Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Mr. Mr. Ferris, Mr. Mr. Mr. Menderson, Mr. America.

Is there anyone here? question.

I was $6,000. process. But also here tonight, Yes. Mr. Chairman, sorry. I got the external mic on the arm working. So, would you like this mic? this. They'll be able to they can hear through this and that. It's just for some reason these mics are not working at all.

Yeah, mine's dead, too. Uh, we just have this one. Well, for the sake of the folks that are here, I take it most everybody heard what I said. Or do I need to repeat it? you can speak up.

Okay. Again, um, one of our petitioners had received an email where it's appeared as if I was soliciting a payment to help usher the the request through the process. Neither I or anyone on this commission would ever ask for such a a permit or or payment. uh it's unethical, it's illegal, and it wouldn't do the petitioner any good because we again only make recommendations the zoning board and the board of supervisors. So if you receive such an email or call, ignore it. None of us would actually try to solicit a payment from you. So that concludes my chairman's report. Any other comments, questions before we move? All right. Move to the public hearing at 7:08. Pursuant to article 5, Division 7 of the Pennsylvania County Zoning Ordinance, we the planning commission have been empowered to hear and decide specific applications in support of set ordinance and to make recommendations to the board of supervisors of the board of zoning appeals. In accomplishing this important task, we are charged with promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Pennsylvania County. We must ensure that all our decisions and recommendations be directed to these goals, and that each be consistent with the environment, the comprehensive plan, and in the best interest of Pennsylvania county, its citizens, and its posterity. Anyone here to speak to the board regarding zoning cases will be limited to three minutes. It is now 709 and we call the first case. Mr.

3.58 acres located 666 also known as election district for agricultural uses. On February 3rd, 2026, the planning commission recommended by a 60 to zero vote with noition. However, staff became aware after the February 3rd planning commission meeting public hearing that there was an issue with the certified letters required. property owners. Um, one property owner had not received such a letter. They were not on that distribution list. So therefore, um, the staff county attorney felt it was appropriate just hearing along the way. There was a sign that also had long day and that instead of just hearing it again in March to our attention the sign did not reflect the actual public hearing dates any longer and so hence why we're here tonight on April 7. So the staff summary is enclosed in the board packet. There is also a site plan with some pictures provided by the you all seats that provided to us after the agenda pack.

Mr. Hall, you come forward. Is there anything you'd like to add? Good afternoon. Um, no sir.

Okay. Uh, I've got a couple u of of of questions uh based on some some questions that I've received uh from neighbors. Um, in your letter to um the office you stated um raising and selling farm animals and other a uses, but then in the petition itself you had um raising and and then it was something scratched out farm animals. So when they asked at first I guess they had a miscommunication about the selling. We're not into the selling part. We're just going to raise as a homestead. Can you hear me?

No. All right. So I apologize. Um so in the beginning it was mentioned that of selling part there is no selling it just be our animals raised as a homestead. So it will be no selling. No not selling the property itself. No the animals. Yeah. No no selling of the animals. You're just going to raise animals? Yeah. For our own homestead basically for our own agricultural uses. All right. Uh I also noticed it's the only property that you own in the county. Is that correct? Correct. Correct. Based on county records I looked at. Correct. All right. There's not a home on the property itself. So, how are you going to take care of the animals you put on the property? So, we will be building up homes on the property,

but at the same time, we actually have a um a space that we rent for right now that we live at. So, it's a RV. We have a RV camp site that we live on. So, while we building the house, we'll be right around the corner raising the animals. So, if that makes sense. Well, it does. Other than the fact, do we have an issue with the RV on the property? No, no, not on the property. No, no, no, no, no, no. So, it's a RV site. RV site. You're in a campground? Yes, we have. Okay. So, you are local to look after whatever you put on the property. Yes. Literally like 10 minutes away. And eventually, you will have a home on the property. Yes.

Okay. uh because in and also in in in searching uh air records there's a minor difference in in agricultural use on residentially zone property and an agricultural property primarily the number of animals you can have correct and given your the size of your property it's it's not a big difference between leaving it R1 or making it A1 understood so uh again that was just some of the concerns that that were brought to my attention and you answered the fact that you plan on living correct there on the property at some point in the future and you're raising the the animals for your personal use. Correct. Okay.

But in the me I guess I'm in the meantime while we're building the house it's going to take time. The animals need to be there in the meantime. So with R1 they technically can't be there right now if that makes sense. Okay. And and uh if you mind me asking what what type of animals are you planning on? chickens, ducks, and rabbits. Okay. And you you'll have an enclosure to put them in. Yes, it should be in the photos that you have. Okay. And that that was not in our original packet, I don't think. The enclosed structure it is see on this. Yeah. Okay. All right. Cuz when I drove by the property, I couldn't see it today. So,

it's And you won't be able to ever. So, that whole front will keep the agricultural front. So the chicken or the the actual barn house won't be visible to the road at all. It it'll never be visible. Okay. I think I covered the questions I had. Does any other the commissioners have a question for Mr. Hall? Uh we have uh 10 chickens and it's uh seven ducks at the moment. And we're going to keep 10 chickens and seven ducks at the moment. We're going to keep it around that same um number at all times. Basically, we don't know that. They might

they might have babies at one point. Yeah, of course. But the adult It is limited based on your property size. You're limited to how many you can have. Yes, we are aware of the actual number, but right now that's my stock. Yes. Yes.

Good evening. Good evening. I do have a question. Um, as far as a concern about your animals uh moving on to other people's property, particularly the neighbors. Um, has that one been an issue and two, is there a mitigation plan in place to prevent that? from happening. Well, that's the structure. They won't be leaving out that structure at all. So, it's a barn house inside the enclosed cage. Okay. So, the in housing the home will be the barn house and then the cages will be their run per se. So, they won't be actually leaving out the run. It'll be enclosed. Okay. So, they are currently enclosed in this area now. Well, they're not on the site at all, but Oh, they're not. No, ma'am. For future. Okay, good to know. That was my main concern.

Yes, ma'am. All right. So this answers that. All right. All right. Wonderful. Thank you. Anyone else? Thank you, Mr. Hall. Thank you. We have someone sign up for this.

Go ahead and state your name and and and district.

