YEAH, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE A MEETING OF THE MARCH OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
[00:00:11]
TO ORDER AND WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE.LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT MR. MANN IS NOT IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT, BUT WE WELCOME THE ONES IN OUR AUDIENCE HAS COME TONIGHT TO BE A PART OF THIS MEETING.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MR. CHESSON, COULD I ASK YOU IF YOU WOULD LEAD US IN A BRIEF INVOCATION? PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. PLEASE.
IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO PRAY WITH ME, PLEASE DO.
DEAR FATHER. LORD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE THINGS YOU DO FOR US.
LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNTY, THIS STATE, OUR NATION.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE, THE FISCAL STRENGTH THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US.
I WOULD HELP US USE THAT STRENGTH FOR YOUR PURPOSES AND YOUR GLORY.
LEAS AND GUIDE OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE.
I THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.
AGAIN, WE WELCOME YOU HERE TONIGHT TO OUR MEETING.
MR. WAYLAND, NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US TONIGHT AS WELL.
THANK YOU. UM, WELL, WE'LL DIVE RIGHT INTO OUR AGENDA.
[II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.I SEE THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR PACKETS IN FRONT OF THEM.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE MINUTES.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
SECOND. I HAVE A PROPER MOTION AND A SECOND THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
ANY OPPOSED LIKE SIGN IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
IF THERE'S ANYONE LIKE TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER ANY COUNTY, THIS IS.
IF YOU'RE COMING TONIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, THAT WILL BE THE NEXT ITEM.
SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU CAN COME FORWARD NOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THAT PERIOD UP.
ANYONE LIKE TO COME FORWARD? IF NOT. AND WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[IV. PUBLIC HEARING]
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.WE'LL GO DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.
WE'VE GOT A APPLICATION FROM CORY STEVENS FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK IF MS. LEWIS WILL PROCEED WITH THAT, PLEASE.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A FIREWOOD OPERATION LOCATED AT 30520 BERLIN-IVOR ROAD TAX MAP NUMBER 22-24, 22-24B AND 22-24C PROPERTY HAS A ONE AGRICULTURAL ZONING AND IS JUST OVER SIX ACRES IN SIZE AND IN THE A ONE ZONING DESIGNATION, A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS REQUIRED TO OPERATE A FIREWOOD OPERATION.
THE APPLICANT HAS OPENED THE FIREWOOD OPERATION AND HE OFFERS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS TO SEEK THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT SO HE CAN GET HIS APPROPRIATE BUSINESS LICENSE.
HE SAYS HE PLANS TO RUN AND OPERATE A FIREWOOD OPERATION AT 30520 BERLIN-IVOR ROAD AT THE OLD BERLIN FARM SERVICE PLANS TO OPERATE DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8 TO 5.
HE ESTIMATES APPROXIMATELY FIVE LOG TRUCKS TO BRING LOGS IN PER WEEK.
IT WILL BE A SINGLE EMPLOYEE OPERATION.
HE PLANS FOR BUSINESS TO BE A DELIVERY SERVICE ONLY SO LITTLE TO NO PUBLIC TRAFFIC.
[00:05:03]
AND HE PLANS TO STORE APPROXIMATELY 500 CORDS OF FIREWOOD.AND HE IS USING THE CLEARED AREA BEHIND THE BUILDINGS FOR HIS OPERATION.
HE DOESN'T PLAN TO USE THE BUILDINGS, AND THE ZONING ORDINANCE DEFINES A FIREWOOD OPERATION AS A PARCEL OF LAND ON WHICH TIMBER CUT FROM OTHER PARCELS OF LAND IS DEPOSITED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CUTTING AND SPLITTING THE SAME FOR RESALE INTO LENGTHS OF WOOD SUITABLE FOR SOLID FUEL USE AS IN FIREPLACES AND WOOD BURNING STOVES.
THAT NOTICES WENT OUT TO ALL THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND ALTHOUGH THE PROPERTY IS NOTED AS PRIME FARM LAND BECAUSE IT'S EMPORIA FINE SANDY LOAM, THE PROPERTY'S BEEN IN USE AS A FARM SERVICE RETAIL BUILDING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
SO THIS ISN'T TAKING ANY LAND OUT OF AGRICULTURAL USE.
SO NO ADDITIONAL LAND IS BEING REMOVED FROM AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY USE.
AND THE REUSE OF A VACANT PROPERTY IS AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MRS. LEWIS BEFORE WE PROCEED? AND MRS. LEWIS. I THINK THIS FACILITY, IT WAS A FARM SERVICE BUSINESS.
I THINK IT MAY HAVE CLOSED MAYBE A YEAR OR SO AGO.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT WAS LONGER THAN THAT.
IT'S BEEN LONGER THAN THAT. WAY LONGER.
I HAVEN'T NOTICED IT OPEN IN THE 13 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW. OKAY, WELL, I'VE SEEN LAMB.
BUT BUT THE BUSINESS HAS BEEN OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK, YOU MAY DO SO.
NOW WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
AND IF OUR APPLICANT IS HERE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO SO.
OR IF YOU LIKE, GOING FORWARD, YOU CAN COME UP AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FIVE WORDS.
BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
I HOPE SO. I KNOW WITH MR. FOWLER RETIRING, I HATE THE.
YOU TO LEAVE THE COUNTY? I THINK HE DID, TOO.
I KNOW HE HAD OTHER PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS BUSINESS, BUT THEY WERE OUT OF TOWN.
THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT HIS BUSINESS.
THEY JUST WANTED. I THINK, KEEPING IT HERE IN LOCAL IS BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY.
HE USES IT FOR WEIGHING HIS GRAIN TRUCKS AND ALL THAT.
YOU JUST NEED THE SCALES ON FOR THEM.
THEY HAVE A BUS STOP. SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE AND THEY CALLED AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT.
KEEPING THE BUS STOP THERE AND NOT HAVING TO GO TO THE CHILD'S HOUSE AND ALL THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW THE BUS DROP OFF/PICK UP, IF YOU WILL.
WON'T BE ANY WASTE. ALL THE SAWDUST AND ALL THAT.
THERE'S A LOCAL FARMER THAT GETS IT FOR HIS ANIMALS, AND HE'S ON THE FARMS. REALLY JUST. BRICK.
CRAZY. THE ONLY THING I DID NOTICE WITH MY APPLICATION.
THEN VERSUS NOW IS SINCE STARTING UP A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S KIND OF A LOT FOR ONE PERSON.
I KNOW IN MY APPLICATION IT SAYS SINGLE EMPLOYEE, BUT.
I MAY NEED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE FROM TIME TO TIME.
NOTHING FULL TIME. JUST, YOU KNOW, HERE AND THERE AS NEEDED TO HAVE AN EXTRA HAND.
