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Planning commission adopts comprehensive-plan update, keeps 'energy generation' designation amid public concern
Summary
Commissioners approved a partial five‑year update to the Campbell County comprehensive plan that adds energy generation to the land‑use chapter as a major employment center; Appalachian Power Company and a resident spoke in favor and against proposed energy‑related designations.
The Campbell County Planning Commission approved a partial five‑year update to the comprehensive plan (PL‑26‑000), covering Chapter 1 (background), Chapter 4 (land use), Chapter 5 (economic development) and Chapter 10 (infrastructure). Planning staff said the update includes the county's new rebranding, adds energy generation as a major employment center in the land‑use chapter, and expands Chapter 10 to identify electric‑utility providers.
"Chapter 4 for land use now includes, energy generation as a major employment center," planning staff (Katie) told the commission, describing the changes and the department's intent to reflect recent economic development strategy work. Staff said the update was moved up after discussion at a May 19 joint work session and that further map amendments would be handled later in the year.
Rob Mann, external affairs manager for Appalachian Power Company, commended the county planning work and asked for future map revisions around Joshua Falls to reflect utility priorities. "ABCO intends to be part of that future growth," Mann said, urging a consistent planning designation across APCO's parcels and noting the company is reviewing possible future development at Joshua Falls. In contrast, Shelley Evans of Concord urged removing energy generation from the land‑use designation, arguing it does not reflect residents' wishes and could undermine quality of life: "I ask that energy generation be removed from the land use section of the comprehensive plan as a major employment center."
Commissioners debated the tradeoff between retaining a designation that could guide future proposals and removing it in response to public concern. Several members said keeping the designation provides a framework to manage and regulate future projects, and the commission voted to approve the update. Staff told the commission that requested land‑use map amendments, such as APCO's, are not included in tonight's update and would be presented to the board in a separate process aimed for January 2027.
