Welcome to The Maysville Voice, the newsletter for those living in the Maysville District as to update those in and around our District as to actions voted on and being considered by the Buckingham Board of Supervisors.
We considered many items of interest, including voting on a public hearing on the potential sale of a large portion of the Industrial Park for the purposes of a mixed use housing and business development, approval of a Special Use Permit for a sawmill, the great success of the Buckingham Anti Litter Task Force, an upcoming Dominion Energy open house, and more.
Our latest Board of Supervisors regular meeting was held at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 9, 2022, in the Peter Francisco Board Room in the County Administration Complex on Route 60. If you were unable to attend in person, you can view our meeting live here: https://youtu.be/TDuVuDWskvo.
Hearing to be Held on Monday, June 13 at 6 PM Regarding Sale of County Land for Mixed Use Project.
The Board of Supervisors voted 4-2 to hold a public hearing on Monday, June 13, 2022 regarding the sale of a large portion of property of the County Industrial Park to Atlantic Investment Corp. for the purposes of a mixed use project that would include space for industry/business development and housing. I voted in favor of this action in order to hear from the public on this matter. The meeting begins at 6 PM and those who wish to speak need to sign up in person before 5:55 PM with the Clerk. You may sign up at and after 5:30 PM.
As the Board of Supervisors continues to consider the sale and potential development (by a private corporation, Atlantic Investment Corp. with Ted Lloyd as its principal) of 114 acres of the 136.438 acre county-owned industrial park, there has been a compromise/change in the number of single family dwellings and townhomes, which I was at the table for, bringing your concerns to the developer.
The developer is NOW seeking to see only around 67 town homes (about half what was originally proposed) constructed (opposed to 124 as earlier mentioned), 28 single family dwellings (1,800 sq. ft. minimum on half to 2.3 ac. Lots), and NEW 20 smaller (1,600 sq. ft. homes on 1.4 ac. Lots), which would replace the Third Phase (in the southern footprint of the original town home footprint) of the previously proposed town house development. Breaking this new proposal down:
- The 67 town homes, selling at about $275,000-350,000 each, would add $16.75 million in value to the tax rolls of the county.
- The 28 single family dwellings, selling at about $360,000 each, would add $10.8 million in value to the tax rolls of the county.
- The 20 smaller single family homes, selling at about $345,000 each, would add $6.9 million in value to the tax rolls of the county.
This is a conservative total value added of $33.73 million to the county’s tax rolls. Again, this does not include sales tax revenue increases (more sales), personal property tax revenue (more vehicles, etc.) increases, and more investment by the business community in the county. This would equate to $175 thousand dollars in tax revenue increase, and, again, conservatively forecasting.
The value of that property recently with the Commissioner of the Revenue, and the 136 acres is assessed currently at $682,200. The land has been owned by the county for about 20 years and it has brought very little business to that property and has stayed off of the tax rolls. Something important to consider is that, based on how that 136 ac. park is currently zoned, a ConAgra industrial facility with massive lighting, smells, and other massive impacts to the community could locate in the industrial park by right, meaning that no special use permit nor public hearing would be necessary.
It is my intent, as the Maysville District Supervisor, to maintain our low real estate tax rate of $.52 cents per $100 of assessed value (which is less than half of the statewide average of $1.07 per $100 of assessed value), and grow our economic base as not to continue to burden the farmer, small parcel owner, and retiree and those on fixed incomes as prices continue to increase. Also, once our COVID-19 relief funding is depleted, along with the funding Dominion Energy allocated to the county, we are looking at essentially a $2 million per year need in new revenue to fund our rescue squad/Emergency Management Services, and, again, I do not intend to raise your taxes and it is my opinion that the county should be open minded to new avenues to take the tax burden off of those who own land in the county.
The developer wishes to also develop commercial and light industrial lots in the southwestern portion of the property. We are already seeing some interest and dialogue regarding this from prospects. There is some question as to how much it costs the local government to educate a school aged child, and that answer is roughly $3,400 per pupil per year. On top of that, our annual average daily membership (AADM) is down in terms of percentage per month and on a four year trend, especially at the middle and high schools, demonstrating we have space and will see more space in the lower level grades in our schools for more students.
There has also been concern about the price point for the homes. Looking at our April 2022 building permit report alone, we issued seven permits for homes valued conservatively at more than $210,000 – most of which are upwards of $300,000. In addition, I pulled permit values from January 2020-March 2022, and missed two months, and during that time frame the County issued 145 permits for new dwellings valued at $100,000 or more. The total value of those permits is $30 million, with the average home constructed at $207,000. This demonstrates a need for housing and the market meeting the price point.