Um Emily Ragsdale. I live in the Banister District at 11:09 Yates Store Road. Um, just as a neighbor, I do have some concerns with this. Um, just for the simple fact the properties currently are one. The zoning ordinance in chap in section 35-51 states that agricultural uses that are incidental to a residential use are permitted to occupy up to 5 acres. Um, so any it doesn't put a limit on how many animals they can have. It just limits them to the amount of land that they can occupy. This site is only three and a half acres. Um, they can never get to that five acre max. There is currently no need for them to reszone. They have plans to put a residential structure on the property. They are saying that they're going to do that. We don't have a problem with them living on the property. We don't have a problem with them having animals. My concern is if this is reszoned to A1, even if they have a plan in place to keep all the animals on the property, it runs beautifully. We never have an issue once it's reszoned to A1, it remains A1. If they decide in two years that this is not what they want to do and they want to sell the property, someone else could come buy that three and a half acre track which has multiple residential properties in close proximity to it and not be the same respectful neighbors that the halls are claiming that they're going to be. Um, so that's our concern. Once it's reszoned to A1, there is nothing that the county can do to make them keep those animals on their property. So, if this enclosure does not work, and I it may, we may never have an issue, but if it does not, animal control cannot come out to the property and make them keep those. They don't deal with chickens and ducks. Community development cannot come out to the property and say, "You have to keep

these animals on their property because it's reszoned to A1. It's an agricultural use at this point. There's nothing that the county can do to protect the neighbors if this does happen." So, those are our concerns. Um there's also a laundry list of things in A1 that we don't particularly want adjacent to our properties. Um we don't have any assurance that once it's reszoned that we won't end up with something like that next to us. Um we just request that it remain R1. Um if they would like to put a single wide or a double wide or another type of residential dwelling, we do not have an issue with that. Our main issue is we want to guarantee that they will in fact live on the property and someone will be there to maintain the animals and it will be done in a responsible manner and if it gets out of hand their protections for us. Thank you.

Anyone else? Could you state your name and district for the record?

My name is Alan Ragwell. I'm in the balance of the district. Also, I I oppose changing doing the reszoning on this track. I have land across the road from from this property and also land adjacent to this property. And Emily, she's my daughter-in-law, which she just said basically, I agree with everything she said 100%. We just want everything to be safe and and consolidated. In other words, to where we don't have any issues with animals getting on other people's land. That that's basically all I have to say.

Okay. Thank you, sir. Anyone else? Thank you. You got a question, Mr. Hall? Oh, Mr. Mr. M. Henderson has a question for you. Good evening. Um, just a quick question. You mentioned that the property across from the road, um, I believe is yours or you said neighbors. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Could you tell me how that property is zoned currently?

The land that I have across the road that's zoned agricultural. Agricultural. Okay. And to the adjacent sides, is it agricultural or residential? the adjacent side that I just recently bought that belonged to my aunt and I I purchased that in February of this year that is own residential also. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you.

Oh, you say no one else has signed up. Okay. Is there anyone here that would like to speak to thisa uh on on this case? Uh after hearing your neighbors, Mr. Hall, anything you'd like to add the uh the only thing I would like to add is the the main concern or the main reason for the resoning uh is due to the time. Uh right now the animals that I have in my current uh farm state have to basically get moved and I can't move them in the time frame for us to build the house in. So that's the only reason that we were trying to resone it so I could be able to allow the structure and the animals to come and be on land so we can actually be participant and have it raised and then build the house. Um we're not going anywhere. This is our home. We will make sure we stay here for my generations and my kids to raise as well if that's a concern. That that could be nipped in the bud. But the main reason for the resoning is that we need the animals kind of on site now um to be productive at the season and everything that we need to do is we need the land for it. Um that's basically it. Yes, sir. If it's not if it's not zoned, I won't be able to kind of do anything.

Okay. Thank you. Anyone got any questions for Mr. Hall? Me again since it's in my district. I don't know why asking a lot of questions. Um, yes. So, there were concerns raised um with your neighbors about any kind of future, excuse me, future use. Can you speak to that? Um, for the record,

um, the use will be the same as the homestead. It was It's not going anywhere. We're building it to maintain it and to be long-term. Uh, we don't plan on moving or changing um or selling it at all. um we're actually want to we we wanted to actually look into buying the land next to ours to make sure that we know can you know have a long-term dwelling in it. Um but now that I know that he has it's no looking at that. Um but that's no concerns about us moving or anything like that. Um I would love to meet them and talk to them oneonone. We tried to meet all the neighbors around at one point.

Okay. Thank you. If you could tell me um in just in your research the properties that are immediately adjacent to your property, how many others are agricultural? All of them around it. So every every land touching mine is agricultural except the one directly beside it which will make it residential which is the land he's speaking of. Um everything past that down the road I would assume it be residential. um moving down the road, but in the immediate touching my property, literally left, right, up and down, except for that one property will be residential. Okay. All right. Thank you.

All right. Once again, anyone else? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Hall. You said you lived at a camper. Is it at Elhorn Lake or somewhere y'all living at? Uh, yes, sir. Now, are you from this area? Did you just move down here recently or what?

Um, we've just moved down recently. Uh, we've been we were searching for the right property and the right land and the right area for for a while. Um, we put the camp in. We kind of been here for almost a year now. Um, basically kind of filling out the the area, trying to learn our way around it. um moving back and forth with everything until we had a basis of what we was going to do, how we was going to structure it, how we was going to set it up, getting the right uh surveys and everything in line, and then we kind of bought the property. So, you're talking about your animals there. You plan to just have eight or 10 chickens and uh I'm kind of doing a a rotation. So, it's going to be a homestead. So, I mean, because you don't have a three acres and something there. So, you're not going to be able to do but so much.

Correct. Exactly. You're very limited. And listen, I'm I'm a I'm all pro about egg. Yes, I'm a cattle farmer and I I like agriculture, so I'm not knocking that. But I am concerned about this small piece of property. Correct. And you trying to have animals there and it needs to be somebody that living to take care of those animals. I mean, you away they can get out and you don't know the out and you can't live there until you build your house. And you can build your house their own residential. Correct. And that's why we have your animals and take care of them. So, I can see the concerns with the neighbors and they want to be good neighbors. I'm sure

and and welcome y'all to the community, but you know, you're not going to be able to do so much on that small piece of property. Correct. I doubt you going to be able to buy any more to make it any bigger.

