Sep 11, 2024
The Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors has approved the 2045 Comprehensive Plan, concluding a five-year process to guide the county’s future.
After the Board of Supervisors postponed the vote last month, Supervisor Tim Taylor called for a unanimous 6-0 vote to approve the plan. On Tuesday, he got his wish.
“If anyone votes against it, they can see me after the meeting,” Taylor said. “I’ll have a few words for you.”
Comprehensive plans are essential for guiding decisions on development, requiring proposed industrial, commercial and residential land use to align with the plan before approval. Zoning and subdivision ordinances are also shaped by the comprehensive plan to support the community’s vision.
The 2045 Comprehensive Plan emphasizes preserving the county’s rural character while promoting sustainable growth. Key goals include protecting farmland, preserving natural resources, enhancing community services and fostering economic development through partnerships.
County Planner Tyler Hinkle said in previous meetings that community input was a cornerstone of the process, with numerous public meetings and surveys conducted to gather input from residents. Input from nearly 2,500 residents and multiple stakeholder meetings shaped the plan. In the final months, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), a group of 13 county residents representing each electoral district, spent 24 additional hours refining the plan’s language and proposals.
“What’s so special about it is we didn’t spend five figures for some outside firm to come in and write this thing up,” Taylor said. “It was done by us, in-house, which required sweat, effort and time by a lot of special people. There’s ownership in it.”
Roulston’s objections to the 2045 Comprehensive Plan centered on his dissatisfaction with the inclusion of specific projects and entities, such as the Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail and the Meems Bottom Covered Bridge, which he felt were too detailed and premature for a broad, high-level plan. Recent revisions addressed concerns about specificity by replacing mentions of particular projects and organizations with broader, more flexible language to allow for adaptability and future growth.
“I will say I have gone through the changes made, and I am comfortable with all of the changes that have been made,” Roulston said. “I appreciate the efforts to rapidly get them incorporated.”
Taylor praised the plan’s near-perfect balance.
“I thought this plan nailed it when it came down to reasons for (its vision), but also, I think it hit the empathetic and emotional part of it as well,” Taylor said. “I’ve seen a lot of plans in my years in public service. It’s one of the top plans by far.”
He emphasized the importance of collaborating with the county’s towns to implement the plan.
“I’m definitely proud of this North Star plan,” Taylor said. “What is so important, in order to make it work, is that our plan has to complement the six incorporated town’s plans in order to make it work. Our staff has been working and making sure that communication exists.”
Fire and rescue services study
Joe Pozzo, the chief of the Center for Public Safety Management, presented to the board regarding the start of a comprehensive study to enhance emergency response within the county.
Pozzo said the study aims to create a service level plan based on the 2018 strategic plan for fire and EMS services. Pozzo emphasized he will provide multiple service level options, offering flexibility in choosing the way forward.
“We’re going to lay out different levels of service for you to choose from.”
The study will begin with a gap analysis focused on workload, response times, and stakeholder engagement.
“We plan to meet with all relevant parties to get a comprehensive understanding,” Pozzo said.
The study will also assess infrastructure needs and equipment upgrade costs. Pozzo highlighted the rising costs of fire engines and ambulances and the necessity of future investment by the county, stating local stations are quickly losing the ability to cover needed costs.
“There’s only so many chicken barbecues and pancake breakfasts that volunteer fire and EMS departments can do to raise money for apparatus,” he said. “The cost of an engine today is between $800,000 to $1 million, and ambulances can cost up to $350,000.”
Estimated personnel and infrastructure costs will also be presented. The study is set for completion by early February.
Financing needs
Ted Cole, co-director of the Richmond-based financial advisory firm Davenport and Co., presented financing needs for fiscal year 2025, outlining two primary categories of projects: major capital and operating capital.
Major capital primarily includes approximately $8 million for landfill improvements, which will potentially be financed over 20 to 30 years. Operating capital needs totaled $5 million, covering short-term assets like vehicles and equipment, expected to be financed over five years.
Cole recommended that the county use the Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) for both categories due to competitive interest rates, flexible collateral options, and the ability to finance for longer terms compared to direct bank loans. Interest rates were estimated at around 2.68% for short-term operating capital and 3.52% for long-term major capital. The VRA will lock in rates at the end of October, Cole said.
A public hearing for the financing approval is tentatively set for September 24.
Copyright 2024, The Northern Virginia Daily.
