I'M GOING TO ASK IF EVERYONE WOULD HAVE A SEAT.
[I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL , VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE AND FORESTAL DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE]
[00:00:06]
AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.GLAD YOU'RE JOINING US TONIGHT.
OF COURSE YOU'RE COMING TONIGHT, I'M SURE, TO THE MARCH MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. BUT BEFORE WE START THAT MEETING, WE NEED TO HAVE A SHORT MEETING OF THE VOLUNTARY AG AND FORESTRY DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK IF IF DR.
EDWARDS WILL PRESIDE AT THIS MEETING IN THAT I HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THIS REQUEST. SO I'M GOING TO BE STEPPING DOWN AND MR. RANDALL. I ALSO HAVE A CONFLICT BEING [INAUDIBLE] AS A MEMBER OF MY FIRM, AND I UNDERSTOOD THAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO STEP DOWN AT THIS TIME.
DR. EDWARDS WILL PRESIDE THE MEETING AND I'LL COME BACK AND OPEN UP THE PLANNING COMMISSION. OKAY, WE'LL CALL THIS PART OF THE MEETING TO ORDER.
WE CAN VOTE TONIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MR. MANN. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA IS A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS THE I'LL READ IT REQUEST TO REMOVE PROPERTY FROM THE SANDS STATESVILLE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY DISTRICT APPLICATION BY CHRISTOPHER P.
DANIELS ON BEHALF OF LAND FOR HEROES OWNER TO WITHDRAW TAX PARCEL 103-14C FROM THE SAND STATESVILLE VOLUNTEER AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY DISTRICT TO CONSTRUCT A COUNTRY INN.
THE PROPERTY CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE SHORT OF 120 ACRES LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF MARY HUNT ROAD, WHICH IS STATE ROUTE 683 AND ITS INTERSECTION WITH WOODLAND ROAD.
STATE ROUTE 682 THE PROPERTY IS IN THE NEWSOMS VOTING AT MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT.
BEFORE WE OPEN THAT, MR. LEWIS, WOULD YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? YES, THIS FIRST.
THIS FIRST DISCUSSION THAT YOU'RE HAVING IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ACTING AS THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO THIS FIRST PART IS A DISCUSSION AMONG THE PLANNING, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY. YOU'RE DECIDING WHETHER YOU WANT TO MAKE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND AFTER YOU GET DONE DISCUSSING OVER THE NEXT PERIOD OF TIME, YOU'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THEN WE'LL CLOSE THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING AND THEN WE'LL OPEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND YOU'LL HAVE THIS REQUEST AS A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THIS FIRST PART IS Y'ALL AMONG YOURSELVES AND YOU WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WHEN IT REOPENS, WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OPENS.
YOU'LL REPORT TO YOURSELVES WHAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION WAS AND THEN HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE PUBLIC CAN SPEAK, BUT THIS IS A REQUEST TO WITHDRAW THIS PROPERTY FROM THE SANDS STATESVILLE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT.
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MATERIAL WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE CRITERIA ARE TO WITHDRAW A PROPERTY.
ONE IS THE PROPOSED NEW LAND USE WILL NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE OR FOREST OPERATIONS ON LAND WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
TWO IS THE PROPOSED NEW LAND USE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THREE THE PROPOSED LAND USE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST OF THE COUNTY AND THAT IT PROMOTES THE HEALTH, SAFETY OR GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COUNTY, RATHER THAN ONLY THE PROPRIETARY INTEREST OF THE OWNER AND FOR THE PROPOSED LAND USE WAS NOT ANTICIPATED BY THE OWNER AT THE TIME THE LAND WAS PLACED IN THE DISTRICT AND THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES SINCE THAT TIME.
AND LOOKING AT GIS, I BELIEVE THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS OWN IT NOW DID NOT OWN IT WHEN THIS PROPERTY WAS PLACED IN A DISTRICT.
SO NUMBER FOUR IS CERTAINLY MET.
BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, MS. LEWIS OR ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE WE OPEN? ONE QUESTION, ARE THERE ANY TRAFFIC CONCERNS OR OR THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATIONS THAT WOULD BE I SENT THIS TO VDOT AS WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO WITH ALL REQUESTS AND THEIR COMMENTS WERE THAT ANY COMMENTS THAT THEY HAD WOULD BE AT THE SITE PLAN STAGE BECAUSE THIS PROPOSED INN IS ONLY 11 ROOMS. SO THEY MAY HAVE COMMENTS AT THE SITE PLAN STAGE, BUT CERTAINLY NOT AT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT STAGE.
AND THIS FIRST STEP RIGHT NOW IS STILL THE VOLUNTARY SO WE CAN TOUCH ON THAT AGAIN ONCE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANYTHING THERE, WRITE IT DOWN AND
[00:05:02]
HAS THE APPLICANT PROVIDED A SURVEY OF THE PARCEL OR IS THERE, I MEAN, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED IN THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH. BUT IS THERE ANY TYPE OF MAP OF THE SITE THAT WAS PART OF THE APPLICATION? NO, THERE WAS NO SURVEY SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION.NO YOU DO NOT HAVE A SITE PLAN.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? AND THE WHOLE ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN POINT FIFTY FOUR ACRES.
THAT'S WHAT THEIR APPLICATION INCLUDED, YES.
ANYTHING ELSE? I MOVE WE APPROVE THE REMOVE THE CHANGE TO THE AGRICULTURAL FORESTRY DISTRICT THAT WE REMOVE THAT DESIGNATION FROM THIS PROPERTY.
ARE JUST THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SO YOU'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WOULD BE A PUBLIC HEARING, TOO.
FIRST, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MAKES THE RECOMMENDATION AND THEN YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING WHEN YOU OPEN THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
OK. IS IT REASONABLE TO BE ABLE TO REQUEST THE APPLICANT TO ADDRESS THE, I GUESS, THE REASONS OF THE REQUEST? COMMITTEE MEETING. THAT'S WHAT I'M JUST ASKING.
OKAY. I DON'T SEE ANY REASON YOU CAN'T, BUT THEY'LL PROBABLY DO IT IN THE PUBLIC HEARING TOO.
THE REASONS FOR WITHDRAWING THE PROPERTY FROM THE DISTRICT.
I MEAN, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WE'VE GOT FOUR THINGS IN THERE.
FOUR OR FIVE REQUEST TO WITHDRAW LAND FROM THE DISTRICT MAY BE APPROVED IF ONLY THE WITHDRAWAL SATISFIED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA.
YOU KNOW, SHOULD THE APPLICANT BE.
IS HE PREPARED TO ANSWER AND ADDRESS THOSE FOUR ITEMS? IN OTHER WORDS NUMBER FOUR IS ALREADY WE'VE ANSWERED THAT, BUT WE'VE GOT THREE OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD CONSIDER.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY ASK THE APPLICANT IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
GOOD POINT, ANYBODY GOT ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THOSE FOUR AGAIN, PLEASE? WELL THE FOURTH ONE WAS AS I BECAUSE THE ANYWAY, BUT THE FIRST ONE IS THE PROPOSED NEW LAND USE WILL NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL OR FORESTRY OPERATIONS ON LAND WITHIN THE DISTRICT, THAT'S ONE.
NUMBER TWO THE PROPOSED NEW LAND USE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
NUMBER THREE, THE PROPOSED LAND USE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST OF THE COUNTY IN THAT IT PROMOTES THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COUNTY, RATHER THAN ONLY THE PROPRIETARY INTEREST OF THE OWNER.
VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. AND I HAVE TO ADMIT, I'D LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE JUST UP AND APPROVES IT OR DISAPPROVES IT.
I MEAN, I'VE HEARD A LOT ON THE STREET, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT WHAT I'VE HEARD IS NOT ALL FACT. SO.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION IN THE DARK.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A SIT PLAN MYSELF.
YEAH. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PROVE ANYTHING WITHOUT A SITE PLAN.
AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE DID.
WE DID HAVE A SOLAR FACILITY THAT WE DECLINED.
IS THAT RIGHT? AS FAR AS TAKING IT OUT OF AG AND FOREST DISTRICT? THAT'S CORRECT. GOOD.
WELL, I THINK THAT THEY I THINK AT ONE MEETING YOU WANTED TO THINK ABOUT IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH AND THEN BEFORE THE SECOND MEETING CAME UP, THEY ASKED TO PAUSE THE REQUEST.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT YOU HAD TO ADOPT TONIGHT.
BUT IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT WE WERE LEANING THAT WAY.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION AND YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR
[00:10:03]
DIDN'T GET A SECOND. NO, THERE WASN'T A SECOND.[INAUDIBLE] REPEAT YOUR MOTION AGAIN, PLEASE.
THAT WE APPROVE THE WITHDRAWAL OF THIS PROPERTY FROM THE VOLUNTARY AG AND FORESTRY DISTRICT THAT YOU RECOMMEND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
RIGHT? IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? SO IT DIES. LACK OF A SECOND, IF THERE'S NO SECOND, THEN THE MOTION DIES.
IS THERE A FURTHER MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE UNTIL WE GET MORE INFORMATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WOULD IT NOT BE THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO? CAN WE ASK THE APPLICANT TO COME AND ADDRESS THIS COMMITTEE? RICHARD, YES.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF LAND 4 HEROES.
I ALSO HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF LAND 4 HEROES HERE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CANNOT ANSWER AS TO THE FIRST PRONG, WHETHER THERE IS GOING TO BE A I'M SORRY.
[INAUDIBLE] AS TO WHETHER THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE AGRICULTURAL [INAUDIBLE] I CAN TELL YOU THAT A CONDITION OF THE SALE OF THE LAND IS THAT THERE IS AN EXISTING FARM LEASE ON THE LAND CONDITION OF SALE.
IS THAT LAND FOR HEROES HONOR THAT FARM LEASE I BELIEVE IT'S THREE MORE YEARS.
THE INTENTION IS TO ACTUALLY EXTEND THAT [INAUDIBLE].
BUT THE GOAL IS TO HAVE MINIMAL DISRUPTION OF AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS ON THE LAND.
THE YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE MY POOR RENDERING, BUT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY WITH THAT PICTURE IS THAT THE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING BACK MOSTLY IN WHERE THE WOODS ARE NOW TO AVOID INTERFERENCE WITH THE AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS.
THE ONLY REAL INTERFERENCE WITH THE AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IS GOING TO BE THE DRIVEWAY IN FROM THE ROAD AND WE DON'T ANTICIPATE SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, THIS IS SOMEWHERE THAT'S ONLY GOING TO HOUSE, SLEEP, 20 WOUNDED VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS AS THEY'RE OUT FOR A HUNTING RETREAT.
WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON HAVING SIGNIFICANT FUNDRAISERS OR EVENTS AT THIS LOCATION.
THIS IS NOT A MULTI-USE LOCATION.
IT IS ESSENTIALLY EXCLUSIVELY SOMEWHERE TO HOUSE THEM WHILE WE'RE HAVING THEM ON HUNTING AND FISHING RETREATS. AS FAR AS NUMBER TWO, THE PROPOSED NEW LAND USE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH EXISTING OPERATIONS IN THE DISTRICT. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT.
ANY DEVIATION FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS FAR AS WHETHER IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST WITH THE COUNTY FOR PROMOTING HEALTH, SAFETY OR GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COUNTY? UM, IT'S IT'S A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. JAMES, THIS IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF WOUNDED VETERANS, AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN PUT THE COUNTY ON THE MAP.
WE'RE TRYING TO GROW THIS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH [INAUDIBLE] AMONG OTHER SIGNIFICANT COMPANIES, ROUND UP PROGRAMS. SO THIS IS GOING TO THE THE COUNTRY AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS GOING TO BE THE ORIGINAL LOCATION, THE HOME BASE FOR A CHARITY THAT WE HOPE WE CAN GROW ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PROVIDE WOUNDED VETERANS, WOUNDED FIRST RESPONDERS SOMEWHERE TO GET APPRECIATION THAT THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH OF AND TO DECOMPRESS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A TREATMENT FACILITY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, REHAB ON SITE, NURSES ON SITE, THAT SORT OF THING.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH WALTER REED AND OTHER HOSPITALS, AS WELL AS VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE GARY SINISE FOUNDATION THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES TO PROVIDE
[00:15:02]
VETERANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT HERE AND RELAX.AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CAN TAKE PRIDE IN, AND I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO BENEFIT WOUNDED VETERANS AND I THINK WE HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED NUMBER FOUR.
SO DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR FUNDING FROM? SO THE FUNDING RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PRIVATE DONORS THAT HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY BACKERS THAT HAVE PROVIDED THE CAPITAL NECESSARY FOR ACQUISITION OF THIS TRACK.
WE ARE WORKING WITH CMT, SOME OTHER MEDIA ON PUTTING TOGETHER A PUBLICITY DRIVE TO TRY TO GET GRASSROOTS DONATIONS.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE WERE WORKING WITH AUTOZONE AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT COMPANIES TO WORK ON IT, TO DO A ROUNDUP PROGRAM.
AND THAT IS, WHEN YOU GO TO THE CASH REGISTER, YOU GET SOME 99 CENTS [INAUDIBLE] AND THAT ADDS UP VERY QUICKLY.
UM, SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PARTNERS WHO ARE READY TO HELP US.
I THINK WHAT WE REALLY NEED IN ORDER TO KICK START TO REALLY PUT THE ROCKET FUEL INTO FUNDRAISING IS SHOVELS IN THE GROUND.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE A LOT MORE READY TO AID A CAUSE WHEN THEY SEE CONCRETE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT CAUSE, AN IDEA IS NICE.
BUT WHEN YOU SEE A BUILDING, WHEN YOU SEE THAT FOUNDATION TAKING PLACE, IT'S A LOT MORE MEANINGFUL. ANY OTHER ANY QUESTIONS? OF THE THE USE, I GUESS, THAT I UNDERSTAND YOUR INTENT TO WITHDRAWAL THE PARCEL OF LAND THAT THE BUILDING WILL BE BUILT ON.
THE REMAINDER OF THE PROPERTY, WHAT USES ARE PLANNED FOR THE PROPERTY THAT WOULD CONFLICT WITH THE RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PARTIAL BEING IN AN AG AND FORESTRY DISTRICT? SO WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COUNTRY INN THAT PART OF THE PARCEL, I DON'T ANTICIPATE THERE BEING CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO CONFLICT.
THE REASON WE'RE MOVING, WE'RE MOVING THE ENTIRE PARCEL THAT IS AS A WAY TO AVOID HAVING TO PARTITION IT, TO GET AROUND, I DIDN'T KNOW A WAY TO JUST REMOVE THIS LITTLE SQUARE OF THE PARCEL. BUT THE PRIMARY USE OF THE PARCEL WILL STILL BE AGRICULTURE.
AND EVERY EFFORT IS GOING TO BE MADE TO MINIMIZE ANY DISRUPTION TO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE.
WHAT IS YOUR TIMELINE ON TRYING TO OPEN AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT EXPANSION? SO I'LL GO BACKWARDS EXPANSION WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANSION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOT AT THIS SITE.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW AT THIS SITE.
WE'RE NOT PLAYING. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR EXPANSION.
NO, MA'AM. OTHER THAN NATURE TRAILS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
SO THERE I THINK WE'RE WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME NATURE TRAILS, BUT AS FAR AS EXPANSION OF THE FACILITY OF THE BUILDING, THE ORIGINAL BUILDING AND OUR BUILDING ARE ALL WE WERE PLANNING ON PUTTING ON THE PROPERTY, AND THE SWIMMING POOL? WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON. WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT.
WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON DOING A SWIMMING POOL THE MOST AS FAR AS WATER FEATURES WOULD BE [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY.
AND YOUR TIMELINE, THE TIMELINE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT SHOVELS IN THE GROUND THIS SUMMER, NEXT WINTER.
CARE OF THAT. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FIRST STEP IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BACK TO BACK OUT INTO THE WOODS SO WE CAN GET CONSTRUCTION STARTED WITHOUT WITHOUT THE DISTURBING THE AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS THAT ARE TO MOVE AND WE DO NOT WANT TO DO THE DRIVEWAY THROUGH THE AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH EXISTING AND HOW MANY ACRES ARE IN AGRICULTURE? SO. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY ACRES ARE AGRICULTURE? THAT ARE ACTIVELY AGRICULTURE?