Correct. And we wasn't trying to do a large scale anything. It wasn't meant to be huge or large scale. It was meant to be a homestead for me and my family to build and grow. Um, and that's why we kept small animals such as the ducks and rabbits and chickens. We not doing cows and horses and anything like that. We wanted to maintain a small homestead agricultural land. And it's not just about the animals. We we wanted to grow our crops and everything as well too. So the the the one part of it is just the animals or the smallbased animals. The largest scale is just the whole homestead, the agricultural use of the land as well as buildings. That's all.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

If there are no other questions, uh, chair will entertain a motion. Miss Henderson. Oh, close public hearing at 7:28. Um, I never make a lot of speeches, but I am going to make one in this case. Um, I must say I am perplexed because I see both sides for sure and I um definitely feel I need to lean upon what um is permitted. However, I don't have enough information I feel to make a motion tonight. Um, I do know that this case was uh passed some months ago and I personally would like to see um more of a solid plan for uh the home to be either placed there or that set in motion. Um, I would like to table this if possible if if possible. Um, I'm just not feeling very solid right now. I hope that's permittable. Permissible.

Mr. Arnold, is there a way to compromise this with a limit on the time it is zoned A1 to allow him to build his house? I didn't think so, but I thought it was at least worth asking the question. Well, in order to help Mr. Hall with with with with with his crunch to to move his animals while he tries to get his house, there's not a way to temporarily make it an A1 and it reverts back at a certain time to R1. Okay.

I was trying to split the baby. That's all I was trying to do. Okay. All right. Well, in that case, in the case of veric, one moment. In the case of R26-011, um I'll move uh that we do recommend for approval this uh petition. And that's my motion.

All right, we have a motion to approve. Is there a second? Hearing none, the motion fails. Is that correct?

Do what? Well, it's it's it's a little new to me, so I I'm

So, we need we if at this point then we need a motion to deny it. Is there a motion to deny the case? Miss Henderson, you want to go back to your original thought and table it for a month?

I'm being very liberal tonight. Forgive me you all. I want to kind of explain my reasoning behind this. Um, for one, then I'll make that. So looking at this, I'm all about land rights. And I see the vision, but I also see the neighbor's point of view. I also see that they're surrounded by agricultural land. And I'm not really too overly concerned about the size of the land. I do see that it's a small parcel, but it does belong to them. So that was the reason for my motion. So yes, if we can table this, maybe if the neighbors could have a little more discourse and come to maybe some type of profers or come to some type of a conclusion because it doesn't seem like there's a lot of animosity here. So that's good. But I don't feel a lot of confidence on board tonight and this is a first for us. So, um, there you are.

Yes, I make a motion to table for this month. Yes. Yes. Thank you all. Questions, comments, or emotions?

Let's proceed to a vote on the recommendation to move it. motion to push it to the May planning commission meeting has passed 6 to zero. Time is now 7:35. Mr. Arnold, call the next case. 5.9 acres located on state22 also cascade road district agricultural district single family the 815-17 Mr. Strange

Mr. Strange.

Okay. Um, has anyone signed up to speak on this case?

Okay. I do have one question for uh staff as as it relates to uh I think on my time on the board. Excuse me. It's the first time we've had uh a reasonzoning where they wanted to put two homes on the same parcel of land. Are there requirements about how far apart the the the the two homes have to be on the property? And is that all covered uh when he when he applies for his permits? Well, I was just thinking ahead that if if the two were ever separated or or the lot was divided, you know, if you got family members, you can have them a little bit closer, but if it's sold, you want to make certain that they're far enough apart that when the property split, they they still conform. We can't ever department.

Okay, good deal. All right, anyone else got any questions? Public hearing is closed at 7:37. Uh, is there a chair is open to a motion? Mr. Oaks. The chair has a first. Is there a second?

Thank you, Miss Me. Are there any other questions, comments, concerns, or motions? Please cast your vote. Motion carries. 6 to Z. Now we now move at 7:38 to the next case. Mr. Acres located once the property uses under section. Mr. Gillespie, anything you would like to add? Uh, I just have uh one question uh and then I'll I'll see if the anyone else has one. Um, within your write up.

Yes, sir. Uh you mentioned that you you plan other than a lot of the agricultural beekeeping and stuff you want to do uh you were going to put a shop. Yes sir. Is that like a personal use shop or are you planning on trying to do a business down the road in the shop? No business. I mean it'd be more for like I mean like they were trying to do like a homestead because we're going to plan to have chickens and crops and fruit trees and stuff like that. Be uh a shop for using tools and stuff like that. Okay. It's not a commercial use at all. No. No. And that was the only reason I I mentioned it was because you you added the word shop as opposed to like a barn or an out building. I got and and just wanted to make certain that you were It's not a mechanic shop. No. No.

That that that if you do move in that direction that you would need some additional permitting down the road for that, but since it's just for personal stuff, then then that answers my question. Anyone else got any questions? Thank you, sir. Sir, thank you. Has anyone signed up for this case? It's 7:40. Public hearing is closed. Uh Mr. Ferris.

All right, we have first. Is there a second?

Thank you, Mr. Oaks. Are any other questions, comments, or motions? Please cast your vote. Motion passes 6 to zero. Time is now 7:41. Next case, Mr. Arnold. Acres located on State Road 802. agricultural district.

Mr. Payne, anything you would like to add? Uh, does anyone have any questions from Mr. Payne? Has anyone signed up on this case? At 7:42, public hearing is closed. We now turn to Miss Me.

Excuse me. I've had no opposition in this case, so therefore I hit the wrong button. Excuse me. In case R-26-016, I make a motion that we recommend to the board of supervisors that this case be accepted and approved. We have a first. Is there a second? Thank you, Mr. Barks. There any other questions, comments, or motions? Please cast your vote. Motion passes 6 to zero. Moving to the next case at 7:43. Mr. on state road district also. Once the property is there,

walker Hello. Hello.

How are you? Hi. Uh, thank you for hearing my case tonight or I'm here for a nonprofit. The reason why I want to uh reszone the property is not like if you hear dog kennel, I think you think of cages and a bunch of dogs that are barking and stuff like that. But that is not at all my plan. My plan is really to help the community in every way possible. If you look around here within a 100 mile radius, every single shelter is completely at capacity. And what we want to do is to build a place similar to like the Asher House. I don't know if any of you have read the packet that I've sent, but we have plans to have more like of a a home life for them. They're not going to be stuck in cages. They're going to be trained immediately upon arriving. uh those that do not make it as service animals, they will be trained to be obedient pets so that they they aren't returned. Uh we don't plan on taking animals off of the streets. We only plan on taking animals from shelters to relieve them so that they're then able to help people on the streets that need them to come. Uh after that we do have plans on also uh we have a lot of programs that we want to set up for school children to come and learn about responsible pet ownership. Um our service animals will be helping disabled people that are physically and emotionally disabled. We have plans to help law enforcement, veterans, and once everything is fully functioning and successful, there's another phase where we want to start and uh helping helping elderly people as well. So,

yeah, we will be creating a lot of employment for the people that are around. I've put that in the packet. So, I don't know if you guys have any questions for me. Are there any questions for Miss Walk? What kind of facility are y'all planning on building? Is it going to be outdoors, indoors?

