This week in county government; Who's funding the candidates; Three public hearings slated for August BOS meeting
Engage Louisa is a community newsletter aimed at keeping folks informed about Louisa County government. It’s free, non-partisan, and powered by volunteers. 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, July 19-24
Wednesday, July 21
Louisa County Board of Zoning Appeals, Public Meeting Room, 1 Woolfolk Ave., 7 pm. (public notice)
After failing to get the entire board to attend its last two meetings, the Louisa County Board of Zoning Appeals will convene on Wednesday with plans to consider Vallerie Holdings of Virginia LLC’s request for a variance to allow no setback in an area along the shore of Lake Anna where a five-foot setback is required.
The Valleries erected outdoor stairs and a deck on a structure at their business, Pleasants Landing, (tax map parcel 47-(11)-B2 ) in the Jackson Voting District, which violate county setback requirements. The BZA hearing marks the latest twist in the county’s ongoing battle with the Valleries over the stairs and deck.
The BZA was set to discuss the matter in April but the Valleries requested a delay when only four of seven board members showed up. In May, the Valleries again asked to defer the matter as two board members missed the meeting. In a letter to the county, the Valleries’ counsel asked that “the application not be scheduled for a hearing unless and until all seven BZA members have confirmed their availability for that hearing.”
In 2019, the BZA granted the Valleries’ variance request in a 3-1 vote. Louisa County appealed the ruling to Circuit Court Judge Timothy Sanner, who invalidated the decision because it wasn't approved by a majority of BZA members.
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.
Follow the money: who's funding the candidates?
Candidates vying for local and state office this November submitted campaign finance reports July 15, which reflect donations and spending from May 28 through June 30.
Here in Louisa County, several candidates for local office filed reports. Office-seekers who don’t raise or spend any money may be exempted from regularly filing, and donations of $100 or less aren’t required to be itemized. A few highlights from the latest filings:
Challengers outraise, outspend incumbents in Patrick Henry and Green Springs BOS races: Even though early voting kicks off in less than two months, June was a relatively slow month for fundraising and campaign spending in local races.
In the Patrick Henry District Board of Supervisors race, Republican challenger William Woody raised $700 from three contributors with $400 coming from the Louisa County Republican Committee. Woody spent $883 on signs and campaign literature. He ended the filing period with $2,792 cash on hand.
Incumbent Fitzgerald Barnes, running as an independent, raised $30 from one donor and didn’t report any spending. He closed the filing period with a $30 balance.
In the race for the Green Springs District Board of Supervisors seat, Republican challenger Rachel Jones raised $1,100 from three donors. She received $500 from Renee O’Leary of Historic Green Springs’ Old Raptor Farm. The Louisa County Republican Committee chipped in $400. Jones spent $1,500 with over $1,200 going toward yard signs and 4 by 4 signs. As of June 30, she had $822 cash on hand.
Independent incumbent Bob Babyok did not file a report.
Mineral District Supervisor Duane Adams was the only other local candidate to file a disclosure for the fundraising period. Running unopposed, the Republican reported no donations. He spent $1,006, $990 of that on event catering. He ended the filing period with $645 cash on hand.
Lockhart closes money gap in 56th District HoD race: In the 56th District House of Delegates race, Democrat and political newcomer Blakely Lockhart had a strong month of fundraising in her bid to unseat Republican incumbent John McGuire.
Lockhart hauled in $20,156. She raised $15,197 in cash contributions, collecting 49 donations, and received $3,768 in in-kind gifts. Lockhart received $10,000 from Democratic mega-donor Sonjia Smith and $1,000 from Louisa County Democratic Committee Chair Jennifer Wainright, her two largest cash contributions.
Lockhart spent $1,607 in cash with the bulk of that going to pay campaign staff. About $2,500 in itemized in-kind spending covered the cost of postcards. In total, Lockhart spent $5,376. She closed the reporting period with $30,272 cash on hand.
McGuire raised $12,515, receiving 52 donations. He collected $2,800 from Donald Workman, a Northern Virginia bankruptcy attorney, and $2,000 from Kelley Mulcunry, an Ashland daycare provider, his largest contributors.
McGuire spent $9,775, over half of which went to campaign consulting and signs. He ended the filing period with $46,972 in the bank.
The next campaign finance reporting period ends August 31 and reports are due September 15.