[00:20:04]
PLAN. RIGHT.YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TROUBLE SUPPORTING IT FOR THAT REASON, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO ANYTHING, OKAY ANYTHING WITHOUT A SITE PLAN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET ONE PUT TOGETHER.
THEN WE HAVE THIS THAT SHOWS THE PROPERTY, AND I'M ASSUMING THIS, THE YELLOW BLOCK IS YOUR AGRICULTURAL FIELDS.
THE YELLOW BLOCK IS THE PORTION OF THE FIELDS YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE.
THAT'S JUST A PART OF IT, RIGHT? RIGHT. WE HAVE THE ABOVE THAT, RIGHT? THAT'S THE REST OF THE FIELDS. YOU CAN SEE, THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY IS WOODED.
AND THEN ON WE'RE LOOKING AT PAGE ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE WHERE THE WOODS ARE LIGHTER. THAT'S MOSTLY SWAMP [INAUDIBLE] AREA.
OK. SO YOU HAVE WETLANDS AND THEN IS THE POND IN THAT AREA? SO WE ARE LOOKING AT PUTTING THE PONDS IF I CAN APPROACH.
OK. CLOSER TO THIS AREA BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A NATURAL LOCATION TO TAKE CARE OF DRAINAGE FOR THE SUN. YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE [INAUDIBLE]. AND I DO WANT TO POINT OUT WHERE IT SAYS COUNTRY AND OUTBUILDING AND PARKING. THE THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT EXAGGERATION OF HOW FAR INTO THE AGRICULTURAL LAND THE BUILDING'S GOING TO GO.
I JUST WANTED TO FOR THE SAKE OF SAFETY AND TO DRAW ATTENTION TO WHERE THE BUILDING'S GOING TO GO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
THE BUILDING IS GOING TO PRIMARILY BE IN THIS WOODED AREA TO THE REAR OF THAT RED BOX.
AND WE DON'T HAVE AN EXISTING [INAUDIBLE] BOUND BY CONTRACT NOT TO INTERRUPT THAT.
SO WE HAVE TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE WOODED AREA.
AND I'M ASSUMING THESE TWO DOTS THE ADJACENT HOMES? [INAUDIBLE] ONE OF THOSE HOMES BEING THE DIRECTORS, RESIDENTS, SO BE ABLE TO EASILY ACCESS FOR MAINTENANCE.
OKAY. SO THERE'S INDICATION OF A TWO ACRE FISHING POND, BUT THERE'S NO INDICATION OF HOW MANY ACRES THE THE HOUSING AND THE FACILITIES ARE GOING TO BE ON.
SO IN THE IN THE PACKET WE HAVE.
YES, SIR. AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD LIKELY HELP IF WE CAME WITH A SITE PLAN THAT PROVIDED THAT WITH A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICITY.
AND TO CONSIDER POSSIBLY THE SIZE OF THE SITE PLAN VERSUS ASKING TO GET EVERYTHING THE WHOLE TRACK OUT OF OUT OF THE FOREST AG AND FORESTRY DISTRICT THAT MIGHT WANT TO BE DISCUSSED AMONG THE THE NEW LANDOWNERS INSTEAD OF TAKING THE WHOLE TRACK AG, JUST LOOK AT THE SITE PLAN [INAUDIBLE].
THEY MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER THAT.
YES, SIR. [INAUDIBLE] CREATE ANY LOCAL JOBS IN THIS? I DO NOT ANTICIPATE THE MEANINGFUL CREATION OF LOCAL JOBS.
LOOKING FOR 20 PEOPLE, POSSIBLY AT A TIME, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THERE'S GOING TO BE ESSENTIALLY AN INDUSTRIAL KITCHEN.
ONE PERSON WILL [INAUDIBLE] OR THE FAMILY IS GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND THEY LIVE LOCAL? YES, SIR. OKAY. IF THEY LIVE, ACTUALLY RIGHT NEXT [INAUDIBLE].
AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT ON VACATION COUNTRY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER LOCATIONS ACTIVELY DOING THIS NOW WITH THESE INVESTORS? THE LOCATION WE WERE LOOKING AT IN THE MIDWEST WAS JUST BOUGHT OUT FROM UNDER US.
SO WE'RE HAVING TO GO BACK INTO THE SCOUTING PHASE RIGHT NOW.
LAND IS MOVING FAST, SO IT'S A DIFFICULT COMPETITIVE MARKET.
BUT I THINK THERE'S THE CHARITY IS TRYING TO BUY LAND AT THE RIGHT PRICE, NOT TRYING TO OVERPAY. AND THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE CHALLENGING TO GET LAND RIGHT NOW.
BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER FACILITY THEY OPERATE IN AT THE PRESENT TIME.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE MOTHER SHIP.
WE'VE GOT THE 4H CENTER, YOU KNOW, IT'S, INSTEAD OF JUMPING IN AND THROWING ALL THIS MONEY INTO A FACILITY AND NOT KNOWING HOW IT HOW IT IS GOING TO TRANSPIRE.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION OF GETTING OUR FEET WET AND USING THE 4H CENTER OR SOME
[00:25:07]
CENTER THAT'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED? YOU CAN STILL DO THE HUNTING ON THIS TRACK, BUT AS FAR AS THE HAZING AND THE FEEDING AND ALL OF THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF OF OF STARTING OFF SLOW AND THEN SPEEDING UP INSTEAD OF HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING.YES, SIR. I THINK THAT AS FAR AS GIVING THIS CHARITY IDENTITY AND REALLY HELPING WITH FUNDRAISING, LIKE I SAID, HAVING SHOVELS IN THE GROUND, HAVING A PHYSICAL LOCATION IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DISTINGUISH THIS CHARITY.
UM, IF THE CHARITY, I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY A VIABLE OPTION.
WHILE WE'RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S ACTUALLY AN EXCELLENT IDEA IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE HERE SO WE CAN GET THE BALL ROLLING WITH THE CHARITY WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.
BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY THE CHARITY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ITS OWN LOCATION AS PART OF ITS IDENTITY. WELL, I'M ALSO LOOKING AT THE FACT WE'RE WE'RE CROSSING THAT LINE OF OF HAVING THE RULE HUNTING ATMOSPHERE TO HAVING GUEST ROOMS AND A FACILITY.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A COMMERCIAL HUNTING FACILITY, AND THAT'S JUST IN MY MIND.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THE FACILITY WITH A LOT OF BUILDINGS IT'S POPPING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTY IT'S NO OTHER LOCATION IN THE COUNTRY THAT THEY HAVE WORKED WITH.
AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING TO COMMERCIAL HUNTING, IT IS IN A AG DISTRICT.
IT IS RIGHT BESIDE A FARMING OPERATION WITHIN THE SAME TRACK.
YOU'VE GOT LAND THAT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO ACTIVELY KEEP IN THE AG INDUSTRY.
ABSOLUTELY. AND THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS ADD SOMETHING THAT'S COMMERCIAL HUNTING, RESIDENTIAL AND MIX THE AG INDUSTRY WITH IT.
IT'S LIKE HUNTING THE [INAUDIBLE] IP TO ME, YOU KNOW, AND AND IT'S THE SAFETY FACTOR OF IT THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
I THINK THAT ONE THING I MIGHT NOT HAVE MADE CLEAR IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HOME BASE AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO HUNTING SITES IN THE AREA, NOT JUST SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, BUT VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND ON FISHING TRIPS OUT OF THE OUTER BANKS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HOME BASE FROM WHICH THEY LAUNCHED THOSE TRIPS.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT 20 GUYS IN THE WOODS WHILE SOMEONE'S TRYING TO RUN THEIR FARM SHOOTING RIGHT NEXT TO THEM.
WELL, AND THAT'S THAT'S THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.
IT WAS GOING TO BE [INAUDIBLE] AND GOING TO OTHER LOCATIONS.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHY THE 4-H CENTER HIT MY MIND.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING ANYWAY TO GO SOMEWHERE TO HUNT.
AND INSTEAD OF HAVING THAT HEAVY INITIAL INVESTMENT, WE'VE GOT A FACILITY ALREADY HERE THAT IS IT'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
IT'S JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT THAT'S.
AND IT KIND OF GETS SOME HISTORY ON HOW IT'S MANAGED AND HOW IT'S WORKED.
AND AND THEY CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO BUILD A REPUTATION.
YES, SIR. AND I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
AT THE VERY LEAST, I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT WITH THE DIRECTOR AS FAR AS WHILE WE'RE GETTING THIS ROLLING AND NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION THIS TAKES, AS FAR AS APPROVAL, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE THE CHARITY CAN ACTUALLY BECOME ESTABLISHED WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE PROJECT.
NOW THE PRESENT INVESTORS THEY PURCHASED THIS TRACK.
WHEN WAS THAT LAST YEAR? I BELIEVE YES, SIR, LATE LAST YEAR.
SO THEY PURCHASED IT WITH NO WITHOUT HAVING AN OPTION TO GO THIS RIGHT.
THEY JUST OUTRIGHT PURCHASED IT WITH THE PLANS OF REMOVING IT AND PUTTING THE HOUSE ON THERE. I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE PLANS WITH THE TRACK, THEY WILL PUT AN OPTION ON IT AND START THEIR PROCESS TO SEE IF IT GOES THROUGH.
IN THIS CASE, THEY OWN THE LAND.
YES, SIR, IT WAS AND IT'S THE WAS FINANCIAL BACKERS WHO BACKED IT TO SOLELY SO THAT THIS COULD OCCUR ON THE LAND AND THAT WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO SEE IT THROUGH.
RIGHT. BUT THERE'S NOT AN OUT.
OKAY, BUT THE THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST THE IDEA DIDN'T JUST COME UP SINCE JANUARY.
[00:30:03]
. FOR ONE, LAND 4 HEROES HAS BEEN IN THE WORK FOR MANY YEARS.I'VE WORKED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH GARY SINISE FOUNDATION, FREEDOM ALLIANCE, THE USO, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE PENTAGON.
I'VE WORKED WITH VETERANS HUNTS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AND FISHING TRIPS.
OUR TEAM OF INVESTORS WITH TCN AND ALL THE OTHER COMPANIES ARE WORKING WITH US FOR OUR ROUND UP PROGRAMS. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HOME SHIP BASE OF IT.
WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT TEAM AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THE LAND READY AND GET EVERYTHING GOING.
WE'RE READY TO START OUR CONSTRUCTION.
YES. DO WE WANT A SITE PLAN, YEAH.
I HAVE, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT 4-H CENTER, ALL OUR ALL OUR RELATIONSHIPS DOWN INTO THE CAROLINAS AND PIRATE'S COVE AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ALL THAT STUFF ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE BUILT OUR RELATIONSHIPS OVER THE YEARS TO GET THESE GUYS OUT, DOING THE STUFF IN THE OUTDOORS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING FOR 20 YEARS.
I'VE TRAVELED WITH THE USO, ENTERTAINED OUR TROOPS OUT OF THIS COUNTRY IN THIS COUNTRY, SHOT A VIDEO CALLED BRAVE MEN.
IT WAS WHEN I WAS A TRIBUTE TO ALL OF OUR ARMED FORCES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND IT PLAYED IT EVERYWHERE. SO I FIRSTHAND WORKED WITH WALTER REED HOSPITAL FOUNDATION, ALL THESE GUYS. THE 4H CENTER IS A LONG DRIVE OVER THERE.
OUR RELATIONSHIPS ARE IN THIS AREA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA.
AND YES, WE WILL HAVE THE FUNDING TO BUILD THIS.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT OUR BLUEPRINTS [INAUDIBLE] BEEN THERE, VISITED THEM WITH THE DESIGN TEAMS, WENT IN WITH SEVERAL WOUNDED VETERANS.
LIKE ALL THE RECEPTACLES IN THIS PLACE ARE 24 INCHES OFF THE GROUND SO THE GAS CAN REACH THEM IF THEY'RE IN WHEELCHAIRS.
WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THIS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THESE GUYS FOR 10 YEARS NOW DOING THIS.
AND SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE COMING IN GREEN WITH.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY HAVE BUILT MAJOR COMPANIES ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY SO THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO LAUNCH.
ARE YOU ON SALARY FOR THIS OR YOU GET PAID FOR THIS? YES, SIR. OKAY, SO YOU'RE PAID OUT OF THE ORGANIZATION? BUILDING IS THAT IT'S SPECIFICALLY CONSTRUCTED FOR WOUNDED AND DISABLED PEOPLE.
THE WE HAVE ACCOMMODATIONS AT AVAILABLE BUILDINGS FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, BUT THIS BUILDING IS EXCLUSIVELY MADE FOR DISABLED AND HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.
I AM ESSENTIALLY WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, SIR, I THINK THAT IT WOULD REALLY BE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH THE COMMISSION AND LAND FOR HEROES TO HAVE A SITE PLAN TO PRESENT A MORE DETAILED SITE PLAN.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE ESPECIALLY GERMANE TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WERE TWO DIFFERENT STEPS HERE, BUT I THINK FROM FROM THE FEEDBACK I'VE GOTTEN, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL THAN WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN THIS SITE PLAN THAT I MAY HEAR ON ON THE GIS WEBSITE.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WE'LL GET A PROFESSIONAL SITE PLAN PUT TOGETHER.
UM, AS FAR AS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, I WOULD ASK THAT IF YOU ALL ARE WILLING WITHOUT THE SITE PLAN TO REMOVE FROM THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT SO WE CAN JUST ADDRESS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
WHEN WE COME TO THAT, BUT IF YOU ALL WISH TO HOLD THEM BOTH OVER, THEY ARE IN TANDEM.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY ONE REQUEST TWO WAYS.
SO MORE THAN UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
SO ARE YOU ASKING TO REMOVE THE WHOLE PROPERTY ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN ACRES OR JUST THE PORTION? I THINK THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED, RIGHT? YEAH. I MEAN, IT WOULD MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE, PALATABLE.
I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE WHOLE COMMITTEE HERE, SO THEY WOULD MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE TO ME TO HAVE WITH A SITE PLAN WHERE YOU HAD A HOST SITE AND LOCATION, AND THAT'S THE PORTION TO BE REMOVED FROM THE AG AND FORESTRY DISTRICT.
AND THAT'S THE PORTION THAT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WILL APPLY TO, NOT THE LARGER ACRES. NOW THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.
CAN'T BE A PORTION OF A TRACT.
ANYBODY ELSE? RICHARD? OUR OPTIONS ARE PASS, FAIL OR TABLE.
[00:35:02]
CORRECT. WELL, HERE'S YOUR PROBLEM.IT'S NOT AN INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEM, BUT IF YOU CONTINUE [INAUDIBLE] WHICH WE'RE IN A PUBLIC HEARING, THAT'S NO PROBLEM.
BUT THEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, ALL THAT WHICH HAVE BEEN ADVERTISED FOR THE NIGHT. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RE ADVERTISE.
WELL, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY AROUND THAT.
WELL, MAYBE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO THAT.
YEAH, I WAS JUST THROWING IN MY TWO CENTS.
I THINK THERE'S SEEMS FROM TALKING.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD APPROVE ANYTHING WITHOUT A SITE PLAN.
THAT'S PART OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
AND I THINK GENTLEMEN Y'ALL HAVE A VERY GOOD THING GOING.
BUT IF YOU COULD ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
YES SIR. ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET A SITE PLAN.
I'D ASK THAT IT BE TABLED SO THAT WE COULD GET THE SITE PLAN TO BRING TO Y'ALL AT THE NEXT MEETING. OKAY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE? MOTION TO TABLE, SECOND TO THAT.
SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.
OPPOSED. OK WE'LL TABLE THAT UNTIL YOU COME BACK.
SPEAKING TO THE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ALSO.
OKAY. AND OPEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
AND THEN WE'LL DECIDED WHAT TO DO. WE WILL THEREFORE CLOSE THIS PART OF THE MEETING AND WE WILL RETURN WITH THE CHAIRMAN.
NO, BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL DISCUSSING THESE TWO ISSUES.
YOU CAN OPEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND THEN GO BACK AND SIT DOWN.
YOU KNOW, HE HAS TO CALL THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ORDER.
YES, THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. SO THAT'S WHAT HE'S COMING BACK UP TO DO.
[INAUDIBLE]. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE APOLOGIZE.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT TONIGHT WE USUALLY OPEN WITH OUR REGULAR MEETING.
