[I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL] [00:00:10] THE MEETING TO ORDER. I'M GOING TO ASK IF EVERYONE WAS STAYING AND JOINING US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 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 WILL REMAIN STANDING AND MR. CHESSON WILL LEAD US IN A BRIEF INVOCATION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME PLEASE DO IN PRAYER. DEAR FATHER, LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING THE AWESOME GOD THAT YOU ARE. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR SON TO DIE FOR OUR SINS. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNTY OUR STATE OUR NATION. LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS US. AS A NATION, AS A STATE AND AS A COUNTY. LORD BE WITH US TONIGHT. BE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS, OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR WORDS. LORD LET THEM BE PLEASING TO YOU LORD GIVE US MORE WISDOM AS WE GO ABOUT THE WORK OF THIS COUNTY. THAT OUR DECISIONS BE A BLESSING AND HONOR TO YOU. I PRAY THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE TO HERE TONIGHT FOR OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION. AND LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THAT MR. MANN IS NOT IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT, BUT APPRECIATE ALL THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR SECRETARY FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. AND MR. MANN HAS JUST WALKED IN. SO LET'S SCRATCH THAT. OKAY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. MR. MANN, YOU JUST MISSED ABOUT 10 SECONDS. GLAD YOU COULD BE HERE. SO WE ARE 100% IN ATTENDANCE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AGAIN THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. WE'VE GOT SEVERAL ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF [II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] THE AUGUST MEETING. IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY HAS BROUGHT THEIR PACKETS TONIGHT, AND I HOPE YOU'VE HAD TIME TO REVIEW THOSE MINUTES. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? ONE THING I SAW, MR. CHAIRMAN, ON PAGE 13, ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM, EXCEPT UP ABOUT FIVE, SEVEN LINES, MAYBE WHERE IT SAYS SO THE [INAUDIBLE] CANDIDATE. I THINK I MIGHT BE WRONG, BUT I THINK IT'S WORLD LIKE THE LAST NAME W O R R E L L VERSUS. NOT THERE. THE WORLD. OKAY, I SEE THAT. CAN THAT BE NOTED? I THINK THAT'S I THINK ON THE MAP IT DID SAY WORLD W O R L D ON THEIR MAP. OH, IT DID. I BELIEVE SO. OKAY, SO THAT STANDS. THAT STANDS TO BE CORRECT AS IT IS. OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE, MR. CHESSON? I MEAN, THE PROPERTY, THE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY. I THINK IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP, RIGHT? IT WAS THE. THE UNDERLYING OWNER. I KNOW THAT WAS THEIR LAST NAME WORRELL. AND THAT'S WHY I. OKAY. NOTED THAT. MISS LEWIS, COULD I HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE? POSSIBLY. I WILL LOOK AT THEIR MAP AND IF IT SAYS SOMETHING BESIDES W O R L D OKAY. I'LL CHANGE IT TO THE PERSON'S LAST NAME. BUT I REMEMBER SEEING THE WORD WORLD. OKAY. THAT'S A TONGUE TWISTER. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO BE NOTED. ANYTHING ELSE, MR. CHESSON? ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. HAVE A MOTION BY MR. RANDALL TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED. HAVE A PROPER SECOND BY DR. EDWARDS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED LIKE SIGN? APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. [III. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD] OUR NEXT ITEM DOWN NUMBER THREE IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. SO AT THIS TIME, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL GUESTS TONIGHT. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON YOUR MIND TONIGHT, I'M JUST ASK THAT YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORDS AND [00:05:04] ANYONE CAN COME DOWN FIRST IF YOU LIKE. PUBLIC COMMENT IS OPEN. YES, SIR. COME ON. ON UP. AND MY NAME IS KENNETH BOWERS. I'M FROM THE NORTHEAST DISTRICT, AND I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON OCTOBER 13TH WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING THE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM FOR SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL. THE YEAR IS 7374. Y'ALL WELCOME TO COME OUT TO JOIN US. AND I THINK GAME TIME STARTS AT 7 P.M. AND IT WILL BE SENIOR NIGHT AS WELL. THE FOLLOWING WEEK WILL BE HOMECOMING. SO WELCOME. COME AND JOIN US. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY. I HAVE ANOTHER GUEST COMING. GOOD EVENING. MANY OF YOU KNOW ME. SOME OF YOU DO NOT. MY NAME IS JANE RIDDICK FREEZE. MY ADDRESS IS 30319 CAMP PARKWAY, COURTLAND, VIRGINIA. APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE. AND IF YOU WANT TO CUT ME OFF, THAT'S COMPLETELY FINE. BUT MY SPEECH IS RATHER LENGTHY. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, WENT TO SCHOOL IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND THE CITY OF FRANKLIN LEFT THE AREA AFTER COLLEGE AND RETURNED HOME TO RUN OUR FAMILY BUSINESS. I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION BY OFFERING SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE AS IT RELATES TO THE FUTURE. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS ON SOME PAST DECISIONS AND HISTORY SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE WE DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR THE LENGTH OF MY SPEECH. I THANK YOU, THE COMMISSION, FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME AND YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, I T IS APPRECIATED. ON YOUR PAMPHLET THAT WAS SHARED AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING THE FIRST REQUEST FOR INPUT IS WAYS TO PROTECT OUR AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, REFLECTING THE COUNTY'S HERITAGE. I 100% AGREE WITH THIS GOAL. HOWEVER, I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN HOW THIS AREA HAS PROCEEDED FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS. AND I ALSO WONDER IF THIS OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN CLEARLY EXPRESSED TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS AND THEIR BOARD. I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE OF CURRENT EVENTS AND THE HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT. AS YOU KNOW, THE 435 ACRES OF LAND ON CAMP PARKWAY NEXT TO RIVERDALE ELEMENTARY WAS SOLD ON JUNE 27TH, 2023, TO SOUTHAMPTON LANDS LLC FOR $11.4 MILLION. SOUTHAMPTON LANDS IS ESSENTIALLY A LAND COMPANY. ITS PRINCIPAL ADDRESS IS LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO LA KINGS, A SUBSIDIARY OF LOCKTECH ERGONOMIC TECH. THE LISTED HEADQUARTERS FOR LOCKTECH IS IN CHINA. LOCKTECH STOCK IS LISTED ON THE SHANGHAI STOCK EXCHANGE. SOUTHAMPTON LANDS SUPPOSED INTENTION FOR THE LAND IS TO BUILD WAREHOUSES FOR FURNITURE. THAT LAND WAS REZONED IN 2016 AS M-1 INDUSTRIAL FROM RESIDENTIAL. BACK IN 2015 THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THAT TIME WAS GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS WE ARE NOW WORKING ON UPDATING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND HAVING NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AROUND THE COUNTY TO GATHER THE CITIZENS COMMENTS. OUR PLANNING COMMISSION IS APPOINTED BY THE RESPECTIVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, FOR EACH DISTRICT. BACK IN 2015, THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS CRAFTING A SOLID, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THEY PRESENTED IT TO THE 2015 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THEIR APPROVAL. HOWEVER, SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DURING THAT MAY 26TH, 2015 MEETING REQUESTED THAT SEVERAL CHANGES BE MADE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ONE OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS WAS REDESIGNATING THE LAND FROM RESIDENTIAL ON CAMP PARKWAY TO A FUTURE EMPLOYMENT CENTER THAT WOULD BE LIMITED TO BUSINESS PARK TYPE