Well, it's both. So, we're going to start with the 20,000 foot building and it's kind of going to come in a kit. So, that's going to be customized whenever it's built. Um, there are quite a few places that do customize the buildings. And I did put a building plan in there that shows you how the ceilings, how the walls, how the floors, everything is going to be built to reduce noise, uh, to make sure that everything's cleaned correctly. Uh, we're going to definitely have an obstacle course, a play area, and an area for our dogs to go on pack walks as well.

Oh, yeah. We're We have everything planned for odor, for noise, for protection. We have everything planned. And I did send all of that in the paperwork that I that I submitted. So, is do you want me to tell you about the buildings? Yes, please.

Okay. So, I'm going to get out my paperwork because I'm a little bit nervous. Um, like I told you, we we have a plan on using between 3.5 3 and 3.5 acres for just for the animals. And a 20,000 ft building is only about half an acre. So, an acre of land is 43,650 ft. Um, inside the buildings, what we want to do, uh, let me see. I'm so sorry. I know I'm getting it out. All right. So, for the ceilings, we're going to hang vertically suspended panels called vet baffles, and they're going to be installed so that 80% of the echoes are reduced and so that the noise doesn't really bother the neighbors. We have spoken to one neighbor and she talked to us and at the end of the conversation she asked maybe if her son could work with us so she understands what we want to do to help the animals and uh we're going to make sure that our neighbors are happy and not disturbed. So for the ceilings we're going to put in vet baffles. For the walls we want to do PVC acoustic panels and they're going to be installed on the walls so that they can be easily washed and cleaned down. Um, it also helps absorb uh the sound. And for like the the walls, we're going to put MLV, which is mass loaded vinyl. And that also keeps the sound from traveling to the next place. For example, like if if the dogs are in one room and our office building is in another room, if we have the mass loaded vinyl put in there, we they won't there won't be any sound. For our HAVAC system, we're going to use acoustic duck liners and we're going to use acoustic um uh duct silencers and acoustic liners and they're going to be added or built into the Havoc system so that the sound does not travel through the building as well. Uh

on the doors, we're going to use uh solid core doors. All of them will be sealed with acoustic sealants and that will also block any sound leakage. For the floors, uh, we're going to use concrete based. Well, our the floors are going to be concrete, but it's going to be kind of like put on a slope, and that's for whenever we wash down the floors every night. We're going to use rubber rubber uh cow eco drain interlocking tiles. That's what we've been recommended to use and it's because we can use a 50/50 water bleach uh solution to wash it down easily every day or whenever it's time to clean at the end of the night. And um we we're we're going to have drainage systems built in as well. And once those uh once we wash it down, the water will just disappear and there won't be any mold or resin or anything like that that's going to leave any smells or or anything. Uh, so basically what we're going to do for the building is take kind of like a multi-layered approach to the building to make sure that we don't have a lot of sound because I do know that 20,000 square feet is a large building. It's going to be separated by I'm just going to go on my own because I feel too nervous looking at paperwork. Um, we're going to separate all of the rooms with safety gates and different types of uh walls and gates. It just depends on what type of room. our office building. Obviously, our office room is going to be separated with walls, but like the kitchen and the play area and the area where they're going to sleep, all of those areas are going to be separated. So, that also will build a little bit of density and and minimize sound. The rubber floor panels are going to be there for their nails. So, it kind of builds anxiety for animals whenever they hear the nails clinging all over the concrete floor, but they won't have to deal with that. Apart from that, our animals aren't going to feel the anxiety that they feel in shelters because they're not going to be caged. So, our animals are going to live, like I told you, similar like to the Asher house. It's going to be like a home setting for

them. They're going to be trained from the minute we they arrive. Some of them are going to be good for service animals. Some of them are not. Those who aren't are going to be trained just to be obedient pets because the return rate for shelters is is awful. Um, right. There is a huge euthanization rate happening in Damble and we want to save animals that are in danger of being euthanized and a lot of them are big dogs are really smart animals. These animals can help people. Uh I've had a lot of family members and people die from diabet diabetic attacks and different things that they didn't have to die from because there's a one year one to five year wait for service animals. And apart from that they cost10,000 to $50,000 just to acquire a service animal. But so but we can help people without without giving them that type of cost as well as without uh taking that much time because we can build programs. We have programs that we want to set up to help minimize the time that it takes to train the animals as well as how many animals can be trained per session like per time. We will keep an eye on all of the animals. We will we want to have groups. We want to build groups for grant writing for um to try to help make the laws better, you know, for breeders and different things like that that are happening right now because a lot of animals are being mistreated. There's no place you can call, you cannot call the animal shelter and say, "Hey, come get this dog and help us with this dog." Because all of the animal shelters are at capacity. So, our plan is to help the animal shelters behind the scenes and take the dogs that are not really wanted or big. And most of the dogs that get euthanized are bigger dogs. The dogs that get taken are mostly the smaller dogs. And a lot of times they're German shepherds. They're uh Belgium Malano. They're really smart huskys. These these are really smart dogs once they're trained correctly. And they can help so many people. They can

help elderly people. They can help disabled people. And I I feel really passionate about it. I think that it's for the community. It's not something that's for personal gain. It's it's a nonprofit. So, everyone in the nonprofit owns it. It's not something that I own on my own. Um, I don't know if you have any questions for me, but you can ask. Yes, I got one more. It's been a question about the driveway. Do y'all have any plans updating the driveway, your entrances going into the building?

To be honest with you, we wanted to wait until Well, we're definitely going to have driveways. We're going to have a long driveway. We have a creek down. I think it's like a I can't tell you the exact amount of acres, but we want to we want a driveway and like a fenced area going all the way down to the creek because I do want to take pack walks. We plan on opening a YouTube channel and showing the community what we're doing with our animals so that if they do decide to donate or help us, they'll see it for themselves what we're doing and we can generate income for our nonprofit by building uh social media and things like that. So, yes, we definitely have to have a driveway. We just wanted to wait for our final approval to do anything more. I've put a lot of money, a lot of time, and a lot of effort just to get here right now. And you guys are like the make or break it of the nonprofit. So,

anyone else have any questions? Miss me? I'm just concerned or interested. How are your neighbors accepting this? Have you had any feedback? Yeah. Well, there was one neighbor who spoke to us named Emily Heights, and she had she just had some questions like, uh, what do we plan on doing and, uh, how many animals we planned on having and things like that. So, I explained everything to her exactly the way I've explained it to Well, a little bit better because I wasn't so nervous. Yeah. But she was really happy. She was excited. Her son already works for a nonprofit and her son's 16 years old and she just asked me if he could work there at the end. because the dogs do generate noise.

