Along with many other residents waiting to see what the revised comprehensive plan will mean for the future of Powhatan, Habitat for Humanity Powhatan’s Executive Director Donald Whitley insists the new plan will play a major role in the future of his organization.

“The Comprehensive Plan is key to what we do,” said Whitley, who assumed the director’s role in 2007.

The current subdivision ordinance mandates a five acre average in subdivisions, with a minimum requirement of two acres per lot. Whitley explained that this poses a serious problem to families already struggling to afford their own home.

“You can’t have affordable housing without higher density because two acre and five acre lots just cost too much,” said Whitley. What they are hoping for now, said Whitley, is that the new plan will allow for higher density growth in selected areas of the county where residents would access to utilities such as water and sewer. Whitley said he thinks the areas could be developed in an attractive way that would not significantly impact the counties rural character.

Whitley said members of the organization have been taking part in the comprehensive plan revision process, adding that he feels those tasked with reviewing the plan “are doing a good job.”

Three meetings were held in January to gauge residents’ response to three different scenarios for Powhatan’s future development. While a number of county officials described the meetings as productive, there is still much work to be done.

The Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee will meet tomorrow at Powhatan Library at 7 p.m. The Powhatan chapter of Habitat for Humanity has built three homes in Powhatan over the last five years, and currently has enough money to build two more homes.

Five years ago the Board of Supervisors made the decision to allow county landowners to donate two acres of land to the Habitat organization, with the restriction that the remaining 10 acres of land had to be zoned agricultural.

While it was a step in the right direction, said Whitley, the measure has resulted in just one lot being donated.

Focusing on the new plan, Whitley said he does not see two or even four houses to an acre as being unreasonable, and noted that there are places in the surrounding counties where homes are routinely built on a quarter of an acre.

“We’d obviously be satisfied with one house to an acre,” said Whitley last week. For now, however he said he is just hoping that the revised plan will help the group move forward with its mission.

Whitley says he has had numerous offers from volunteers and even organizations offering to help fund homes.

“Land is the issue,” he said. “It’s sad when I have to tell someone ‘no’ when they have the money and the time to help.”