WE LIKE THAT. WE LIKE THAT YOU PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S KIND OF HOW MUCH POWER HAD.
AND MR. FOWLER'S WAS RIGHT THERE ON WAKEFIELD ROAD.
YES, SIR, RIGHT THERE. AND SO BASICALLY I RODE BY YOUR OPERATION.
IT LOOKED GOOD. JUST KIND OF MOVING IT WHERE IT'S CLEARED OFF AND YOU JUST MOVING IT DOWN THE ROAD.
WHAT WAS THAT, TEN MILES? YEAH. OKAY.
[00:10:02]
HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT IN HIS BACK YARD AFTER HE RETIRED, SO HE ASKED WHOEVER GOT IT.HE GOT RID OF IT QUICK OR HE WAS ALWAYS VERY ORGANIZED AND NEAT.
THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. HE'S VERY PARTICULAR, AND I PLAN TO KEEP THAT.
HE'S UP THERE FROM TIME TO TIME, YOU KNOW, GIVING ME GUIDANCE AND KEEPING ME GOING WITH EVERYTHING.
I KEEP IT AS YOU DO. AND THE SITE IS SIX ACRES.
IS THAT ALL? I KIND OF RODE BY IT, BUT IT'S BASICALLY THAT FIELD, RIGHT? IT'S JUST A FARM. IT'S THE BUILDING.
MY KIDS ALWAYS LAUGH WHEN WE GO THROUGH BERLIN.
THEY'VE GOT THAT SIGN THAT SAYS CONGESTED AREA.
SO CAN WE CALL IT AN ACTUAL CONGESTED AREA NOW? BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN IT CONGESTED IN 20 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED IN, SADLY.
AND I KNOW IT SAYS FIVE TRUCKS A WEEK FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
SO, YOU KNOW, AT THE MOST FIVE TRUCKS A WEEK.
NOW, I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPERATION.
I THINK IT'S A PERFECT LOCATION.
IT USED TO BE A BUSINESS DISTRICT.
I MEAN, NOT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS HAS IT BEEN AN ACT.
SO NOW IT WILL ACTUALLY BE A BUSINESS DISTRICT.
AND ALL THE VDOT, THE WAY THEY'VE GOT IT SET UP IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
AND FIVE TRUCKS IS VERY MINIMAL FROM OUR VIEW.
SO BUT I JUST MY KIDS ALWAYS POINT THAT AT WHERE IN THE CONGESTED DISTRICT YOU KNOW AND THAT'S MY DAUGHTER CLAIRE SO I DON'T SEE ANY CONGESTION. NO THAT WAS A JOKE.
I WASN'T INSINUATING THAT IT WAS CONGESTED.
I JUST GIGGLE EVERY TIME I SEE THAT.
BUT I THINK IT'S A PERFECT LOCATION.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF LOCAL BUSINESS.
YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THIS AND I WENT TO SUFFOLK THE OTHER DAY AND I DID.
AND I THINK THEY WERE ON LIKE 63 AND WE'RE ON ONE.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD BE ON 63, BUT I WOULD HOPE WE COULD GET SOME SOME TYPE OF BUSINESS IN THE RIGHT PLACE. AND I THINK THIS BUSINESS IS IN THE EXACT PERFECT SPOT AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM, NOT INHIBIT THEM. I AGREE.
SO I RODE BY THE SITE AND I THINK Y'ALL ARE ACTUALLY LOADING THE TRUCK.
WHEN I CAME BACK YESTERDAY, I DIDN'T STOP, BUT I THOUGHT I AGREE WITH MR. RANDALL VERY ORGANIZED.
YOUR BUSINESS REQUIRES SOME LAND MASS, BUT EVIDENTLY YOU HAVE A GOOD TRADE.
DO YOU WOULDN'T VENTURE INTO THIS BUSINESS BECAUSE I ALSO KNOW YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL FIREMAN.
CORRECT. WHICH WE RESPECT AND CERTAINLY SUPPORTING THAT AS WELL.
BUT. I LOOK AT IT AS THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GET YOUR LOGS FROM.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY. THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.
BUT WE ARE A RURAL COUNTY AND I THINK THAT BUSINESS IS CERTAINLY WORTHY OF BEING LOCATED IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE WE TREASURE OUR.
OPEN LAND FOR CROP PRODUCTION AS WELL AS OUR FOREST PRODUCTS.
SO YOU'RE JUST AN EXTENSION OF THAT OF THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. STEVENSON. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD.
MY NAME IS MELISSA CORNWELL AND I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET AND THE BERLIN FARM SERVICE.
IT CLOSED REALLY OFFICIALLY WHEN BRENDA AND RUSTY LOWE RETIRED MAYBE FIVE YEARS AGO.
THEY TOTALLY SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS FAR AS TRESPASSING, VANDALISM, CRIME, DRUG DEALING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AT THIS LOCATION ACROSS THE ROAD FROM WHERE I LIVE.
AND SO IT IS A WELCOME TO HAVE COREY AND HIS BUSINESS THERE, BECAUSE THAT HAS DIMINISHED, THANK GOODNESS. AND HE HAS BEEN A GOOD STEWARD SO FAR IN THE COMMUNITY.
[00:15:04]
AND GO DO NOTHING.SO I'M HERE IN SUPPORT AS A PERSON WHO LIVES RIGHT THERE AT HIS BUSINESS.
IT'S QUIET. HE'S NOT BOTHERING ANYBODY.
HE'S KEEPING EVERYTHING NICE AND NEAT AND TIDY, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL HE'S THERE.
THANK YOU, MS. CUMMINGS. MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST LIKE TO SAY I THINK THAT ANY TIME A BUSINESS COMES IN TO A LITTLE PLACE THAT AT ONE POINT IN OUR COUNTY'S HISTORY WAS PROBABLY VERY VIBRANT AND HAD A LOT OF COMMUNITY, THIS IS REBUILDING COMMUNITY.
I THINK ALL OF OUR LITTLE PLACES THAT HAVE NAMES NEED TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE AND MORE SMALL BUSINESSES.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK? YES, SIR. COME RIGHT ON, SIR.
I'M CORY'S FATHER IN LAW, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT CORY AND MY SON MATT, WHO HELPS OUT A LOT WITH IT.
ALSO, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNEW BOTH OF THEM ARE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS.
THEY BOTH ARE LOOKING FOR EXTRA TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY, MORE SO THAN JUST FIREFIGHTING.
BUT THEY ALSO BOTH VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS HERE IN COURT.
AND HAVE EVEN TALKED TO ARBOR ABOUT RUNNING CALLS WITH THEM SINCE THEY'RE IN THE VICINITY.