DEVELOPMENT WITH LIGHT INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, WAREHOUSING AND OFFICE USE AND A CAMPUS LIKE SETTING. PER ONE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COMMENTS AND THOSE MINUTES HE STATES, AND I QUOTE, I WANT TO SET BOUNDARIES AND CONDITIONS WHERE [00:10:09] HE, MEANING ED FOSSELLA, OWNER OF THE LAND, CAN SEE THAT HE CAN HAVE A VALUABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT CAUSING A NUISANCE IN THE AREA. I THINK IF YOU WORK WITH SOMEBODY, THEY WILL WORK WITH YOU. AND IF YOU WORK WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE RESTRICTIONS, YOU CAN HAVE A NICE DEVELOPMENT AND WE CAN ALL WIN. THAT BOARD OF SUPERVISOR GOES ON TO STATE, AND I QUOTE, I THINK THE OWNER WANTS TO WORK WITH US TO DEVELOP HIS LAND AND I THINK WE NEED TO WORK WITH HIM TO DEVELOP IT, END QUOTES. IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROPOSAL OF CHANGES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, DURING THAT MEETING, ANOTHER BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SPOKE UP AND HE STATED, AND I QUOTE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD DISCUSSED THIS THOROUGHLY. THE OWNERS AND THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITIES WERE GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING AND ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. IN THE MEETINGS THAT I HAVE ATTENDED I HAVEN'T HEARD THE FIRST ONE TO STAND UP AND SAY THEY WANTED THIS LAND TO BE CHANGED. WHERE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER TO COME FORTH AND BE HONEST BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, END QUOTE. YOU CAN READ THE FULL CONVERSATION ON PAGES 34 THROUGH 38 OF THE MAY 2015 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MINUTES. TO BE CLEAR, THAT IS NOT WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS RECENT TRANSACTION. THE ORIGINAL OWNER, OWNER HAMPTON ROADS DEVELOPMENT ED AND GEORGE FOSSELLA DID WIN $11.4 MILLION. WE, ON THE OTHER HAND, DID NOT, AS THIS LAND TRANSACTION IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND THE NAVY FOR CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEW OWNERS AS POTENTIAL SECURITY RISKS DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE LARGEST NAVAL BASE IN THE COUNTRY. SO MUCH FOR WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE DEVELOPER WHO OFFERS FALSE PROMISES. HERE ARE MY CONCERNS. THE LAND DESIGNATION CHANGES WERE DONE AFTER THE FACT, AND SPECIFICALLY FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE FOSSELLA FAMILY AND THEIR COMPANY, WHO, BY THE WAY, DO NOT DID NOT LIVE HERE, HAVE NEVER LIVED HERE THAT I'M AWARE OF, HAVE NEVER VOLUNTEERED, PARTICIPATED OR SERVED AS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. THIS IS UNLIKE ME AND THOSE OF US WHO DO LIVE ON CAMP PARKWAY, WHO ATTEND HIGH STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WHO WORK FOR OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND SERVE AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS WAYS EVERY DAY. I AM AWARE THAT THE PLAN GOES FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THEIR FINAL APPROVAL, BUT YOU WOULD THINK THAT EACH BOARD OF SUPERVISOR HAS SUGGESTED A PERSON FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION FROM THEIR DISTRICT TO SERVE BECAUSE THEY TRUST THEM AND THEIR ABILITY TO PERFORM THE JOB DUTIES REQUIRED TO BE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. SO BEFORE WE GO DOWN THIS ROAD AGAIN, I HOPE THAT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE ALL OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEMBERS, OUR LEADERSHIP IN THE COUNTY, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ADMINISTRATORS, BUSINESSES INTERESTED IN CHANGING LAND DESIGNATIONS IN THE COUNTY, ARE AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN THESE PLANNING COMMISSION COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND PROVIDE THEIR INPUT AT THESE TIMES AND NOT AFTER THE PLAN HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITIZENS ARE THEN BLINDSIDED WITH LAST MINUTE CHANGES FOR THE SAKE OF SOMEONE'S SPECIAL INTEREST. THAT CHANGE ON MAY 26TH, 2015 SET THE PLAN IN MOTION FOR THAT LAND TO BE ZONED TO M-1 INDUSTRIAL IN 2016. AND THUS HERE WE ARE WITH A FOREIGN ENTITY NOW OWNING THIS LAND AND UNSURE SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO GET AND HOW MANY JOBS WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDED. SO HOW DO WE PROTECT OUR AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY AND HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR OUR AREA? PERHAPS THERE ARE NEED. PERHAPS THERE NEEDS TO BE MEETINGS AND RESEARCH ON ENSURING THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO OUR CURRICULUM IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE LOCAL COLLEGE LEVEL IN THESE AREAS, AND THAT THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN WAYS TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS INDUSTRY AND BRING THEIR KNOWLEDGE BACK HOME TO CONTINUE TO GROW FARMING IN OUR AREA. IN WHAT WAYS CAN WE HELP FARMERS KEEP THEIR LAND PROFITABLE FOR FARMING EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NO SUCCESSORS IN THEIR FAMILY? [00:15:02] WE ARE LOSING FARMLAND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT ONLY TO INDUSTRY BUT TO FOREIGN BASED COMPANIES. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS ISSUE NOW AND NOT DEPEND ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. OUR FOOD COMES FROM THE LAND AND 20 TO 50 YEARS FROM NOW, WE WILL BE UNABLE TO PULL UP THE CONCRETE THAT THESE WAREHOUSES ARE ON TO GROW CROPS BECAUSE WE DON'T VALUE AGRICULTURE NOW. WE WILL BE IMPORTING OUR FOOD FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND WONDERING HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT. ANOTHER BULLET POINT ON YOUR PAMPHLET IS HOUSING NEEDS AND MAINTENANCE. WE WANT AND NEED EMPLOYEES TO WORK AT THE WALMART AND THE FOOD LION AND THE GAS STATIONS AND OUR RESTAURANTS. BUT FOR THEM TO WORK AT THOSE WAGES, THEY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT JUST IN THE COUNTY, BUT IN FRANKLIN AS WE ARE CONNECTED TO THE CITY AT THE HIP. NOT TO BEAT THE DEAD HORSE, BUT THE CAMP PARKWAY LAND WAS DESIGNATED RESIDENTIAL, AND ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF 700 HOUSES, I THINK WE COULD HAVE WORKED WITH THE DEVELOPER AT THAT TIME TO BUILD SOMETHING SUITABLE FOR OUR CURRENT NEEDS. I DON'T THINK THIS PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED WITHOUT HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PLANNERS IN FRANKLIN. WE DON'T NEED TO CONTINUALLY SAY HINDSIGHT IS 2020. IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN. WE CANNOT PLAN AND RUN THE GOVERNMENT WILLY NILLY. ALL DECISIONS MAY NEED TO BE MADE WITH PEOPLE THINKING OF THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE AND ALL THE VARIOUS SCENARIOS. IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN THAT A FOREIGN ENTITY WOULD PURCHASE OUR LAND, I WOULD NOT HAVE VOTED THAT WAY. THAT CAN'T BE HOW GOVERNMENT OPERATES. WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES SHOULD WE ENCOURAGE AND WHERE SHOULD THEY BE LOCATED? SPECIFICALLY, WE NEED LODGING ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING OUR 80 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER STAY IN. UNTIL WE HAVE THIS WE ARE HINDERED IN GROWING OUR TOURISM BUSINESS AS WELL AS HOSTING SUCH THINGS AS WEDDINGS, FAMILY REUNIONS AND EVEN FUNERALS. AGRITOURISM IS AN INDUSTRY THAT IS STARING US IN THE FACE EVERY DAY, AND YET WE ARE NOT CAPITALIZING ON ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES. PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CITIES ARE CRAVING EXPERIENCES IN THE COUNTRY. WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT THEM TO MOVE HERE BECAUSE OF WHAT IT COSTS US, BUT WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO VISIT, TAKE THEIR MONEY, ENJOY OUR AREA AND BE ON THEIR MERRY WAY. OPPORTUNITIES COULD INCLUDE HAVING GROUP TOURS TO A LOCAL FARM DURING A HARVEST SEASON, HAVING THEM EAT AT A FARM TO TABLE RESTAURANT, AND THEN SPENDING THE