THAT'S OKAY. IT'S ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES PAST 8:00 O'CLOCK.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WELCOME YOU AGAIN AND I'M GOING TO CALL THE MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR OUR MARCH MEETING TO ORDER AND AT THIS TIME, WE'LL ASK IF EVERYONE WILL STAND AS WE RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FLAG.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I'M GOING TO ASK IF EVERYONE REMAIN STANDING.
MR. CHESSON CAN I ASK YOU TO COME DOWN AND GIVE US A BRIEF INDICATION, PLEASE? IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN ME IN A WORD OF PRAYER, PLEASE DO.
[INVOCATION] DEAR FATHER, LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE STRENGTH AND ENERGY YOU'VE GIVEN US TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE UNITED STATES.
LORD, WE LEFT OUR LEADERS UP TO YOU.
LORD, HELP US DO AND SAY THE THINGS THAT POINT OTHERS TO YOU AND GIVE YOU MORE GLORY AND MORE HONOR THAT YOU DESERVE.
I PRAY THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON'S NAME, AMEN.
OKAY. WE'LL GO DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER TWO ON OUR AGENDA, SEE EVERYBODY YOU RECEIVED THEIR PACKAGE AND APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU ALL COMING OUT TONIGHT FOR THIS MEETING.
OKAY, SO ITEM NUMBER TWO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PAST MEETING.
HOPE YOU GOT A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH THOSE QUITE EXTENSIVE.
BUT WE HAD A LOT TO COVER LAST MEETING AND AT THIS TIME, I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS OR CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE MINUTES? MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
I HAVE A PROPER MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED? DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A PROPER SECOND IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED SAY AYE, AYE.
[00:40:01]
THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.[INAUDIBLE] WE THANK YOU FOR THE TREMENDOUS JOB FOR US.
OKAY, SO AT THIS TIME ITEM NUMBER THREE IS THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WERE SCHEDULED FOR
[III. PUBLIC HEARINGS]
TONIGHT. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO EXCUSE MYSELF.I'M ASSUMING MR. RANDALL WILL AS WELL, AND I'M GOING TO CALL THEM UP TO EDWARDS IF HE WILL PROCEED WITH THE MEETING. CERTAINLY.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
I'LL READ THE FIRST ONE, AGAIN REQUEST TO REMOVE PROPERTY FROM THE SAND STATE VOLUNTEER AGRICULTURE FORESTRY DISTRICT.
DANIELS ON BEHALF OF LAND FOR HEROES UNDER THE WITHDRAWAL TAX PROPOSAL 103-14C FROM THE SANDS STATESVILLE VOLUNTEER AGRICULTURE DISTRICT FORESTRY DISTRICT TO CONSTRUCT A COUNTRY INN, THE PROPERTY CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 119.4 ACRES.
IT'S LOCATED IN WEST SIDE OF MARY HUNT ROAD, WHICH IS STATE ROUTE 683 ON ITS INTERSECTION WITH WOODLAND ROAD, WHICH IS STATE ROUTE SIX.
EIGHTY TWO AND THE PROPERTY IS IN THE NEWSOMS VOTING AND NEWSOMS MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT? ALRIGHT WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SEEK PRO OR CON OR ANYTHING CONCERNING THIS ISSUE IS WELCOME TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND JUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
UM, I AM REBECCA DRAKE, AND I LIVE IN THE NEWSOMS DISTRICT.
AND IT'S KIND OF A RELIEF I'VE I'LL BE ABLE TO GET WITH THE GROUP NOW.
I ONLY WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ON THIS PROPERTY THERE IS A CEMETERY AND IT IS A FAMILY CEMETERY FOR MY HUSBAND AND CHILDREN.
THEY HAVE DESCENDANTS THERE AS WELL AS THE I BELIEVE IT'S THE [INAUDIBLE] FAMILY HAS DESCENDANTS IN THIS CEMETERY IT'S ALSO BEEN NOTED IN SOME OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY RECORDS, PROBABLY MUCH MORE [INAUDIBLE] MORE UPDATED ON HOW ALL THESE LITTLE OLD CEMETERIES WERE.
I WILL GET WITH NOW THAT I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO A SITE PLAN, I'LL BE ABLE TO GET WITH THEM AND SHOW THEM THE AREA.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT NOT BE PUT IN THE CONDITIONAL USE OR [INAUDIBLE].
I JUST I FEEL LIKE DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS IN CHARGE OF SOMETHING, THEY LOSE TRACK. AND I WOULD HATE FOR SOMEBODY TO MESS UP THE CEMETERY OR BE DRIVING OVER ANY OF THAT. BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I WAS GOING TO JUST MENTION TONIGHT, AND I WILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET WITH EVERYBODY NOW.
AND THAT WOULD BE ON A SITE PLAN THAT.
[INAUDIBLE] ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS LADY? IS THE CEMETERY BEING MAINTAINED? HUSBAND'S FATHER AND GRANDPARENTS.
ALL OF THEM HAVE ALWAYS SHOWN US WHERE IT WAS AND TOLD US ABOUT IT AND OTHER THAN THAT, I CAN'T I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE.
I KNOW OF ONE PERSON THEY'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT IT WAS BURIED THERE, BUT.
AND THIS MIGHT EVEN HAVE BETTER RECORDS THAN HISTORICAL STUFF AS TO SOME OF THE FACTS.
IT'S NOT BIG. I THINK OLD TIMEY CEMETERIES ARE LITTLE BUM, BUT BUT IT IS VERY.
I WAS GOING TO GO BY I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE THAN THIS, BUT IT IS RIGHT UP NEXT TO THIS, AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD WE NOW ARE GOING TO GET TO GET TOGETHER AND GET IT NOTED.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? IN FACT, IT WAS LOGGED ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO AND IT'S BEEN CUT AGAIN.
THEY LOVED IT. NO EXCUSE ME, IT WOULD LOVE BEFORE YOU ARE MY FIRST TIME.
SO IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN LOGGED TWICE.
BROKE MY HEART. THEY LOVED ALL THIS LITTLE SMALL PLOT, BUT IT'S VERY MINUTE.
BUT I DO HAVE [INAUDIBLE] AND LUCKILY, THAT'S NOT.
[00:45:02]
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT, AND THERE'S NO BIG DEAL OF NO.IT'S JUST BEEN HANDED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS.
WE KNOW IT, BUT IT'S NO, IT'S NO MOB.
I'VE LOOKED FOR MARKINGS, NO MARKERS THERE, AND IT'S ONE OF THE TREES AGAIN.
BUT I KNOW THE LOCATION IN THE CORNER OF THE FIELD, SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED TO FIND IT.
WELL, WE HAD TO GET AN ARCHEOLOGIST.
MAYBE SOMEBODY WILL FIND WAY TO DO THAT, BUT I KNOW THE GENERAL LOCATION.
SO WE JUST I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT NOTED ON THAT.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT DONE.
SPACE. ANYBODY ELSE? YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, GARY CROSS AND I HAIL FROM MY RULE OF DOUG CHESSON NEIGHBORHOOD IN [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT.
UM, I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY, SO YOU WOULDN'T THINK I'D HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT A PIECE OF PROPERTY. BUT ALL I WANT FOR MINE THIS GROUP AND THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS HOW HARD WE WORK TO GET AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED IN THIS COUNTY.
IN DOING SO, WE WERE SENDING A STRONG SIGNAL TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY INDUSTRY THAT WE WERE HERE TO DO BUSINESS AND THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAINTAIN THAT BUSINESS FOR A CERTAIN LENGTH OF TIME. UM, SO AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I WOULD BEHOOVE YOU TO REMEMBER WHY WE OPENED UP THESE THINGS AND REMIND YOU OF THE CONTRACT THAT LANDED ON A SIGN WHEN THEY WANTED TO PUT THEIR LAND IN THESE DISTRICTS.
AND THAT LAND, EVEN THOUGH THESE FOLKS DIDN'T OWN IT, THEY BOUGHT IT KNOWING IT WAS IN THE AG DISTRICT.
I CAN'T THINK OF IT ANY MORE, A PLAUSIBLE PLAN AND TO DO SOMETHING FOR OUR VETERANS THEN GIVE THEM A HOME. WOUNDED WARRIORS.
SO YOU CAN'T FIND A MORE PLAUSIBLE REASON TO WANT TO ALTER SOMETHING.
AND IN THE PAST, MS. LEWIS, I THINK WE'VE ALTERED SMALL ONE OR TWO ACRES FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD A HOME ON AFTER THEY BOUGHT A TRACT OF LAND.
I DON'T KNOW THE REASON WHY THESE FOLKS WON'T SURVEY OUT TWO OR THREE ACRES TO HAVE THIS FACILITY. BUT WE CANNOT SET A PRECEDENT AND START LETTING ANYONE COMING TO COUNTY BUY LAND AND TAKE IT OUT OF A SIGNED CONTRACT WITH THIS COUNTY.
UM, IF WE START, THAT WILL SET A PRECEDENT THAT THE NEXT PRESIDENT CAN DO THE SAME THING.
YES, IT HAS A VERY GOOD REASON FOR WANTING IT OUT.
BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL HOW HARD WE WORKED TO GET THIS INITIATED, SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS FACILITY AVAILABLE FOR THESE PEOPLE.
BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHY ONE OR TWO ACRES CAN'T BE PULLED OUT AND LEAVE THE REST IN THE AG PARTS DISTRICT. UM, SO I CAN REPEAT THAT THREE OR FOUR TIMES, AND I WOULD HAVE SAID THE SAME THING. WHAT I URGE JUST WAS A SIGNED CONTRACT WITH COUNT.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE INVITING BUSINESS TO COME HERE TO DO.
WE'VE GIVEN THEM NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT BUSINESS HERE, AND WE CANNOT START WILLY NILLY PICKING OUT PIECES BECAUSE OF SOMEBODY COMES INTO OUR COUNTY AND BUYS PROPERTY.
I COMMEND THE PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION. RESEARCH AND STUFF, MR. MANN. WELL, YOU DON'T KNOW THE BLACK CREEK COMMUNITY, WE HAD A BOYS HOME.
IT WAS FUNDED BY A MISSION GROUP OUT OF PORTSMOUTH, AND IT PROBABLY RAN WHAT 20 YEARS, DON'T YOU THINK DOUG [INAUDIBLE] TROUBLED CHILDREN FROM PORTSMOUTH AND NORFOLK AND LIVING IN BLACK CREEK AT THIS BOY'S HOME.
SINCE THEN, IT HAS FAILED AND HAS FINALLY GOT INTO THE HANDS OF A FAMILY THAT FIXED IT UP AND HAVE A NICE HOME NOW OFF THE ROAD.
IT WAS OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.
THESE THINGS ARE NICE WHEN THEY START.
BUT EVENTUALLY THEY GET WORE OUT.
AND THE IDEA MIGHT NOT LOOK SO SWIFT.
I DO APPLAUD THE PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT I URGE YOU NOT TONIGHT OR NOT IN THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT BE HERE, I MIGHT BE WORKING.
BUT I URGE YOU NOT TO BE TAKING LAND OUT OF AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS BECAUSE SOMEBODY COMES UP WITH A WORTHWHILE IDEA.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL MY COMMENTS, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
[00:50:05]
Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD EVENING, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE? HAVE TIME TO SPEAK, ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO VOICE AN OPINION ON THIS? MAKE ANY COMMENTS.
LAST CALL, THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, GENTLEMEN.
MY THOUGHT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO TABLE THIS DECISION ALSO.
IS THAT A MOTION YOU'RE MAKING, IF EVERYBODY THINKS THAT'S APPROPRIATE, YES, SIR.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT.
OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TABLING IT TO FUTURE MEETING SAY AYE, AYE.
DANIELS, ESQ. ON BEHALF OF LAND FOR HEROES, OWNER FOR A CONDITION USED PERMIT TO OPERATE A COUNTY IN PURCHASE PROTECTION 1837 20 OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CODE, THE INN CONTAINING UP TO 11 GUESTROOMS AND PROVIDING MEALS FOR FROM A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, WILL BE LOCATED ON TAX PARCEL 103-14C, WHICH CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 119.54 ACRES AND IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF MARY HUNT ROAD, WHICH IS 683 AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH WOODLAND ROAD, WHICH IS 682. AND THIS PROPERTY AGAIN IS IN THE NEWSOMS VOTING AND THE NEWSOMS MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT. ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT? WELL THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN TO ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK CONCERNING THIS CONDITION USE PERMIT.
ALL RIGHT, THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I NEED A MOTION.
OK WE HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE, IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE? THE MOTION IS TO TABLE IT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.
OPPOSED NO. THE AYES HAVE, IT IS TABLED.
OKAY, I GUESS WE'LL GO BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION NOW, SO CALL.
EDWARDS FOR CONDUCTING THAT PART OF THE MEETING. ALL RIGHT.
SO MOVING RIGHT ALONG, WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION, SIR? I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD [INAUDIBLE].
MS. LEWIS CAN I GIVE YOU A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION? SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S COME UP ABOUT FOUR TIMES.
LET'S SAY HYPOTHETICALLY, THAT THERE'S A TAX PARCEL AND IT'S ONE HUNDRED ACRES AND THERE'S AN APPLICATION FOR THIS TAX PARCEL OF ONE HUNDRED ACRES.
IS THERE A WAY TO JUST ASK THAT ONE ACRE IS APPROVED IN A HYPOTHETICAL REQUEST? OR DO WE HAVE TO DO THE ENTIRE TAX PARCEL?
[00:55:05]
[INAUDIBLE] WOULD THE REQUEST BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT? COULD BE ANYTHING.MR. [INAUDIBLE] MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU CAN APPROVE LESS THAN THE REQUEST, BUT NOT MORE SO IF THE REQUEST WAS FOR AN ACTION FOR ONE HUNDRED ACRES.
YOU COULD SAY FIFTY, BUT IF THE REQUEST WAS OUT OF A TWO HUNDRED ACRE PARCEL, IF THE REQUEST WAS ONLY FOR ONE HUNDRED ACRES, YOU COULD NOT SAY A HUNDRED AND FIFTY ACRES, AND THEN AND THEN A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS CONDITIONED UPON WHAT THE REQUEST IS.
RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT.
I'M JUST MAKING SURE BECAUSE MR. CROSS MADE COMMENTS OF CUTTING OUT ONE OR TWO ACRES OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE A PARTITION SUIT AN ADDITIONAL.
SO IF IT'S 21-10, IT WAS PARTITIONED, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A SURVEYOR DRAW A PLAT.
BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO A SUBDIVISION PLAT.
IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO END UP BEING TWO SEPARATE PARCELS.
OK. SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT EVERY SINGLE APPLICATION THAT WE'VE HAD WITHIN THE PAST.
20 YEARS HAS BEEN A FULL TAX MAP PARCEL REQUEST, RIGHT? HAS THERE EVER BEEN ONE THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST 20 YEARS THAT'S BEEN OTHER THAN A REQUEST OF A TAX PART TAX PARCEL, THE ENTIRE PARCEL THAT YOU CAN RECALL? ALL OF THE SOLAR REQUESTS WERE PARCEL WERE PARTS OF A TAX PARCEL.
THOSE PROPERTIES HAD A SURVEY DONE THAT OUTLINED EXACTLY WHERE THE ZONING CHANGE AND THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLIED, BUT THE UNDERLYING TAX PARCEL IS STILL THE WHOLE UNDERLYING TAX PARCEL.
THAT'S MY POINT. THAT'S THE MOST RECENT ONE I CAN THINK OF, OKAY.
IF YOU'RE DOING RURAL RESIDENTIAL.
YOU'RE ONLY YOU COULD HAVE A THOUSAND ACRE FARM WITH ONE TAX PARCEL NUMBER, BUT YOU WANT REZONING THE WHOLE FARM, YOU'RE ZONING WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD A HOUSE ON THAT HAS LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE AS TO THE REST OF THE LAND THAT COULD DEPEND ON HOW YOU DO IT IN NUMBER OF CUTS YOU GET, ET CETERA.
BUT SO THAT WOULD BE LESS THAN THE TAX PARCEL.
AND IN THAT INSTANCE, WHEN YOU CHANGE THE ZONING TO RURAL RESIDENTIAL, YOU DO CREATE A NEW TAX PARCEL.
YOU DO A SUBDIVISION PLAT AFTER IT'S APPROVED TO CREATE THE NEW TAX PARCEL.
