Firefly to update board on county-wide fiber project; PC to discuss Comp Plan, proposed changes to land development regs; Community notes; News roundup

Oct 07, 2024

Engage Louisa is a nonpartisan newsletter that keeps folks informed about Louisa County government. We believe our community is stronger and our government serves us better when we increase transparency, accessibility, and engagement.

This week in county government: public meetings, Oct. 7 through Oct. 12

For the latest information on county meetings including public meetings of boards, commissions, authorities, work groups, and internal county committees, click here. (Note: Louisa County occasionally schedules internal committee/work group meetings after publication time. Check the county’s website for the most updated information).

Monday, October 7

Louisa County Board of Supervisors, Public Meeting Room, Louisa County Office Building, 1 Woolfolk Ave., Louisa, 6 pm. The board will convene in closed session at 5 pm. (agenda packet, livestream)

Louisa County School Board, Central Office Administration Building, 953 Davis Highway, Mineral, 7 pm. (agenda, livestream)

Tuesday, October 8

Louisa County Electoral Board, Office of Elections, 103 McDonald St., Louisa, 1 pm. The public is invited to attend or call in at 540-967-1160. (agenda)

Wednesday, October 9

James River Water Authority, Fluvanna County Administration Building, 132 Main Street, Palmyra, 9 am. At publication time, a meeting agenda wasn’t publicly available.

Tourism Advisory Committee, Louisa County Office Building, 1 Woolfolk Ave., Louisa, 9 am. At publication time, a meeting agenda wasn’t publicly available.

Community Meeting, Public Meeting Room, Louisa County Office Building, 1 Woolfolk Ave., Louisa, 4 pm.

The Louisa County Community Development Department and JWC Enterprises, LLC (On Demand Concrete) will hold a neighborhood meeting to discuss the company’s request for a conditional use permit to operate a construction yard on the north side of Louisa Road (Route 22) at its intersection with Spotswood Trail (Route 33) (tax map parcel 24-17-A). Learn more here.

Louisa County Water Authority, 23 Loudin Lane, Louisa, 6 pm. At publication time, a meeting agenda wasn’t publicly available.

Thursday, October 10

Louisa County Planning Commission, long-range planning work session, Public Meeting Room, Louisa County Office Building, 1 Woolfolk Ave., Louisa, 5 pm. (meeting materials, livestream)

Louisa County Planning Commission, Public Meeting Room, Louisa County Office Building, 7 pm. (agenda packet, livestream)

Other meetings

Monday, October 7

Mineral Town Council, special meeting, 312 Mineral Ave., Mineral, 6:30 pm. (agenda)

The Mineral Town Council will hold a special meeting to review applications for a pending appointment to a vacant council seat. Read more about the appointment process in last week's edition of Engage Louisa.

Additional information about Louisa County’s upcoming public meetings is available here.

Interested in taking your talents to one of the county’s numerous boards and commissions? Find out more here including which boards have vacancies and how to apply.

Town of Louisa seeking applicants for interim mayoral appointment

Following the resignation of Mayor Garland Nuckols at Louisa Town Council’s September 17 meeting, council is seeking candidates interested in filling the position on an interim basis.
If you’re a qualified voter and town resident with an interest in serving as mayor, submit a cover letter and resume to Town Manager Liz Nelson by Tuesday, October 29 at 5 pm. Letters and resumes can be dropped off at the Louisa Town Hall, 212 Fredericksburg Ave., or emailed to lnelson@louisatown.org.
Council will hold a public meeting in council chambers, 212 Fredericksburg Ave., on Wednesday, October 30 at 6 pm to announce the candidates under consideration for the position and share their cover letters and resumes with the public.
Council will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, November 6 at 6 pm to appoint an interim mayor.
Per state law, the appointee will serve until a special election is held to fill the remainder of the current mayoral term, which expires December 31, 2026. Pending circuit court approval, the election will take place on November 4, 2025.
For more information, click here.

Firefly update highlights another light BOS agenda

After a three-week hiatus, the Louisa County Board of Supervisors will convene for its first October meeting with another light agenda on tap. The board will hold one public hearing, consider one action item and hear three presentations. Check out a meeting preview below.

Firefly to update board on county-wide fiber project; Supes to hear two other presentations

The board of supervisors has promised residents that county-wide high-speed internet access is coming by 2025.

Firefly Fiber Broadband, the company tasked with making that happen, will update the board on the project Monday night.