Three public hearings slated for August 2 BOS meeting
Sticking to its traditional summer schedule, the Louisa County Board of Supervisors cancelled its July 19 and August 16 meetings. But, there’s still plenty of public business to be done even in the dog days of summer. The board’s August 2 meeting is shaping up to be a busy one. The county is advertising three public hearings. (public notice)
A quick summary of the August 2 public hearings:
Considering a tax exemption for logging equipment: The board will hear public comment and consider approval of a tax exemption for single-use logging equipment. During the 2020 session, the General Assembly approved legislation permitting localities to grant an exemption from personal property and machinery and tools taxes on equipment specific to logging like cutters and chippers. Louisa County already offers an exemption for farming equipment.
In April, Ron Jenkins, Executive Director of the Virginia Loggers Association, and local logger Rob Woolfolk spoke to the board and requested the exemption. The board unanimously agreed to advertise a public hearing to consider the request at its June 21 meeting.
In their presentations to the board, Woolfolk and Jenkins said that the Covid-19 pandemic has been difficult on local loggers. “Everything slowed down,” Jenkins said.
Both noted that the high cost of lumber hasn’t trickled down to those felling the trees, an economic reality likely shaped by a number of factors including consolidation in the timber industry, slowdown at mills during the pandemic, and mill quotas.If the county adopts the exemption, it will likely only impact a handful of Louisa taxpayers, according to Woolfolk’s estimate. No fiscal impact figures were publicly presented at either the April or June meetings.
Upon approving the public hearing, Mineral District Supervisor Duane Adams said he supported the exemption. The six other supervisors didn’t signal how they’ll vote.
“Anything that we can do, from my point of view, to preserve the agricultural base of the county, and I think sustainable forestry falls right into that, I am in favor of,” Adams said, noting agriculture and forestry’s significant economic impact in the community.
After a deferral in June, controversial solar project slated for hearing: After county officials deferred a previously scheduled public hearing at the request of the applicant, the board will consider approval of Energix Aditya LLC’s proposed Conditional Use Permit to construct a 60-acre, 11MW solar array on a 95-acre parcel (tmp 42 86A) near the intersection of Davis Highway (Route 22) and School Bus Road (Route 767). The property is owned by Pam Harlowe and Melonie Donovan.
At a marathon meeting in May, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the CUP in a 5-2 vote. Commissioners George Goodwin and Cy Weaver opposed.
Goodwin cited concerns about traffic along School Bus Road and Routes 22 and 33 during construction. After listening to more than a dozen speakers, many of whom live along School Bus Road, express strong opposition to the project, Weaver said he couldn’t support it. “My heart goes out to these people,” he said.
In requesting a deferral in June, Energix officials told the county they were awaiting additional information from a traffic analysis. The proposed site abuts property already approved for a large solar facility. If built, that project would span some 1400 acres. Goodwin noted that building the two facilities simultaneously could cause a traffic “nightmare.” Planners asked the county to request that VDOT reduce the speed limit along School Bus Road from 45 to 35 miles per hour to ease traffic safety concerns.
Beyond traffic, School Bus Road residents said they are concerned about possible declines in property values, the facility’s impact on wildlife, stormwater runoff in nearby waterways, and other negative impacts on their quality of life.
Energix officials countered that, after construction, impact from the project would be minimal. In their application, they pointed out that they plan to implement an extensive storm water management system and have staff on site to monitor it throughout construction. They also noted that they are planting a “pollinator garden” to enhance biodiversity on at least 10 percent of the project site.
Energix presented a study by Kirkland Appraisals LLC contending that the project would have no detrimental impact on property values. Appraiser Richard Kirkland asserted that adjoining properties are well set back from the proposed solar array, vegetative buffering already exists, and additional buffering is planned.
County planning staff and Energix representatives also pointed to tax assessment figures from the Louisa County Commissioner of the Revenue’s office, which, on average, show no decline in property values on real estate that adjoins the county’s existing solar facilities.
Growing the Yanceyville Ag/Forestal District: The board will consider adding 96.7 acres off Mount Airy Road (tmp 70-51) to the Yanceyville Ag/Forestal District (AFD). The property belongs to Joshua 19 LLC, an entity owned by Mineral District Planning Commissioner John Disosway. Planners unanimously recommended adding the parcel at their July 8 meeting. Disosway did not vote.