BUT THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS THE THE SOLAR INSTALLATION THAT WAS JUST PART OF TAX PARCELS.
I BELIEVE THAT PARKER PEANUTS THAT WAS DONE IN RECENT YEARS WAS THEY CHANGED THE ZONING OF JUST PARTS THE BACK PART OF THE PARCEL FOR THE MANUFACTURING USE AS WELL.
THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, GETTING BACK TO POWER APPLICATIONS, YOU KNOW, JUST RECENTLY WE DID APPROVE THE REMOVAL OF A SMALL PIECE OF LAND TO BUILD A HOUSE.
AND THAT APPLICANT ALSO ADDED SOMETHING TO IT.
SO THE FOUR ACRES THAT WERE CUT OUT OF THAT AGRICULTURE DISTRICT ALREADY HAD THE HOUSE ON IT. AND THEY JUST CUT OUT THE LAND AROUND THE HOUSE AND TOOK OUT FOUR ACRES AND TRADED IT FOR FIFTY SOME ACRES THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. UNMAPPED TAX PARCEL OR SOMETHING.
SO I THINK SHE REMOVED THREE OR FOUR ACRES AND THEN PUT IN FIFTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THE HOUSE WAS ALREADY THERE.
THE HOUSE WAS ALREADY THERE. SO IT WASN'T TAKEN OUT TO BUILD A HOUSE.
IT WAS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE AND IT WAS ALREADY ITS OWN TAX PARCEL, RIGHT? AND MR. CHESSON IS STILL NOT SATISFIED BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD AGREE WITH [INAUDIBLE]. NO, I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, DOES THIS BOARD REQUIRE COULD A SITE MAP BE A BLOWN UP SURVEY WITH PENCIL LINES AND IDENTIFIED ACRES? AND THIS BOARD MAKE A DECISION BASED UPON THAT AND KNOWING THAT A SURVEY WOULD COME LATER THAT WOULD ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TO COMPARE THE TWO AND SAY, YEAH, THAT LOOKS, THAT LOOKS PRETTY REASONABLE.
DO WE REQUIRE A SURVEY OR CAN IT BE JUST A ROUGH DRAFT?
[01:00:04]
THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT REQUIRE A SURVEY.THE ORDINANCE SAYS A SITE PLAN AND WHAT WAS SUBMITTED, THE COLOR PAGE THAT WAS HAD THE RED AND THE YELLOW ON IT THAT WAS SUBMITTED AS THE SITE PLAN.
PLAN, A CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN THAT WAS AS A STEP MORE DETAILED THAN THE ONE YOU HAD AND NOT NECESSARILY A PHYSICAL SURVEY A FULL BLOWN SITE PLAN WOULD INCLUDE ALL OF THE STORMWATER FEATURES AND ALL THE GRADING THAT HAD TO BE DONE, AND YOU TYPICALLY WOULDN'T NEED THAT FOR YOUR DECISION.
BUT IT APPEARS THIS EVENING THAT YOU NEEDED MORE THAN THE AREA WITH THE SQUARES ON IT THAT WERE SUBMITTED. YES, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE VERY DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THEY GET A COPY OF THE MINUTES SO THEY CAN ADDRESS DIRECTLY THE QUESTIONS THAT WE BROUGHT UP.
AND WHAT'S GREAT WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM THAT THE COUNTY HAS IS A TRANSCRIPT OF TEXT FORM TRANSCRIPT OF THE THIS MEETING WILL BE ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE IN A DAY OR TWO.
IT WON'T SAY WHO SAID WHAT, BUT ALL THE TEXT WILL BE RIGHT THERE, SO THAT'S VERY USEFUL IF SOMEONE NEEDS THAT BEFORE WE CAN GET THE MINUTES PREPARED.
BUT THAT'S ONLY AVAILABLE FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, NOT FOR THE AG FORESTRY COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT TURNED ON THIS EVENING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE PROCEED? OK, SO WE'RE GOING TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, UNFINISHED BUSINESS, WHICH IS DISCUSSION OF OUR
[IV UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
UPDATED DRAFT OF THE SOLAR ORDINANCE AND I HOPE YOU'VE HAD TIME TO REVIEW IT.OF COURSE, THE FIRST TWO PORTIONS WE PRETTY MUCH GONE OVER.
MS. LEWIS I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB IN INTERPRETING OUR COMMENTS FROM IT, FROM HOME LAST MEETING FROM WHAT WE WERE DELIBERATING AND SPEAKING ABOUT.
BUT TONIGHT, I HOPE YOU'VE HAD TIME TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE DRAFT AND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE NEED TO REVIEW, ANYTHING WE NEED TO ADD OR RECONSIDER.
IF I MIGHT INTERRUPT I DID ADD DEFINITIONS FROM THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, THE DRAFTS HAD DEFINITIONS, SO I TOOK THE DEFINITIONS FROM THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND JUST DRAFT THEM IN THE RIGHT PLACE. CONSIDER THAT TONIGHT AS WELL.
BUT THESE ARE WORD FOR WORD, WHAT IS ADOPTED TODAY.
AND ON THE FIRST PAGE, YOU YOU DID MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT MAYBE SOME THINGS WE WEREN'T CLEAR OF, OR MAYBE WE GAVE TWO ANSWERS INSTEAD OF ONE AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND THINGS I DENOTED.
IT SEEMS TO BE A WE DIDN'T REALLY SPECIFY WHAT WHAT ARE THE AG ACRES AND WHAT ARE THE FOREST ACRES IN THE COUNTY AT PRESENT? AND I KNOW WE SPOKE ABOUT THE RATIOS BETWEEN THE TWO.
DO YOU THINK? AND I'M ASKING I'M ASKING THE PANEL AS WELL AS MS. LEWIS. THIS IS FOR ALL OF YOU TO CONSIDER.
DO WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND PUT SOME REASONABLE NUMBER.
I MEAN, AS CLOSE AS WE CAN ESTIMATE, IF WE DON'T PUT A NUMBER UP FOR WHAT THOSE ACRES CONSIST OF TODAY, WOULD THAT BE QUESTIONABLE AS WE PROCEED FORWARD WITH REQUESTS? DON'T WE NEED TO PUT A SPECIFIC NUMBER AS TO WHAT THOSE ACRES ARE TODAY OR AS WE AMEND THIS WELL RECOMMEND THIS PROPOSAL? OH, YOU MEAN LIKE CURRENTLY, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF X NUMBER ACRES 12.
I MEAN, IT'D BE TWO HUNDRED TWENTY RIGHT THOUSAND ACRES IN CULTIVATION IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. IF WE'RE GOING TO BASE A PERCENTAGE OFF OF SOME NUMBER DON'T, WE DON'T NEED.
AND I THINK WE I THINK WE HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE AND WE DIDN'T GET TO THAT POINT.
MAYBE WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT, BUT CAN WE GET SPECIFIC? WOULD THAT BE CONSTRUCTIVE? AS I RECALL, MR. MANN, SOMEBODY WAS LOOKING INTO THAT THING, AND I BELIEVE MR.
[01:05:04]
MANN SAID THAT HIS FEELING WAS THAT IT SHOULD BE THE CONSULTANT'S RESPONSIBILITY AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION TO GET THE CURRENT RATIO, WHETHER IT WAS AT THAT SEASON.WELL, LET'S SEE IF WE COULD GET THE ACREAGE FROM THE HAVE TO REGISTER IT.
WELL, WE CAN PUT IT, I MEAN, YOU COULD PUT AS OF 2022, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS WHATEVER THOUSANDS OF ACRES AND AGRICULTURAL USE.
AND OK, NOW I SEE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, YOU'RE SAYING IT SHOULD, IT SHOULD BE REVISED AT THE TIME THAT NEW APPLICATION COMES FORWARD BECAUSE IT COULD CHANGE.
I THINK THAT WAS THE THOUGHT THAT COULD BE CURRENT WHEN AN APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED RATHER THAN CURRENT AS OF THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. AND I WASN'T SAYING PUT IT IN THE ORDINANCE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD DO THAT, BUT OF COURSE IT'S ALWAYS CHANGING.
WELL, RIGHT. I'M WONDERING IF WE SHOULD PUT AN EXAMPLE THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING IN THE ORDINANCE AS OF MARCH 22 OR WHENEVER WE APPROVED THIS SO THAT FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN THEY COME IN AND THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT IT . CAN WE DO THAT? HAVE AN EXAMPLE, A CURRENT EXAMPLE, WOULD THAT BE NECESSARY? TO SHOW HOW THE RATIO WORKS BETWEEN, WHY DON'T YOU JUST PUT NEXT TO THE PERCENTAGE AS OF THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION.
AND THEN BECAUSE IF YOU PUT IN WHAT IT IS TODAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SERVES ANY USEFUL PURPOSE. WELL, IT JUST WON'T.
WE WON'T. WE WANT TO GET RELIABLE AND CORRECT INFORMATION, AND THAT'S FOR YOU TO DETERMINE AS THE DELIBERATIVE BODY.
OKAY, BUT WE ONLY DO HAVE TWENTY SIX HUNDRED ACRES REMAINING.
IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, OF SOLAR FACILITIES, IF THEY'RE AG OR TIMBERLANDS CONVERTED.
THAT'S CORRECT. IF WE DO THE ONE PERCENT.
YEAH, IF YOU DO ONE PERCENT, THE COUNTY'S LAND ACRES AREN'T GROWING AND THE MAPPED AREA OF SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR IS ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN.
SO YES, SO IT WAS ALL THAT AG LAND.
I BELIEVE I DON'T KNOW THAT VERY MUCH OF IT WAS FORESTED, I BELIEVE IT WAS ALL AG.
IS PATHS AND FENCES AND BORDERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO IT'S EVERYTHING THAT HAD THE ZONING CHANGED AND HAD THE CONDITIONAL USE GRANTED TO IT BECAUSE THEY WERE REQUIRED TO TURN IN A SURVEY THAT OUTLINED THEIR BOUNDARIES.
YES. I JUST DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND SAY, WELL, YOU'RE SAYING ONE PERCENT OF THE LAND SHOULD GO TO SOLAR FACILITIES AND THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL FOOTPRINT OF THE FACILITY, YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE WILL, INCLUDING THAT THE FACT THAT IT'S GOT SET BACKS AND FENCE AREA AND BUFFERS RIGHT THIS WAY.
THAT WAS NOT ONLY WHAT WAS UNDERNEATH THE PANELS.
ALL RIGHT. AND THE ONE PERCENT IS TWENTY.
WHAT'D YOU SAY TWENTY SIX HUNDRED, ROUGHLY? YEAH. NO THE ONE PERCENT IS THIRTY SIX HUNDRED, THIRTY SIX HUNDRED.
AND FOURTEEN EIGHTEEN IS ALREADY GONE.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT.
SO HOW DID YOU WANT? WELL, THAT ONE PERCENT PHRASE WORDED.
GO AHEAD. [INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST WORRIED, BUT I THINK WE'VE DONE OUR JOB.
[01:10:01]
LET'S LET THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR.I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LET'S LET'S LET THE I'M A I'M GOING TO TELL YOU MY FEELING.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, THE INCENTIVES ARE GOING TO GET ARE GOING TO BE HUGE IF YOU WAIT FOR IT. WE'RE GOING TO GO ELECTRIC.
THERE'S NO QUESTION, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE NEED FUEL, OK? AND I DON'T MEAN I'M NOT GOING TO I'M NOT GOING BUT THE COUNTRY AND AS OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD, EVERYTHING WILL BE ELECTRIFIED AT SOME POINT. I MEAN, THIS IS JUST THE WAY PEOPLE ARE THINKING.
I CAN'T IMAGINE DRIVING AN ELECTRIC TRUCK I MIGHT LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE IT DRIVING AN ELECTRIC TRUCK.
ELECTRIC STUFF. YOU'RE YOU'RE BURNING MUCH MORE OF A CARBON FOOTPRINT, BUILDING THE THING AND THEN DISPOSING OF THAT 12,000 POUND OF BATTERY.
YOU DIG UP HALF A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF MINING JUST TO MAKE THAT BATTERY FOR THAT CAR.
I MEAN IT, IT'S THE MINDSET OF THE POPULACE IS TO GO GREEN.
AND THEY'RE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER TO SAY THEY'RE GOING GREEN.
SO WE'VE GOT TO THINK OF THE TWO DIFFERENT FIELDS.
I THINK THE MANN SAID, I DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT OF A CERTAIN CERTAIN PUBLIC CERTAIN.
BUT BUT THE REALITY IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP USING FOSSIL FUELS AS MUCH AS IT'S GOING TO COST. BUT AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY, THEY'RE JUST BENT ON GREEN. OK, CHAIRMAN, LET ME SAY ONE THING.
WE WE HAVE LEARNED FROM MISTAKES THAT ARE MADE TO THE EAST OF US, SO OTHER COUNTIES AND PROFITED ABOUT THAT.
WE NEED TO LEARN WHAT MISTAKES LOOK, WHAT'S GOING ON IN EUROPE.
IF IF THE SOLAR POWER AND THE WINDMILLS WERE SO GREAT, WHY IS GERMANY AND FRANCE RELIANT ON THIS SO MUCH? AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY, BECAUSE IT'S UNRELIABLE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY AT THIS POINT TO MAKE IT THAT RELIABLE, AND FRANCE IS GOING BACK MY UNDERSTANDING THEY'RE BUILDING MORE NUCLEAR FACILITIES RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, THEY HAVE FOUND OUT THIS STUFF DOESN'T WORK.
AND IF WE'RE NOT SMART ENOUGH TO TO LEARN FROM THAT, WELL, SO BE IT.
BUT WHY DO YOU THINK NOW GERMANY WON'T EVEN GO ALONG WITH CENTERING UKRAINE BECAUSE THEIR GOING TO GET THEIR GAS AND OIL CUT OFF SO.
ONE PERCENT. I JUST THINK IT'S TOO IT'S TOO MUCH.
I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD, LIKE I SAID, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE INCENTIVES THAT'S GOING TO PAY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND JURISDICTIONS THAT'S GOING TO BE EVEN GREATER.
I DON'T--. I GOT BIG CONCERNS ABOUT THE ONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT IF WE JUST WAIT IT TO THIS POINT, WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING A LOT MORE REVENUE THAN WE ARE THROUGH THOSE SAME INCENTIVES.
IF WE WAIT A LITTLE LONGER, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN GREATER, A LOT GREATER.
SO WHILE WE'RE ON THIS SUBJECT WITH THE RATIOS AS SUCH, I JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD AND I KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE REVIEWING THE ENTIRE DRAFT RIGHT NOW BEFORE WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING. I STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE ONE PERCENT.
I SAID BEFORE, 1418 FOR MY NECK OF THE WOODS AND I SPEAK, I THINK FOR THE COUNTY, I DON'T FIND THE SUPPORT.
THE INFORMATION I'M RECEIVING IS THAT THE PEOPLE, AND I'M SPEAKING FOR THE PEOPLE, I'M NOT GETTING PEOPLE THAT IS SUPPORTING IT UNLESS YOU'LL ENTER INTO A CONTRACT.
IF YOU [INAUDIBLE] ENTER INTO A CONTRACT, YOU'RE ALL IN, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE, ITS RESTRICTIONS, ITS RESTRICTIONS, [INAUDIBLE] MOST RESTRICTIVE THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
BUT I'M LIKE, JACK, IT'S GOOD, THIS IS WHAT WE CAME UP WITH, BUT EVERYTHING IS ON US IS ABOUT RESTRICTIONS AND IT SHOWS THAT WE HAD THE PEOPLE'S [INAUDIBLE] MIND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO LIMIT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO LIMIT HOW MUCH DEVELOPMENT IN SOLAR THAT WE HAVE.
SO WHY DON'T WE JUST SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH FOR RIGHT NOW? SEE WHERE IT GOES ONE, TWO, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WELL, DIDN'T WE--? AND I THINK I RECOMMENDED THE ONE PERCENT, AND I THINK I SAID THAT IT WAS THE MOST
[01:15:02]
RESTRICTIVE THAT I COULD FIND? RIGHT.I MEAN, I THINK FROM A LEGAL [INAUDIBLE], I WAS LEANING ON MR. RAILEY QUITE A BIT. I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD DO IT ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DID.
IT'S THE MOST RESTRICTIVE WAY TO DO IT IN VIRGINIA, AND WE FOLLOWED SUIT.
