By Michael Copley
Staff Writer

The board voted unanimously to make District 1 Supervisor Joe Walton vice chairman of the Powhatan Board of Supervisors.

The position was left vacant when District 2 Supervisor Charlie Green passed away in October. Walton will serve as vice chairman through the end of this year.

The board also voted unanimously to appoint District 4 Supervisor Scott Daniel to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.

That position was also left vacant when District 2 Supervisor Charlie Green passed away in October.

Daniel thanked the board for the appointment and said he hopes to continue the “good work done by Charlie Green” for children in the county.

Walmart comments

Several residents added to the ongoing Walmart debate at Thursday’s BOS meeting, despite assurances from Chairman Bob Cosby that “big-box [public] hearings are coming.”

“We are going to be relentless to make the board think long and hard,” said Powhatan Grow Smart organizer Debbie Markel.

One resident pointed to the current comprehensive plan and the new draft that was recently released to the public, and said big-box development does not fit with the small to medium sized businesses those documents identify as desirable.

But he said traffic was his “number one concern.” According to conversations he said he had with VDOT, Route 60 cannot- without significant road improvements- handle the additional traffic a Walmart would bring.

Route 60 “Would go straight to a D rating,” he said.

And Powhatan Grow Smart leader Greg Ownby asked the board to consider deferring judgment on Walmart’s rezoning request until the board adopts the new comprehensive plan.

County Attorney John Rick said Thursday that the board has one year to take action on the rezoning request, but warned adopting a new comprehensive plan can take longer than people expect. 

District One Supervisor Joe Walton indicated deferral might not be likely. He said he would have no problem considering Walmart’s request with an eye towards the contents of the current comprehensive and the drafted comprehensive plan simultaneously. Especially, he said, since the comprehensive plan is “not some strict, inflexible guideline.”

Appointments

Supervisor Marsell Bustos appointed Jeff Kling to represent District 2 on the Extension Leadership Council.

Supervisor Scott Daniel appointed Michael Potter to represent District 4 on the Extension Leadership Council. 
The board appointed Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Beasley to the John Tyler Alcohol Safety Action Program.

District 2 Supervisor Marsell Bustos was chosen to serve on the Powhatan Community Action Agency Board.

District 2 Supervisor Marsell Bustos appointed Robert Blake to serve on the Board of Equalization.

The board unanimously approved a conditional use permit to construct a manufactured home on Mountain View Road in the Red Lane Subdivision. Approval was granted provided the home is constructed with masonry skirting.