The county includes 15 AFDs, a conservation tool that allows landowners to voluntarily prohibit development on farms and forestland for a 10-year period. The Yanceyville AFD currently includes 7 noncontiguous parcels in south-central Louisa County. Over the last several months, the county has grown its AFDs by over 10,000 acres.
Other news of note:
Mineral to explore dissolving town charter: At its July meeting, the Mineral Town Council voted 3-2 to begin the process of annulling its town charter, according to The Central Virginian. Council member Ed Jarvis made the motion, the paper reported, noting that residents pay taxes to both the county and town but the town provides few services.
The town, founded in 1890, would have to reach an agreement with Louisa County before the process could move forward. Provided the county agrees to take over the town and upon council approval, the decision would go to town voters in a ballot referendum.
According to a source in county government, Jarvis reached out to County Administrator Christian Goodwin and Mineral District Supervisor Duane Adams to inform them of the council’s move and next steps.
Republican field grows in 7th Congressional District race: On Wednesday, Taylor Keeney, a Goochland resident with deep ties in conservative politics, officially launched her candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 7th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Democrat Abigail Spanberger. The General Election is slated for November 2022.
Keeney worked as a press secretary for former Governor Bob McDonnell, served as spokesperson for John Adams’ failed bid for Attorney General in 2017 and as a press assistant to Cindy McCain during John McCain’s 2008 presidential run. Currently, she directs strategic communications at Hunton Andrews Kurth. The mother of two also founded a nonprofit that helps disadvantaged children.
Keeney’s entrance into the race grows the Republican field in the swingy 7th to four contenders with several other possible entrants waiting in the wings. Tina Ramirez, a Chesterfield resident and religious freedom activist, announced her candidacy in early July. Ramirez also vied for the nomination in 2020.
John Castorani, an Army veteran and Orange County resident, and Henrico resident Gary Barve have also filed paperwork to run. In 2020, Castorani finished a distant fifth in his run for the Republican nomination in Alabama’s 1st Congressional District. Barve is coming off a loss in his bid for a seat on the Santa Clara, CA City Council.
Two men who currently represent Louisa County in Richmond could also jump in the race. Senator Bryce Reeves told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he’s “testing the waters.” A former police officer, Reeves lives in Spotsylvania and represents the 17th Senate District, which includes most of Louisa County.
Delegate John McGuire, a fitness instructor and former Navy Seal, is also widely believed to be considering a run. The Goochland resident, currently running for re-election to the 56th House of Delegates seat, has been campaigning far beyond his district and frequently appears with Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin. Like Ramirez, he failed to win the nomination in 2020, finishing second to Delegate Nick Freitas in the 7th District Republican convention.
In her announcement video, Keeney took swipes at Spanberger, questioning her bipartisan bona fides, and several of her potential Republican opponents. “I’m tired of the same career politicians failing to flip this seat from blue back to red,” she said.
The 7th District will be redrawn as part of the decennial redistricting process this fall. It’s unclear how new lines will impact the purple district, which centers on the Richmond suburbs but stretches across swaths of rural central Virginia including all of Louisa County.
Spanberger, a former CIA officer, is busy fundraising for her re-election effort in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. According to her latest FEC filing, she received just over $755,000 from April 1 through June 30. She ended the period with $1.84 million in the bank.
Check out The Washington Post's and Virginia Scope's coverage of Keeney’s announcement.
Questions about proposed Chickahominy pipeline: Last week, some Louisa County landowners received letters from Chickahominy Pipeline LLC asking for permission to access their property to investigate possible construction of a 24-inch natural gas pipeline. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, landowners reached out to Louisa County officials with questions about the project but they had few answers.
County Administrator Christian Goodwin told the paper that officials contacted the developer for more information but, as of late last week, had not heard back.
“We are very interested to learn more about the proposed route so that we can gauge its impact,” he said.
The Times-Dispatch reported that the pipeline would service the proposed Chickahominy Power Station in Charles City County, a controversial project that has sparked strong opposition from some local residents. The developer said the pipeline would connect with the Transcontinental pipeline near Charlottesville. That pipeline cuts through western Louisa County.
Click here for contact information for the Louisa County Board of Supervisors.
Find agendas and minutes from previous 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.
There will be a meeting about the proposed Ferncliff Place high-density housing project. Seating is limited. Dates are still being determined. Please contact FerncliffCommunity@gmail.com for details and to reserve a seat.