WE HEAR THE WORD PRECEDENT AND IT'S ALWAYS USED IMPROPERLY, AT LEAST 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME. I DON'T SEE A BETTER WAY THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT PUBLIC POLICY BETTER THAN RESTRICTING IT BY ONE PERCENT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UNLESS WE'RE RESTRICTED BY HALF A-- HALF A PERCENT, YEAH.
AND I KNOW-- AND AGAIN, I GAVE MY COMMENTS, AND I THINK MR. RAILEY AGREED WITH ME.
YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE.
AND PLUS [INAUDIBLE] IS MUCH AS SOME PEOPLE, PERHAPS SOME OF US, PERHAPS A LOT OF US WOULD LOVE JUST TO SAY THERE SHALL BE NO SOLAR FARMS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
PERIOD. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO TRIGGER? YEAH, I UNDERSTAND. YOU KNOW WHAT'S THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE.
NOT ONLY LITIGATION, BUT LEGISLATION AND NOT LEGISLATION RIGHT HERE.
COULDN'T DETERMINE WHERE IT WAS AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I HOPE IT'S DEAD, DIDN'T GET OUT OF COMMITTEE, THAT SAID, THERE WILL BE NO LOCAL CONTROL OVER ANY SOLAR FARM IN EXCESS OF 200 ACRES.
IT WILL BE COMPLETELY CONTROLLED BY STATE RULES.
NOW I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE LAW BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S GOT TO PASS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNMENT'S GOT TO SIGN IT, BUT SUCH IDEAS ARE OUT THERE.
WELL, ISN'T IT A PROJECTION OF HOW MANY KILOWATTS OR MEGAWATTS THAT THE STATE WANTS TO HAVE BY 2030-- ABSOLUTELY. SO WHERE DO WE FIND THAT FIGURE THAT WE CAN HANG OUR HAT ON? AND WE CAN SAY, ACCORDING AS OF DATE, SO-AND-SO IS A PROJECTION OF SO MANY MEGAWATTS THAT THE STATE WANTS? WE LOOK AT THE ACREAGE, WE LOOK AT ACREAGE IN THE STATE, WE LOOK AT OUR ACREAGE IN THE COUNTY, WE DO THE MATH, AND IF IT FALLS AT ONE PERCENT, EIGHT TENTH OF A PERCENT, BUT WE'VE COME UP WITH THE FORMULA OF HOW WE JUSTIFIED OUR PERCENT AND NOT JUST SAT HERE AND SAID, I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE A HALF, I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE ONE.
WE'VE GOT A FORMULA, A FORMAT, AND WE'RE RELYING ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S THOUGHTS IN THE FUTURE. SO AND I'VE SEEN THAT FIGURE SOMEWHERE AND MAYBE I SAW IT FROM SOME FARM BUREAU INFO OR SOMETHING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE IN THE STATE THAT WE'VE GOT THAT OTHER THAN COMING OUT OF DOMINION.
SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HANG OUR HAT ON AND DIVIDE ALL THE ACREAGE IN THE STATE AND WE CONTRIBUTE OUR FAIR SHARE BASED ON THE ACRES [INAUDIBLE] YOU CAN'T. WELL, LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET--.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AG FORESTRY DISTRICTS TONIGHT AND IF WE GET A PROPOSAL FOR A SOLAR FACILITY AND THEY'RE IN THE AG FORESTRY DISTRICT, THEY HAVE TO MEET THE FOUR REQUIREMENTS, CORRECT? SO THE FIRST ONE PROPOSED NEW LAND USE WILL NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL OR FORESTAL OPERATIONS.
DOESN'T MEET IT. IT'S MIXED, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THEN WHAT IS THE TERM SIGNIFICANT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AG FORESTRY--.
CORRECT. RIGHT, SO IF THEY DON'T WANT THAT BENEFIT ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S SUPPLEMENTAL TO LAND USE, BASICALLY.
AND THEN WE'RE GETTING INTO LANDOWNERS RIGHTS, AND I THINK HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO WHEN THE
[01:20:01]
AG BOARD SAYS, IT'S A, YOU KNOW--.I'M JUST HERE IN TERMS LIKE A SIGNED CONTRACT.
WELL, IT'S A BENEFIT THAT THE GOVERNMENT GIVES AND THE LANDOWNER WHO HAS HIS BUNDLE OF LANDOWNER RIGHTS WANTS TO GET INTO IT TO SUPPLEMENT LAND USE.
RIGHT? THAT'S THE PUBLIC POLICY BEHIND IT, WHICH IS A GREAT WAY, BEING A, YOU KNOW, OWNING TWO FARMS MYSELF, SOMETHING THAT IS A BENEFIT TO ME BECAUSE I OWN THE PROPERTY, AND WHEN GOVERNMENT GETS THE VIEW IS, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE'RE NOT LETTING YOU OUT.
I MEAN, JUST THINK OF THAT POLITICALLY, WE HAVE TO BE POLITICALLY CONSISTENT IN WHAT WE DO.
THEN IF HE DOESN'T WANT THE BENEFIT ANYMORE, MY VIEW IS THE LANDOWNER WANTS TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, YOU LET HIM OUT.
BUT IT DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA OVER THE FOUR GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED, CORRECT ? THAT THIS BOARD DID, BUT WE COULD HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CRITERIA LIKE LESS THAN ONE PERCENT AND THEN THE JUDICIAL BRANCH WILL GET INVOLVED AND--THIS TO ME-- CORRECT. IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THEM OUT OF THE AG USED DISTRICTS.
THAT WOULD BE AN OUT TO SAY YOU CAN'T PUT SOLAR HERE BECAUSE OF THIS.
BECAUSE SOLAR IT WOULD BE AGAINST THE PUBLIC POLICY.
IT'S NOT--. I LIKE USING THAT WORD FOR THE MINUTES.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S NOT PROMOTING AG AND FORESTRY? CORRECT. THAT'S PUBLIC POLICY.
UNLESS YOU USE THE POWER TO CHARGE WHAT YOU--. WHICH THEY PROMOTE.
THEY PROMOTE EVERYONE, WEATHER YOU ARE FARMING OR WHATEVER, PUT IT ON YOUR HOUSE TOP, PUT ON YOUR GARAGE TOP, PUT ON YOUR [INAUDIBLE] BACK YARD.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE OF.
I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO BE INTELLECTUALLY CONSISTENT IN WHAT WE DO.
[INAUDIBLE] THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT WAS, MY INTERPRETATION WAS TO PROMOTE AND TO KEEP THAT AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO EXPAND YOUR UTILITIES ABSOLUTELY. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO EXPAND [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT.
WELL, THAT COMES DOWN TO THE STATE RIGHT [INAUDIBLE].
THAT'S COMING ON I GUESS I'M WAVING OFF THE SUBJECT, BUT IT'S GOOD DISCUSSION.
MR. MAYOR, GO AHEAD REMEMBER ONE THING [INAUDIBLE] THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS SHOULD BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.
IT SHOULDN'T BE VERY HARD TO GET OUT OF THEM WHAT THEY--.
WERE MEANT TO BE. [INAUDIBLE] WERE PUT THERE.
AND GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, AND IT'S NOT THE SAME THING, BUT--.
AGO WHEN WE WANTED TO STOP STRIPPING IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, BUILDING THE HOUSES ALL OVER A1, AND WE WERE LARGELY UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE PEOPLE FELT LIKE IF YOU OWN THE LAND, YOU WERE ENTITLED TO SELL A LOT OR TWO.
IF YOU'RE A FARMER, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO SELL IT IN A BAD YEAR AND GUESS WHAT'S HAPPENED? [INAUDIBLE] THE COUNTRYSIDE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND IT'S NOT RURAL ANYMORE.
EVERYBODY CAN'T LIVE IN THE COUNTRY.
IF EVERYBODY TRIES TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, NOBODY LIVES IN THE COUNTRY.
RIGHT. THERE ARE HOUSES UP AND DOWN SECONDARY ROADS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT WEREN'T DREAMED ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO.
BUT THOSE WERE ORGANIZED BEFORE WE CAME UP WITH THE RURAL RESIDENTIAL.
ABSOLUTELY. THERE WAS A PANIC DURING THAT YEAR AND [INAUDIBLE] EVERYBODY WENT OUT AND SET OUT A COUPLE OF LOTS, REMEMBER? YEAH. WELL, I STILL THINK, AND BETH CAN CORRECT ME, I THINK, [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT A BIG NUMBER OF LOTS THAT WERE PUT ON BEFORE WE PUT THE RULE.
AS I RECALL, I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OVER THE YEARS OF OVER THREE THOUSAND--.
LOTS. MY FRIENDS, THE SURVEYORS WERE VERY BUSY.
GO AHEAD. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT USING THE THE AG FOREST DISTRICTS AS A RESTRICTION, YOU
[01:25:05]
KNOW, NOT BEING ABLE TO MEET THOSE FOUR CRITERIA, THIS MAP WAS PART OF THAT REQUEST AND THE COLORED AREAS ARE THE AREAS THAT ARE IN AG AND FORESTRY DISTRICTS AND THE PLAIN LIGHT GREEN AREAS ARE THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE NOT.SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE LARGE SWATHS OF LAND THAT ARE NOT WITHIN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY DISTRICTS, MOSTLY IN THE NORTH OF 58.
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE TOOL OF THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT AS YOUR FIRST HURDLE.
AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, AND I KNEW THE SAME THING, AND I KIND OF WONDERED, YOU KNOW, WHY IT WAS CONCENTRATED LIKE BELOW HIGHWAY 58 AND NOT ABOVE, SO TO SPEAK, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE APPLICATIONS CUT OFF, THEY CUT OFF.
WE HAVEN'T HAD MORE PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD.
THEY WANTED TO APPLY FOR DISTRICT OR TO JOIN MAYBE ONE OR TWO, BUT IT WAS A BIG RUSH FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
ONE YEAR THERE WERE THIRTY EIGHT.
SO I GUESS THAT DECISION, YOU KNOW, THAT MOTIVATION HAS SUBSIDED NOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, I THINK WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE SAME FOUR CRITERIA, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE].
TO ENSURE WE HAVE THAT PORT PROTECTED, IF THAT'S THE WORD.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN ONE OR NOT.
THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S YOUR RIGHT.
[INAUDIBLE]. SO LET'S GO BACK TO THE OTHER--.
AND I KNOW I'M DOING ALL THE TALKING.
MS. LEWIS MISSION ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] AREAS WHICH SHE THOUGHT OF SOME I HAVE FORGOT ABOUT, TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
BUT WE'RE MISSING THE PACKING PLANT, WHICH WAS THE [INAUDIBLE] PACKING PLANT ON 616, THERE'S AN ABANDONED SCHOOL UP NEAR DREWRYVILLE, THE RACETRACK [INAUDIBLE] WERE [INAUDIBLE]. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S MANY, MANY ABANDONED POULTRY HOUSES AROUND THE COUNTY. I THINK I GUESS MY COMMENT IS, I THINK THEY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THAT ONE PERCENT, I'M BEING A LITTLE GREEDY.
WHAT DO--. [INAUDIBLE] WE COULD DO IT EITHER WAY.
WOULD THEY BE CONSIDERED OR NOT BE CONSIDERED? WELL--.
NO? WELL, THE RACETRACK HAS INDUSTRIAL ZONING, BUT WOULD STILL NEED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, BUT THE PURPOSE OF THE INCENTIVES WAS, IF THERE'S NO INCENTIVE THEN IT MAY BE--.
RIGHT. AND IF YOU THINK OF THAT OLD, WHAT USED TO BE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BETWEEN DREWRYVILLE AND CAPRON, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S MUCH ANYONE COULD BUILD THERE THAT WOULD LOOK WORSE THAN WHAT'S THERE TODAY, AND THE WORST PART OF THAT IS, YOU CAN VERY EASILY TELL THAT IT WAS A SCHOOL.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS NOT TAKING CARE OF IT.
EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NOT BEEN IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY'S OWNERSHIP FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO OFFER SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR SOME INCENTIVES TO GET SOME OF THE LESS UTILIZED AND MORE UNSIGHTLY TRACTS OF LAND IN SOME USE.
BUT THAT MAY NOT BE WHAT THIS BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FINDS IMPORTANT.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT THAT YOU ALL HAVE WORKED ON FOR SO LONG IS, IN MY OPINION, IS VERY GOOD.
IF WE SEND IT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WHICH I THINK WERE A LITTLE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
I'M ASKING IT TO YOU, MR. LEWIS, BUT I HOPE MR. EDWARDS ANSWERS THE QUESTION, DO YOU THINK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WOULD SEND THIS BACK FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? WELL, I BELIEVE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE IS TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH YOU BEFORE THIS BODY HOLDS A PUBLIC HEARING, AND I BELIEVE THAT--.
I BELIEVE THAT AT THAT MEETING YOU WILL GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO MAKE WHAT MAY VERY LIKELY BE TWEAKS BEFORE YOU HOLD YOUR PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT WHEN IT GOES TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THEY WILL KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND BE HAPPY
[01:30:04]
WITH IT. SO WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL BITES AT THE APPLE PER SAY TO MAKE CHANGES.I WOULD LIKE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING TOGETHER BEFORE WE HAVE A PUBLIC--.
THE ONLY THING I PUT FORTH IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATOR, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US WAIT IF WE COULD UNTIL WE GET THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR HERE.
SO WE HAVE ONE GUY GOING OUT AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW GUY COMING IN AND GET HIT WITH THIS AND NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT.
MIGHT BE THE BEST [INAUDIBLE].
THE MORATORIUM ENDS THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER, THAT MEANS THAT IF AN ORDINANCE IS GOING TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE THAT MORATORIUM ENDS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ADOPTED AT THE AUGUST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.
THAT MEANS THAT THIS BOARD WOULD HAVE TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION IN ONE NIGHT, NO LATER THAN THE JULY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, AND WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR FOR THE APRIL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING [INAUDIBLE], THIS WILL GO TO THE NEWSPAPER TOMORROW, SO.
I THINK THE MORATORIUM RUNS OUT ON SEPTEMBER 23, DOESN'T IT? IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, I THINK IT WAS 9TH OR 10TH.
I LOOKED AT IT AND IT'S ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.
YEAH. SO. WHEN IS THE NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE START? WELL, HOPEFULLY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT SINCE DECEMBER, HOPEFULLY OFFICIALLY JULY 1, BUT WE MAY HAVE SOMEBODY IN HERE IN THE INTERIM TYPE OF POSITION.
MR. JOHNSON STICKING ON AND WITH ORIENTATION FOR A WHILE, WHICH WE HOPE SO [INAUDIBLE] BE READY TO GO JULY 1.
WELL, MR. JOHNSON NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAVE TILL JULY 31ST, IS THAT RIGHT? JUNE--. JULY--.
JUNE 30TH. YEAH, THE LAST DAY OF JUNE.
I KNEW IT WAS THE END OF ONE MONTH BECAUSE HE WENT TO WORK THE NEXT DAY SOMEWHERE ELSE, [INAUDIBLE].
SO. DOES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE A COPY OF THIS YET? NO. WHEN WILL THEY GET THAT? WHEN Y'ALL ARE READY TO SEND IT TO THEM.
THEY'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO LOOK AT IT, AND REVIEW IT, THOUGH, CORRECT? THAT'D BE A GREAT IDEA.
ONCE WE GET SETTLED, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEND THEM SOMETHING THAT'S GOT [INAUDIBLE] IT.
YOU KNOW, I CAN SAY FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, [INAUDIBLE] MRS. LINDA'S HERE TONIGHT THAT WE HAVE THE UTMOST FAITH IN WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS GOING TO BRING US. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS A LOT OF FAITH IN THIS COMMISSION, AND MY OPINION THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGES, THERE MIGHT BE SOME MINOR THINGS, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY MAJOR CHANGE.
THIS BOARD [INAUDIBLE] TO SPEND ALMOST A YEAR TRASHING THIS THING OUT, AND I JUST DON'T THINK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS THE TIME, OR I GOT TO SAY THIS, TOO, THE EXPERTISE THAT THIS BOARD HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH TO CHANGE A WHOLE LOT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAST HISTORY, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, AND I CAN ONLY REMEMBER ONE DECISION IN LAST 30 YEARS WHERE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DID NOT GO WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ALL RIGHT. I GOT ONE OTHER COMMENT, I THINK, PROBABLY.