NIGHT. PLUS, WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF HISTORY, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT NAT TURNER IS A STORY THAT PEOPLE WILL PAY TO LEARN ABOUT. WE HAVE SO MANY AWESOME THINGS IN OUR BACKYARD THE RAWLS MUSEUM, THE AGRICULTURE MUSEUM AND SO ON, AND WE SHOULD BE MAKING MONEY OFF OF THOSE ASSETS. HOW CAN WE WORK WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO TURN THIS INTO REVENUE FOR OUR AREA? CREATING TOURISM JOBS AS OPPOSED TO WAREHOUSING JOBS. THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE BALANCED BETWEEN LARGER INDUSTRY AND SMALL NICHE INDUSTRIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT SUPPORTS ECONOMIC REVENUE, LEISURE ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND HEALTH, WHICH IS IN THE PAMPHLET, IS A RAIL TRAIL. WE HAVE ONE THAT IS IN OUR BACKYARD ONCE AGAIN, WE HAD PERMISSION FROM VIRGINIA BEACH TO UTILIZE THE OLD RAILROAD GRADE AS A TRAIL YEARS AGO, BUT THAT NEVER CAME TO FRUITION. PEOPLE WILL COME TO THE COUNTRY TO RIDE THEIR BIKE OR THEIR HORSES, TAKE A HIKE AND STOP ALONG THE TRAIL TO EAT AND SNACK AND CHECK OUT THE COUNTRYSIDE. THIS IS BEING DONE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. I AM NOT AGAINST INDUSTRY. MY FAMILY MADE ITS LIVING OFF OF AGRICULTURE AND PEANUT MANUFACTURING, PROVIDING 30 TO 50 JOBS. BUT WHERE SHOULD IT GO AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO WE WANT TO ATTRACT? I THINK WE FIRST MUST FILL OUR CURRENT INDUSTRIAL PARKS LIKE [INAUDIBLE] AND SOUTHAMPTON BUSINESS PARK AND ROUTE 58 BYPASS WITH THE BUSINESSES WE WANT AND WE HAVE PURSUED. I THINK WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT WE WANT INDUSTRIES THAT ARE AMERICAN OWNED COMPANIES THAT MAKE AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS. WHAT I THINK WE CAN AGREE ON IS THAT WE DON'T WANT OUR FOREST TIMBERED, OUR WOOD SHIPPED TO CHINA, FURNITURE MADE IN CHINA, SHIPPED BACK TO THE UNITED STATES AND STORED IN A WAREHOUSE ON CAMP PARKWAY SO THAT WE CAN ALL BUY A CHAIR FOR $50 CHEAPER. BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET. I HAVE HEARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER TYPES OF BUSINESSES PEOPLE WANT, SUCH AS ACTIVITY FOR THEIR KIDS AND WONDER IF WE CAN BRING BACK A SKATING RINK OR A MOVIE THEATER. [00:20:04] OTHERS WANT TARGET AND CHUCKY CHEESE AND BIG BOX STORES. AND I GUESS MY THOUGHT TO THAT IS IF THOSE ARE THE BUSINESSES THAT YOU WANT IN YOUR BACKYARD, ONE, WHY ARE YOU LIVING IN THE COUNTRY AND NOT IN SUFFOLK OR VIRGINIA BEACH? AND TWO, IF WE'RE UNABLE RIGHT NOW TO FIND PEOPLE TO WORK IN THESE TYPES OF RETAIL SERVICE BUSINESSES, WHO DO WE THINK IS GOING TO WORK AT THE TARGET? ONE OF THE ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM IS NOT THE PURVIEW OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT IT DOES HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH OUR FUTURE, AND THAT IS THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN. UNTIL WE ADDRESS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ISSUES ALL OF THE ABOVE GOOD JOBS INDUSTRY THAT IS INTERESTED IN COMING HERE, DECREASING POVERTY AND CRIME WILL NEVER BE RESOLVED. WE MUST DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE NOW AND NOT KICK THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD. THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD IS A GREAT START, BUT THOSE PEOPLE WON'T BEGIN WORKING UNTIL NEXT YEAR AND THAT IS HALFWAY THROUGH ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER. OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER. WE MUST HAVE ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP, WILLING TO WORK WITH PARENTS, CITIZENS AND A GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT SATISFIED. AND THE GOVERNMENT WITH LEADERSHIP THAT IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO. THAT IS 100% SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR TEACHERS, OF THEIR BUS DRIVERS, OF THEIR SCHOOL STAFF, AND AS A PART OF THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS CITIZENS TO CREATE THE BEST EDUCATION WE CAN FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATION. WE ARE THE TAXPAYERS, AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AFFECTS EVERY ASPECT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND OUR FUTURE. NOW IS THE TIME. I APPRECIATE THIS IS NOT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S PROBLEM TO SOLVE, BUT IT DOES AFFECT THE VISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND LASTLY, WHAT MAKES THE UNITED STATES A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE IS THE ABILITY TO VOICE OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR OPINIONS RESPECTFULLY AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT. I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE FUTURE ORGANIZATION BACK IN 2004 2012. IT WAS A BRAINCHILD OF SOL RAWLS. FROM THAT EFFORT CAME THE MERGING OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. WE HAD COMMITTEES AND LOOKED AT NUMBERS OF AREAS IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN CITY, IN THE CITY OF FRANKLIN AND SOUTHAMPTON, WHERE WE COULD WORK TOGETHER. A STUDY THAT SITS ON A SHELF TODAY WAS DONE ABOUT MERGING FRANKLIN CITY AND SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND OUR GOVERNMENTS. AND THOUGH IT WOULD BE HARD TO DO AND TAKE A LOT OF TIME. THE STUDY INDICATED THERE WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENCIES AND FINANCIAL SAVINGS IF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WERE ONE. WE HAVE A MOTTO AT HIGH STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, BETTER TOGETHER. I HAVE REFERENCED TONIGHT THAT WE ARE CONNECTED AT THE HIP TO THE CITY OF FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS NOT AN ISLAND, AND FOR US BOTH TO SUCCEED AND PROVIDING A GOOD LIVING FOR OUR CITIZENS, REDUCED POVERTY AND CRIME AND CONTINUE TO OFFER THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE ALL LOVE. I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT TOGETHER. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULDN'T MERGE, AND THIS IS NOT THE JOB OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. HOWEVER, SOMEONE, SOME GROUP OR SOME ENTITY MUST TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS AND AT LEAST START OR RESTART THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT POSSIBILITIES WE HAVE BY WORKING TOGETHER. WHAT CAN WE ACCOMPLISH IF WE MERGE AND BECOME ONE? WHAT SAVINGS FOR THE TAXPAYERS WILL THERE BE BY OPERATING AS ONE GOVERNMENT, ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM? WHAT EDUCATION CAN BE PROVIDED TO OUR CHILDREN IF WE ARE WORKING AS ONE STRONG SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH ONE STRONG LEADERSHIP UNIT, ONE SUPERINTENDENT, ONE BOARD AND ONE ADMINISTRATION. I KNOW IT IS NOT A POPULAR IDEA AND I AM FULLY AWARE OF THAT. BUT IF THE GOAL OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS TO PLAN AND TO MAKE OUR AREA BETTER IN THE FUTURE AND FOR OUR CHILDREN, I ASK, WOULDN'T WE BE BETTER TOGETHER? THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEEWAY. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. ANYONE ELSE? LAST CALL. [00:25:01] ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR. WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED TONIGHT, SO WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE UNDER UNFINISHED BUSINESS. [V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS] THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING CONVERSATION, LEWIS I WILL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM THERE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. WELCOME TO THE FIRST OF FIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING CONVERSATIONS. WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING TO GATHER CITIZEN INPUT DURING THE CREATION OF THE UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. ON THE BACK TABLE, THERE ARE COPIES OF THE TABLE OF CONTENTS AND THE INTRODUCTION CHAPTER OF THE DRAFT PLAN. THESE ARE PROVIDED TO WET PEOPLE'S APPETITE TO SEEK OUT AND REVIEW THE WHOLE PLAN, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE. YOU CAN GO TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE PLANNING AND ZONING DIVISION, AND AT THE TOP OF THAT PAGE IS A LINK TO THIS VERSION OF THE PLAN. THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS ALL HAVE A DRAFT COPY. WE HAVE A DRAFT COPY IN OUR OFFICE THAT ANYONE CAN COME READ OR YOU CAN READ IT ONLINE. AND IT'S ALSO A LINK TO THIS AGENDA PACKAGE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS. THIS IS THE FIRST COMPLETE DRAFT AFTER ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONVERSATIONS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL GATHER WHAT THEY LEARN AND CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE DRAFT. PROBABLY SEVERAL TIMES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS LIKELY TO HOLD A PLANNING RETREAT OF THEIR OWN AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, AND THEY MAY LIKELY HAVE CHANGES TO THE DRAFT AS WELL. AFTER ALL, THE CHANGES ARE COMPILED INTO DRAFT NUMBER FOUR, FIVE, SIX, PROBABLY MUCH HIGHER. THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HOLD THE REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL AND PASS IT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THEIR REVIEW AND EVENTUAL ADOPTION. THAT'S LIKELY IN THE LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR. ONE WAY THE PLANNING COMMISSION GATHERS INFORMATION CAN BE SEEN AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM. THERE'S AN EASEL AND THERE ARE STICKY NOTES FOR ANYONE TO WRITE WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. THINGS YOU WANT CONSIDERED AND STICK IT TO THE BOARD. AS MANY NOTES AS YOU'D LIKE TO DO. EVERYONE'S INVITED TO USE THOSE STICKY NOTES AND PUT THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE BOARD. THIS WAS USED TO GATHER INFORMATION AT THE FAIR. WE GOT QUITE A FEW STICKY NOTES OVER THE FOUR NIGHTS AT THE FAIR, ALL A RANGE OF ALL SORTS OF INFORMATION. AND THIS BOARD'S ALWAYS IN OUR OFFICE FOR ANYONE TO USE WHEN THEY COME IN. IT'LL BE AT EACH OF THE NEXT FOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AS WELL, AND THE NOTES WILL BE COMPILED FOR THE COMMISSION. THE NOTES FROM THE FAIR WERE IN THEIR BLUE NOTEBOOKS THAT THEY GOT LAST MONTH. AND OF COURSE, SINCE THIS IS A REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, ALL THE SPOKEN COMMENTS THIS EVENING WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE MEETING MINUTES. NOW A LITTLE ADVERTISING. THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT THE NEWSOMS RURITAN CLUB BUILDING ON OCTOBER 10TH, THE YOUNG FARMERS CLUB NEAR [INAUDIBLE] ON OCTOBER 17TH. THE NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE OF VIRGINIA COMMUNITY HOUSE IN CAPRON ON OCTOBER 23RD AND THE RISING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH NEAR BRANCHVILLE ON NOVEMBER 20TH. THE DATES, TIMES AND PLACES ARE IN THE FLYER LIKE MISS RIDDICK FREEZE HAD THAT ARE LOCATED ON THE BACK TABLE AND ON THE COUNTY'S FACEBOOK PAGE, AS WELL AS IN THE TIDEWATER NEWS THIS WEEK. IT WAS IN THE TIDEWATER NEWS. IT WAS LAST WEEK, THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER, THE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER, AND IN NOVEMBER IT WILL BE THE SECOND WEEK BECAUSE THE MEETING IN NOVEMBER IS LATER IN THE MONTH. BUT THERE IT IS WHEN YOU SEE IT. THE PURPOSE OF THESE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IS TO SEEK INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS. A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS A STATEMENT OF THE VISION OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. IT EXPLAINS WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHERE WE WANT TO GO, AND HOW WE WANT TO GET THERE. AND MY PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS ARE IN THE FLYER AND I HOPE PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. ALL THE COMMENTS I RECEIVE WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE INCLUDES TWO NEW CHAPTERS ONE DEALING WITH ENERGY AND ONE DEALING SPECIFICALLY WITH AGRICULTURE. THESE ARE IN PART A RESPONSE TO THE INCREASED PRESSURE FROM UTILITY SCALE SOLAR DEVELOPERS. THE AGRICULTURE CHAPTER ALSO INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE AND FOREST DISTRICT PROGRAM. NEW TO THE COUNTY SINCE THE CURRENT PLAN WAS ADOPTED. THE ENERGY CHAPTER DISCUSSES HOW AND WHY THE COUNTY HAS CHOSEN TO RESPOND TO INCREASING PRESSURE FROM THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR INDUSTRY. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTED COMPREHENSIVE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR REGULATIONS IN JUNE OF 2022, IN RESPONSE TO A YEARS WORTH OF STUDY BY THE PLANNING [00:30:01] COMMISSION TO HELP LESSEN THE LOSS OF IMPORTANT AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY LANDS AND TO ALLOW FOR EXISTING POPULATION CENTERS TO GROW UNIMPEDED BY SOLAR INSTALLATIONS. THE POPULATION CHAPTER NOTES THE COUNTY'S INCREASING AVERAGE AGE AND DECREASING HOUSEHOLD SIZE, WHICH ARE REFLECTED IN IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES IN THE HOUSING CHAPTER TO HELP FIND WAYS TO MATCH HOUSING CHOICES WITH POPULATION CHANGES, INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS OR MOTHER IN LAW SUITES IN ALL RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS. THE ECONOMY CHAPTER PROVIDED BY FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES ARE SOUGHT. THE TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER PROVIDED BY THE HAMPTON ROADS TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION INCLUDES A THOROUGH DISPLAY OF TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES AS PROVIDED IN THE VIRGINIA STATEWIDE LONG RANGE MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND A LINK TO THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN PROVIDED BY THE SAME ORGANIZATION IN 2015. THE EDUCATION CHAPTER PROVIDES EXPANDED INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ADDRESSES THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON EDUCATION. THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES CHAPTER INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE 1831 INSURRECTION TRAIL COMPLETED SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE LAST PLAN AND BASED IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF CORTLAND. THESE ARE THE TWO INDIGENOUS TRIBES HAVING FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES IN THAT CHAPTER INCLUDE CONSIDERATIONS FOR FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, A DESIRE OF COUNTY RESIDENTS SINCE THE 2008 PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN WAS PUBLISHED. THE ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING FARMLAND OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE AS WELL AS PRIME FARMLAND. DISCUSSES SEA LEVEL RISE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS AND DISCUSSES STORMWATER. THE LATEST CHAPTER, OF COURSE, INCLUDES FUTURE LAND USE MAPS THAT ARE USED IN MAKING LAND USE DECISIONS AND GUIDING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TO APPROPRIATE AREAS. THE CHAPTER ALSO INCLUDES IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES TO ENCOURAGE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS THAT ARE ALREADY SERVED BY UTILITIES, WHILE PRESERVING OUTLYING AREAS FOR THE COUNTY'S VITAL AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY INDUSTRY. EACH CHAPTER WAS PREPARED AND REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ACKNOWLEDGE TODAY AND PLAN FOR TOMORROW. EACH PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER HAS AN IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR CORNER OF THE WORLD AND BRINGS ALL THAT TO THEIR ROLE. BUT YOU CAN'T KNOW EVERYTHING, SO NEIGHBORHOOD IMPORTANT INPUT IS VITAL. