Work group forwards amended land-use map, adds parcels to economic-priority layer

The Powhatan County Economic Development & Planning work group voted to forward a revised future land-use map that adds several parcels to an economic-priority designation and directed staff to update the supporting 85/15 spreadsheet and related ordinance language. Committee members debated which parcels to count in the economic-calculation and which to include only on the map.

Committee member 6 moved to add four smaller parcels (including PINs referenced during the meeting) to the economic-priority layer; the motion was seconded and carried after a voice/hand count. "All in favor?" the Chair asked; the record shows the motion passed with at least one member opposed who voiced concern about public reaction. The group then debated the large solar-leased parcel (Parcel 41-1) and ultimately agreed to keep the parcel in the map but limit the acreage counted in calculations.

Staff showed the GIS layers and explained how the recommended parcels would create contiguous economic-opportunity groupings along Route 60 and near Academy Road. The committee recommended that the board of supervisors receive the amended map, the spreadsheet based on assessed value, and a package of ordinance changes to implement enhanced buffering and standards for economic-priority developments. The work group scheduled ordinance drafting and further map refinement as follow-up tasks.