. Town Manager Majher also thanked participants in the Newtown Heritage Festival and noted the town is updating hydrant locations in its GIS and continuing sewer repairs on Green Street and behind Clem’s.