In 2021, Louisa County partnered with Firefly, a wholly owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC), the area’s two other electric providers—Dominion Energy and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC)—and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) to expand broadband access to the county’s unserved areas. Firefly is serving as the internet service provider and, outside of CVEC territory, connecting to infrastructure owned by Dominion and REC. TJPDC is administering grant funding that supports the project.

Firefly’s Regional Internet Service Expansion project (RISE), an initiative aimed at bringing fiber to parts of 13 central Virginia localities, is the main vehicle the company is using to connect the county.

With an estimated price tag of $70 million in Louisa County alone, the project is expected to install some 1,100 miles of fiber, bringing high-speed internet access to some 11,000 homes and business in the county by next fall. Across the 13-county project area, RISE will lay 5,000 miles of fiber, deliver broadband access to some 112,000 Virginians and cost about $330 million.

To support the project, TJPDC and Firefly received a $79 million Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) grant three years ago with $22 million of that expected to directly benefit Louisa residents. VATI is a state program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development and largely bankrolled by some $700 million in federal funding.

The board of supervisors committed $9 million in local funds to the effort, paying that off in three roughly $3 million installments included in the county budget over the last three fiscal years.

To ensure that both unserved and underserved residents have access to fiber, Firefly and TJPDC received another $12.2 million in VATI funds earlier this year with $1.6 million of that expected to benefit residents in Louisa.

The funding is part of Firefly’s $48.6 million expansion of the RISE project, which aims to reach underserved areas that didn’t qualify for inclusion in the first VATI-backed initiative. The expansion will cover residences that are technically considered served by high-speed internet but don’t actually have service due to geographical barriers or other issues.

Monday night’s presentation will be Firefly’s first in-depth public update to the board in more than a year. Firefly CEO Gary Wood last provided supervisors with a detailed briefing in September 2023.

Wood has acknowledged that, due to labor shortages and kinks in the supply chain, Firefly and its partners got off to a slower than anticipated start. But, he said at the September 2023 meeting that his company was picking up speed and intends to complete the project by August of 2025, the deadline set by VATI.

In a separate initiative, Firefly has already provided fiber access to the 4,100 customers in CVEC territory, which covers a large swath of western Louisa County. The company has laid 320 miles of fiber and invested more than $14 million in the project aided by a $550,000 tax abatement from Louisa County and federal CARES Act funding.

Residents can get more information about the county-wide fiber initiative and register for service on Firefly’s website. The website includes a timeline for when connections are expected to begin on specific substation and circuits. Firefly also hosts virtual town halls to let residents know when connections are starting in their area.

While the Firefly update is the marquee item on Monday night’s agenda, the board will hear two other presentations. The Louisa County Historical Society will brief the board on its work. The society received $5,000 in county support in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, down from $42,500 in FY24.. Louisa County 4-H will also present to the board. The organization’s presentation coincides with National 4-H Week, October 6 through 12.

Board to hold public hearing on changes to erosion and sediment control ordinance

Supervisors will hold a public hearing and consider amending the county’s erosion and sediment control (ESC) ordinance to bring it into compliance with new state regulations. (draft amendments)

According to a memo to the board from Community Development Department staff, the State Water Control Board last year adopted new erosion and sediment control regulations, and the General Assembly passed a new state law, effective July 1, that revises both ESC and stormwater management standards.

To ensure compliance with the new rules, staff recommends that the board overhaul the county’s erosion and sediment control ordinance, incorporating language that reflects the updated requirements.

Staff notes that the ESC regulations aim “to prevent the unreasonable degradation of properties, stream channels, waters and other natural resources by establishing requirements for the effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition and non-agricultural runoff, and by establishing procedures whereby these requirements shall be administered and enforced”.

Staff says the regulations are also “intended to facilitate the submission and approval of plans, issuance of permits, payment of fees, and coordination of inspection and enforcement activities for land-disturbing activities into a more convenient and efficient manner for both Louisa County and those responsible for compliance with these programs.”

Supes to consider approval of Management Oversight Group finance committee guidelines

Supervisors will consider approval of a set of guidelines for the Management Oversight Group’s (MOG) finance committee. The MOG advises the county on Fire and EMS operations, focusing specifically on the volunteer component. (draft guidelines)

The proposed guidelines mostly aim to improve planning for capital projects. They require the MOG’s finance committee to forecast future expenditures, using a 20-year model, and to keep capital requests relatively flat from year to year “to help with overall budgeting throughout the county.” The forecast is designed to limit unexpected expenditures and “maintain a plan to set priorities,” according to the proposal.

