Lancaster County Planning Commission Meets 7 pm, May 18 at the Courthouse to Discuss Comprehensive Plan and Highway Corridor Overlay District.
We have posted consideration items on Guest Quarters and Boat Piers here: Click

The document also contains Col. Larson's thoughts on how to handle the first 4 chapters of the Comp Plan.  In addition the following possible changes to the Highway Corridor proposed ordinance will be discussed: adding Routes 201 and 695; exempt all Rural Village Overlay Districts; greater setbacks from the road ( more than 100 feet? 800 feet?  Please plan to attend the meeting. 
  

Lancaster County Planning Commission Meets 7 pm, April 20 at the Courthouse to Discuss Comprehensive Plan Revisions:  We have posted a memo from the Project Manager at LandDesign, Harriett Dietz to Jack Larson and her marked-up copy of objectives and action plans from the 2000 plan. The entire document can be viewed here: CLICK (Large file 3.4MB may take 30 minutes to load via dial-up line ). In the memo she states: "....I know the primary goal for this Plan update  is to address the current lack of the R-2 or multi-family category in the plan and zoning ordinance, and also provide guidance in the Plan and code for future decisions on land use, primarily related to standards for future proposed development, particularly along the waterfront, along with preservation of open space and the county's rural character. ( my emphasis added ). On its face this statement is at a minimum troubling.  It implies that higher density development should be allowed on the waterfront.  Please plan to attend the meeting and voice your concerns. 

FOLC presents petitions for Referendum on Lancaster County Participation in Public Service Authority.
Virginia allows qualified voters in the County to petition for a referendum on the question of forming a Public Service Authority to provide, water, Sewer and garbage services. We presented petitions with 792 signatures to the Board of Supervisors at the September 29th Hearing.  At the meeting the BOS tabled the agreement.  Our work is not done!!!! We need to keep up the pressure, requesting that our request for a referendum be honored.

Board of Supervisors schedules Public Hearing on adoption of agreement for Public Service Authority (PSA) September 29 at 7 pm.
The text of the agreement can be read here: Click

At the September 14, 2005 meeting of Friends of Lancaster a motion was passed to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors opposing the creation of the PSA at this time:
---There is no mandate from the State compelling this action
---Septic system failures are minimal & correctable without a PSA
         We don't have any idea:
 What the capital cost will be.
 How the County proposes to pay, or finance, that cost.
 What the proposed schedule is.
 What percentage, or what sections, of the County will
     realize benefits from the proposed PSA.
 What the costs to the users will be.
 What the costs to the non-users will be.
 What will be the obligations of those residents in affected
     areas who elect to not use the PSA facilities.
 How much of the initial and the sustaining expenses will
     somehow "find their way" into our taxes.

The agreement provides that a Public Service Authority, as defined by the Act, will be created pursuant to the Act with the authority to acquire, construct, operate and maintain water, waste water, solid waste, garbage and refuse collection and disposal systems in Lancaster County, Virginia, including the Towns of White Stone, Irvington, and Kilmarnock.

This will be one of the most important decisions impacting the future of our County and Towns.  Each of us should learn as much as possible about what is proposed, ask who is behind the proposals, who will benefit and who will pay. Do not wait for the public hearings to provide your input to your elected representative.

New Letters & E-mails have been posted - Check out the Letters Section Click

First Draft of Recommendations for Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan available here: Click

August 18 Planning Commission Results:
At their August 18 meeting the Planning Commission forwarded a recommendation for approval to the Board of Supervisors for  an application by MAG, LLC to rezone from R1 to C1 a 2.917 acre parcel of land at the intersection of Irvington Road ( Rt 200 and James B. Jones Memorial Highway ( Rt 688 ).  They are proposing a self-storage facility and the plat can be viewed here.

The Planning Commission also voted to forward a recommendation for approval for Mr. Fred West's Spring Hill development off Rt 3 and Harris Rd.  In a related matter after some discussion Mr. West withdrew his request to amend the County Plan to allow the Town of Kilmarnock to extend water and sewer to his property.  David Jones argued that to vote on this matter now could impact negotiations to set-up a PSA in the area. 

R2 Zoning District repealed on June 30, 2005:
By a vote of 3-2 the Lancaster County Board of Supervisors voted to repeal the R2 multi-family zoning district.  In recent years this district had been used to request higher density waterfront development. During the discussion, Chairman Jenkins commented that after repeal he expects work to begin on replacements, the first of which would be a new district for inland development.  The efforts would dovetail with the Comprehensive Plan review/update in a 6 month to one year timeframe.

Read outline of comments made by Mr. Jack Larson, Planning Director at the June 8th Friends meeting- Click Here

Map of Voting District 1(in yellow) - Click Here

Read Proposed State Regulations for Water Supply Planning - Click Here

We are up and running.  At the members meeting on March 23 the Operating Agreement for Friends of Lancaster County LLC was discussed, amended and approved.  The Articles of Organization have been filed with the State Corporation Commission and accepted.

The formation of committees to work on the important issues facing our county is underway.  The initial focus will be on the update of the countywide Comprehensive Plan and Land Use issues.  If you have not indicated what committees you would like to work on please send an email to mail@folcva.org.

Dues of $15 per person were also voted on and approved at the March 23 meeting.  These may be sent to FOLCVA, PO Box 641, Lancaster, VA  22503.