Greene Supervisors to meet with Planning Commission on potential of mandatory utility connections

The five member Board of Supervisors in Greene County usually begins their meeting at 5:30 p.m. but this time around they’ll meet at 4:30 p.m. for a special meeting with the Planning Commission. (agenda packet)

Supervisors assigned the Planning Commission with the task of reviewing zoning regulations as they pertain to water and sewer. Implementation of some of this work has been delayed by staff turnover in the newly created water and sewer department. This joint session is an update on new regulations that would mandate several properties to connect to public system as well as setting up an appeals process. 

There will be a public hearing for a request to rezone 14865 Spotswood Trail from Agricultural-1 to Business Highway and High Intensity, an undeveloped property very close to the crossroads of U.S. 29 and U.S. 33. 

The property is 2.41 acres and the Planning  Commission voted 5-0 on August 21 to recommend approval of the rezoning. 

“The inadequate zoning has proven a deterrent for all potential buyers who have potential to develop a business that creates job and career opportunities, offers goods and services to meet the needs of our community, and generates taxable revenue to benefit Greene County,” writes applicant Jody Shifflett in a letter to the county. 

After that, there will be a monthly water and sewer update from Tom Hutka, the new director of that department. Supervisors will also consider a September 11 letter from the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water. This document notifies the county that the state has noticed that water production has reached 80 percent of capacity for three consecutive months.

“The permitted capacity of the Greene County Water and Sewer Department waterworks is 904,820 gallons per day and is limited by source capacity,” reads the letter. 

Greene County must now submit a written plan within 30 days about how their system is anticipating to address the issue. 

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the September 23, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.