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING INTERESTED. BUT YOU SEE THAT ALL THE CHAPTERS LINK TOGETHER. THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER AND WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL USE THE STICKY NOTES ON THE BACK AND STICK THEM ON THE BOARD. AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL GET THOSE COMMENTS AND SEE WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND WE HOPE THAT TONIGHT PEOPLE MAKE COMMENTS AS WELL. THANK YOU, MS. LEWIS. SO WE'RE ON TRACK TO HAVE OUR SCHEDULED COMMUNITY MEETINGS, CORRECT? RIGHT. YOU'LL HAVE FOUR OF THEM BETWEEN NOW AND THANKSGIVING. YEAH. OKAY. ANY ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS LEWIS? AND I HOPE IF YOU'RE CLOSE, DOUG, I DON'T EXPECT YOU ALL TO COME NEWSOMS BECAUSE YOU'RE ON THE END OF THE COUNTY. BUT, YOU KNOW, PLEASE, PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT THE ONES OF THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. AND MISS LEWIS, AS THEY COME TO HELP CONDUCT THE MEETINGS AND TO BE THERE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. AND OF COURSE, THEY'RE HERE TO HEAR THE COMMENTS. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE ON WITH THIS PROCESS. SO HOPEFULLY WE HAVE GOOD TURNOUTS AND BE VERY PRODUCTIVE. AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT WHO WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS AS WELL. TONIGHT'S THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD CONVERSATIONS. CAN WE ENTERTAIN THAT NOW? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO. YES. YEAH, BECAUSE THIS WAS GOING TO BE OUR FIRST KIND OF MEETING, RIGHT? THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A COUNTY WIDE, RIGHT? I GUESS SO THAT BEING SAID, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD NOW, MRS. FREEZE HAS JUST DONE A A GREAT PRESENTATION. I CERTAINLY I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, WITH THE AMOUNT OF HOMEWORK, I KNOW YOU PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT IN YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOU CERTAINLY BROUGHT US UP TO PAR DOING YOUR RESEARCH AND ALL. [00:35:01] AND OF COURSE THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE CONSIDERED. I DIDN'T WANT TO FEEL LIKE THAT WAS NOT IMPORTANT TO US, BUT YOU KIND OF STUNNED ME BECAUSE I'M TAKING IT ALL IN AND I'M MAKING NOTES. BUT THAT WAS A THAT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION YOU MADE AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DID TO DO THAT. AND THAT WILL BE CERTAINLY BE CONSIDERED AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE ANY OTHER CONCERNS OR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR CONSIDERATIONS YOU'D LIKE TO SET FORTH AS WE GO FORTH WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. MS. LEWIS I KNOW, I KNOW. WE HAVE COPIES OF THE FIRST DRAFT. ARE THEY ALSO ON THE INTERNET? DO YOU KNOW IF THEY ARE? THEY'RE ON THE COUNTIES. THEY CAN BE VIEWED ON THE INTERNET RIGHT NOW. RIGHT. THEY'RE ON THE COUNTY'S WEB PAGE IN OUR DEPARTMENT, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. AND IF SOMEBODY GOES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA PACKAGE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA PACKAGE, THERE'S A LINK THERE AS WELL. AND THERE'S A PAPER COPY IN OUR OFFICE ANYONE CAN COME BORROW IT, READ IT. AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING WITH A LOT OF POTENTIAL CHANGES WILL BE MADE ALONG THE ROAD AND HOPEFULLY COME EARLY NEXT YEAR OR SPRING, MAYBE WE'LL PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES ON IT AND HAVE SOMETHING WE CAN PRESENT TO THE GOVERNING BODY. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES. YES. MS. LEWIS, AT AT THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING CONVERSATIONS, IS THE FACILITATOR KIND OF THE JOB? I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THE FACILITATORS WOULD KIND OF POINT OUT IS A GENERAL TOPIC. WHERE OUR SEWER IS AT? OR WATER TO KIND OF FOCUS ON WHAT MISS FREEZE SAID. YOU KNOW. I GUESS, THE AVERAGE CITIZEN DOESN'T START THINKING ABOUT THAT COMES TO THESE THINGS. WELL, WE NEED TO GET OUR SEWER SYSTEM UP TO CAPACITY TO MAKE IT'S A PROFITABILITY QUESTION, RIGHT. AND I SURE HOPE THAT OUR FACILITATORS WOULD KIND OF POINT OUT, HEY, WE HAVE THIS SEWER SYSTEM IN PLACE AND WE HAVE WATER ACCESS, MAN THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO PUT SOME HOUSES. AND THIS IS KIND OF OUR PRIMARY AREA AND I THINK IT'S OUR JOB TO KIND OF GET THE WORD OUT. AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT. BUT I THINK OUR FACILITATORS SHOULD KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THAT AND THEN WE SHOULD KIND OF GET THE COMMENTS AND THEN FOLLOW SUIT WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BECAUSE I THINK. AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, NOT EVERYONE'S PERSPECTIVE THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF EXPAND THE RESIDENTIAL CORRIDOR RIGHT THERE WITH OUR SEWER FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE IN MY MIND, NOT AND I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR EVERYONE, BUT TO GET DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP DIRECT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT TO THAT AREA, TO GET THAT SEWER SYSTEM UP TO A REASONABLE CAPACITY POINT. AND I SURE HOPE THAT WE OUR FACILITATORS ARE TRYING TO PUSH THAT POINT HOME THAT THERE'S AN ECONOMIC. I GUESS, FACTOR ANALYSIS THAT GOES INTO THAT AND WHY WE DID WHAT WE DID. SO IN OTHER WORDS, KIND OF BRING THEM UP TO DATE WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS. THAT WAS SUCH A HUGE INVESTMENT BY THE TAXPAYERS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. I THINK THAT THAT HAS GOT TO BE HIGHLIGHTED IN SOME WAY WHEN WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE HAVE IT RUNNING RIGHT DOWN 58 AND THEN RIGHT DOWN TO THE SCHOOL, RIGHT? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED BY. THIS IS WHY WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE BECAUSE. YOU KNOW, THE M-1 IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO PRODUCE ANY CAPACITY, LIKE, HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, 250 HOUSES. CORRECT. SO I THINK SOMETIMES SOME OF THESE MEETINGS AND I'VE ATTENDED QUITE A FEW. WE START TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IRRELEVANT OR IMMATERIAL AND WE START COMPLAINING. I JUST HOPE THAT THESE ARE PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE NEED TO START DOING BECAUSE. YOU KNOW, I TALKED ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OR THE COUNTRY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUFFOLK AND ISLE OF WIGHT, AND YOU CAN GIVE ME THESE POPULATION FIGURES ALL DAY. AND YOU KNOW, WHAT MY POSITION IS GOING TO BE IS WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT 50 TO 100 YEARS. [00:40:03] AND THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE AGGRESSIVE ON BECAUSE WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE. AND I THINK IT'S A BREACH OF OUR DUTY AND NOT DOING SO. AND THE CAMP PARKWAY WAS A NICE PLACE TO PUT SOME HOUSES, WOULDN'T IT? THAT'S GONE. OKAY. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THIS BOARD SAID NO TO THAT. AND SO WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IN 2016, 2015, 2016. AT THE END OF[INAUDIBLE]. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS A GIANT MISTAKE. I WILL SAY THIS FORTUNATELY, NOT MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO MADE THAT MISTAKE ARE STILL HERE. SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. OKAY, MISS LEWIS. AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER THERE ARE WHAT ARE CALLED IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES. AND THEY TAKE ALL THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE TALKED ABOUT IN THE CHAPTER AND HAVE ALL SORTS OF IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO PUT THEM INTO PLACE. AND THE HOUSING CHAPTER DOES TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DIRECTING HOUSING TO PLACES THAT ARE ALREADY DEVELOPED AROUND PLACES THAT ARE DEVELOPED AND AROUND PLACES THAT HAVE UTILITIES. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES, YOU MIGHT SEE THINGS THAT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN FOR 20 YEARS, MIGHT NOT HAPPEN FOR 30 YEARS, BUT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT. THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR FARMLAND PROTECTION SECTION. THE MOST EASIEST WAY TO PROTECT FARMLAND IS TO HAVE THOSE AREAS, RIGHT? KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THE FARMLAND. YEAH. SO DO WE HAVE THAT IN THAT SECTION? I BELIEVE THERE'S A DISCUSSION OF IT IN THAT SECTION. WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD ON THE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT WE HAVE NOW. RIGHT. THE SMALL TOWNS AND THE RIGHT GROUPS OF HOUSES. WE'RE TRYING TO EXPAND ON THAT. AND LIKE MR. RANDALL SAID, WHERE WE HAVE THE UTILITIES, WE'RE TRYING TO EXPAND THERE. SO AND I'VE READ THROUGH SOME OF THAT. AND YES, WERE CERTAINLY TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THAT. RIGHT. AND IT TALKS ABOUT PERHAPS WORKING WITH THE TOWNS TO HELP REVITALIZE THEIR COMMERCIAL AREAS SO PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN CAPRON DON'T HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO FRANKLIN OR ALL THE WAY TO EMPORIA TO GET WHAT THEY NEED. PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN NEWSOMS DON'T HAVE TO GO, YOU KNOW, FAR DISTANCES TO GET WHAT THEY NEED. SO ALL THE PIECES KIND OF WORK TOGETHER ABOUT BUILDING THE SMALL TOWNS, HELPING THE SMALL TOWNS DEVELOP AND BUILDING HOUSES IN THE AREAS, AND THEN KEEPING THE THINGS THAT IMPEDE THAT GROWTH, LIKE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR AWAY FROM THE EDGES SO THOSE TOWNS CAN GROW. RIGHT? I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT SOLAR FARMS. NOT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF OUR ORDINANCE. UH, SO WHOEVER FACILITATES THAT, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THAT. THAT WOULD BE A SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WILL BE EDUCATED ON. NOW, ALSO, ONE OTHER THING THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME IS THAT THING OUT THERE, THAT SOLAR PALM PROPAGANDA ON THE WALL OUT THERE. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAY WE WANT TO TAKE THAT DAMN THING DOWN. IT WAS NOT PUT UP WITH PERMISSION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. AND I CAN GO THROUGH AND LIST ABOUT TEN THINGS IN THAT THING WHICH AREN'T TRUE. IT WAS IT WAS A VERY ODD PROFFER THAT WAS ACCEPTED. I WOULD LIKE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DO THAT. SCREWDRIVER CAN TAKE IT DOWN. I'D MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE ASK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO CONSIDER TAKING IT DOWN. OKAY. I WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION. SECOND. A SECOND. A MOTION. A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO OTHER DISCUSSION. I WOULD BE GLAD TO ASSIST WITH THE REMOVAL. I VOLUNTEER. YOU BRING THE SCREWDRIVER. SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I MEAN, IS THAT. ARE YOU NOT? I MEAN, OF COURSE, I'M SURE THE BOARD CAN INSTRUCT. I MEAN, THE BOARD HIRES A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, DOES IT NOT? OH, YES. AND IT WOULD IT NOT BE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR? WE HAVE THAT. [00:45:04] SO THE BOARD HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND THE BOARD HAS TALKED ABOUT IT. ALL RIGHT. HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I THINK WE'RE OUT OF OUR LANE PERSONALLY. I MEAN, THAT'S. I WOULD AGREE. I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOMEBODY TO MAKE A DECISION TO TAKE IT DOWN, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEND A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. OKAY. THAT'S THE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF SENDING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE SOLO DISPLAY OUT THERE SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED LIKE SIGN. IT IS UNANIMOUS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. CARRY ON. LET ME CORRECT ONE THING YOU MENTIONED TWICE A WHILE AGO ABOUT SOLAR FARMS, THEIR SOLAR FACILITIES. CORRECT? THAT'S DROPPED THE FARM PART. CORRECT. I KNOW EVERYBODY REFERS TO IT AS THAT, BUT. CORRECT. THAT'S STILL AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY, CORRECT. SO THE 2 OR 3 OR 4 SOLAR INSTALLATION COMPANIES THAT CALL ME EVERY WEEK AND THEY'RE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THEY START TALKING ABOUT SOLAR FARMS. I SAY THEY ARE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND I DIRECT THEM TO THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE, WHICH IS THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR SECTION. AND I TELL THEM WHEN THEY READ THAT AND THEY READ THE JULY 2022 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MINUTES THAT HAS A SUMMARY OF THIS BOARD'S DISCUSSION FOR A YEAR. ALL THEIR MINUTES SAID, AFTER YOU READ ALL THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM FOR YOU. AND I DON'T GET ANY CALLS BACK. VERY GOOD. OKAY. SO WE'LL GO BACK SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UPDATING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IS ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE? YOU CERTAINLY MAY COME FORWARD NOW OR YOU CAN WAIT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO ONLINE. THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE ONES HERE TONIGHT, BUT EVERY CITIZEN, TO REVIEW OUR PLAN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COVERING ALL THE BASES AND THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE OR MODIFY SOMETHING. THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT. I CONFIRMED IT WITH MR. COOK SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. AND THAT IS OUR 17TH. 17TH. OH, NO. OCTOBER 10TH AT THE CLUB. YEAH. I TALKED TO RANDOLPH COOK MONTHS AGO. UM, THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO THE MEETING. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. MAYBE WE'RE THE ENTERTAINMENT. [INAUDIBLE] I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, DO YOU THINK MR. COOKE WAS THINKING THAT WE WOULD BE PART. DO YOU THINK HE WOULD THINK WE'D BE PART OF THE. WELL, NOT ENTERTAINMENT, BUT IT MIGHT BE ENTERTAINMENT PART OF THE PROGRAM. YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT HE WAS THINKING? MISS LEWIS, WE PROBABLY HAVE TO CHECK ON THAT. YES, I'LL TALK TO MR. COOKE IF WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE. I CERTAINLY. UM. ARE WE GOING THROUGH YOUR PROBLEM? IS MR. COOK THE ONE TO CONTACT? NO I WILL TRY TO GET THAT NUMBER TO YOU, MRS. LEWIS, BECAUSE I'VE DONE ALL OF THIS THROUGH RANDOLPH COOK. OKAY, I'LL PASS THE NUMBER OVER AND WE'LL GET THAT CONFIRMED. AND IF WE NEED TO MAKE THAT CHANGE, IF WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE, WE'LL CERTAINLY TRY TO. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT CHANGED. RECENTLY. MISS LEWIS, I'LL GET THAT NUMBER TO YOU TOMORROW SO YOU CAN MAKE THAT CONTACT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS UPDIKE. AND ANYONE ELSE HAVE A COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR YOU AT. YES. OH, I'M SORRY. YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. I'M SORRY. [INAUDIBLE] COME FORWARD MRS. FREEZE. THAT'S FINE. YOU'RE GOOD. [00:50:03] BUT I'M SORRY. I WAS LOOKING DOWN. I WASN'T LOOKING OUT. I'M SORRY. MY ONLY COMMENT. THIS IS JANE AGAIN. MY ONLY COMMENT IS THIS, IS THAT I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE ABOUT THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND SO I'M SORRY. MOST PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THE TIDEWATER NEWS EXCEPT MY MOTHER, WHO'S 85. AND I DON'T I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS A BIG THING IN GENERAL FOR THE WHOLE AREA IS MARKETING AND HOW TO GET PEOPLE HERE BECAUSE I THINK THIS ROOM SHOULD BE PACKED BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE INPUT. I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT MAYBE FACEBOOK AND THERE'S A CORTLAND COMMUNITY. IS IT ON FACEBOOK? IT IS. IT IS ON FACEBOOK. OKAY. AND AND IT'S GOING TO BE PULLED UNDER THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY GOVERNMENT PAGE AND IT'S GOING TO BE PULLED UP. OKAY. WELL, THEN I'LL GO SHARE IT BECAUSE WE HANDED OUT NUMEROUS OF THESE AT THE COUNTY FAIR. AT THE FAIR. OKAY. SO SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING I KNOW IT'S HARD. WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER MEDIUM IS. AND IN PLACES THAT HAVE LIKE MONTHLY UTILITY BILLS, YOU CAN PUT A, YOU KNOW, A STUFFER IN THE ENVELOPE WITH THE UTILITY BILL. BUT IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAIL THAT GOES OUT TO EACH ADDRESS EVERY MONTH OR EVERY QUARTER. SO IT'S TOUGH. BUT YEAH, IT'S ON THE COUNTY'S FACEBOOK PAGE. OKAY. AND TINA'S GOING TO HAVE IT PULLED UP AS IT GETS CLOSER TO EACH MEETING. OKAY. WELL, I'LL SHARE THAT BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE THE ROOM PACKED. YES, WE WOULD. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. COME FORWARD AGAIN. MY NAME IS KENNETH BOWERS FROM NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT. I'D LIKE THE COMMITTEE TO TAKE A LOOK AT MAYBE A MODEL PROJECT THAT'S UP AND RUNNING. IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR ONE STAND, AND IT'S CALLED A ZION CROSSROAD PROJECT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT, BUT IF YOU TAKE IN 64 WEST, JUST AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO LEAVE LOUISA COUNTY HEADED TO CHARLOTTESVILLE, IT'S A WOODED AREA. AND FROM WHAT I KNOW IN THE PAST, IT'S ONLY A SMALL COUNTRY ROAD CROSS ROAD FROM 64. AND THE SIGN SAYS ZION CROSS ROAD, FIRST THING THEY PUT UP WAS A WATER TOWER. AND THEN I THINK BEST WESTERN CAME IN AND NOW THEY'RE JUST THRIVING WITH NEW BUSINESSES THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS OUT OF NOWHERE. THEY HAVE A VERY THRIVING, ECONOMICAL, SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY. SO IF WE CAN JUST LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID AND WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING THAT THEY TOOK TO GET THERE, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMMITTEE MAYBE SET UP A EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT IF YOU'RE TRAVELING WEST ON HIGHWAY 460, LEAVING [INAUDIBLE] JUST BEFORE YOU LEAVE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AS YOU'RE APPROACHING WHITEFIELD AND JUST AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO LEAVE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, IF YOU LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT, THERE'S THE PEANUT WAREHOUSE WHERE WE ALL KNOW THERE'S A PEANUT PLACE YOU CAN BUY WHOLESALE PEANUTS AND WHATNOT. WELL, JUST ABOUT THREE MILES SOUTH OF NORTH OF 460 THERE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY STANDING IN THREE COUNTIES, SUSSEX, SURREY AND SOUTHAMPTON, ANOTHER EIGHT MILES. YOU'RE ALSO IN ISLE OF WIGHT. I WOULD LIKE MAYBE HAVE A STEERING COMMITTEE LOOK AT THE OPTION OF MAYBE LEASING MAYBE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 20 AND 40 ACRES, AND MAYBE WE CAN USE IT AS A MULTIPURPOSE FOUR COUNTY COMPLEX THAT WE CAN ADDRESS A LOT OF THE NEEDS WE HAVE TO TAKE US INTO THE FUTURE THAT ARE METROPOLITAN, THAT WE CAN MAYBE COMPETE WITH THE LOCAL METROPOLITAN AREAS. SINCE WE'RE RURAL, WE CAN'T AFFORD ALL THE THINGS THEY HAVE, BUT MAYBE AS FOUR COUNTIES WE CAN HAVE A MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER, 30, 40 ACRES, MAYBE 20 YEAR LEASE. AND WE CAN ALSO EXPLORE THE OPTION OF PUTTING UP A 25 METER RADIUS COMMUNICATION TOWER THAT WOULD REACH MAYBE FROM EMPORIA TO HOPEWELL OVER TO MAYBE AS FAR AS FRANKLIN. THAT WOULD SERVE ALL FOUR COUNTIES A GREAT ASSET. AND THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO THERE, MAYBE A WATER TOWER, MAYBE A SHARED TRASH DISPOSAL AREA, MAYBE SECURITY. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM NEED MORE SECURITY NOW THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD. MAYBE ALL FOUR COUNTIES CAN SHARE SOME RESOURCES THERE. AND THE SAME THING WITH SOCIAL SERVICE FOR OUR SCHOOL THAT WE NEED TO INCORPORATE TO HELP IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS. [00:55:03] SO MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A JOINT FOUR COUNTY COMMUNICATION CENTER, MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER. I SAID THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? YES. COMMUNICATIONS WOULD BE FOR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN EMERGENCY THINGS. THAT WOULD BE A SHARED TOWER, DIGITAL COMMUNICATION TOWER THAT WE CAN USE FOR OUR EMERGENCY STRUCTURES AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS. I'M JUST SAYING THE COMMUNICATION TOWER THAT WE CAN ALL SHARE THAT CAN REACH A 25 MILE RADIUS. IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WE WILL HAVE A NEW SYSTEM IN PLACE. YES, I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN AT YOUR MEETINGS, BUT THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH ALL FOUR COUNTIES TO HELP CUT DOWN THE COST. AND IT COULD BE A BACKUP SYSTEM AND IT CAN BE ALSO ADDITIONAL DIGITAL COMMUNICATION THAT WE CAN ALL USE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. ANYONE ELSE. ANY COMMENT FROM THE BOARD? [VI. NEW BUSINESS] ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER SIX ON THE NEW BUSINESS. AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK HAVE A DISCUSSION POSSIBLY ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT WITH THE COUNT PARKWAY PROPERTY. AND MISS LEWIS, I GOING TO LET YOU OF COURSE, IT'S THE AGENDA PACKAGE, BUT I'LL LET YOU BRING US UP TO DATE AGAIN AS TO WHAT WHY WE'RE REVIEWING THIS AND HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT AT THE LAST SUPERVISORS MEETING? OKAY. AT THE AUGUST MEETING, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DIRECTED THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO STUDY THE PLAN, DESIGNATION AND ZONING DESIGNATION OF THE CAMP PARKWAY PROPERTY, SPECIFICALLY TAX PARCEL 77-36, 77-38 AND 77-43. THIS PROPERTY TOTALS 438.71 ACRES. IT HAS A PLANNED DESIGNATION OF EMPLOYMENT CENTER ADOPTED WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN JUNE OF 2015. IT HAS A ZONING DESIGNATION OF CM-1 CONDITIONAL LIMITED INDUSTRIAL APPROVED AT THE JULY 5TH, 2016 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. THE CONDITIONS INCLUDE A NUMBER OF PROFFERS DESIGN GUIDELINES, A PHASING PLAN, LANDSCAPE AND BUFFERING REQUIREMENTS, SIDEWALK AND TRAIL REQUIREMENTS, ALL OF WHICH ARE PART OF THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS PROPERTY, REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP. THIS EVENING YOU JUST HELD THE FIRST OF FIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING CONVERSATIONS. GOOD INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED AS I HOPE IT WILL BE AT THE NEXT FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS IN THE INFORMATION GATHERING STAGE AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEW COUNTY ATTORNEY. I'D RECOMMEND MAKING NO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION THIS EVENING. OKAY. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS? AND DO YOU UNDERSTAND? WHAT MRS. LEWIS IS SHARING WITH US. SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION TONIGHT FROM THE COUNTY, WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE DISCUSSION, BUT IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE PROPER TO TAKE ANY ACTION TONIGHT. I AGREE 100%. OKAY. SO. YES. YES, MA'AM. YES. READING THROUGH THIS INFORMATION, IT WAS STATED THAT AMENDMENTS UNDER THE SECTION 18-541 INITIATION OF CHANGE, AND IT STATES THAT ANY AMENDMENT MAY BE INITIATED BY A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. AND SINCE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MADE THE DECISION TO CHANGE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION. I WAS WONDERING WHY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DID NOT JUST INITIATE A RESOLUTION AT THEIR AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING TO TO REVERSE THEIR DECISION BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE TO COME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE RIGHT WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IT DIDN'T HAVE TO COME HERE, BUT EVERYBODY FELT IT SHOULD COME HERE. THIS IS THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WE RESPECT THAT AND WE WANTED THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO LOOK AT IT FIRST. AND MY THOUGHT ON THAT IS IF PLANNING COMMISSION BACK IN 2015, IT WAS BEFORE MY TIME, BUT IT MADE THE DECISION TO [01:00:02] HAVE THAT AREA AS AGRICULTURAL AND RESIDENTIAL. SO THAT