But from what you're saying, you've got buffers. Well, we plan to build all of that into our building. That's what I'm saying. And without all of those things built into our building, we will not start anything until all of our plans are done. And we did talk to our neighbors because they are very important. Our whole plan is for the entire community. So, of course, our neighbors are included. We want them to be happy. Anything that they need, we would be more than willing to. So, where is the closest house to your business? We have we have a a Oh, I'm so sorry. That's okay. Okay. Okay.

Um, we have a trailer that's like adjacent to our property. I wasn't aware that anyone lived in there until Emily called me. So, I wasn't aware that anyone lived there at all, but we did post our sign. And I do plan on going to all the neighbors because I would like to try to pave the road for all of them. I would like that to be the first thing that we do before we have any big trucks driving through there. And I don't want anything to be destroyed because that's people's homes and, you know, they've been living there before we came. So, our plan is to try to help our neighbors as well, create employment for people that have two and three jobs. So, we want to give them one job, help them with insurance, and let them, you know, spend quality time with their family instead of working at Food Line and Hardies and McDonald's and all the places that they have to work to survive right now. So,

I think the service dogs is a great idea. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? And I'm sorry for talking so fast. I'm just so nervous and they said three minutes. So, will this uh be staffed all night or just set hours?

Definitely. We will definitely have to have staffing throughout the night and we did talk to another neighbor, his name was Bobby, and we gave him the option that once we, you know, are up and running, which it will take time to do because it's a lot of work. Um, we told him that if he wanted to, because right now he's renting his property and he's paying like, I think $1,200 a month or something. So we offered him the possibility of staying there throughout the night and you know having free rent and he was very happy about the exchange. So is there another example of what you're doing that you're following from

Yeah. kind of like the Asher house if you but they have way more acreage than what we have. We only have 8.9 acres. Hopefully more in the future someone will hopefully see what we're doing and and want to give us some more because there's a lot of like free property around us. It's just wooded area everywhere surrounding us except for to the like if I'm standing here to the right side of me that's the only place. Everything else to the left side is nothing but but woods and trees and across the street nothing but woods and trees. So,

so I just want to be clear, um, in terms of the, uh, driveway, uh, there will be plans for maintaining that driveway and the upkeep of it far as longterm,

100%. And I'm going to tell you now, I spoke to my neighbor about it. She told me that some I guess a logging company from another place behind her had come through there and like messed up the grade of the of the road, but I do have access to gravel and things like that. So, I asked her would she be opposed to us getting together like as to find out with the neighbors if they're happy about getting it paved and before doing anything, the minute that I open my donation button and start, you know, getting grants and stuff, the first thing I would do would try to pave the road for the for my neighbors. I think that that's the best thing to do uh far as uh training uh service dogs. Yes, sir. Uh and I'm just curious.

Okay. Okay. So, once you have a a a dog trained, what's the process of processing that dog to a person that needs it? Is it an organization that you go through? Is it oneonone to a person? There are many different ways that you can go about it because it depends on what type of disability they have.

Um what type of medical need they have. So some service animals are just for emotional support and they're just for like veterans for example that come home and have anxiety and that would be just you know through through the vet veteran association. But if animals uh are used for like diabetes or for people that are blind or deaf or something like that, that would be epilepsy.

Yeah. Epilepsy, seizures, things like that. That would have to be through a a medicinal route. You know, we would have to go through a medical organization in order to get those dogs to the people that they need. But they'll also will be open to to disabled people calling us and also putting in applications and letting us know that they don't have enough money to get a to afford a service animal and ask us for help. We're open up to the public as well as to organizations. So, but there are various different organizations because there are various different types of of service animals. It depends on the dog and what what the shelter gives us is what we're going to work with because I'm not adopting animals off the street. My idea is to try to build a better quality of life for everyone that we help and that is including the animals, the elderly people, the disabled people, law enforcement, veterans, every person in the community that we help. We really want to just give them a better quality of life. So,

thank you. I I will say this uh if I may, it seems like a lot of uh detail and planning has gone into this, but thank you. Yes, that's why I'm so nervous about talking because I'm like, "Oh my gosh, 3 minutes. How can I say so much?" Anyone else? Well, if you make it through this part of the process, when you come back for your uh special use permit, you probably won't have to explain near as much. Well, I was like, since we pretty much covered, I might need a service animal myself after this. I feel so nervous. I think most of the questions are probably have already been asked at at that point. So, if there are none, we we appreciate it. Has anyone signed up to speak on this case?

Okay.

I suppose it would be from Emily because she did tell me that she was gonna just ask the same questions that she asked me on the phone, but I don't know. This is um an email we received from a Joseph and Emily Hyatt that live on 910 Cascade Road, Cascade, Virginia 24069. They are um out on spring break. So, they've asked me to read this email to the planning committee. We wanted to provide a clarification. As Miss Walker's plan mentioned, she spoke to the one known resident in the area surrounding her property. There are four separate homes on the lane of the planned dog kennel. There are two rental properties to the immediate side of her track of sorry land. We are next to the land with the rental properties and our driveway is within sight of her property. Additionally, several ten of a mile down below us is the other property. We wanted to give a more accurate explanation of the surroundings. The main issue we want to make sure is addressed is the access road which is a single lane gravel road serving all our properties. It is vital. It is vital lane remain access it. It is vital the lane remain accessible and in good condition throughout all construction and operational phases of Miss Walker's project. We have had numerous incidents of logging on the surrounding properties which resulted in the lane being blocked by equipment and/or becoming very difficult to traverse due to large trucks damaging the lane. There have been times we could not get out in the morning to take our children to school and go get to work on time or in the afternoon not be able to return to our home without issue. This is not a situation that we would like to repeat ever again as there is no other way to access our property. It is our understanding the long-term plan is to

have services available on the property as well as bring school groups in for field trips. We want to make sure the plans include adequate parking and long-term maintenance of the lane as these plans will significantly increase the traffic on the road. I Emily did address these concerns with Miss Walker and she was very understanding and stated during the conversation that she would ensure that there was no disruption for us or any other residents during any phase of the project. We are requesting Miss Walker's plan be amended to include one specific plans for how Holly's Habitat for Paws and All incorporated will ensure the uninterrupted accessibility for the properties adjacent to Miss Walker's land and have rightaway easement to use to use the land. Two, long-term plans for maintenance and repair caused by the increased use. We appreciate the opportunity to share these concerns with the planning committee and appreciate your consideration. Sincerely, Joseph and Emily Hyatt.