A LOT OF TIME. JUST SINCE THEY'VE BEEN THERE, THEY'VE ALREADY ANSWERED THREE CALLS ON THE ROAD.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER PLUS FOR HAVING THEM BACK.
THEY WANT TO GROW THIS BUSINESS AS NOT JUST FIREWOOD.
IF IT CAN COME INTO SOME PELLETS OR WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO BE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO WORK AND CONTINUE TO GROW.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE GETTING THEIR FEET ON THE GROUND WITH THE WOOD CUTTING BUSINESS.
AND IT'S YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW QUICK IT WOULD GROW AS IT HAS.
AND AS CORY SAID, YOU KNOW, HE THOUGHT IT WAS A ONE PERSON DEAL.
IF NOT, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEM.
AND LIKE HE SAID, HE'S WELCOMED THE FARMERS IN THE AREA TO USE THE SCALES AND WHATEVER THEY CAN USE AND TRY TO BE A . AND I'M SURE THEY WILL.
I MEAN, IT WILL BE A WIN WIN THING FOR THE AREA.
AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. NIXON. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. NIXON? OH, I'M SORRY.
I DON'T THINK SO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD? YES, SIR. A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD ONLY.
THE PHONE SERVICE OFFICIALLY CLOSED NOVEMBER 9TH OF 2019.
ANYONE ELSE. IF NOT, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
ANY DISCUSSION AMONGST THE BOARD MEMBERS, I, TOO, HAVE BEEN BY THE OPERATION AND SPOKEN WITH HIM AND LOOKED AT THE LAYOUT AND I AND SEEING THE BERLIN-IVOR DISTRICT.
I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE PLACE AND GOOD USE FOR THE PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, AND NO ONE THAT THE BUSINESS HAS CLOSED BACK IN 2019, AT LEAST WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE PROPERLY MOWED AND TAKEN CARE OF.
AND WHAT I NOTICED YESTERDAY IS THAT IT SEEMS TO BE WELL DRAINED.
SO EVEN IF THE WEATHER IS INCLEMENT, I DON'T THINK.
YOU KNOW, BEING A MUD BOG OR WHATEVER WOULD BE A PROBLEM THERE.
SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT LOCATION.
SO I'LL ADD, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
I SECOND THAT MOTION AND I ACCEPT THAT SECOND.
OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND PROPER SECOND IS ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
MS. LEWIS. IS THAT CORRECT? THEY'RE MEETING IN APRIL.
MEETING IN APRIL? PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[00:20:02]
AND IT IS UNANIMOUS.OKAY. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
AND GOOD LUCK AND GOOD LUCK AT THE BOARD MEETING AS WELL.
AND WE WILL. YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY, BUT WE WILL LET YOU BE EXCUSED IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEAVE.
THAT'S UP TO YOU. ALL Y'ALL LIKE, STAYS FINE IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE.
BUT THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. YOU MAY HAVE BEEN OPEN.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL GO DOWN NOW TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE UNDER UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
STILL REVIEW AND UPDATE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.AND MISS LEWIS HAS MADE SEVERAL WE MADE A COUPLE OF DELETIONS AND SOME ADDITIONS.
I HOPE YOU'VE READ THROUGH THAT.
AND MISS LEWIS, IF YOU WANT TO.
YES. TAKE THAT AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE AND SEE WHAT WE NEED TO AMEND.
YEAH, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NATURAL SYSTEMS AND RURAL CHARACTER CHAPTER.
AND SO I ADDED THE LANGUAGE FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS CONSERVATION CORRIDOR STUDY FROM 2007.
I THINK ON PAGE SEVEN, DASH 18TH MAY 2006, I SPOKE TO THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION AND THE MAP THAT WAS IN THERE.
THEY HAVEN'T UPDATED THAT SINCE 2006.
THEY SAY THAT'S ON THEIR TO DO LIST.
SO WHEN THAT MAP GETS UPDATED, IT WILL INCLUDE ALL THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES CORRIDOR FOR ANIMALS TO MOVE AROUND AND FOR WATER TO TRAVEL IF IT NEEDS TO TRAVEL.
SO THAT'S WHAT THAT CONSERVATION CORRIDOR IS.
AND THE HIGHLIGHTED THE BOLDED LANGUAGE ON PAGE 7-19 IS STRAIGHT FROM THAT STUDY.
AND THE PLAN HAS A PARAGRAPH AT THE BOTTOM THAT'S NOT INTENDED, THAT THAT'S NOT INDENTED.
THAT EXPLAINS HOW WE CAN HELP ADD TO THE CONSERVATION CORRIDOR WITH THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICTS OR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THROUGHOUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HELD BY VARIOUS AGENCIES.
SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY DOES NOT TODAY REQUIRE ANY RIPARIAN BUFFERS ALONG STREAMS, BUT THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT THIS BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WANTS TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE TO REQUIRE 50 FOOT RIPARIAN BUFFERS ALONG STREAMS THAT ARE EITHER PERENNIAL, WHICH IS ALL THE TIME INTERMITTENT, WHICH IS SOMETIMES EPHEMERAL, WHICH IS HARDLY EVER, BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE OR ANY OF THOSE. MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, MA'AM.
THAT WAS THE ONE AREA WHEN I READ THROUGH THIS WAS THE RIPARIAN AREAS.
AND THEN WE GOT TO THE THE BULLETS ON THE PAGE 721 I KNOW THAT THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE IS KIND OF EMBEDDED IN ALL OF THOSE ALPHABETS, BUT POSSIBLY ADDING SOMETHING THAT EXPRESSLY SAYS AWARENESS OF RIPARIAN AREAS AS PART OF THE CONSERVATION CORRIDORS, MAYBE SOME LANGUAGE.
IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY REQUIRED RIPARIAN BUFFERS.
THE AREAS THAT ARE SHOWN IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ARE THE FLOODPLAIN AREAS THAT THERE ARE NOT ANY.
SO IF THIS BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
TO ADOPT RIPARIAN BUFFERS THAT'S IN HERE THAT'S IN ONE OF THESE BECAUSE LOOKING AT THE WATERWAYS THAT HAVE SOME.
SOME PROBLEMS. I THINK THE RIPARIAN BUFFERS WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE THOSE PROBLEMS OVER TIME.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT THEY DON'T DO A QUICK FIX BECAUSE IT HAS TO.
THAT'S THE AREA JUST OUTSIDE THE WETLANDS.
BUT OVER TIME IT WOULD MEAN THAT OUR STREAMS AND OUR RIVERS ARE FILTERED A LITTLE MORE NATURALLY FILTERED BY THE VEGETATION.
