Greene Supervisors to vote on resolutions to move forward with water supply 

The five members of the Greene County Board of Supervisors meet at 4:30 p.m. at the administration building in Stanardsville. This is for a work session which will be followed by a work session at 5:30 p.m. and the regular session at 6:30 p.m. (agenda)

The work session is on the broad topic of how Greene County will pay for a water supply plan that has been permitted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Army of Corps Engineers. Greene assumed control of a system that had been operated by the Rapidan Service Authority, an entity that Greene left when representatives from Orange County and Madison County did not want to proceed with the project. 

This work session sets up a lot of action items later in the agenda. 

Albemarle County is pursuing major economic development projects just miles from Greene County’s border. What will that do to housing demand in Greene? Will the infrastructure be there? 

Two recent stories are relevant to note:

• RWSA may need more water for Crozet, may one day plan jointly with Fluvanna, Louisa and Greene, September 12, 2024
• Public comment period underway for changes to water supply planning, September 16, 2024

At the regular meeting there will be a public hearing on a special use permit to operate an auto restoration business on a 2.27 acre property zoned for single-family homes. (staff report)

There are six action items. 

• The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is seeking funding for an update of a regional housing study. The last such plan was approved by the TJPDC Board in August 2021 if you want to read it. That was based on a housing needs assessment conducted in 2019, which is the specific ask this time around. (view the presentation)
• There is a resolution to authorize a public hearing for increases to water and sewer rates and fees to bring in more revenue for capital infrastructure. (view amended ordinance)
• There is also a resolution to authorize a public hearing for increases in connection fees to bring in more revenue for water and sewer infrastructure (draft water EDU policy) (draft sewer EDU policy)
• There is a resolution to direct staff forward with the next phase of financing for the White Run Reservoir. This would be to seek $75 million. (resolution)
• There are amendments to the FY2025 budget related to adding more personnel at the new water and sewer department at a cost of $340,500. (resolution)

All of these perspectives fit together and perhaps it is time to list what’s happening in Madison County and Orange County, too? 

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 October 7, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.