Can you guys say something? Okay. I think you you've addressed the road going in. Uh you referred to her by name earlier. Uh I think that is a couple of points that we can bring up again once the special use permit process comes in. Right now, just the reasonzoning to A1 is our only primary consideration tonight as far as the dog kennel park goes. That's I would like to pave the road for for the neighbors. You know, I think it's so unfair for her not to be able to get in and who would want to live like that? That's so unfair. I would never do that. You want to say as far as her concern is is more of the special use permit period as it is to the reszoning to A1.

Am I right, Mr. Mr. Arm? Guess tonight all we're doing is is reszoning the property. Yeah. So, yeah, those those types of questions we can deal with if if this piece gets past the board. Okay. All right. Do you want me to leave? I think so.

All right. Is there anyone here who would like to speak to this case? Seeing none, public hearing on the case is closed at 8:06 and we're moving to Mr. Oaks. Is there a second?

Thanks, Miss Henderson. There any other questions, comments, or motions? Please cast your vote. Motion carries six to zero. Moving now to case S-26-011. Mr. Arnold. Antonio 3.13 acres Highway 29.

Uh, is anything you would like to add? There any questions for the sos? Has anyone signed up to speak to this case?

At 8:08, public hearing is closed. Yeah.

Is there Is there a second?

Thank you, Mr. Oaks. Are any other motions, questions, or comments? Seeing none, cast your vote. Motion carries six to zero. Moving now to at 809 case S-26-012. Mr. Hi. 26-2 acres located district 24. special.

We do have Mr. Chairman Mr. Pre.

Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the commission. Again, Brian Prader with Williams Mullen here tonight on behalf of the applicant, which is Verizon Wireless, and we're excited to bring some two opportunities, this case and the next case, to help expand the county's wireless coverage and help increase their data capacity. And here with me tonight is Mr. Sha Chai. He is the technical expert. So hopefully between him, myself, and him, more likely him, we'll be able to answer any technical questions you have. And I had a couple slides to go through briefly and I'm not sure if the gentleman perfect and I will be I know it's been a longer evening so I will be very brief on these slides. And so this is the property and it is a 158 acre property off of chalk level. The applicant is leasing 10,000 square feet in that area where the star is located for the proposed wireless telecommunications facility. The proposed tower, it's 195 ft tall with a 4ft lightning rod, so 199 ft in total. There will be a fence area around it in the enclosure. The antenna array will include one proposed currently for Verizon Wireless and then an additional three for future collocation. There are no lights required based on the proposed height of this facility. There's an existing farm road that'll be used to access it that you will see on this plan if you can see it. There's a farm road today that will lead back to where the compound facility is located. A couple items to note. It is the proposed monopole is set back 47 just over 400 ft from chalk level right ofway and then the nearest residential home is over 350

ft from the proposed monopole and then this shows the compound closely. I know you all have seen a few of these facilities. It probably looks very similar to the others. One thing to note while we have this slide up is that these facilities are designed if inclement weather if they ever were to fall, there's a fall zone that would put a 59 ft radius around the tower location. And anytime the tower were to fall, it is designed in a manner to fall within that fall zone of a 59 foot radius. So it wouldn't based on the lease area and where these are situated on the property, you would never have any instance where it would fall on an adjacent property owner's property. And then here is a elevation of the pole itself. And as I said, I would be quick. I'm happy to answer any questions along with Mr. Chai. Uh the only inquiry, excuse me, the only inquiry I had was from the technical side of it as far as uh are there any, you know, you got sound waves, electronic waves, whatever going in and out of the tower as the communication is sent back and forth. Is there anything to those waves that are harmful to anyone living in the area? I mean, personally, I know I hold my phone next to my ear, so I mean, that's that's more danger than than the tower could bring, but uh it was asked, so I'm I'm relaying that.

Yes. And thank you for the question. Um there are numerous agencies and organizations at the federal level and other types of organizations that have made statements that studies have shown not to have any adverse health impacts. I think an important factor is these are heavily regulated by the FCC which sets certain frequency limits. Radio frequencies which is what a wireless telecommunications facility produces fall way below any of the FCC regulations and as I noted there's numerous reports, studies, statements from organizations that there are no known adverse health impacts on from these facilities. Thank you. Any questions?

Only complaints is people don't have no service. So I'm glad y'all doing it. That's the only complaints I hear. So thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks, sir.

And I must say all of us in this building tonight has a cell phone and it's very important to receive good service, particularly myself going home by myself. Um, I am a strong supporter of Verizon or any other cell towers. If we can get better communication to the country people, the elderly who live alone and need to get in touch with 911, an emergency, it's very important, very important to be able to make that call that night. I also am a strong supporter because I have one on my property. If it's any health relation of danger, I have not heard. I'll find out, I guess. But I welcome more towers in the county for better reception for not only the elderly, but for all of us. Thank you for coming.

Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else? Thank you. Is anyone signed up to speak to this case? Thank public hearing is closed at 8:17 and it is Miss Me. One, two,

uh, I have a first. Is there a second?

Thank you, Miss Henderson. Are there any other questions, comments, or motions? Please cast your vote. Motion carries 6 to 0. It is now 8:18. Mr. Arnold, case S-26-013-26-13. special use. Acres located 24.

Mr. Prader, is there anything you need to add? You pretty much had the same presentation, right? All right. Is anyone signed up to speak on this case?

Please state your name in your district. Hello, my name is Tammy Wit. Uh, I'm not sure of the district. I live on Climax Road.

Okay. And I first I want to say I'm all for better cell phone service because in some places in the county it's terrible. But where they want to put this particular one, it's not a good spot. Uh what I want to say is uh thank you for giving my husband and I the opportunity to strongly voice our opinions on the upcoming proposal for Verizon cell phone tower located at the backside or corner of our property line at 3272 Climax Road. Chadam, it would be far too close to our property line and our home. We are very upset about this. We are very concerned about the effects that this cell phone tower may or will have on our health property value and the community as well as our lifestyle. We already have to live in the middle of the huge solar panel project that we see on all four sides. It's like living in a metal jungle. This cell phone tower will only make it even worse. My husband and I are seniors on disability and living on a fixed income. We have no choice but to live there. My husband has a pain stimulator in his back and other health issues. How will this affect our health? TV reception, cell phone service. We have a lot of un unanswered questions. We have done some research and have found that it could be harmful to our health and our community. So, I hope that this y'all will take in consideration all these things above it before this is approved.