AND SO I THINK THAT ADDING SOME LANGUAGE, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING IF IT'S NOT IN OUR OUR PLAN RIGHT NOW, THAT THAT'S A FUTURE BULLET.
[00:25:01]
THAT'S SOMETHING WE ADD.SO WOULD THIS BE? I KNOW FORESTRY, IT'S NOT MANDATED THAT YOU LEAVE BUFFERS, BUT I THINK 99% OF THE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING BUFFERS.
WOULD THIS BE MORE FROM AN AGRICULTURAL STANDPOINT WITH GRASS WATERWAYS FOR RIPARIAN BUFFERS? WOULD THAT BE MORE TOWARDS THE AGRICULTURAL SIDE AS OPPOSED TO THE FORESTRY SIDE WOULD BE MY QUESTION.
WELL, I'M GOING TO TRY TO ANSWER THAT, I GUESS, BECAUSE, LIKE YOU, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
IF YOU'RE IN THE WOODS, LOGGING IS TO LEAVE OUT THOSE BUFFERS.
SOME TYPE OF DRAINAGE THAT THAT THE ACTUAL ACTUAL FARMLAND COMES UP WITHIN THAT WHATEVER THAT ZONE WOULD BE, THE FOOTAGE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT.
OF COURSE, A LOT OF NEW. PRACTICES.
NOW, IF YOU ANYONE THAT, YOU KNOW, LIVED HERE 15 OR MORE YEARS AGO WHEN WE GET ARRAIGNED, IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS HOW.
NOTTAWAY RIVER USED TO LOOK AFTER A HARD RAIN, ALL THE SILT FLOWING THROUGH IT.
BUT CERTAINLY WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHAT IMPACTS THAT WOULD HAVE IF WE HAVE IN IT.
I WOULD SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ON NOTTOWAY RIVER, WE SOLD THE TRACT OF TIMBER AND WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING A SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATED SCENIC RIVER. AND WE SAID, SHOULD IT HAVE MORE BUFFER THAN THE TYPICAL 50FT AND WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY.
THEY SAID NO, NO OTHER REQUIREMENTS.
JUST FROM A COMMON SENSE STANDPOINT, IT'S THE MOST PRISTINE RIVER IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
YEAH, I THINK THE LANGUAGE, IF WE WERE TO ADD THIS MRS ALSTON SAYING I THINK IT SHOULD BE AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, I THINK NOT BEING VOLUNTARY WITH FORESTRY AND THEN EGGS VOLUNTARY, I THINK IT NEEDS TO INCLUDE BOTH SIDE BY SIDE.
I THINK THEY NEED TO WORK SIDE BY SIDE.
YES. LET ME ASK THIS FARMER HERE.
WHAT ARE THE REGULATIONS IN PLACE NOW? YOU HAVE LAND BORDERING THE RIVER AS FAR AS APPLYING PESTICIDES, FERTILIZERS, OR ARE THEY ANY? NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. NOT TO MY SEE, THAT'S THE BIG PROBLEM.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH CHESAPEAKE BAY.
IT GOES WAY BACK UP. THERE IS ALL THE FERTILIZER AND PHOSPHATES AND WHATEVER THEY GET IN THE BAY, THAT'S AS MUCH AS IT'S NOT A SO-CALLED BOUNDARY.
NOW, WE DO HAVE TO FILE A NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN, BUT WHAT THAT SAYS IS WE HAVE A SOIL SAMPLE EACH YEAR AND THE AMOUNT OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS CANNOT EXCEED WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOR THAT CROP.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A TOOL IN PLACE.
IT JUST IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
MR THAT'S A GOOD IT'S A GOOD PRACTICE.
IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.
BUT SO FAR AS THE BUFFER, AND I DON'T, I'M TRYING TO THINK IF IT'S ANYWHERE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU GET TO THE EDGE OF THE FIELD, IF YOU USE THE DROP OFF, THAT GOES DOWN INTO A LOWER.
THAT'S WHERE THE FIELDS ARE SHAPED LIKE THEY ARE IS THE UPPER LAND.
SO THERE'S PROBABLY SITUATIONS THAT WHEN YOU GET TO THE EDGE OF THE FIELD, IT GOES INTO A SO CALLED WETLAND OR, YOU KNOW, COULD GO INTO HAVE A WATER.
IF YOU LOOK AT LETTER K ON PAGE 7-21, IT SAYS ENFORCE ZONING AND SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS AND SUPPORT STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND REGULATIONS INTENDED TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY, ADOPT ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS REQUIRING A MINIMUM 50 FOOT UNDISTURBED VEGETATIVE BUFFER ALONG ALL USGS STREAMS OR PERENNIAL STREAMS, AS INDICATED BY THE USE OF VALID AND FIELD INDICATORS OF PERENNIAL FLOW.
AND WHAT PAGE ARE YOU READING? 7-21, THE LAST PAGE.
THANK YOU. SO THAT WOULD THAT'S AN IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY TO THINK OF TO ADOPTING A 50 FOOT BUFFER.
AND WHILE 90 SOME PERCENT OF THE COUNTY IS IN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY USE, NOT ALL OF IT IS.
[00:30:09]
AND SO THIS ORDINANCE MAY REQUIRE THAT THAT PROPERTY HAVE A 50 FOOT BUFFER AS WELL FOR HOMES.AND ONE THING, BECAUSE I'M SURE MOST OF YOU ALL KNOW, WHEN I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE FOAM SITUATION THAT WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE, STYROFOAM CERTAIN AREAS, AND THAT WAS AN EVENT THAT WAS NOT GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
NO QUESTION. WHEN YOU GET THE EPA INVOLVED AND YOU START LOOKING THROUGH THE FEDERAL STATUTES, THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE OVER REGULATED THAT YOU WOULD THINK WOULD NOT BE REGULATED, AND THEN OTHER ITEMS THAT HAVE VERY DOMINIMUS REGULATIONS AND THEN A LOT OF THESE REGULATIONS OR A SUBJECTIVE CALL.
FOR AN EXAMPLE, YOU'LL GET SOMEONE AND I'M JUST USING THE EPA BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A FUN PROCESS.
BUT FOR THE RECORD IS THAT THERE WAS MULTIPLE INSPECTORS SAYING MULTIPLE THINGS.
SO IT'S A SUBJECTIVE INTERPRETATION OF THE STATUTES.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LESS OF REGULATION ON AGRICULTURE BECAUSE USUALLY AGRICULTURE AND THE FARMERS ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF IT.
