Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Continued frustration surrounding the proposed designation of the Nellysford community as an Urban Development Area increased during a public meeting held last month on August 29th. Residents in attendance at the Nelson Center were under the impression they’d be able to address board members and express concerns, along with asking questions over the possible UDA designation and the Nelson Comprehensive Plan. They will get another chance at a new joint Board of Supervisors / Planning Commission meeting later this week on Thursday September 28th.
During an earlier August 4th meeting organized by concerned citizens at the Rockfish Valley Volunteer Fire Department, numerous residents spoke in opposition saying their questions were being ignored by supervisors. The most recent August 29th meeting seemed to do nothing to ease concerns. When one resident of Stoney Creek in Nellysford tried to address the board he was not allowed. As BRL understands, no one was allowed to address BOS members and were given the option to submit concerns in writing or via the county website.
“I attempted to provide this feedback during Tuesday’s Q&A, but my attempt was denied. I then attempted to convey this feedback to the team member at the Chapter 4 station but was unsuccessful. You say that you want public engagement, but your contradictory actions speak louder than words.
Our elected and appointed representatives must listen to and act upon their constituents’ agenda, not their own personal agendas.” Stephen Bayne of Nellysford wrote to supervisors in a followup email after Tuesday’s meeting.
One day prior to that meeting, Dylan Bishop, the Director Of Planning and Zoning for Nelson County sent a letter to the state agencies withdrawing the application for the time being.
Bayne said that when Bishop announced that they had withdrawn their GAP-TA application at the August 29th meeting the announcement was met with applause.
Another Board of Supervisors / Planning Commission meeting has been scheduled for September 28, 2023 at 6:30 P.M. This meeting will be held in the former board room in the courthouse in Lovingston. All public comments submitted to date will be discussed.
The link below is the scheduled agenda.
https://www.nelsoncounty-va.gov/event/joint-board-of-supervisors-and-planning-commission-work-session/
Below is a list of BOS & planning commission members with their contact info:
Board of Supervisors
Tommy Harvey
540-456-6379
harveyasc@gmail.com
Ernie Reed
434-249-8330
ereed@nelsoncounty.org
Jesse Rutherford
434-981-8728
jrutherford@nelsoncounty.org
David Parr
434-277-5265
dparr@nelsoncounty.org
Skip Barton
434-263-5512
* no email address for Mr. Barton – you must call him.
Planning Commission
Mary Kathryn Allen
434-942-7965 | mkallen@nelsoncounty.org
Michael Harmon
434-277-5016 | mharkan@nelsoncounty.org
Phillippa Proulx
540-456-6849 | proulx@cfw.org
Charles Amante
703-269-8586 | camante@nelsoncounty.org
Robin Hauschner
434-989-8899| Robin.hauschner@gmail.com
Those involved in input and organizing prior citizen meetings say if you have not already done so, please send an email or call the individual BOS and Planning Commission members (above) with your comments on the Final Draft Comprehensive Plan.