Thank you. Thank you. Has anyone else signed up?

Good evening. Good evening. My name is Chris Brunner. I live on 3216 Climax Road, right next door to Mike and Tammy. This cell phone tower is going to be directly in my backyard. 261 ft right to my back property line. 391 ft to the corner of my house. There have been numerous studies that indicate that any RF radiation, EMF radiation that go back and forth in these towers coming and going. If the distance is less than 500 m or 1,640 ft, you are considered in the red zone. These studies have been made in the US around the world and prove without a doubt that continuous exposure to EMF, ACCEF and RF radiation does promote various cancers and other health issues especially within that thousand foot distance or that 1600t assistance. The National Firefighters Association, this is a case out of New Hampshire, uh, back in 2004, had a 5G study done. Results were that 5G emits substantially more radiation than previous 2G,

3G, and 4G. As a result of that study, a ruling was made that all new cell tower installations must be at least 500 m away from any regular occupied dwelling or the 1,640 ft. And that's from the base of the cell tower, not the facility, the base of the cell tower. I had already told you from the base of the proposed site where the tower is footprint is going to be is 261 ft to my rear property line. Therefore, my entire property, which is a small lot, it's only one it's only 1.59 acres. my entire property, my dwelling, front yard, backyard, sideyards, I'll be exposed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The final thing I want to say is the Owens applied for a special use permit for the solar fields that surround our property. Now, we're going to add another special use permit um for this When do special permit uses end? And it's a 94 acre lot. It hasn't been used for agricultural since the south uh solar fields went in. Thank you. Anyone else? Would you like to address some of his health concerns and as it relates to the distance

and I think just more generally going to reiterate highly regulated by the FCC and these facilities are all 100% compliant with FCC regulations and these report to the SEC and have their licenses through the SEC uh FCC, excuse me. Thank you very much. Anyone have any other questions?

I have a question for council. The research that I've done shows that the FCC does not regulate the distance from the tower to a dwelling. It regulates the RF, the frequency that you guys have gone in and out of that tower. It has nothing to do with the distance of a regularly lived dwelling. Thank you. Okay, thank you.

State your name. Sean Chai for Verizon BCI. So we are licensed. Okay. We have a set frequency that we're regulated by the FCC. That that's what's regulated by FCC. We cannot interfere with anyone else. So the license is already heavily regulated and it's in compliant. does not cause any interference or any cancer.

In fact, numerous studies do show it promotes cancer. It promotes other illness. Not your frequency, the distance from the tower to a rarely lived dwelling. In 2004, the National Fire Safety Fire Department firefighters had a ruling in New Hampshire that stated that no cell towers are allowed within 500 meters of a fire station or an EMS station. That's a nationwide. That's not just New Hampshire.

Okay. All right. Understood. So, yeah. All right. I think each is each has made his point in that regard. So,

I do have something else to add. If there isn't any issues with any of this stuff, are myself, Mike and Tammy, and the rest of the people around me going to get regular um information about what's added to the tower, what's taken away from the tower? Is it going to be constantly monitored after the installation? Are we going to get notification when there's a change made to that tower frequencywise or constructionwise? Oh,

that was all I had to say. All right. Any other questions or comments? And you just stated no one else has signed up. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, sir. At 8:29, the public hearing is closed.

Miss Mair, um, a lot of controversy there, but I still think that all of us benefit from a tower. I'm not sure how many a cell tower. I'm not sure how many is in climax, whether this is the first one in that area, but in case S 26-013, I recommend to the board that this be approved.

Chair has a first. Is there a second? Thank you, Mr. Oaks. Are there any other questions, comments, or motions?

All right.

If you could amend your motion to include the 24 month. I amend in case S26-03 that I amend the 24 yes to initiate 24 months to be initiated for staff recommendations. All right. You still second Mr. Oaks. Thank you. Any other questions, comments, or concerns, motions? Please cast your vote. Motion carries 6 to zero. Now we move to the next case at 8:31.

Mr. Cascade, Virginia, USA has petition for a special election district. Anything you'd like to add?

Anyone have any questions? Thank you. I passed there Sunday and the mobile home park is really taken care of. Well, I didn't see any junk. Well maintained. This building that you want to make a public garage out of is right in the middle of the trailer park. If you work on cars and you have an operable vehicle, you're going to have to put a fence up. You talking about rent part of storage. You got a building that's hold two cars. I wonder why you want to mess up your trailer park making a few dollars on a building that'll hold two cars. So, uh, we had noticed that, um, like, uh, a lot of people in the area wanted to work on their trucks, I guess, in the community. Um, and there had been somebody working on there before that was actually living inside the park. And um and so we said, "Hey, you know, it seems like it's a popular hobby to do." And so it's just going to be one person. It's his own his own trucks. They're going to be in there. He's going he wants to work on it at night. It's like his hobby. And we just think we're fulfilling a need in the community. That's all.

Well, if you got one person, uh, this Mal, if you got one person wants to rent this building and work on his vehicle, does he need a special use permit? If there if he doesn't live inside the community that they said we did,

I I see this this going sideways. Uh most time when you have a garage, it's going to be some junk around and the people living in a mobile home park are going to get dissatisfied with that. And so if um the list that that you had in the packet of storage and working on cars, it's you you overloading the request for the size of the building in my opinion. And in my opinion, you'd be better off to leave it like it is and look after the people living in the trailer park. That's that's my comment.

Yeah, we just think that there's a you know I guess it's a big hobby because the amount of traffic we had going that said that wanted to work on our trucks like we were actually thinking about opening a garage somewhere else now because we had so much people wanting to work on their own cars as a hobby. So, you know, we do f that's our number one focus is obviously our tenants, but um we also want to kind of be able to help in other areas. There's other needs, not just housing. You know, if there is hobbies for people wanting to work on their vehicles, we'd like to, you know, be a solution there as well. Yes. Oh my god. Anyone else have any questions for him?

Thank you. Anyone sign up to speak on this case? Is anyone here who would like to speak to this case? Come forward. State your name. Give your district.

My name is Jermaine Shelton or William Shelton. I actually own the property right next to the trailer court. And um I think it's a bad idea too because I already clean up enough trash and stuff coming down from the trailer court and to add even more garbage, you know, it's already an eyesore. So, the fence is nice. I'd like that. But everything else, not so much. Okay. Anyone else like to speak to this case?

All right. At 8:37, public hearing is closed. Mr. Oaks. Oh, excuse me for just a second. I didn't see you.

