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Accomack Board Continues CAPA Resiliency Amendments, Directs Staff to Remove Seaside Application of CBPA
Summary
After staff presented mandatory CAPA resiliency amendments and Chesapeake Bay protection requirements, supervisors raised concerns about engineering costs and breadth of countywide application; the board continued the measure to June and directed staff to study removing seaside application where not required and to examine cost-saving steps.
Staff presented proposed CAPA amendments that incorporate state-mandated resiliency measures, tree preservation and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (CBPA) requirements. Deputy County Administrator Lee Pamper said the amendments were largely unchanged from the planning commission recommendation and reiterated that the changes are mandated by state law.
Multiple supervisors questioned the practical impacts and costs for property owners. Pamper and planning staff clarified that a disturbance threshold of 2,500 square feet triggers erosion-and-sediment (E&S) and stormwater plan requirements in CBPA areas; they also noted the county applied Chesapeake Bay protection standards countywide after a 2009 board decision. Supervisors expressed concern about engineering costs (one supervisor said an engineer signature could add about $5,500 to a building project) and about how the county draws the bayside/seaside boundary (Route 13 and mapping were discussed). The county attorney said the board could direct staff to remove seaside application of CBPA where the state-mandated protections are not required. The board voted to continue the matter to the June meeting with direction to (1) remove application on the seaside where appropriate and (2) study cost-saving methodologies such as site-plan fee reductions and engineer requirements.
The board instructed staff to return with options and cost-saving measures; staff and the county attorney emphasized the county must retain CBPA protections where state law mandates them but can study geographic scope and fee/technical-approval reductions.