The proposed guidelines also task the committee with gathering budget requests from the volunteer Fire and EMS agencies each year and creating a plan to present to the board of supervisors during the annual budget process.

The guidelines say the committees should prioritize budget requests based on an item’s impact on the safety of Fire and EMS personnel, followed by response readiness, savings of future funds, and “lower but warranted needs.”

The Fiscal Year 2025 to Fiscal Year 2044 Capital improvement Plan (CIP), which the board adopted as part of the FY25 budget, includes $300,000 for maintenance at volunteer fire and rescue stations and other upgrades for the current fiscal year. The board is set to allocate that funding Monday night as part of its consent agenda, a group of resolutions typically passed in a block vote with no discussion.

Looking ahead, the CIP earmarks $300,000 for station maintenance and upgrades in each of the next four fiscal years.

PC to discuss Comp Plan, proposed changes to Land Development Regulations and more

After not holding a meeting in September, the Louisa County Planning Commission is back in action on Thursday night.

Prior to its regular meeting, the commission will hold a work session to discuss proposed updates to the county’s Land Development Regulations and to continue work on appendices to be added to the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

After that, they’ll convene for a light meeting with only one public hearing on tap—a request for a proffer amendment to a previous rezoning that would permit the property’s developer to tweak buffer and landscaping requirements.

Commission to discuss Comp Plan ‘Focus Areas’

In 2019, Louisa County adopted its 2040 Comprehensive Plan, a long-range planning document that provides a roadmap for the county’s future development. While county officials finished the bulk of the document, they left some sections incomplete including appendices covering transportation, public facilities, utilities, and focus areas.

Over the last few years, staff has been working with the planning commission and board of supervisors to put the finishing touches on the plan as it prepares for a state-mandated five-year review.

The board of supervisors earlier this year adopted a public facilities chapter, which documents county facilities, like schools, parks and fire stations, and assesses future needs. The chapter provides tools for measuring the impacts of development on public facilities and county services and makes recommendations on how to offset those impacts.

At Monday’s work session, the commission will dig into a review of the draft “focus areas” section, which zeroes in on the county’s eight designated growth areas: Zion Crossroad, Ferncliff, Shannon Hill and Gum Spring along Interstate 64; Louisa and Mineral in the center of the county; Gordonsville at its northwestern edge; and Lake Anna along its northern border.

In a memo to the commission two years ago, Deputy County Administrator Chris Coon said the focus area plans are intended to “quickly articulate the current state and future vision” for specific areas and to help ensure that “developments mitigate any factors that may interfere with the future vision.”

The draft focus area plan for the Gum Spring Growth Area, for example, describes the area as “mainly comprised of single-family residences and active farmland” and notes that growth in the area should center on “attracting small local businesses that support both residents and farmers.”

The draft calls for Planned Unit Development (PUD) to be the primary approach for any new development involving 10 acres or more, noting the Gum Spring exit could become a desirable location to live and shop due to its proximity to suburban Richmond. PUDs are typically characterized by clustered development inclusive of a mix of uses.

“As the City of Richmond and Henrico County continue suburban sprawl to the west, it is possible the Gum Spring Growth Area could become an attractive growth point. The Gum Springs Growth Area should be used as a buffer to protect the rural and agricultural nature of the area,” the draft plan says, noting that future development should focus on creating a “sense of place and community character” and promote “small scale mixed-use commercial development” and “shared driveways and inter-parcel connectivity.”

With respect to the area’s infrastructure needs, the draft plan states that while VDOT recently built a roundabout at the intersection of Routes 522 and 250 to improve “safety and efficiency,” additional transportation improvements are necessary around the interstate interchange to support future development.

“It is anticipated that additional traffic improvement projects will be needed near the Interstate 64 exit and bridge crossing to address increased traffic as the Gum Spring Growth Area develops. Future development near the interstate should contribute towards transportation solutions,” the plan says.

The draft plan also notes that, since Gum Spring currently lacks access to public water and sewer, “regional and large-scale development or businesses should not be encouraged.”

The board of supervisors last month unanimously rejected Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores’ request to build a truck stop on 50 acres just south of the interstate at Gum Spring.

