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Board holds public hearing on blight ordinance, staff to revise language for October work session
Summary
Supervisors opened a public hearing on a proposed blight ordinance; residents raised concerns about broad definitions and impacts on farmers and owners of large properties. County attorney staff advised aligning any edits with Virginia Code and returning revised language for a work session and possible October vote.
The Board opened a public hearing on a proposed blight ordinance and heard questions and concerns from residents about how the draft defines 'blight' and whether the ordinance could penalize property owners who face fire, vandalism, or long‑standing vacant structures.
Reverend Gerard Wilson asked how the county would set standards for blight determinations, especially where fire or vandalism might temporarily change a property’s condition. He warned that applying a two‑year remediation window to large rural tracts could be burdensome. “My question is is that when you get vandalism, you have a fire... What is the standard gonna be where somebody over here says, okay. This is blight because of x y z?” Reverend Wilson asked.
County attorney staff told supervisors the draft language is largely drawn from Virginia Code and recommended staff review and return suggested, consistent edits; the Board agreed to take proposed changes to a work session and hold any subsequent vote after additional review. No action was taken tonight.