OKAY. BUT THERE ARE STATUTES IF A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FERTILIZER WOULD BE DUMPED INTO THE RIVER, THAT THERE COULD BE A VIOLATION. BUT IT'S RARELY ENFORCED BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A CONSISTENT PROBLEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT BEING SAID, THE PRICE OF FERTILIZER HAS PROBABLY HELPED A LOT OF LESS FERTILIZER GOING INTO THE NOTTAWAY RIVER, I WOULD EXPECT. UM, BUT UNTIL IT BECOMES A BIG PROBLEM, THEN YOUR ENFORCEMENT IS NOT GOING TO SHOW UP AND THEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE IT.
BECAUSE CERTAINLY LET'S JUST PICK THE JAMES RIVER.
HUNDRED FOOT BUFFERS IN CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.
AND THE JAMES RIVER HAS BEEN HIGHLY IMPAIRED FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT PEOPLE WERE LEERY OF FISHING IN THE JAMES SO WELL, WHO WOULD BE THE REFEREE IF YOU HAVE THESE REQUIRED BUFFERS? DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY ARE, THEY'RE NOT MANDATORY? THEY ARE VOLUNTARY AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT HAVE WATER QUALITY ISSUES.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO REQUIRE IT ON A LOGGING JOB OR WHATEVER, DOES THAT SUPERSEDE THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY OR WHO'S THE REF THERE? IF IT WAS A ZONING ORDINANCE REGULATION, IT WOULD BE OUR DEPARTMENT WHO WOULD HAVE TO ENFORCE IT.
SAME PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF TRAIN WRECKS.
BUT LET'S SAY, THOUGH, THAT THERE WAS A REPORT OF A PROBLEM.
OKAY. THE WETLANDS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.
I PICK ONE THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
WELL, THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ARMY CORPS.
WELL, FORESTRY IS EXEMPT FROM WETLANDS.
BUT THERE'S IT MATTERS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
AND THERE'S USUALLY NOT A PROBLEM IN CUTTING TIMBER BECAUSE THAT ACT IS NOT HIGHLY REGULATED BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON CUTTING TIMBER BECAUSE MOST OF OUR LOGGERS IN THE AREA FOLLOW THE RULES.
OF ALL THEIR REPORTING, YOU KNOW, FOR AN EXAMPLE AND I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION THE LOGGERS NAME, BUT THEY WILL NOT CUT IN SUFFOLK ANYMORE BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE. INSPECTIONS.
COMMON SENSE. AGAIN, MANY OF THE INSPECTIONS ARE SUBJECTIVE.
AND I THINK THAT INTERPRETATION IS EVERYTHING.
AND I THINK AGRICULTURE HAS BEEN LUCKY.
LOGGING HAS BEEN LUCKY, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT BECAUSE.
YOU KNOW. OVERREGULATION IS NOT ONE OF MY FAVORITE TOPICS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEBODY'S OUT MAKING A LIVING, FARMING WITH THE WEATHER, LOGGING TODAY, WITH THE FUEL PRICES, I THINK THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOMEBODY COMPLAIN OF SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE IS FRIVOLOUS.
AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT, A LOT MORE THAN YOU WOULD THINK.
WELL, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE CHARTS THAT ARE ON 713 AND 14.
[00:35:03]
ARE THOSE THESE WATERBODIES? ARE THESE LISTED AS BEING IMPAIRED WATERS? WATERWAYS, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THERE'S A SMALL MAP, BUT I COULD NOT.714 SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT LIST, THAT'S PRIMARY WATERWAYS IN SOUTHAMPTON THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED, THAT ARE IMPAIRED IN SOME FASHION.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE SHOULD LOOK AT AT HAVING THAT THAT BUFFER SO THAT GOING FORWARD, OUR WATERWAYS ARE CLEANER.
PLUS. AND THEN I LOOKED AT THE OTHER PART ABOUT THE IMPACT ON OUR GROUNDWATER BY THE GOODNESS.
AND SO I'M THINKING OUR WATER WATER IS GOING TO BE IS IMPACTED SO MANY WAYS FROM RUNOFF, FROM WATERSHED AND NOW FROM THE THE SWIFT PROJECT.
JUST THINKING AHEAD WHERE IT WILL GO AND PUTTING SOME PROTECTION IN AND NOT TO INHIBIT BUSINESS.
YOU KNOW, FARMING OR LOGGING, BUT TO TO BE PREVENTIVE IN OUR APPROACH TO HOW WE ADDRESS OUR ISSUES WITH WATERWAYS.
I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN.
REQUIRING A MINIMUM OF 50 FOOT UNDISTURBED VEGETATIVE BUFFER AND FORESTRY.
WE LIKE TO LEAVE 50 FOOT BUFFERS ON PERENNIAL STREAMS, BLUE LINE DITCHES, BUT WE'RE ALSO ALLOWED TO TAKE TIMBER OUT OF THOSE BUFFERS, SELECT, CUT THOSE BUFFERS AND I DON'T KNOW IF I DON'T LIKE THAT UNDISTURBED 50FT.
YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO CUT ANYBODY'S PROPERTY AT THAT POINT.
IT COULD BE A LITTLE. VERY RESTRICTIVE.
THAT THE PARKING AREA IS RIGHT.
I MEAN, YOU DROP RIGHT OFF INTO THIS, I'M GONNA CALL IT A SWAMP, LIKE WITHIN 15FT.
NOW, I GUESS, ALAWITE'S BACKFIELD OR THEY TRADED CREDIT WETLAND CREDITS OR ONE OF THEM BUT I KNOW THAT'S A WETLAND AND A LOT IS HERE AND 15FT OVER THERE'S WATER STANDING PRETTY MUCH YEAR ROUND.
AND I'M JUST THINKING, WELL, THAT COULD AFFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT COULD AFFECT, LIKE I SAY, HOMEOWNERS AS WELL AS ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES.
IF YOU MAKE THAT REQUIRED OR ENFORCED, I THINK IT WOULD CREATE A LOT OF HARDSHIP.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND I THINK WE NEED TO USE COMMON SENSE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING FORWARD.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING GOING FORWARD? ANYTHING THAT WOULD CHANGE OR IS IT GOING TO BE RESTRICTED? WHAT'S ALREADY THERE? MAYBE IT'S PUTTING SOME THOUGHT INTO THIS, BUT CERTAINLY IT IS.
LET'S PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO HOW TO HOW TO WORK WITH THIS, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE, WE NEED TO HAVE THINGS IN PLACE THAT ARE LOGICAL.
AND IF IF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY ARE GOVERNED BY OTHER BODIES.
RIGHT. THEN IF YOU WERE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF BUFFER, THEN IT WOULD COULD EXEMPT AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY USES BECAUSE THEY'RE GOVERNED BY.
BUT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PARKING LOTS THAT GO RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE AND WHATEVER.
WHAT IS THIS WRITTEN FOR? ZONING AND SUBDIVISION.
THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THIS IS LOOKING AT 2050.