In opposing the project, residents argued that it conflicted with the county’s long-range vision for the area as articulated in the Comp Plan. Supervisors agreed, citing the project’s incongruence with the plan, the lack of public utilities and the potential for traffic bottlenecks as reasons for rejecting the proposal.

The meeting materials include drafts of each focus area plan. Check them out here.

Commission to discuss proposed updates to LDR

During its two-hour work session, commissioners will also discuss more than a dozen proposed changes to the county’s Land Development Regulations. The tweaks cover everything from where food trucks are allowed to operate by-right to setback requirements for some commercial properties.

In a memo to the commission, Deputy County Administrator Chris Coon says the proposed changes aim “to address discrepancies, clarify regulations, ensure alignment with more stringent State and Federal regulations, update standards to reflect current practices, and make adjustments based on community needs and the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.” The revisions are also designed to improve efficiency by removing conflicts and outdated provisions, Coon said. (memo)

Notable proposed amendments include:

Setback exemptions: The proposed amendments would exempt specific improvements from the required setbacks in all zoning districts. Exempted improvements include retaining walls for commercial projects, walkway structures that cross property lines onto Dominion Shoreland adjoining Lake Anna and wheelchair ramps, among others. Coon says the changes “recognize the need for flexibility in certain commercial and infrastructure-related projects.”
Removal of residential uses in commercial zoning districts: The proposed amendments prohibit new residential uses in commercial zoning districts. This change focuses commercial districts on business and economic development and prevents conflicts between residential and commercial uses, according to Coon.
Reducing setbacks for commercial uses in GAODs: The proposed changes reduce setback requirements for commercial uses in Growth Area Overlay Districts (GAOD), recognizing, as Coon puts it, “that increased setbacks between adjoining commercial parcels have created parcels with restrictive building envelopes.”
Designating where food trucks are permitted: The proposed changes add a definition for “food truck” to county code and designate where food trucks are permitted to operate by-right. The amendments would allow food trucks to conduct business by-right in all of the county’s zoning designations except residential (R-1, R-2, R-1 GAOD, R-2 GAOD). Coon says the amendments promotes “small business activity while maintaining appropriate regulatory control.”
Sewage system notification to adjoining property owners: The proposed amendments mandate that adjoining or affected property owners are notified when a development proposes to utilize a sewage system designed to have a point source discharge. Coon says the amendments would increase transparency, informing neighbors about potential environmental impacts.
Review and certification of internal subdivision streets: The proposed amendments require all internal subdivision streets to be reviewed, inspected, and certified by a third-party engineering firm, with the costs borne by the developer. The new regulations aim to ensure subdivision infrastructure is “properly constructed and meets county standards,” according to Coon.

Commission to hold public hearing on proffer amendment for Dove Hollow subdivision lot

In the lone public hearing of the night, commissioners will consider Swamp Bottom, LLC’s request for a proffer amendment to a previous rezoning that would allow the property’s developer to tweak buffer and landscaping requirements.

In 2006, the county rezoned about 23 acres off Chalk Level Road, clearing the way for development of the eight-lot Dove Hollow subdivision. In a proffer attached to the rezoning, the developer agreed to plant clusters of Leyland Cypress trees to supplement a natural buffer along the subdivision’s border.

Swamp Bottom, the subdivision’s developer, and Ronnie Morris, the owner of lot #8, request that the county amend the proffer to remove the supplemental planting requirement for the lot (tax map parcel 41-33-8).

Swamp Bottom argues in its land use application that the section of the property where the trees are supposed to be planted is too wet to support their growth. The developer also says that a natural vegetative buffer exists, which provides adequate screening.

In its report, Community Development Department staff say that a staff member visited the site and confirmed the presence of a 50’ natural buffer, which was also included in the proffers.

In mid-September, staff and the applicant held a neighborhood meeting to answer questions and provide additional details about the request. Other than the applicant, no one attended the meeting.

Louisa orgs collect Hurricane relief supplies

The Louisa County Partnership Committee, a collection of community organizations and volunteers, is teaming up for “Stuff the Truck 4 SWVA,” a donation drive to collect supplies for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene in southwest Virginia.

Working in cooperation with the United Way of Southwest Virginia, the committee is asking community members to donate more than a dozen essential items to be delivered to southwest Virginia later this month.