ON PAGE SEVEN OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.
PAGE SEVEN, ITEM SEVEN, ALL SOLAR PROJECTS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, SAFETY STANDARDS FOR SOLAR PANELS AND BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A GUEST SPEAKER LAST MEETING THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT, POSSIBLE BATTERY STORAGE. DO WE WANT TO ADD THAT TERM HERE? IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SEPARATELY LATER? AND I DON'T MEAN TO EXHAUST IT, I'M JUST BRINGING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH THAT. THIS MEANS BATTERIES THAT ARE PART OF THE SOLAR INSTALLATION.
CORRECT. [INAUDIBLE] GETTING THEIR POWER FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE, BUT THESE ARE BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES LIKE YOU HAVE TODAY AT SUBSTATIONS.
THERE ARE BATTERIES AT SUBSTATIONS TODAY, SO.
OK. THAT HELPED THEM FUNCTION.
OKAY, I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT, I'M SORRY.
THIS IS BATTERIES THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE SOLAR INSTALLATION THAT WOULD--.
AND I GUESS I'M THINKING ABOUT THE-.
YOU'RE THINKING OK. THAT AREN'T CONNECTED TO SO [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS ALREADY BEING USED TODAY AT THE SUBSTATIONS, CORRECT? YES. OK. SO WE PROBABLY GOT SOME IN THE NEWSOMS PROJECT.
[01:35:01]
MAYBE? THERE PROBABLY ARE SOME BETWEEN THE TWO SUBSTATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.SO THEN ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ON PAGE SEVEN, AND THIS IS JUST MY COMMENT.
AND I'LL SAY THIS BEFORE, I NEVER GOT--.
I THINK WE [INAUDIBLE] ON IT THREE MILES OF ANOTHER MAJOR SOLAR PROJECT, AND I MENTIONED BEFORE [INAUDIBLE] MEETINGS BACK, YOU KNOW, COULD [INAUDIBLE] FIVE MILES.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL WANT TO RECONSIDER THAT, JUST GO TO THREE, BUT I LIKE TO [INAUDIBLE] A LITTLE FURTHER. [INAUDIBLE] MY DISTRICT, WE JUST DON'T WANT ANOTHER ONE CLOSE TO US, WE WANT TO GET IT AWAY, SO IF NOBODY AGREES WITH ME, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I WISH THAT COULD BE CHANGED [INAUDIBLE] FIVE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT CHANGE YOU TO? WELL, I HAD SUGGESTED AT AN EARLIER MEETING FIVE, BUT I THINK IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE GROUP THAT NIGHT TO DO THREE, THAT WAS--.
I JUST ASKING WOULD YOU RECONSIDER? FIVE DOESN'T BOTHER ME.
LET'S GO WITH FIVE. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S A TRYING TO BE DEMOCRATIC. EVERYTHING'S ON A FIVE YEAR PLAN ANYWAY.
AND I THINK THAT [INAUDIBLE], AND MS. LEWIS [INAUDIBLE] GREAT--. I'M NOT PICKING--.
I'M NOT BEING--. WELL, I AM TOO, I AM BEING NITPICKY.
[INAUDIBLE] EVERYBODY'S ON PAGE SEVEN.
PRACTICALLY, WHEN YOU PRESENT A PLAN AND THE CONTRACTORS COME IN THERE AND INSTALL, ACCORDING TO THE PLAN, THERE'S USUALLY SOME THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT PRECLUDES THE CONTRACTOR FROM DOING IT EXACTLY LIKE THE PLAN.
RIGHT? THEY HAVE TO MAKE SOME MODIFICATION.
RIGHT. RIGHT. I'M JUST WONDERING, SHOULD WE ANTICIPATE THAT AND BASICALLY SAYING THEY NEED TO COME BACK AND GIVE US--.
HAVE THE CONTRACTOR SIGN THE PLAN SAYING EITHER I MADE SOME AMENDMENTS TO IT AND HERE'S THE AMENDMENTS, [INAUDIBLE] INSTALLED IT EXACTLY LIKE--.
SO THAT THE COUNTY WILL HAVE A RECORD OF JUST WHAT WE [INAUDIBLE] TO HAVE, WHERE STUFF IS UNDERGROUND, MAYBE THAT'S GETTING TOO DETAILED, BUT I MEAN, THAT WAS MY THOUGHT WHEN I READ NUMBER THREE. MS. LEWIS YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT? WELL, THEY TURN IN AS BILLEDS AT THE END, SO WE KNOW WHERE ALL THE CONDUITS AND WIRES AND ALL THAT ARE. YEAH.
BUT NUMBER THREE SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO ANTICIPATE THAT UP FRONT.
IF THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN ANY-- IF THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN ANY ABOVEGROUND WIRING, THEY HAVE TO ANTICIPATE THAT UP FRONT, AND ASK FOR IT IN THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT PROCESS.
AND I EXPECT THAT MOST OF THEM WOULD BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RUN INTO TIMES THAT THEY CAN'T PUT IT UNDERGROUND.
RIGHT. AND THEY MAY HAVE BE FAR ENOUGH ALONG IN THE PROCESS THAT THEY CAN TELL NOT EXACTLY WHERE THAT WIRE IS GOING TO GO, BUT IN THIS AREA, BECAUSE OF THE EARTH--.
YEAH. WE MAY HAVE TO USE ABOVE GROUND.
AND I'M ASSUMING [INAUDIBLE] THE PODS WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE NEWSOMS BOYKINS PROJECT.
I GUESS EVERYTHING IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY IS, I GUESS, [INAUDIBLE] UTILITY NETWORK.
THEY KNOW LIKE BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE SEWER AND WE HAVE WATER LINES, THE COUNTY HAS, ESPECIALLY [INAUDIBLE] 671 CORRIDOR.
THEY KNOW WHERE THE CROSSINGS AND THINGS AND--.
BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, EVEN THAT JUST AND THEY HAD TO GET A LAND USE PERMIT FOR THAT FROM VDOT.
RIGHT? SO THEIR AGREEMENTS AND PLANS-- SO WE DON'T HAVE THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S ALREADY BEING DONE? WE DON'T BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE CRITICAL, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME LIKE WE PUT A DRIVEWAY OR SUCH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO CALL [INAUDIBLE] UTILITY, JUST TO THERE'S NOTHING BECAUSE THERE'S PHONE WIRES AND THINGS THAT RUN ACROSS FARM [INAUDIBLE] AND SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DIG UP. RIGHT.
AND WHEN THAT DRIVEWAY CONNECTS TO A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, YOU HAVE TO GET A PERMIT FROM VDOT TO DO THAT.
IT'S A $500 PERMIT, AND THEY KEEP YOU MONEY FOR 10 MONTHS.
[01:40:06]
EVEN THOUGH YOU DO THE WORK IN ONE DAY AND THEN 10 MONTHS LATER, THEY SEND YOUR CHECK BACK TO YOU. THEY USE YOUR MONEY FOR 10 MONTH.UNLESS IT'S GRANDFATHERED IN, IF IT'S AN EXISTING DRIVEWAY.
YEAH, IF IT'S AN EXISTING DRIVEWAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO GET A PERMIT.
BUT IF YOU'RE CREATING A DRIVEWAY, YOU'RE PATH THAT'S TOUCHING THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
SO NOW IF THEY GO THERE AND EXPAND IT TO 80 FEET OR WHATEVER, MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT STORY.
BUT LIKE THE ONE THAT WENT IN BEHIND THE SUBSTATION IN BOYKINS, THAT DRIVEWAY, HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER. SO GRANDFATHERED DRIVEWAYS PRECLUDE THAT $500 DEAL.
ARE YOU GOOD? YEAH, I GUESS A COUPLE OF--.
AND JUST SO THAT YOU ALL KNOW, I CAN WRITE A LETTER TODAY AND READ IT TOMORROW AND STILL COME UP WITH SOME, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE PERFECT THE FIRST DAY, AND THEN IF I READ IT THE SECOND DAY, I CAN STILL HAVE COMMENTS ON [INAUDIBLE].
[LAUGHTER] DO ALL RIGHT. BETH, ON OUR EXISTING SOLAR FARM, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BUFFERING AREA AND YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE OWNER OF THE FACILITY, DO YOU HAVE AN EASY WAY AND AN ENFORCEABLE WAY OF DOING THAT? AND IF SO, IS THAT INCORPORATED IN THIS ORDINANCE? I GUESS SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT BOTTOM OF PAGE FIVE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT IN A IN A TIMELY MANNER UPON RECEIVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION, NOW IS THE TIME TO TIGHTEN THAT UP.
IF YOU ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME COMMUNICATING, AND DOCUMENTING THAT, AND I'M SAYING SOMETHING OTHER THAN HAVING TO GO AND WRITE A CERTIFIED LETTER AND WALK TO THE POST OFFICE AND, YOU KNOW.
WITH THE FACILITY THAT'S IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE A CONTACT.
WE DO YOU KNOW A PERSON, AND THEY WORK AT STRATA SOLAR, AND WE KNOW A PHONE NUMBER AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT MAINTAIN THE FACILITY.
DO YOU HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS? YES. OKAY.
AND THAT'S MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS THAT YOU MAKE A PHONE CALL, BUT YOU REALLY CAN'T PROVE THAT YOU MADE THAT PHONE CALL REALLY EASY, BUT IF YOU WRITE AN EMAIL TO THEM SAYING YOU NEED TO CUT THIS BUFFER ZONE--.
WE WOULD DO IT ALL BY CERTIFIED LETTER ANYHOW.
I KNOW, CAN WE MAKE IT EASIER RATHER THAN THAT'S NOT A DIFFICULT THING TO DO, BUT YES, WE HAVE A NAME, A PHONE NUMBER, AN EMAIL ADDRESS OF THE PEOPLE THAT RUN THE FACILITY IN THE BOYKINS AREA.
YES. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A PHYSICAL OFFICE IN NEWSOMS FOR THAT FACILITY.
SO YOU DO HAVE A I JUST KNOW THAT IF I HAVE TO SEND A CERTIFIED LETTER TO SOMEBODY, IT'S LABORIOUS, IT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT TO SEND AN EMAIL, IT DOESN'T COST ME MUCH.
WE DO 5, 10, 15, 20 CERTIFIED LETTERS A WEEK, SO.
I KNOW AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE FOR THAT TO REDUCE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S EXPENSIVE FOR THE COUNTY.
THEY DON'T RESPOND THEN THEY DON'T RESPOND, EMAIL, CARRIER PIGEON, WHATEVER.
RIGHT? SO WHY NOT IMPLEMENT SOMETHING THAT'S CHEAPER TO DO, RATHER, THIS WAY YOU HAVE--.
AND WITH A CERTIFIED LETTER, YOU HAVE A--.
OKAY. I MEAN, [INAUDIBLE] SORRY.
I MEAN, I'M JUST I'M JUST BRINGING UP MY THOUGHT PROCESS WHEN I READ THAT.
DID WE LOOK FOR? BUT I THINK THE COUNTY STILL SHOULD RESERVE THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE PROPERTY THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
SO WHERE WAS THAT? AND I GUESS THE THING IS, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF PIGGYBACKS ON WHAT DOUG HAS SAID.
SO [INAUDIBLE] I'VE SCANNED THIS AND I JUST I GUESS I WAS LOOKING FOR IT TOO HARD.
BECAUSE DMME HAD CHANGED THEIR NAME TO DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OR THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR NAMES, AND LIKE DOUG, SAYS IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH
[01:45:05]
ANYBODY THAT THEY HAVE REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER, ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS CALL THEM AND THEY'RE JOHNNY ON THE SPOT.EXCEPT WITH SOLAR FACILITIES, THEY'VE GOT NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER SOLAR FACILITIES.
AND THEY'RE THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
MS. LEWIS, DO WE NEED A MOTION TO SEND THIS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS? IF YOU'RE READY TO DO THAT AT THIS STEP.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED A MOTION, [INAUDIBLE] WANT TO IT'D BE FINE.
MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME [INAUDIBLE].
YEAH. OKAY. YEAH WE'RE HITTING THE SAME ISSUES.
I THINK YOU ALL DONE A GREAT JOB.
YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE THREE MILES TO FIVE MILES? YES. AND I STILL AM NOT CLEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO ABOUT THE RATIO.
WELL, I AGREE WITH WHAT MR. RAILEY, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, MAYBE IT SHOULD BE APT TO CHANGE AS THE TIMELINE GOES FORWARD BECAUSE THOSE ACRES MADE--.
INSTEAD OF USING TODAY'S WHICH I WAS THINKING OF [INAUDIBLE] AWAY AND PUT A SPECIFIC NUMBER ON IT, BUT THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE.
YOU'RE RIGHT. BUT SINCE THERE'S ALREADY CONFUSION NOW AND WE'RE THE ONES DOING THIS, [INAUDIBLE]. MAYBE WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO IS PUT A RATIO IN AS OF A CERTAIN DATE, AND IT HAS TO BE REVISED EVERY THREE YEARS BY THE COUNTY.
BECAUSE ISN'T THE TREND IN AGRICULTURAL LAND SHRINKING.
SO IF YOU PUT TODAY'S AMOUNT IN AND YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IT EVERY 10 YEARS, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO PROTECT THE MOST POSSIBLE AGRICULTURAL LAND.
RIGHT? I DON'T THINK IN THE GRAPH THAT I SAW IT EVER INCREASES.
THAT'S RIGHT. IT ALWAYS DECREASES, AND IT'S NOT A LOT.
I MEAN, THE ASA OFFICE WHEN I EVER HELD OUT TO BE.
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY FOOD PLOTS AND TOMATOES.
IS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
WE INSERT THAT AMOUNT, AND THEN, I MEAN, HOW CAN THAT BE--? OR WE HAVE THE THOUGHT PROCESS AT THE MEETING AND MAYBE DISCUSS THAT WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
OR SAY AS DETERMINED BY THE FSA AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.
WELL, I LIKE THAT. BUT WE DON'T NEED TO SAY FSA AND DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY CLEARED LAND AND AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.
BUT YOU GOT TO INCLUDE BOTH OF THEM BECAUSE FSA IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU OKAY. THAT'LL WORK.
[INAUDIBLE] MAKE YOURSELF A PURSE OUT OF A SOWS EAR.
THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] BUT I GUESS MY THING IS IF WE'RE GETTING CONFUSED OVER HOW TO WORD IT AND WHATEVER, THAT'S WHY I SAY WE PUT A RATIO IN THERE AND UPGRADED EVERY 10 YEARS.
BUT BASED ON FSA AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S--.
I MEAN, DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY'S FIGURES, WE REVIEW IT EVERY 10 YEARS, 6 YEARS, 3 YEARS, WHATEVER, BUT WE DO THE MATH NOW SO THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO KNOW 10 YEARS HOW WE INTENDED FOR IT TO BE.
RIGHT. I AGREE. HAVE THE FORMULA IN PLACE? CORRECT.
WHICH IS THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE COMING FROM THE FSA FOR CLEARED OR FARMLAND AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY--.
PERCENT. AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION, 40 PERCENT FORESTED AND 60 PERCENT AGRICULTURE, YOU JUST WANT TO SAY, AS DETERMINED BY FSA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY? YES.
OK. RIGHT. THAT'S THE ONLY TIME WE CAN GO BY.
OK. WHAT I MEANT WITH THE FORMULA WAS THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET THE INFORMATION.
YOU SAID THAT'S WHERE WE GET TO ONE PERCENT, RIGHT? YEAH. OK. BUT THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IS THAT WE'RE OFFERING
[01:50:03]
THAT ONE PERCENT AND WE ALSO GOT TO KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DEVELOP IT BY RATIOS.AND I GUESS SAYING ONE PERCENT OF THE EGG LAYING AND ONE PERCENT OF THE FOREST LAND WE DO THAT WITH. IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE NOT GOING--.
IF WE SAY ONE PERCENT OF OUR TOTAL ACREAGE CAN GO TO THE SOLAR FACILITIES, BUT WE CAN SAY ONE PERCENT OF THE AG LAND AND ONE PERCENT OF THE FOREST LANE AND [INAUDIBLE] GIVE US THE SAME SAME ANSWER.
NO. THEN YOU HAVE TWO PERCENT.
YEAH, ONE PERCENT. I THINK YOU GOT IT.