WAS ALREADY STATED IN THE DOCUMENTS. THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE WERE MADE BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, NOT BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. SO HISTORICALLY PLANNING COMMISSION HAD ANOTHER IDEA FOR THAT PROPERTY AND DID NOT SUPPORT A CHANGE TO CM-1. MY THOUGHT ON THIS IS THAT THIS DECISION REALLY BELONGS WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND NOT WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION. I THINK THAT'S WHY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHOSE FIRST DAY WAS JUST MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, ASKED THAT THIS BOARD NOT MAKE ANY DECISIONS THIS EVENING. I THINK ANY DISCUSSION THAT WE MAKE WOULD BE JUST TALKING, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WITHOUT HAVING LEGAL ADVICE, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD MOVE TO MAKE A DECISION. WE CAN DISCUSS IT. YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF THIS, THE AIR FORCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY FOR EVERY FOREIGN COMPANY OR WHATEVER COMES IN THIS COUNTRY. RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE LOOKING BECAUSE THEY GOT TOO BIG AIR FORCE BASES IN THE NAVAL BASE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, ABOUT 42 MILES FROM ONE OF THEM AS THE CROW FLIES. AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. SO THAT INVESTIGATION IS GOING TO TAKE BETWEEN 45 AND 90 DAYS. THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL. AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE NAME OF THE FELLOW WHO'S AHEAD OF HIS NAME IS DAN BURKE. AND I'LL BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU HIS PHONE NUMBER. IF YOU'D LIKE TO TALK TO HIM, HE'LL TALK TO YOU. AND I TALKED TO HIM LAST WEEK AND HE'S BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL OF US ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. AND THAT INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING AND IT'S MY HOPE. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HOPE THAT THEY WILL UNWIND THIS DEAL. THAT'S POSSIBLE. WE CAN ALWAYS HOPE AND PRAY THAT. SO THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. UM. THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL. AND I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED AT THE RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. YOU KNOW, HOW IT'S SOMETIMES YOU'RE JUST THEY THEY CALL ME. I GOT A NOTE, A CALL THAT THAT THE PENTAGON WANTING TO TALK TO ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL TO THEM OR GET UP AND RUN AND HIDE, BUT SO THEY'RE ON THE CASE. THEY'VE GOT 45 TO 90 DAYS. AND I THINK ANY DECISION WE MAKE WILL HAVE TO BE ON WHAT THEY WHAT THEY SAY, BUT WE CAN DISCUSS IT. SO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS GOING TO BE HERE AT OUR NEXT MEETING? I HOPE SO, YES. THAT'S THE THAT'S OUR COUNTY EXPECTATION. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. THE NEW COUNTY ATTORNEY IS BEING BRIEFED ON THIS, I THINK, TOMORROW. AND I TALKED TO HIM THIS PAST MONDAY TOO, HIS FIRST DAY. I JUST DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. I WANT TO RELY ON HIS ADVICE AND I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL UNTIL WE GET HIM HERE. OKAY. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT IT AT ALL. OKAY. WELL, WE CAN'T BE SUED BY TALKING ABOUT IT. WE CAN BE SUED BY TAKING ACTION. I THINK I'M NOT AFRAID OF BEING SUED ABOUT TALKING ABOUT IT. I MEAN, THAT'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I GUESS, IN THIS COUNTRY. I UNDERSTAND. BUT I GET I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION TO SPEAK RATIONALLY ABOUT IT, AND THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION OF HIS EMAIL. SO I JUST DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT UNTIL WE GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION. I MEAN, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION TO DRAW ANY CONCLUSIONS. SO I THINK TALKING ABOUT IT AT THIS POINT. AND IT'S FROM JUST MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT'S RECKLESS. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT. I THINK WE SHOULD GET THE INFORMATION AND THEN DISCUSS IT. AND I AGREE. I THINK THAT REALLY THE COMMUNICATION APPEARS TO BE MORE WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IT'S NOT WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION. WE DO THE RECOMMENDATIONS. BUT THE LEGAL SIDE OF IT IS, IS IS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WELL, I'LL REITERATE AT THE END, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS ASKED THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO LOOK AT IT AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION. SO I'M GOING TO I'LL MAKE A COMMENT. AND I THINK I AGREE. I AGREE WITH MR. RANDALL. IT MIGHT BE OUT OF ORDER TO DO A LOT OF DISCUSSING TONIGHT WITHOUT OUR LEGAL COUNSEL PRESENT. BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH EDWARDS THAT I ACTUALLY ATTENDED THE BOARD SUPERVISORS MEETING AND IT WAS IT WAS [01:05:01] SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT THEY WANTED TO WANTED TO COME BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DISCUSS IT AND HEAR, I GUESS, HEAR THE TESTIMONY ALL OVER AGAIN. BUT I GUESS ON A MATTER AS DELICATE AS THIS IS I GUESS ALL PARTIES SHOULD BE ON THE SAME PAGE. SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT. IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD TABLE DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT. BUT WE WILL, UPON THE ADVICE OF OUR COUNSEL AND AT OUR NEXT MEETING, IF HE SAYS WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DISCUSS, WE WILL. WE DO NEED TO OBLIGE THE GOVERNING BODY AT THE TASK AT HAND, BUT AT THIS POINT, MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST CEASE DISCUSSION. IS THAT AGREEABLE? THAT MAKES SENSE. I AGREE WITH YOU . OKAY. SO WE'RE FOLLOWING HIS RECOMMENDATION. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE STARTING TO TAKE IT UP, HOPEFULLY AT THE NEXT MEETING. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS? YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT NEXT MEETING, BUT WHENEVER WE HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, I THINK WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THEIR DECISION. CERTAINLY, LIKE I SAID, THIS GUY IS VERY FRIENDLY. I'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU I'LL GIVE YOU HIS PHONE NUMBER. CALL HIM ABOUT ANY TIME. AND. HE'S VERY INTERESTED AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK THEY'VE ALREADY SENT SOME PEOPLE DOWN HERE TO WALK OVER THE PROPERTY. AND IT'S A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE. AND I GUESS YOU ALL HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE NEWS AND AND WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THE COUNTRY. THERE IS A BILL IN CONGRESS NOW ABOUT BANNING ALL CHINESE FROM BUYING ANY PROPERTY. RIGHT NOW IN VIRGINIA AS FAR SENATE, MR. RANDALL CAN CORRECT ME. THEY CANNOT ANY LONGER BUY FARMLAND. OKAY. THAT PASSED, I THINK, JULY 1ST. RIGHT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY DID THIS TWO DAYS BEFORE THAT CAME IN TO EFFECT. THEY SPENT $11.4 MILLION ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WAS WORTH $4 MILLION. AND THE ENGINEERS TELL ME IT'S GOING TO TAKE $75 TO $100 MILLION TO FIX THE ROADS UP. SO YOU DON'T SPEND $150 MILLION AND PUT IN SOMETHING AND EXPECT TO GET SOMETHING BACK RIGHT QUICK. SO THERE'S PROBABLY ANOTHER MOTIVE HERE. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS? NO. ALL RIGHT. LOOK FOR YOU ALL BE STAY POSTED. WE'LL FIND THAT. WE'LL GET THAT DATE LATER IN THE MONTH AT NEWSOMS [INAUDIBLE] CENTER FOR THE COMMUNITY MEETING. STAY POSTED TO YOUR WEBSITE ON IT, AND I HOPE YOU CAN COME AND ATTEND. AND IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND. MOTION TO ADJOURN PROPERLY SECOND. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE ONES IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE COME TONIGHT TO TO ATTEND OUR MEETING. WE APPRECIATE IT. Y'ALL HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.