Currently, the committee is asking residents to donate the following items: bug spray; individual propane tanks; towels (new); bed sheets (new); bottled water; work gloves; baby formula; household cleaning supplies; flashlights; batteries; buckets (new); rakes and shovels; hygiene products; and flavor packs for water. (Note: the Louisa County Resource Council (LCRC) is expected to share an updated needs list on Monday, October 7. Check the organization’s Facebook page for the latest information or contact LCRC directly).

Supplies can be dropped off at the following locations through October 16:

Louisa County Resource Council, 147 Resource Lane, Louisa
8:30 am to 3 pm, M-W; 8:30 am to 6 pm, Thurs. (LCRC plans to add more evening hours in the coming week).
Wayne’s Heating and Cooling, 4212 Davis Highway, Louisa
Bethel Builders, 209 E. Main St., Louisa
Southern Revere Cellars, 1100 East Jack Jouett Road, Louisa
Callie Opie’s Orchard, 455 Zachary Taylor Highway, Mineral
Besley Implements, 704 Mineral Ave., Mineral
Louisa Moose Lodge, 349 School Bus Road, Louisa
Higher Education, 10050 3 Notch Road, Zion Crossroads
Holly Grove Volunteer Fire Department, 143 Factory Mill Road, Bumpass
Locust Creek Volunteer Fire Department, 575 Bethany Church Road, Bumpass
Bumpass Volunteer Fire Department, 96 Fredericks Hall Road, Bumpass

Monetary donations are also welcome. Donations will be used to purchase the most needed supplies. Make checks payable to the Louisa County Resource Council and note that your donation is for “Helene relief.”

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Cathy Portner at food@louisaresource.org or (540) 967-1510 ext. 101.

For updates on the donation drive, check out the Louisa County Resource Council’s Facebook page.

Louisa Hometown Heroes project prepares to display banners honoring military veterans

The Louisa Hometown Heroes project is preparing to display 54 banners along Main Street in the Town of Louisa in honor of military veterans with Louisa County connections.

Launched by a group of Louisa residents last year, the project has already sponsored 41 banners, honoring men who earned a Purple Heart and whose names are inscribed on the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond.

The project’s organizers, Travis “Elmo” Daniel, Manning Woodward, Tommy Nelson, Willie Harper and Becky Guinn, relied on community donations to purchase those banners. They’ve worked with the Town of Louisa to periodically display them on lamp posts along the town’s main thoroughfare.

In cooperation with Dominion Energy and the town, organizers are now preparing to unfurl a second set of banners before Veterans Day, each honoring a veteran who's either from Louisa County or has ties to the area. The banners were purchased by friends and family of each honoree. A Dominion crew will hang the banners from company-owned utility poles.

The Hometown Heroes project would like to thank Dominion Energy and the Town of Louisa for making the initiative possible. Organizers extend special thanks to Dominion’s Marty Bowman, manager of electric distribution and construction, former Town of Louisa Mayor Garland Nuckols, Town Manager Liz Nelson and the Louisa Town Council.

If you’re interested in purchasing a banner in honor of a military veteran, contact Travis “Elmo” Daniel at travisedaniel3@gmail.com.

Santa Council application deadline November 1

The Santa Council of Louisa County, a community organization that provides holiday gifts and food to families in need, is accepting applications for assistance through November 1.

Applications are available at the Louisa County Department of Human Services, 114 Industrial Drive, Louisa, and the Louisa County Resource Council, 147 Resource Lane, Louisa.

News roundup: From pigskin to politics

Engage Louisa focuses on Louisa County government. But we recognize that we can’t cover everything and there’s plenty of other news in our neck of the woods. With that in mind, we occasionally include a roundup of links to the work of other journalists covering noteworthy events and issues that impact our community.

Ground Attack: Louisa rushes for 288 yards in win over Monticello -ScrimmagePlay

Louisa’s dynamic duo primed for success in return to Lion program -WVIR

McGuire, Witt face off in 5th Congressional District -Richmond Times-Dispatch (subscription required)

Four top 5th District GOP officials ousted for not supporting McGuire -Virginia Mercury

Adult Community Education adds community café -The Central Virginian (metered paywall)

Click here for contact information for the Louisa County Board of Supervisors.

Find agendas and minutes from previous Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission meetings as well as archived recordings here.

Click here for contact information for the Louisa County School Board.

Click here for minutes and agendas for School Board meetings. Click here for archived video.

Click here to access past editions of Engage Louisa.

Engage Louisa