AND NOW, WE'RE JUST CREATING WAYS TO OKAY, I GOT OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO ADD THAT AND CHANGE IT TO FIVE YEARS AND--.
FIVE MILES. FIVE MILES, RIGHT.
AND YOU WANT TO--. YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO SEND IT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-- .
AND ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD SCHEDULE A JOINT MEETING TO DISCUSS IT BEFORE YOUR PUBLIC HEARING. I THINK THE BOARD NEEDS TO LOOK AT IT, [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE A JOINT MEETING AND SOME DIFFERENT--.
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HAMMERING AWAY AT THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE DONE [INAUDIBLE] ASKED AND THEN THE BOARD IS GOING TO KIND OF GIVE US A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, I THINK.
AND THEN WE'LL PROBABLY MAKE--.
AND THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE GOING TO SAY, HEY, I DIDN'T THINK OF THAT . THAT'S RIGHT. BUT I THINK WE'RE ASKING HYPOTHETICALS LIKE MR. CHESSON LIKES TO. I DON'T THINK THE BOARD'S GOING TO HAVE A BIG--.
BE NICE. DISAGREEMENT WITH [INAUDIBLE]. BUT THAT'S GOOD.
I MEAN, [LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW, YOU THINK IT'S DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES IN YOUR THINKING, LIKE MR. MANN WAS TAKING, YOU KNOW, REMEDIATION AND WHEN HE HE BRINGS THOSE ISSUES UP AND MAKES ME THINK OF POSSIBILITIES, YOU KNOW? IN HIS LINE OF WORK, HE DEALS WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAN I DEAL WITH THAT ARE MORE APPLICABLE TO THIS TYPE OF PROCESS.
SO I DON'T THINK THE BOARD'S MINDSET IS ANY DIFFERENT [INAUDIBLE] THIS COMMITTEE.
THE MAKE UP OF THE BOARD AND THE MAKE UP OF THIS COMMITTEE IS TREMENDOUSLY ALIKE.
THE BOARD IS JUST AS CONCERNED ABOUT THE COUNTY [INAUDIBLE] MORE AS WE ARE.
OK? AND I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT [INAUDIBLE] THERE MIGHT BE SOME SMALL THINGS. I BET THE--.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF PROBLEM.
WELL, IT JUST ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF EYES AND MINDS ON THIS TO GET SOME INPUT SO THAT WE'VE GOT A VERY STRONG DOCUMENT BY THE TIME WE GO TO A PUBLIC HEARING.
EXACTLY. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR BECAUSE WE GO TO A PUBLIC HEARING, THAT'S A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S PEOPLE THAT BRING SOME GOOD IDEAS.
I TRY NOT TO BE LOCKED IN ON AN ISSUE.
THEY COME UP WITH IDEAS AND I'M THINKING, WHY DIDN'T WE THINK OF THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE? AND THAT'S WHY IT'S NICE TO HAVE THE CUSHION TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ONE MONTH AND MAKE YOUR DECISION THE NEXT MONTH.
IF YOU'VE LISTENED TO AN HOUR OR A COUPLE OF HOURS OF COMMENTS, IT'S HARD TO DIGEST IT ALL, AND--.
I AGREE. AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S GOOD TO GO BACK AND READ THE MINUTES.
YOU HEAR IT ALL, AND I WANT TO KEEP A NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ON BOARD, BUT I DON'T WANT TO RUN OUT OF TIME EITHER FOR THIS ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW, IT'S--.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PLAN THAT.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO DO THIS AND THEN HE OR HER OR WHOEVER IS OUT OF THE LOOP WHEN THIS COMES THROUGH.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT'S COME DOWN THE PIKE IN A LONG TIME.
WELL, THAT MIGHT BE THAT FIRST LINE OF HOMEWORK.
[LAUGHTER] WHEN YOU DO THE INTERVIEWING, BY THE WAY, WHETHER WE HIRE YOU OR NOT--.
[INAUDIBLE] TURN AROUND AND LEAVE.
I DON'T KNOW. IT MAY SCARE THEM OFF.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT. MRS. ALLSTON, YOU'VE BEEN KIND OF QUIET.
I'M DOWN HERE AND BY MY LONESOME.
DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT, MA'AM? JUST OTHER THAN MR. MANN WANTED TO KNOW PAGE NINE NUMBER NINE, THE COUNTY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ENTER THE PROPERTY UP TO THREE TIMES PER CALENDAR YEAR.
YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. PAGE NINE, NUMBER NINE.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN HERE THAT IF WE FIND NOXIOUS WEEDS, FIRE ANTS THAT THEY HAVE TO SUPPRESS THOSE? IS THAT IN HERE OR NOT? THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR A NOXIOUS WEEDS AND INVASIVE SPECIES PLAN.
SO, DO THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE?
[01:55:02]
[INAUDIBLE] JUST THEY KNOW THEY'VE [INAUDIBLE]? WHILE IT WOULD--. THE PLAN WOULD REQUIRE THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF THEM, AND IF THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEM, THEN THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF THE PLAN.ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SO WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING TO DO IS TO GET ANOTHER REVISED, A COUPLE OF ISSUES HERE CHANGED, AND GET THIS DRAFT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS WELL AS OURSELVES, WE'LL GET ANOTHER COPY AS WELL AND LET EVERYONE REVIEW IT AND THEN AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO BE INVITED TO A SUPERVISOR'S MEETING POSSIBLY AND HAVE A BRIEF-- SO WE'RE GOING TO SEND THIS WITH THE REVISIONS TO THE BOARD FOR THEIR NEXT MEETING? THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.
IS THAT WHAT I DON'T MEAN TO PUT [INAUDIBLE] WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.
IS THAT WE WANT TO DO? [INAUDIBLE] I'LL MAKE THESE TWO LITTLE REVISIONS.
YES. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION THAT IT IS TO BE SENT TO THE BOARD AT THEIR NEXT MEETING.
AND THEN THE BOARD CAN THEN AND THEN THAT MOTION, WE WOULD BE GLAD TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING IF THEY DEEM IT APPROPRIATE? RIGHT.
YOU WANT THE BOARD--? TO REVIEW THE DRAFT.
WE THINK THAT THEY SHOULD SEE IT FIRST-- I THINK THE BOARD OUGHT TO INDIVIDUALLY REVIEW IT.
EACH MEMBER SHOULD GET A COPY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. OKAY, THAT'S WHAT HE'S SAYING.
NOT TO REVIEW IT OFFICIALLY AT THE MEETING? NO, THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEN WE'RE--.
WELL, I MEANT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS-- CORRECT.
WE WOULD BE WILLING TO MEET AT A JOINT MEETING, IF SO APPROPRIATE, AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS. AND MS. LEWIS CAN WORK WITH MR. JOHNSON, WE'LL SET UP, OR THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR OR WHATEVER, AND WE'LL SET UP AN APPROPRIATE SCHEDULE SO WE DON'T GET MESSED UP ON THE DEADLINE HERE.
BUT I STILL LIKE TO SEE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT WE NEED TO DO, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I MEAN WITH THE JOINT MEETING.
BUT--. WE WANT TO BE-- WE'RE SHOWING OUR DEFERENCE.
WE WOULD BE WILLING TO MEET IF THEY DEEM IT SO.
THAT'S RIGHT. KEEP US ON SCHEDULE.
THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO KNOW A YEAR.
YEAH. SO IF YOU HAVE TO SEND US AN EMAIL AND SAY-- I MADE THE MOTION.
WE DO HAVE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE MOTION IS, TO HAVE THE REVISED DRAFT SENT TO EACH BOARD MEMBER.
ALL RIGHT. MR. CHESSON, YOU'VE GOT A COMMENT DISCUSSION AND I GUESS I WROTE, I'VE LOOKED THROUGH SOME OF MY NOTES.
I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF MY NOTES, BUT SOME OF MY NOTES WE INCLUDE SIGNAGE, REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SIGNAGE BECAUSE OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE FACILITY WHAT MAY BE, WE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUFFER ZONE BECAUSE OF THE APPEARANCE.
WOULD THIS BOARD HAVE A PROBLEM IF THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY PUT UP THESE CHAIN LINK FENCES AND THEY WERE BRIGHT ORANGE AND ALL THE I-BEAMS THAT WERE PUT IN WERE BRIGHT YELLOW ? SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOOKS OF THESE THINGS? AND IF SO, DOES THIS DRAFT INCLUDE THAT? LET'S GO WITH WHAT WE GOT.
YOU BRING IT UP. I MEAN, I'M NOT GOING TO BRING IT UP ANYMORE-- WELL. I THINK YOU SHOULD. SECOND TIME I BROUGHT IT UP.
WE GOT. [INAUDIBLE] I'M SORRY, I'LL BE DEAR IN THAT EAR.
[LAUGHTER] MAKE A NOTE OF THAT MR. CHESSON. I'M GOING TO HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
I DON'T GUESS IT [INAUDIBLE], BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNEW.
YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW. MR. CHAIRMAN, I CALL FOR THE QUESTION HERE.
I GOT A CALL FOR THE QUESTION, SO WE'RE GOING TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO SEND THE REVISED DRAFT HAVE IT SENT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS WELL AS WE RECEIVING A COPY, SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I THINK WE'RE FINALLY GETTING THERE, BUT I DO, I THINK THE DISCUSSION IS GOOD AND I THINK WE'VE GOT AN ORDINANCE THAT--.
[02:00:01]
WELL, IT IS WHAT IT IS.GOING DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, THERE'S NO NEW BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA.
[V. NEW BUSINESS]
ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO BRING FORWARD? HAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PASSED THE NECESSARY ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REVENUE SHARING? AND I MAY NOT KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT I THINK WE HAD A CONSULTANT IN HERE TALKING ABOUT IT.AND I WANT TO DIRECT THAT QUESTION.
MS. LEWIS, HAD THEY ACTUALLY MADE A DECISION? I THINK THERE WAS A DIFFERENT OPTIONS, CORRECT? THE REVENUE SHARING IS THE $1,400 DOLLARS A MEGAWATT, AND THAT'S A TAXING ISSUE.
THAT HAS TO BE AN ORDINANCE THAT IS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AND SINCE IT'S STRICTLY A TAXING ISSUE THAT DOESN'T COME TO THIS BODY, THE OTHER-- THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION.
THE OTHER THING THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS TO ADOPT IF THEY WANT TO TAKE PART IN IS SITING AGREEMENTS, WHETHER THEY WILL ACCEPT SITING AGREEMENTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S AN OPTION.
I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TO, BUT I BELIEVE THE ORDINANCE HAS TO BE AMENDED TO SAY THAT THEY WILL ACCEPT SITING IMPROVEMENTS--.
LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[VI. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD]
AT THIS TIME I OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.ANYONE WISHING TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK OF ANY KIND OF MATTER, YOU CAN COME FORWARD NOW.
DID YOU ALL SEE MR. [INAUDIBLE] TURN AROUND? HE LOOKED AT THE CLOCK AND HE SAW 28 UNTIL 10:00.
I'M HARD OF HEARING [LAUGHTER] MY WIFE TOLD ME TO SHUT UP, I THOUGHT YOU SAID, STAND UP.
YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WELL, I DIDN'T HEAR HER SAY THAT.
SO, THANK YOU, JACK, FOR INVITING ME TO EXPRESS MY OPINION.
AT YOUR LAST MEETING YOU WERE HERE, YOU ASK THE QUESTION AND I WILL ANSWER IT.
THE ANSWER IS, HAVE THE GUTS ENOUGH TO STAND UP AND SAY NO MORE SOLAR PANELS IN THE COUNTY.
AND THAT'S A--. PUT IT UP TO VOTE FOR THE COMMON MAN OF [INAUDIBLE] COUNTRY, AND THAT [INAUDIBLE] ANSWER WOULD BE.
I BEG, PLEADED WITH SOME OF [INAUDIBLE] TO PLEASE HAVE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE. YOU HAVE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF [INAUDIBLE] OCCURRED, SOLAR PANELS [INAUDIBLE]. YOU WOULDN'T COME TO THESE MEETINGS.
WE'RE LOSING A FORTUNE IN TAX REVENUE.
[INAUDIBLE] AND NOT ONLY TAX REVENUE, JOBS, BUSINESSES, THEN YOU GO ON DOWN THE LIST YOU'RE LOSING MAYBE FIVE TO TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR ON REVENUE COMES TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT? NOTHING. [INAUDIBLE] THE STATE COLLECTING 80 PERCENT OF THE TAX REVENUE.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS? WE SIT HERE WITH OUR HANDS CROSSED, [INAUDIBLE] DICTATORSHIP FROM MY GOVERNMENT MOST [INAUDIBLE], WHAT DO YOU--.
WHAT IS IT OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT DOES? IF THAT'S NOT A DICTATORSHIP, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
HE GETS [INAUDIBLE] WRITES HIS JOHN HANCOCK ON A PIECE OF PAPER, AND HE BANKRUPTED THE COUNTRY [INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE] YOU [INAUDIBLE] MIGHT BE WEALTHIER THAN I, WHICH Y'ALL ARE.
I KNOW I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD A SOLAR CAR.
WE WILL NOT TOLERATE [INAUDIBLE] ABLE TO EXIST.
[02:05:03]
I HEARD, AND THIS WAS FROM NATIONAL CONGRESS PERSON, HE SAID TWO THIRDS, REPEAT TWO THIRDS OF OUR COUNTRY IS UNDER DROUGHT CONDITIONS WITH THE COMING YEAR.[INAUDIBLE] YOU RATHER DO? [INAUDIBLE] THOSE SOLAR PANELS THAT YOU WERE LINED UP [INAUDIBLE] TO BE EATING SOMETHING BESIDES FOOD.
[INAUDIBLE] SOLAR PANEL DON'T ADD ONE THING TO [INAUDIBLE] ENVIRONMENT.
AND I WANT ANYONE, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE BRINGING IT, OF GROUPS [INAUDIBLE] INDIVIDUALS.
HOW CAN YOU OR ANYONE EXPLAIN TO ME, WITH MY PEA-BRAIN, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COUNTRY [INAUDIBLE] OIL, COAL OR NATURAL FUEL FOR THAT COUNTRY AS THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES BEGGING THEM, PLEASE BUYING FUEL FROM THEM, [INAUDIBLE] WE GET SITTING HERE [INAUDIBLE]? HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME THAT IT MAKES SENSE, COMMON SENSE.
IT IS A [INAUDIBLE] DECAY, BUT COMMON SENSE, BOTH ECONOMIC ON THE SOLAR PANELS.
LOOK AT THE SOLAR PANELS WE GOT.
THE PROPERTY OWNERS [INAUDIBLE] IT'S NEVER GOING TO REDUCE THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY SURROUNDED. I GOT AN EXAMPLE.
THE [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE THE SOLAR PANELS WENT IN, THE HOUSE WAS VALUED AT $75,000. THE OWNER TRIED TO SELL IT FOR FOUR YEARS.
THEY FINELY HAD TO SELL IT FOR LESS THAN $50,000.
IF THAT'S NOT A 30 PERCENT REDUCTION.
THEN WHEN YOUR [INAUDIBLE] AND YOUR PEOPLE ARE SURROUNDED, IT'S GOING TO RECEIVE THE SAME DEVALUATION OF YOUR PROPERTY AND YOUR PROPERTY VALUE.
HOW CAN YOU EXPECT THESE PEOPLE TO CARRY [INAUDIBLE] EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WHEN YOU STEALING--. THE SOLAR PANELS ARE STEALING THE MONEY FROM THE POOR PEOPLE IN THE AREA.
EXCUSE ME. I DON'T [INAUDIBLE] VERY CRITICAL, BUT HERE'S ONE THING I AM CRITICAL ABOUT.
IT'S ALL RIGHT TO PUT SOLAR PANEL UP 500 FEET FROM YOUR HOUSE.
HOW MANY OF Y'ALL [INAUDIBLE] SEE YOUR HAND, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOLAR PANELS NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE WITHIN FIVE HUNDRED FEET? [INAUDIBLE].
HOW MANY HANDS WOULD GO UP? I WANT SOLAR PANELS SURROUNDING MY HOUSE.
IT'S ALL RIGHT PUT ON YOUR HOUSE [INAUDIBLE] LAYER, AND ON BUILDINGS AND DRIVEWAYS AND WHATEVER.
BUT TO HAVE THE AGRICULTURE LAND TAKEN OUT.
IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME, AND I WANT--.