SO THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO THINK ABOUT DOING.
IN THE FUTURE SO WE CAN CHANGE IT.
RIGHT. YOU CAN CHANGE IT. THIS DOESN'T THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
NO. AND THIS DOES NOT CHANGE ANY ZONING REGULATIONS.
EVEN THIS ADOPTED PLAN DOESN'T CHANGE ZONING REGULATIONS.
THIS IS A TOOL, RIGHT? RIGHT. IT JUST PUTS SOMETHING IN PLACE TO TO THINK ABOUT.
[00:40:03]
IT SHOULD BE A CONCERN. POLITICAL STATEMENT? YES. OUR VISION.AND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MR. DAY IS ON ITEM K, IF HE ELIMINATED THE WORD UNDISTURBED, YOU WOULD PROBABLY FEEL BETTER ABOUT LEAVING.
SHOULD WE PUT LIKE SOME SELECT CUT INFORMATION IN THERE? BUT THEN YOU GO BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY REGULATIONS.
SO SHOULD WE PUT THAT IN THERE? JUST BE.
ABIDE BY THE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OUTLINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY.
IT'S KIND OF A IT MAKES A STATEMENT, BUT IT'S NOT STRICTLY INCONSISTENT WITH FOLLOWING THE LAW.
I THINK SO. I THINK FARMERS ARE DOING THEIR PART AS WELL.
I THINK IF YOU'LL NOTICE, I JUST TRAVELLED TO NORTH CAROLINA TWO WEEKS BACK, AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL TAKE NOTICE OF THE FARMLAND, BUT WE WE DO A GREAT JOB OF COVER CROP. THE FARMERS ARE NOW 15 YEARS AGO IT WAS NOT, BUT THE INCENTIVES FOR USDA THAT ENCOURAGES A COST SHARE AND A LOT OF FARMERS IN SOUTHAMPTON PARTICIPATE.
WE'RE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PARTICIPANTS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA TO DO THE COVER CROP PROGRAM.
SO ALL THOSE NICE GREEN FIELDS WITH THE WHEAT OR THE RYE, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PERENNIAL WEED.
YOU CAN TELL IT'S A DIFFERENCE.
THOSE BEAUTIFUL FIELDS, THEY ARE THEY ARE PRISTINE AND IT REALLY MAKES OUR COUNTY LOOK LOOK LUSH.
THEY'RE REALLY GROWING RIGHT NOW.
BUT COULD WE PUT COULD WE PUT SOME OF THAT IN OUR MIDDLE OF OUR CUL-DE-SACS? WE HAVE THAT DONE NOTHING WITH ROUNDABOUT.
YOU . IT TIES UP THE NUTRIENTS FROM THE PREVIOUS CROP.
SO IT DOES A MULTIPURPOSE AND WE'RE DOING THAT BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE ALBEMARLE WATERSHED, WHICH IS ALSO VITAL, BUT WE'RE NOT IN I THINK THE JAMES RIVER PROBABLY TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF PRECEDENCE, BUT WE'RE IN A MAJOR WATERSHED TOO, BUT NOT IN RANDALL.
YOU KNOW, BEST PRACTICES CAN COVER A LOT OF THINGS AND THAT WOULD GIVE US THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER THOUGHT PROCESS ON HOW TO PROTECT THE WATERSHED.
AND IT SENDS A MESSAGE, EITHER INDIRECTLY OR DIRECTLY, THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING FARMING AND SUPPORTING FORESTRY, WHICH IS OUR TOP TWO INDUSTRIES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. AND BEING RESPONSIBLE.
OKAY, SO WHAT? WHAT? ANY LANGUAGE YOU WANT TO CHANGE OR JUST LEAVE IT AS IS? I HAVE TO DEFER TO THE EXPERT MR. DAY. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, BUT ANYHOW.
HIS LANGUAGE WAS VERY ELOQUENT, BUT I DID NOT WRITE IT DOWN.
I'M GETTING OLD, I FORGOT WHAT I SAID.
IT ALREADY SAYS SUPPORT STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS. SO DO WE. SO GOOD.
THE USDA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY.
TITLE OUT AND JUST PUT STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS LEAVE IT THAT VAGUE.
WHAT? FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES, RIGHT? SO IF YOU SAY IF YOU'RE TRYING TO DELETING UNDISTURBED.
IF I MAY, AND MR. DAY, I BELIEVE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE GENTLEMAN AND MR. RANDALL TO MAY MAKE SENSE TO INVITE HIM HERE AND GET SOME INPUT.
BUT THERE'S A GENTLEMAN OUT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA THAT NAMED JAMIE CRAIG THAT HAS OPERATED DOWN HERE FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS AND HE'S HAD A HAND IN.
[00:45:04]
FROM HUNTER DARDEN'S BACK ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SUSSEX COUNTY LINE, I UNDERSTAND FOR WHATEVER IT MEANS THAT WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO GETTING A CONGRESSIONAL WILD RIVER DESIGNATION.HE PUT THE PARK TOGETHER OVER IN THE CITY OF FRANKLIN.
HE DID THAT AS A PERSONAL PROJECT.
BUT WE'VE, I BELIEVE WE'VE DONE 35 OR 37 CONSERVATION TRANSACTIONS ON THE NOTTAWAY AND THEY ALL REQUIRE A 200 FOOT NO CUT BUFFER. AND THEN THE UPLAND OR UP FROM THE 200 FOOT IS DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE DEAL MADE.
WHETHER IT'S TIMBER CAN BE HARVESTED PURSUANT TO A TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLAN OR WHETHER THEY GAVE AWAY ALL OF THE TIMBER MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.
BUT LIKE I SAID, HE'S DOWN HERE WORKING ALL THE TIME ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
HE HE WOULD BE I HATE TO SPEAK FOR SOMEONE ELSE, BUT HE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TO COME SPEAK IF THE BOARD OR PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD BE SO INCLINED, HE MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER SOMETHING BENEFICIAL TO YOU ALL BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, HE'S AN EXPERT ON IT, ON THIS PARTICULAR LINE ITEM.
MS. LEWIS, COULD YOU SEND HIM THIS AND? SEND THEM THIS ONE SENTENCE? I'LL BE GLAD TO DO THAT.
COULD YOU SEND HIM CHAPTER SEVEN AND ASK HIM FOR HIS COMMENTS? FOR AMENDMENTS? SURE. AND THEN SPECIFICALLY THAT SECTION, WHAT HIS RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE AND POSSIBLY COME AND SPEAK.
BUT I'M FAMILIAR WITH MR. CRAIG. HE'S A, HE KNOWS A LOT.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT THESE THAT THESE ISSUES IN EVERY SENTENCE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU.
