Editor’s Note: The following document was converted to text from a BOS document. Document may contain minor typos that were not in the original document.
The Page County Board of Supervisors' Feb. 3, 2025 work session included the following agenda items and actions:
CALL TO ORDER
Supervisors Keith Guzy (District 1), Allen Louderback (District 2), Susan Kile (District 4) and Chairman Keith Wealdey were present Supervisors Ryan Cubbage (District 3) and Jeff Vaughan (District 5) were not in attendance.
FY2024 AUDIT PRESENTATION
James Kelly of Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates, Certified Public Accountants, presented fiscal year 2024 audit results. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, Page County received an Unmodified Audit Opinion — the highest level of assurance available, he told supervisors. Kelly noted that for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Page County for its annual comprehensive fmancial report, marking the seventh consecutive year that the county has earned the achievement.
View the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and other budget documents and information at www.pagecounty.virginia.gov/168/Finance-Department.
ALL POINTS BROADBAND PROJECT UPDATE
Tom Innes of All Points Broadband presented an update to supervisors about Page County's participation in a regional broadband project that is on track to distribute about 3,100 miles of fiber optic cable and bring high-speed intend access to more than 41,000 locations in eight counties throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Innes reported that the Department of Housing and Community Development approved a risk mitigation plan presented in September, ensuring that locations at risk of not being served through Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) projects will be included in Virginia's Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. About 19% of locations were shifted from VATI to BEAD to offset increased costs and ensure universal coverage, Innes told supervisors. He noted that the approved risk mitigation plan reduces the number of poles requiring attachment to less than 20,000 poles across the region, with fewer than 1,800 poles in Page County.
All Points Broadband is set to begin last-mile construction in August, 2025. At an average rate of 17 miles per month, completion is expected in June 2026. Network activation is slated to begin in September 2025 and continue on a rolling basis through June 2026 by fiber service area/fiber distribution area. Innes encouraged consumers to visit https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov to view the National Broadband Map.
PAGE COUNTY IMPACT OF TOURISM PRESENTATION
Virginia Tourism Corporation's Vice President of Research and Strategy Dan Roberts presented visitor spending and economic impact numbers. He reported that for 2021 Page County's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic was ranked 10th in Virginia out of 133 localities, based on annual visitor spending in 2021 compared to spending in 2019. Roberts noted that only other predominantly outdoor localities ranked higher. Overall, visitors to Page County spent $108.7 million in 2023, up from $108.1 million in 2022. Visitors to Page County paid $3 million in state taxes and $5.6 million in local taxes in 2023, Roberts told supervisors, offsetting about $925 in annual state and local taxes for the average Page County household. Page County currently ranks 24th among the state's 133 localities for taxes offset per household while being ranked 74th in household population.
SPECIAL USE PERMIT
JEREMY BALDWIN/RIVER RUN Campground — One-year Review
Supervisors reviewed a request by Jeremy Baldwin for a campground expansion at 741 Carvell Road in Rileyville. Baldwin in August 2023 submitted a special use permit request for an expansion to include the addition of 80 primitive camping sites and eight cabin sites. Taking into consideration concerns raised by local residents at the time, supervisors in April 2024 approved half of the expansion request (40 new primitive camping sites and four new cabin sites) with several SUP conditions, including issuing the SUP on a one-year trial basis. Supervisors during Monday night's work session reviewed the SUP request following the one-year trial basis and considered a request by Baldwin to determine compliance with the terms and conditions of the current SUP, whether to modify or continue to authorize the camping and cabin sites previously authorized and whether to authorize an additional 40 primitive camping sites and four cabin sites. Noting that not all board members were present, supervisors by consensus instructed staff to include the request as an action item on the agenda of an upcoming meeting.
REVIEW OF SPECIAL USE
IBR Riding Stables/Academies
Facility Supervisors reviewed a special use permit request by IBR Corp. to operate riding stables and an academies facility at 2948 Oak Forest Lane in Luray on about 36.7 acres of land zoned agriculture. According to the permit application, the applicant is proposing to operate riding stables/academies at existing horse stables and two shelters, where they will offer horse training, trail riding, boarding and grooming. Proposed parking for the business would be located at the end of Oak Forest Lane. Supervisors voted unanimously to conduct a public hearing on the request at the board's regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 17, at the Government Center in Luray.
REVIEW OF ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
Banquet/Event Facilities
Supervisors reviewed proposed zoning ordinance amendments related to event venues, including a complete revision to Chapter 125-30.12 (Supplemental Regulations for Banquet Facility or Event Facility) and other related changes to 125-4 (Definitions), as well as 125-9 (Woodland Conservation), 125-10 (Agriculture) and 125-12 (Commercial). Page County Planner Josh Hahn noted that the Page County Planning Commission drafted the amendments in an effort to establish more supplemental regulations and clarify definitions for "banquet facility" and "event facility." Supervisors discussed the proposed amendments and by consensus referred the amendments back to the planning commission to further clarify definitions and make changes. The proposed amendments will be presented to supervisors at a future meeting.
RESOLUTION OPPOSING HB2438
Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution in opposition to House Bill 2438, which the Virginia General Assembly may consider and vote on during the 2025 session.
According to the resolution, the bill "would allow the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to override local comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances for the siting of utility-scale solar, wind and battery storage facilities."
The resolution further states, "the Page County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors spent over two years crafting a solar ordinance, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, with the intention of protecting the best interest on the county and its land use."
The resolution will be sent to Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Del. Todd Gilbert and State Sen. Mark Obenshain.
ADJOURN
To view minutes from previous meetings and agendas for upcoming meetings, visit https://www.pagecounty.virginia.gov/AgendaCenter. Please note that a PDF reader may be required to view some documents.