Lunenburg/Kenbridge/Victoria Planning Commissions
Town of Dillwyn
Town Council and Planning Commission
Comprehensive Plan Work Session
Minutes
March 16, 2009
6:30 p.m.
Dillwyn Town Hall
NOTE: This meeting was re-scheduled from its original date of March 10, 2009.
ATTENDANCE
Mr. Ervin Toney, Mayor
Ms. Peggy Johnson, Town Clerk
Ms. Linda Paige, Town Council
Ms. Diane Holman James, Town Council
Mr. Ossie Harris, Town Council
Ms. Mary Hickman, Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC)
Also see ATTACHMENT #1
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ervin Toney called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Dillwyn Town Hall, Dillwyn, Virginia.
MINUTES
With no corrections noted, the minutes were approved by consensus.
PRIOR BUSINESS
There was no prior business.
DRAFT Dillwyn Comprehensive Plan
The group went over the complete DRAFT Dillwyn Comprehensive Plan. The DRAFT Plan included all of the sections (minus Appendices). These sections included all revisions made per input received to date. The copy provided to members was in black and white. A master copy of the Draft Plan with maps and drawings had been made available for review prior to the meeting at the Town Office.
Ms. Hickman stated that the CRC recently provided a draft copy of the Plan to the Dillwyn VDOT Residency Office and Planning Staff at the VDOT District Office (in Lynchburg) for review and comments. It is a requirement that VDOT provide comments on a new comprehensive plan and/or revisions to an existing comprehensive Plan. VDOT’s comments have been incorporated into the DRAFT Plan for their review (highlighted).
Ms. Hickman reviewed the following highlighted sections of the draft plan (updated sections and/or new sections per recent comments from VDOT):
- Chapter I - Process for Plan Development and Adoption
Updated to reflect past /current section reviews by Planning Commission/Town Council with corresponding dates)
- Chapter III – Transportation
Additional introductive narrative to reflect comments received from VDOT.
Added Map to show roadways within the Town of Dillwyn per comments received from VDOT.
Additional narrative per Capacity Analysis (Levels of Service) per comments received from VDOT.
Additional narrative per Piedmont Regional Bicycle Plan per comments received from VDOT.
Added Map to show where Bicycle Route (Route 15) passes through the Town of Dillwyn via the Piedmont Regional Bicycle Plan. This was added per comments received from VDOT.
Additional narrative per Dillwyn Transportation Enhancement Project per comments received from VDOT, which included a conceptual drawing of the Master Plan.
Additional narrative per Pedestrian Facilities/Initiatives per comments received from VDOT.
Added Map to show existing sidewalks within the Town of Dillwyn per comments received from VDOT.
- Chapter IV – Specialty Policy Areas
Added a new Specialty Policy Area (Land Use and Transportation Interactions) per comments received from VDOT.
Discussions were held on the highlighted sections.
During the discussions, several clarifications and/or updated information were requested. These clarifications and/or updated information are as follows:
- Chapter II – Demographics
Under the Education section, it was noted that the County is home to five (5) private schools. The Discovery School, boys and girls residential campuses, needs to be added to the list. The Discovery School offers Middle School and High School Credit. Furthermore, the New Dominion School is also home to a separate boys and girls residential campus and the Central Virginia Christian School is grades K through 5. - Chapter III – Community Resources
The narrative relating to the Ellis Acres Memorial Park should read….The site for the proposed Ellis Acres Memorial Park is located on Camden Street, which was the site of the first African American High School in Buckingham County, 1924-1953. It was called the Buckingham Training School, later becoming Stephen J. Ellis Elementary school.
- Chapter III – Community Resources
Under the Education Facilities section, it was noted that the County is home to five (5) private schools. The Discovery School, boys and girls residential campuses, needs to be added to the list. The Discovery School offers Middle School and High School Credit. Furthermore, the New Dominion School is also home to a separate boys and girls residential campus and the Central Virginia Christian School is grades K through 5. Also, narrative needs to be added as follows, “SVCC also offers GED and other evening classes at the Buckingham Vocational Center” in paragraph relating to the Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC).
- Chapter III – Community Resources
Under Communications section, the listing of local newspapers should include The Informant. Also, under satellite and cable television, it was noted that Charter is now know as Comcast.
- Chapter III – Community Resources
Under the Ellis Acres Memorial Park section, the narrative should read……”Located in the Town of Dillwyn is the site of the proposed Ellis Acres Memorial Park. The proposed Park would be on the ground of the Buckingham Training Center on Camden Street, which was the site of the first African American High School in Buckingham County, 1924-1953. It was called the Buckingham Training Center, then later becoming Stephen J. Ellis Elementary School.
- Chapter III – Community Resources
Include updated Ellis Acres Memorial Park Conceptual Design/Layout as FIGURE II. - Chapter III – Community Resources
Under Local Historical Sites, discussions were held on the correctness of Map XXV – Town of Dillwyn Historical Sites. Many sites were originally in one place and now may be in a new site and even have a new name. Therefore, it was requested that 2 different maps be included with one noting original locations with original names and a second map noting current name and current location. Also it was noted that the Town Hall was built between 1910 and 1920. - Chapter III – Community Resources
Under Ground Water Section, narrative needs to be added about required Water Supply Planning and where the County and Town are jointly addressing these requirements. - Chapter III – Community Resources
Under Solid Water Collection/Landfill, narrative needs to be added where the Town recently joined the County in the update of the County’s Solid Waste Management Plan. - Chapter IV – Specialty Policy Areas
Under Specialty Policy Area #5 – Economic Development/Job Creation, in section of discussion per workforce development, additional narrative should be added as follows……Currently GED classes and other evening classes are held at the Buckingham Vocational Center. - It was requested that the document be checked for consistency in naming the Ellis Acres Park as the Ellis Acres Memorial Park.
Ms. Hickman also asked the group for guidance per several questions brought up during VDOT review of the plan. These questions, in addition to action taken, are as follows:
- Does the Town want to include the Piedmont Regional Bike Plan as part of the Comprehensive Plan?
The Bike Plan will be incorporated by reference, as part of the Plan. A map will be included in the appendices. - Down the Town want to include the entire Bridge/Culvert Chart, or just those in the Town of Dillwyn?
Yes, include the entire Chart as originally presented.
- Does the Town want to include the Economic Restructuring Plan/Physical Improvements Plan as part of the Comprehensive Plan? Yes, include the Economic Physical Improvements Plan in the Appendices.
FUTURE MEETINGS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The Second Public Forum is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. The Public Forum will be held at the Town Hall. The CRC will notify newspapers and radios for a public announcement of the meeting.
The next Work Session is scheduled for May 2009. At this meeting, the group will review the Plan and incorporate any comments received from the Public Forum. There will also need to be two Public Hearings, with final adoption of the Plan expected to occur in July 2009.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
ATTACHMENT #1
Prepared by: Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC)3-16-09 minutes