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE 2020.
AND AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO GET TO THE END.
BUT IN THINKING HIS INSIGHT MAY BE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE IF IT BECAME.
AND SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ORDINANCE WHERE A LANDOWNER WASN'T GIVING UP ANYTHING.
IT MAY NOT BE VALUABLE TO THE DONOR OR FOR TAX CREDIT ISSUES, SO HIS INSIGHT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY, IF THERE'S NO FINANCIAL INCENTIVE ANYMORE, THEN THEY MAY BE RELUCTANT TO PUT PROPERTY ON THE RIVER INTO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.
THE NRCS PERSONNEL IN CORTLAND MIGHT BE AN AVENUE AS WELL AS A NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR AG. THAT'S RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNTY OFFICE.
SO THAT MIGHT BE A RESOURCE AS WELL.
AND THE ONLY THING I'M THINKING ABOUT MR. RAILEY, NOT BE CONTRADICTORY, BUT YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT I KNEW SOME LOGGING JOBS ON THE NOTTAWAY DOWN IN THE MONROE AREA AND OF COURSE I THINK THEY DID IT WHEN THE WATER WAS LOW AND OF COURSE IT WAS A REALLY HUGE TIMBER AND I THINK THEY LEFT A MINIMUM.
THEY LEFT A BUFFER, BUT IT WAS A MINIMUM BUFFER.
I THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU'RE LEAVING BEHIND.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO VALUE TO YOU TO OWN.
BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T CUT TIMBER IN A SO-CALLED WETLAND, OKAY, OTHER THAN HUNTING, IT HAS NO VALUE. YOU'RE STARTING TO DO THESE BUFFER TAX CREDITS NOW FOR THESE STREAMS. RIGHT. AND SOME OF THEM CAN BE VERY LUCRATIVE.
SO LANDLORDS CAN CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
RIGHT. OKAY. THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
[00:50:01]
AND I JUST THINK CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE EXPERT AND I'M NOT, BUT UNLESS IT HAS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON IT, YOU CAN STILL SELECT CUT IT IN THE WETLANDS.CORRECT. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. SO UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
RIGHT. IF NOT, YOU CAN SELECT CUT THAT ENTIRE SWAMP.
IF THAT IS, AS A GENERAL RULE THAT IS WRITTEN IN YOUR EASEMENT.
CORRECT? IT HAS TO BE WRITTEN IN THERE UNDER THOSE GUIDELINES.
CORRECT. THERE ARE TWO COMPLETELY.
I'M NOT TRYING TO GET TOO COMPLICATED.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY MR CRAIG'S INPUT ON THIS.
I MEAN, I THINK SOME MORE SOPHISTICATED.
I MEAN, WE HAVE THE WEATHER IN 2015.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IT HAILED IN HUNTERDALE IN 2015 IS VERY INSIGHTFUL FOR A THAT WAS WHEN YOUR LAST PLAN WAS ADOPTED.
SURE. I MEAN, I, I THINK SOME MORE SOPHISTICATION AND AN EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENT OR OUR PLAN IS MORE HELPFUL TO ME ANYWAY BUT MAYBE THAT IT WE HAD HAIL IN HUNTERDALE IN JUNE 25TH 2015 WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SOMEBODY.
BUT LOCALIZED EVENTS DO HAPPEN IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
WELL, SURE, BUT YOU GET MY POINT IS A MORE GENERAL INSTEAD OF SPECIFIC.
AND I KNOW THE WEATHER'S INTERESTING.
I WATCH THE WEATHER CHANNEL A LOT, BUT I THINK ALSO MS. ALSTON, HER COMMENTS ABOUT I THINK WE ALL WANT TO BE CONSCIOUS OF WATER QUALITY AND THAT'S OUR GOAL.
THAT'S RIGHT. AND HOW DO WE GET THERE, I GUESS IS THE NEXT NEXT THING WHERE DO WE GO? AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT IN IT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
RIGHT? MRS. LEWIS? YES. OKAY. AND I JUST THINK THE MORE SOPHISTICATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, ABOUT SOMETHING FOR FORESTRY WOULD BE HELPFUL IN THIS.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL WE'LL TRY TO GET THAT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING, IF POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU. AND I APOLOGIZE IF THAT WAS OUT OF TURN.
I JUST KNOW THAT THAT GENTLEMAN IS.
VERY HELPFUL. AND I WASN'T SUGGESTING TO MAKE IT MORE RESTRICTIVE.
BUT WHAT I WAS SPEAKING OF IS VOLUNTARY TRADED FOR MONEY AND TAX CREDITS.
OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? AND I BELIEVE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE DISCUSSED IN ANOTHER CHAPTER OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IT TALKS SOMEWHAT ABOUT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, BUT I THINK IT WAS IN ANOTHER CHAPTER AS WELL.
AND NEXT MONTH, WELL, IF YOU'RE DONE LOOKING AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHAPTER BECAUSE YOU WANTED THE THE VOLUNTARY AG MAP IN THE AGRICULTURE, NOW THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR ANYONE TO BE ABLE TO PICK OUT EXACTLY WHAT ROADS THEY'RE ON.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THE COVERAGE OF ALL THOSE DISTRICTS.
TURNER VERY WELL, I THOUGHT TO BE SO CONDENSED.
AND THAT'S ON THE COUNTY'S GIS AS WELL.
AND NEXT MONTH YOU'LL HAVE THE THE LAND USE PLAN CHAPTER WITH UPDATED LANGUAGE AND HOPEFULLY THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES CHAPTER THAT HAS POLICE AND FIRE AND MUSEUMS AND AND CULTURAL RESOURCES AND LIBRARIES AND ALL THAT IN IT. FSCDI IS WORKING ON THE ECONOMY CHAPTER, SO HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE THAT DONE FOR YOU SOON.
YOU THINK? I THINK WE COULD SUM THIS UP BY SUMMER.
AND MAYBE THEY'RE NOT THINGS THAT NECESSARILY ARE GOING TO BE WRITTEN OUT VERBATIM IN THE COMP PLAN.
IT'S OUR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING.
[00:55:04]
RIGHT.BUT WE REVIEW THIS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
YEAH. YES, BUT WE CAN CHANGE IF WE TIME YOU WANT.
YOU CAN CHANGE IT ANYTIME WE WANT.
YOU HAVE TO REVIEW IT EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THE STATE LAW SAYS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT EVERY FIVE YEARS.
SO THEN WE STARTED DOING IT A PIECE AT A TIME IN 2020, AND THEN THERE WAS THE PANDEMIC, AND THEN THERE WAS A YEAR OF SOLAR DISCUSSION, AND NOW IT'S ALMOST THE MIDDLE OF 2023.