Again, as to the county incentivizing the project, if $15 million of value is added to the tax base within five years from closing, the county will abate the $6,000 per acre sale of the property by $3,000 per acre. Taxes for five years on the developer will be the based taxes for the property without improvements. This will only be for the developer. As property is sold, the property will be taken at full assessed value. The developer expects to exceeds this forecast.
Also, there has been much discussion about the temporary tractor pull space off Wingo Road. The 2019 approved hotel on Wingo Road near the Rescue Squad building — which is a totally separate issue, is the reason for moving that tractor pull location, not this proposed mixed use development. The county is working with the Buckingham Fire Fighters Association on securing a new location for the pull.
Sawmill Permit Approved Unanimously
We held a public hearing regarding a Special Use Permit at 257 Sprouse’s Lane requesting use for a sawmill (this is off of Route 20 across from the Prison). The applicant/landowner agreed with all of the conditions, including a new and safer VDOT-recommended driveway entrance from Route 20 being installed per the VDOT Permit, with the driveway width to the sawmill being at least 15′ wide to accommodate proper ingress and egress of all traffic, to include emergency vehicles. Another condition included mandatory signage to alert the public of a Commercial Sawmill Entrance at the new entrance, and signage placed at Sprouse’s Lane to indicate No Truck Traffic.
Dominion Open House Regarding Economic Development Opportunity
Spring Anti-Litter Task Force Campaign Nets 240 bags of litter filled
Pictured are, from left, Anti Litter Task Force participants and supporters Mike Hart, Maggie Snoddy, Marie Flowers, Liz Jones, and Bro. George Deans. Team 602, led by Maggie Snoddy, took First Place during this year’s spring campaign.
The Buckingham Anti Litter Task Force recently celebrated its award winners during the annual Mayfest celebration in Buckingham.
“We are so impressed with the nearly 100 individuals who collected and filled 240 large bags of litter from along our roadways in Buckingham,” said Board Chairman and Maysville District Supervisor Thomas Jordan Miles III, who spearheaded the initiation of the Task Force. “We have some of the best and most community-minded people in the Commonwealth living here, and this is evidence of that. Litter along our roadways is a major issue and we are tackling it head on.”
First Place went to Team 602, led by Maggie Snoddy, which saw more than 35 volunteers who worked to clean up Buckingham’s roadways. They picked up 88 bags along Howardsville Road.
“I would like to thank all the wonderful participants who worked so hard the past two years in helping to keep our county and roads litter free,” said District Three Supervisor Don Matthews, who serves with Miles on the Task Force. Matthews also spearheaded the effort to revive the Task Force. “Thanks to all for a great job.”
Second Place went to St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, organized by Bro. George Dean, which had 14 participants picking up 37 bags along The Barn Road and Ranson Road.
Third Place went to the Buckingham County Democratic Committee, also organized by Snoddy, picking up 30 bags of trash with 11 participants in their individual neighborhoods.
This year, a total of 12 applications were submitted, and nearly 100 people picked up litter.
In addition, the Buckingham Branch Rail Road picked up 26 bags, Boxley Inc. picked up 15, The Arvonia/New Canton Group picked up 12, Rock Spring Hunt Club picked up 10, Cindy Cook picked up 10, and Buckingham Lions Club picked up 7.
Statewide Committee to hold Open House Regarding Gold Mining
Other Actions
The Board of Supervisors also took the following actions:
- The Board recognized the Central Virginia Community Health Services Center and the Buckingham Office of the Virginia Department of Health for their response to COVID-19 in outreach, education, vaccinations, and testing.
- Approved the VDOT Six Year Road Improvement Plan.
- Set a June public hearing regarding zoning ordinance and sign placement for public hearings
- Allocated $2,500 for the Commonwealth Regional Council’s application for a grant being sought for the creation of a Regional Economic Development Organization
- Voted to continue with seeking bids regarding renovation and repair of the damaged portions of the old portion of the Courthouse.
- Approved allocations from federal funds to the sheriff’s office.
- Support to VDOT to work with the county in erecting speed limit detectors/readers in the Court House Village and Town of Dillwyn.
- The Board directed staff to develop a policy that would regulate the amount of tires one can have on their property (this is an issue that I have been hearing about for years).
Contact Me
As always, if I can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or text me at 434-390-7023, email me at jmiles@buckinghamcounty.virginia.gov, or visit me at 13170 West James Anderson Highway, Buckingham Court House Village on Route 60.
Humbly serving you,
Jordan
Thomas Jordan Miles III
Chairman, Buckingham County Board of Supervisors
District Four Supervisor (Maysville)
434-390-7023
13170 West James Anderson Highway
PO Box 188
Maysville District Supervisor Thomas Jordan Miles III 