THE WHOLE SHEBANG GOES BACK TO ONE THING.
WHY IS ALL THESE [INAUDIBLE] COMING DOWN THAT YOU CAN HAVE ONE PERCENT OR TWO PERCENT? WHY ARE WE GOT TO DO IT SO THE SOLAR PANELS CAN MAKE IT [INAUDIBLE]? WHOSE MAKING A LIVING IN CHINA.
THEY WANT TO PRODUCE MOST OF THE SOLAR PANELS, AND YET WE'RE GUNG-HO BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SO EAGER TO GET GREEN DEAL PASSED.
THEY FORMING A DICTATORSHIP, [COUGH].
MR. UPDIKE, LIMIT IT TO WHAT WE
[02:10:01]
THE GOVERNMENT DOES? PLEASE DIRECT YOUR REMARKS TO WHAT THIS PANEL CAN DO.[INAUDIBLE] JUST GOT THROUGH WITH MAKING MY REMARKS.
OK. YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF WHAT'S BEEN DONE.
AND LOOK AT WHAT A FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE IS IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE WORLD AND LOOK AT YOUR DINNER PLATE.
YOU ALL HAVE A SHIRT ON YOUR BACK IN 30 YEARS [INAUDIBLE] WITH INFLATION, GAS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THE ONLY THE PLACE THAT I CAN SEE SOLAR PANELS ARE IS ON ROOFTOPS, BUILDINGS.
WITH THE LAND THAT'S BEEN [INAUDIBLE] LIKE BEEN MINED IN THE [INAUDIBLE], THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WE ARE BEING ROBBED, WHEN YOU SAY YOU GOT TO HAVE TWO PERCENT OR ONE PERCENT, WHATEVER PERCENTAGE MIGHT BE.
WE'VE GOT OVER [INAUDIBLE] CLOSE TO FIVE THOUSAND ACRES OF WOODS UNDERWATER, [INAUDIBLE] DON'T I DONATE THAT FIVE THOUSAND ACRES TO THE SOLAR PEOPLE.
GO AHEAD. I WON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THOSE PUTTING IT ON THE WETLANDS, BUT THEY TAKE THE FOOD OFF MY--.
I LOVE TO EAT, SO THEY'RE TAKING FOOD OFF MY PLATE AND I GOT A WHOLE [INAUDIBLE] SICK OF IT. SO.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN TREATED [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT WITH THAT AMOUNT OF WETLANDS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN A SUMMARY OF WOODS.
YOU [INAUDIBLE] THEY GOING DOWN THERE IN THE SWAMP TO BUILD IT? NO, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THE BEST LAB IN THE COUNTY.
HERE AND YOU SAY, NO, NO, WE WILL LET THEM.
SO. THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER, AND [INAUDIBLE] NOTHING MORE THEN THE SOLAR PANELS AND Y'ALLS AGREEMENT [INAUDIBLE] ON SOIL IT'S ALL RIGHT, BUT IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT, AND IN A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT LIKE IT IS, YOUR GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
[INAUDIBLE] GOING UP 3,600 PERCENT [INAUDIBLE] GOING TO MAKE IT . AND Y'ALL WANT TO TAKE ANY GOOD LAND AND GIVE IT AWAY.
I [INAUDIBLE] AND YOU SAY WE GOT TO DO IT.
I WANT [INAUDIBLE] SOMEONE NEED TO STAND UP AND HAVE COURAGE ENOUGH TO SAY, NO, THIS DOES NOT BENEFIT OUR COUNTRY WHATSOEVER.
THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE EXTRA STEPS THAT YOU PUT [INAUDIBLE] US.
[INAUDIBLE]. I DON'T THINK YOU LISTENED TO HER MR. UPDIKE. [LAUGHTER] I DON'T THINK YOU LISTENED TO HER.
I LISTEN TO YOU. BUT MR. UPDIKE. YOU ASKED ME, WHAT-- WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS THE MOST--.
WE'RE FOLLOWING THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCE THAT IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
WILL YOU JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR ME? BECAUSE LAST TIME YOU WERE UP HERE, I TOLD YOU THIS WAS MAYBE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO, BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WE'RE FOLLOWING THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA THAT IS IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS, THIS IS NOT BENEFITING OUR CITIZENS, OUR COUNTY.
THEREFORE, THE ANSWER IS NO, EXCEPT FOR THESE PURE AND SIMPLE SOLAR PANELS ON ROOFS, [INAUDIBLE] LAND, RECLAIMED LAND.
[02:15:04]
IT'S NOT TO DO WITH ANY AGRICULTURAL LAND [INAUDIBLE] IS AGRICULTURAL EXCEPT FOR IN THE SOIL. I WILL [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT ONE.ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. UPDIKE. ANYONE ELSE? I KNOW.
CROSS. YEAH, AND I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON TWO POINT, MR. RANDALL, I KNOW AS A LAWYER IT'S YOUR JOB TO FIND GRAY AREA IN EVERY RULE, BUT IF IT WAS SO EASY FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF AG [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICTS, IF THERE WASN'T SOME STIPULATION AND SOME BACKBONE TO IT, THEN EVERY ACRE IN LAND USE TAXATION WOULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN ALL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
SO THERE'S SOME BACKBONE THERE FOR A REASON, AND JUST BECAUSE A PERSON WANTS TO GET OUT, I DON'T THINK, IT'S ALLOWED TO.
BUT I'LL LET YOU ALL PASS THAT AT A LATER TIME.
OH, I CALLED [INAUDIBLE] FARM BUREAU, I TEXTED HIM WHILE WE WERE BACK HERE LISTENING, AND BECAUSE YOU HAD QUESTIONS AND [INAUDIBLE] CURRENTLY JUST PLUS OF SIXTY THREE THOUSAND ACRES IN VIRGINIA, APPROVED FOR SOLAR FACILITIES NOW, ALREADY INSTALLED, OR ALREADY APPROVED.
DOMINION WANTS TO PRODUCE 16 GIGAWATTS OF SOLAR OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS, THAT WOULD REQUIRE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND.
VIRGINIA'S CLEAN ECONOMY ACT SAYS ALL ELECTRICITY GENERATED MUST BE 100 PERCENT CARBON FREE BY 2045.
Y'ALL HAVE HEARD THEM FIGURES BEFORE.
DOMINION MUST SUPPLY 41 PERCENT OF ITS POWER FROM RENEWABLES BY 2030, INCLUDING ALL THE CARBON EMITTING POWER PLANTS BY 2045.
THERE ARE ENERGY PORTFOLIO, WHATEVER THAT IS, INCLUDES TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND MEGAWATTS OF POWER GENERATION.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT THAT IS IN VIRGINIA, BUT IT WOULD BE ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THOUSAND ACRES TO GENERATE THAT MUCH ELECTRICITY.
SO ONE PERCENT OF THE LAND IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WHAT DID WE DECIDE IT WAS? THIRTY SIX HUNDRED ACRES? THIRTY EIGHT SIXTY.
[INAUDIBLE] ONE OF THE LARGEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE, SO JUST MULTIPLY 3,800 BY 80.
HOW MANY COUNTIES? 81 COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA? NINETY FIVE. NINETY FIVE.
JUST DO THAT MATH, AND THEN IF EVERYBODY DID ONE PERCENT, VIRGINIA SHOULD GET WITH IT.
THEY NEED TO [INAUDIBLE] ANY KIND OF [INAUDIBLE].
SO THEY'RE JUST FACTS I HAD FOR YOU, AND THE ONLY THING I SEE WE'RE LACKING MOVING FORWARD AT THIS POINT IS TRUE INFORMATION.
MICHAEL WAS TALKING, HIS THOUGHTS, AWAIT THE GENERAL PUBLIC THINKS AND WHERE WE SHOULD BE WITH GREEN ELECTRICITY. DR.
EDWARDS WAS TRYING TO BRING POINTS FORWARD THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCOVERED BY OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE THAT IT DOESN'T WORK.
WE TALK ABOUT BATTERIES AND HOW MUCH THEY COST TO MINE TO MAKE THEM BATTERIES.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE GENERAL PUBLIC [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT WANTING OR EITHER NOT WANTING.
I THOUGHT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD ALREADY AS MANY SPEAKERS WITH PURE, SOUND FACTS, SCIENTIFIC FACTS ABOUT WHAT'S INVOLVED IN PUTTING SOLAR TOGETHER, WHAT'S INVOLVED IN MAKING BATTERIES, WHERE OTHER COUNTRIES ARE, HOW IT'S AFFECTED THEIR ECONOMIES.
THESE ARE THINGS MOVING FORWARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO LET OUR PUBLIC IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY REALIZE, HEY, WE THINK ONE PERCENT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO DECIMATE OTHER COUNTRIES, MINE THEIR SOILS AND HAVE SLAVE LABOR WORKING IN MINES.
[INAUDIBLE]. SO POINTS LIKE THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LACKING MOVING FORWARD AS Y'ALL ADDRESS [INAUDIBLE], AND I WAS JUST HOPING THAT AS MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME [INAUDIBLE] TELL Y'ALL HOW MY SOLAR FACILITY IS A GOOD DEAL.
YOU NEED TO HAVE A PEOPLE STAND [INAUDIBLE] TELLING YOU IT DIDN'T WORK IN EUROPE AND THEY'RE GOING BROKE. TO ME, THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE'RE MISSING, [INAUDIBLE], I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR WORK, AND I THINK MOST OF US ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, AND I APPLAUD YOUR WORK.
YOU KNOW, THESE STORAGE BATTERIES BOTHER ME TOO.
THERE ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM THE CAR BATTERIES, YOU KNOW, AND IT TAKES A HALF A MILLION
[02:20:01]
CUBIC FEET OF EARTH TO GET THE ELEMENTS TO PUT IN THESE THINGS, AND 60 PERCENT OF ITS COBALT.COBALT COMES FROM, 68 PERCENT OF IT COMES FROM THE BELGIAN CONGO, WHICH IS POISONING KIDS.
THEY'RE SLAVE LABOR AND KIDS WORKING THERE, AND WE'RE SUPPORTING THAT.
SO LIKE I SAID, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AND THE PEOPLE NEED TO BE EDUCATED AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN EUROPE. PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SEE STUFF, WE SEE SOMETHING HAPPENS IN [INAUDIBLE]. WE LISTEN TO IT, OKAY, IT HAPPENED TO THEM AND [INAUDIBLE] HAPPENED TO US? WE GO MAKE SURE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT DOING THE SAME THING WITH LOOKING AT OTHER COUNTRIES. WELL, I KNOW WHY NOT.
BECAUSE GOOD SENSE IS NOT PREVAILING HERE.
TODAY THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THERE IS A LITHIUM SHORTAGE, WHICH MEANS THERE'S A SHORTAGE IN MAKING BATTERIES FOR ELECTRIC CARS, AND THE ELECTRIC CARS ARE GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND THEN THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PLACES PUTTING IN SMALL SCALE NUCLEAR.
YOU KNOW, THE ENERGY, THE CARBON FOOTPRINT TO MAKE THAT ELECTRIC CAR, THAT CAR CAN NEVER NEUTRALIZE THAT IN ITS LIFE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? VERY GOOD COMMENTS.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD? IF NOT, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ITEM NUMBER SIX ON THE AGENDA, IT LOOKS LIKE THE BZA GROUP IS GOING TO HAVE AN APPLICATION
[VII. BZA MATTERS]
BEFORE THEM. THAT DOESN'T CONCERN US HISTORICALLY, WE CAN SAY WE AGREE WITH IT.WE DON'T AGREE WITH IT. OR THERE'S NO OPINION.
RIGHT. MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, OR YOU DON'T.
RIGHT. FOR THE PEANUT COMPANY [INAUDIBLE].
FOR BELMONT PEANUTS, AND IT'S ON THE CORNER--.
IT'S PROPOSED ON THE CORNER OF SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY AND HOPE STATION ROAD.
WHAT IS THE FEELING OF THE BOARD? EVERYBODY KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE SIGN MR. IS IT ON THE NORTH SIDE OR? IT'S ON THE YEAH, I SEE IT NOW.
THERE'S A BIG FARM AREA THERE, AND THE LAND IS OWNED BY THE BELMONT PEANUTS FOLKS.
WOULD CERTAINLY HELP THEIR BUSINESS.
YEAH, IT'S A GOOD LOCATION AND THERE ARE VERY FEW BILLBOARDS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND ALL OF THEM ADVERTISE BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY OR FRANKLIN.
AND THIS IS, I THINK PARKERS PEANUTS AND BELMONT ARE THE ONLY TWO PEANUT COMPANIES ON 58--. THAT HAVE BUSINESSES ON 58 AND DON'T HAVE--.
[INAUDIBLE]. I HAD A CALL A COUPLE WEEKS BACK [INAUDIBLE] PEANUT.
I BET WE HAD AN HOUR CONVERSATION.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, BUT ANYWAY.
AND THIS IS JUST FOR THEIR USE.
SO I THINK IT'S PROMOTING A RESOURCE THAT WE PRODUCE.
AND THIS MEETS OUR SIGN ORDINANCE.
I MEAN, THIS IS LIKE THE LARGEST YOU CAN MAKE, I BELIEVE, RIGHT? YES.
THERE ARE BILLBOARDS POPPING UP THAT SAY PEANUT COUNTRY.
AND IN GREENSVILLE COUNTY, THERE ARE BILLBOARDS FOR PEANUT COMPANIES HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON.
YES. SO IT WOULD BE, IN MY MIND, GREAT TO HAVE OUR OWN HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON.
DO I HEAR A RECOMMENDATION [INAUDIBLE]? OH, I--. YES, I RECOMMEND THAT WE SUGGEST APPROVAL OF THIS.
SOME LOCALITIES HAVE WENT [LAUGHTER] AND THESE HUGE, LARGE BLIGHTED, LIKE YOU GO DOWN 95 AND YOU HIT SOUTH CAROLINA, YOU CAN REALLY TELL BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A BILLBOARD EVERY 10 FEET, IT SEEMS LIKE.
WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT, BUT BELMONT PEANUTS IS A CLASS ACT AND SOMETHING THAT IS THE TYPE OF BUSINESSES WE WANT IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, SO I THINK WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM. SO I WOULD HAVE A MOTION OR--.
I GOT A MOTION. OH, I'D SECOND.
SECOND THE MOTION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF SENDING A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BZA, SAY AYE.
IT IS UNANIMOUS. PROBABLY HAVEN'T MET IN THE LAST 10 YEARS--.
HE WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU MET.
I THINK TWO YEARS AGO? JANUARY OF [INAUDIBLE] THAT WAS STARTED IN DECEMBER 2020, ENDED IN
[02:25:06]
JANUARY OF 2021.WELL, I [INAUDIBLE] FOLLOW IT WITH JACK SAID.
HE SAID THIS PEANUT COMPANY WAS A CLASS ACT, BUT I'LL HAVE TO SAY ALL THESE FAMILY OWNED PEANUT COMPANIES IN THIS COUNTY IS A CLASS ACT.
YES. PARKER PEANUTS ON 58 HAVE JUST RENOVATED A BUILDING.
IT LOOKS VERY I'M TRYING NOT TO CALL NAMES, YOU KNOW, IS WHAT--.
I'M SAYING, ALL THESE FAMILY OWNED PEANUT BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTY ARE A CLASS ACT, AND IT'S OUR JOB SUPPORTING THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE PART OF THE AG INDUSTRY.
AND I DON'T WANT TO CALL NAMES BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO FORGET ANYBODY.
THAT'S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE BEING IN CHURCH AND THANKING THE PEOPLE THAT'S WORKED HARD, YOU'RE GOING TO MISS SOMEBODY.
I JUST WON'T. I'M EXCITED THAT WE GOT PEANUT FAMILIES THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD AND MAKING A BIG--.
THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THE WORLD.
AND THEY WANT TO ADVERTISE THAT THEY HAVE A DELI THERE, THAT THEY DON'T ONLY SELL-- THAT THEY SELL--. YOU KNOW, THAT YOU CAN STOP FOR A MEAL AND NOT JUST--.
WE'RE EVEN SENDING SOME OF THESE PEANUTS TO CHINA.
ANY ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE THIS BOARD BEFORE WE ADJOURN? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, I CALL MR. RANDALL.
MOTION TO ADJOURN. HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
DO I HAVE SECOND? SECOND. HAVE A SECOND.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.