WE WE NEED TO COME UP WITH, WE'RE DOING ALL THIS WORK.
I THINK IT'S BEEN A GOOD PLAN.
YOU KNOW, YOU USED TO OUTSOURCE IT.
IT'S BETTER THAT WE DO IT OURSELVES.
IT SAVES ABOUT 70 TO $80,000 A YEAR.
AND LAST TIME WE WENT TO IVOR AND CAPRON AND THIS BUILDING AND DOWN TO BOYKINS AND HAD PUBLIC MEETINGS, I'VE ASKED MS. ALSTON IF WE COULD USE HER COMMUNITY FACILITY TO HAVE A CAPRON AREA MEETING, AND SHE SAID WE COULD DO THAT.
I HAVE ASKED FOR SOME CONSIDERATION AS MR THROWER, HAVE SOME CONSIDERATION IN THE BUDGET TO HAVE A FIRM COME IN AND DO SOME SORT OF DIGITAL DO THIS WEB BASED.
IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, THEY HAVE A BOOK, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE SOMETHING ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT'S INTERACTIVE AND INTERESTING AND, YOU KNOW, BRINGS THE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC WHO WANT TO LOOK AT IT.
SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TOO, A LITTLE MORE UP TO DATE THAN A SPIRAL BOUND BOOK.
IN ADDITION TO THE SPIRAL BOUND BOOK.
ON 10/8/2016, WE HAD A TROPICAL CYCLONE MATTHEW.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A HURRICANE, CORRECT? ON THE EASTERN SHORE, I THINK.
WELL, THIS LANGUAGE IS FROM THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.
THAT'S THE WORD THAT THEY USE.
WE JUST THEY DO NOT OCCUR ON THE EAST COAST.
CYCLONES ARE PRETTY MUCH ON THE WEST COAST.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A TYPO OR WHAT.
HUNTERDALE AND BRANCHVILLE IS DEFINITELY NOT IN A CYCLONE AREA.
WELL, YOU CAN TALK TO NOAH ABOUT THAT.
I CAN DEFINITIVELY SAY IT WAS A HURRICANE.
IT WAS A HURRICANE, IF I RECALL.
WELL, COULD WE CHANGE TERM? CAN WE MODIFY THAT? IT WAS THEIR TERMINOLOGY.
THAT IS THEIR TERMINOLOGY, THAT'S.
WEATHER PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN JARGON.
AND SO CYCLONE IS HOW THEY REFER TO ALL HURRICANES.
YES. WHEN I THINK OF CYCLONES GOING COUNTERCLOCKWISE, BUT APPARENTLY THEY APPLY TO TO ALL CLOCKWISE AND COUNTERCLOCKWISE. YES.
OKAY. NOW, I'M LEARNING SOMETHING ALL THE TIME.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY, WE'LL LEAVE IT AS IS THEN.
ARE YOU LEARNING SOMETHING WE DIDN'T KNOW MY THIRD GRADE TEACHER WOULD DISAGREE.
I THINK SOMEBODY EDITED THAT IT WAS ON THE WEST COAST.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SO COME BACK NEXT NEXT MONTH.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTION BEFORE WE GO FORWARD? ALL RIGHT. IF NOT ON THE NEW BUSINESS, I WAS JUST MADE AWARE TONIGHT THAT CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER FOR MR.
[VI. NEW BUSINESS]
TURNER AND REVEREND LUCAS.THEY HAVE OFFICIALLY THEY ARE OFFICIALLY NOW CERTIFIED PLANNERS.
THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSE.
NOW THEY HAVE TO DO THE HOMEWORK.
WELL, IT'S THE FIRST CLASS. OH, I'M SORRY.
THEY TOOK. THEY TOOK THE FIRST TWO DAYS.
NOW THEY HAVE TEN WEEKS OF HOMEWORK.
I'M SORRY. THE ORIGINAL GENTLEMAN RETIRED.
THAT THIS IS HIS LAST GUY AS HE CAME THE SECOND DAY AND TAUGHT FROM VIRGINIA TECH MAYBE AN HOUR.
[01:00:05]
OH, HE'S STILL DOING IT? YEAH.I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS LAST NAME.
TOM SOMETHING. HE WAS A PLANNER FOR CHESTERFIELD, ORIGINALLY FROM MINNESOTA.
KIND OF MOVED AND BOUNCED AROUND. CHANDLER? NO, CHANDLER IS THE GUY THAT [INAUDIBLE].
SOMEONE CALLED ME, MIKE, AND SAID THAT HE HAD RETIRED AND HE WAS NO LONGER.
OK. OUR CLASS WAS THE 109TH CLASS THEY'VE HAD.
AND I THINK HE SAID 35 YEARS, I THINK.
WOW. SO WHERE DID YOU ALL DO YOUR FIRST FIRST WEEKEND AT? VCU. VCU? OKAY.
WELL. IN TEN, 10 OR 12 WEEKS, I'LL COME BACK.
BUT IT'LL BE VERY INFORMATIVE.
YOU CAN REGISTER AT HRGREEN.ORG.
OUR DEPARTMENT HAS REGISTERED TO CLEAN UP OUR ONE AND A HALF MILE STRETCH OF TARANAKI ROAD THAT FRIDAY FROM THE BASE OF THE OVERPASS DOWN TO THE END OF THE ROAD.
SO ANY VOLUNTEER GROUP, MRS. LEWIS? I MEAN, ARE WE SUPPOSED TO REGISTER OR YOU CAN REGISTER WHEN YOU GO TO THIS WEBSITE, YOU CAN REGISTER JUST YOURSELF.
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR FAMILY GROUP OR A FRIENDS GROUP.
IF YOU CONTACT VDOT, THEY WILL HAVE THE LETTER GETTERS AND THE BAGS THAT YOU CAN GO PICK UP.
AND WHEN AFTER YOU FINISH, YOU TELL THEM WHERE YOU LEFT THE BAGS AND THEY'LL COME PICK THEM UP.
[VII. BZA MATTERS]
ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.ANYTHING ELSE COMING FORWARD? I ASKED MS. LEWIS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SUBJECT THAT WENT TO THE BZA AND SHE MIGHT THAT WAS SAID ON THAT, CORRECT? I THINK THAT RIGHT.
THE GENTLEMAN THAT WANTED TO PUT THE ACCESSORY BUILDING IN HIS FRONT YARD.
YES. THE BZA APPROVED IT, A 3-2 VOTE.
TREES IN FRONT OF IT SO YOU COULDN'T SEE IT.
THERE'S NO WHEN THE TREES ARE GONE, THE TREES ARE GONE.
SO. REQUIRED A NATURAL BUFFER.
ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOTION TO ADJOURN. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL. Y'ALL HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.