The the garage is actually in the very back of of the community. There's like a hill that goes down. So, it's completely there's actually a bunch of trees. I have it on the map. Um, there's a bunch of trees and then you drive through and it's an open area and then the garage is back there. So, it's completely like in its own area in the back and it's 17 acres. So, it's pretty far away. So, there's really no You're saying there's no trailers around the garage?

Not. No. And it should it'll show you on the map as well. It's in a completely it own area. There's trees like kind of um separating it from the rest of the community. Could you say Could you say it one more time? It's it it's it's all it's if you only have to point out I can show you but it's all it's all the homes and then you go past all the homes and we a bunch of land and that's where it is. I can show you if you like. You see it? What was that? Sir,

the packet.

All right. Did that clarify anything for you, Mr. Oaks? Okay, which was to deny. All right, we have a motion. Is there a second?

Thank you, Miss Me. Are there any other questions, comments, or motions? Dash your boat. The motion didn't go forward.

Okay. Is everyone voted? question. I don't want to make calls here. All right. So, with a with a three-3 vote, it it it stalls or is it just a recommended flat to the board of uh zoning appeals? It doesn't move.

Okay.

That's what I thought

it would go on their record as a 33 to deny. But even if we have voted six to zero to the deny, they can still approve it. So at this point, it's 33 for denial and then the zoning appeals board can figure out what they want to do from there. motion to the deny is a 33 0 tie. That concludes our cases for tonight if I'm correct. Is there any old business?

Yes, sir. And I see that we have some new business. But it is a new related topic. There is a survey related to comprehensive plan for anybody. County resolut.

Thank you, Mr. Arnold. And I would uh encourage the uh commission members and any member of the public to participate in the process for the comprehensive plan. And if I can add the floor is yours, Smith.

Thank you. And if I can also add for those who aren't um here who don't have the flyer uh or the QR code, you can also get the survey at pitcopl.com and that will close on April 15th. So, good evening. Tonight, I would like to uh give you an overview of the subdivision ordinance and some proposed changes um that will be coming forward through this board and then to the board of supervisors um to bring us into compliance and also to modernize our subdivision ordinance. So, we have three main tools to influence and direct development. The comprehensive plan, which we've been uh just talking about, establishes the county's long-term vision and policy direction. The zoning ordinance, which regulates where different land uses may occur and what can be built on each parcel, and the subdivision ordinance, which regulates how land is divided and how infrastructure required for that development is provided. All three tools work together. Zoning controls use. The subdivision ordinance controls division and infrastructure. And the comprehensive plan guides both. The ordinance establishes standards and procedures for dividing land in Pennsylvania county. Its purpose is to ensure subdivisions are designed and built in an orderly, coordinated manner that protects both property owners and the county. It ensures that newly created lots are legally valid, buildable, and supported by appropriate infrastructure. Three main factors have prompted what we're um bringing forward um to start discussion on tonight. Um first is that the county has a long-standing administrative practice of reviewing nonsubdats prior to recording by the clerk of court's office, but this practice is not written into the ordinance. Second, uh,

recent Virginia code training identified several compliance gaps that must be addressed. And third, the ordinance has not received a full review since its original adoption, and updates are needed to ensure clarity and consistency. This effort improves both legal compliance and administrative efficiency. The ordinance update is being proposed in three phases. Phase one codifies the county's long-standing practice for reviewing non-subdivision plat. Phase two updates the ordinance for full compliance with Virginia code. And phase three modernizes the ordinance by updating definitions, digital submission standards, and other administrative processes. A phased approach allows steady progress while minimizing disruptions. As I've mentioned, phase one will codify the county's administrative review of non-subdivision plat. Staff already performs these reviews to ensure zoning compliance before plat are recorded. Writing this process into the ordinance provides consistency and clarity clarity for super surveyors, property owners, and the clerk's office. Under the ordinance, a subdivision occurs when land is divided into four or more lots for sale or development or when any division creates a new street, regardless of the number of resulting lots. Land divisions that meet either of these criteria must follow the subdivision plat review and approval process. Understanding this definition is important because phase one addresses actions that fall outside these triggers. There are other plats that do not meet the definition of a subdivision that staff review for zoning compliance. These non-s subdivision plat include boundary line adjustments,

lot lot consolidations, family divisions, court ordered divisions, and divisions that create fewer than four parcels. These actions still change property boundaries and must be checked for zoning compliance even though they are not considered subdivisions under the ordinance. The ordinance amendment that will be brought forward in phase one will include a definition that creates a clear category for smallcale land divisions that do not meet the threshold of a full subdivision and do not create new streets. It gives us the distinction needed for the ordinance to formally recognize all non-subdivision plats and authorize the administrative review process we already use. By defining minor subdivisions, we can add the new review language in a consistent and legally supported way. The intent of phase one is simply to codify the non-subdivision plat review process the county already uses, ensuring the ordinance reflects current practice moving forward. Phase two will focus on aligning the subdivision ordinance with required provisions in Virginia code. Several mandatory elements are missing or outdated and bringing them into alignment is essential for legal compliance. Virginia code sets out several required components that all local subdivision ordinances must include such as standards for plats and improvements, review procedures, and validity periods. These state level requirements establish the baseline every locality must meet. Ensuring our ordinance align with these elements is essential for compliance. The county's current ordinance does not fully address all of the state required provisions and several areas need to be updated to meet Virginia code standards. As I've mentioned, phase two will focus

on bringing the ordinance into compliance by filling these gaps and staff will present those revisions in greater detail at a later time. Phase three will focus on modernizing the subdivision ordinance to improve clarity, consistency, and usability. As part of this effort, we will also review the optional tools allowed under state law to determine whether any of them are appropriate for Pennsylvania county. These optional subdivision provisions that localities may adopt if they support local needs or improve administration can offer some benefits like increased transparency or better coordination while others add cost or complexity. As part of phase three, we will evaluate these options to understand which, if any, might add value. The schedule for phase three ordinance amendments is not intended to begin until after the comprehensive plan update is adopted and the evaluation of optional elements will take place within that broader planning context. While the initial perspective is that many may ultimately not align with the county's needs, the phase three review will determine which optional tools, if any, best support the goals established through the comprehensive plan. Phase three may also include updates such as improved bonding procedures, digital submission standards, and clearer definitions. These types of changes help streamline administration and make the ordinance easier for applicants to navigate. And this is another example of the modernization opportunities. Um, I will be bringing forward a red line um amendment or ordinance next month for your review for the phase one um and look forward to future conversations.

Any questions? Any questions? We look forward to it, Miss Smith. Thank you. Is there anything else under new business? Anyone else have anything to add? I appreciate your patience this evening.