Botetourt Supervisors July 31 other News

The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors met on July 31, 2023 for its regular monthly meeting at the Botetourt County Administration Building at Greenfield in Amsterdam. The Board heard concerns from citizens about a proposed walking trail in northern Botetourt and the impact that such a tourist attraction may have on the local community.

They also heard concerns about core drilling by Roanoke Cement/Titan America in the Catawba area and the impact that may have on such scenic vistas as McAfee’s Knob.

The Supervisors held a public hearing on amendments to the fiscal year 2024 budget. The amendments amounted to more than $35 million dollars and included funding for the county circuit courthouse renovation project ($26.7 million), funds from the American Rescue Plan Act ($4.6 million), funding for previously budget fire and emergency services apparatus ($1.7 million), and a variety of smaller expenditures. No one spoke at the public hearing and the Supervisors unanimously approved the appropriations.

The Board also:

• Heard an update from Tyler Painter on the county’s many 4-H programs. The 4-H Program serves youth between the ages of 5-19 across Botetourt County. Programs include in-school enrichment activities (monthly and by request), afterschool collaborations, community clubs, specialty camps, and county events. More than 1,250 young people participated in various 4-H programs in the last 10 months, Painter said.
• Heard an update from Mallory White, president of the Botetourt Farmers Market. White stated that because of construction at the Daleville Town Center, the Farmers Market had moved some activities to the fairgrounds in Buchanan. She said the Daleville Town Center continues to welcome the Market despite concerns with parking.
• Proclaimed September 17-23, 2023 as Constitution Week following a presentation by Betty Holt.
• Authorized the Chief Deputy Treasurer to sign checks in absence of the County Treasurer.
• Agreed to hire a consultant from AECOM to review US 220/Alt. 220 corridor, especially the area from Interstate 81 Exit 150 to Catawba Road, in an effort to secure Smartscale funding from the state for improvements to traffic in that stretch of highway.
• Learned that APEX has resubmitted its plans for the proposed Rocky Forge wind farm in northern Botetourt. County officials just received the documentation and had not yet reviewed it.
• Reappointed Amsterdam District Supervisor Steve Clinton and Blue Ridge District Supervisor Billy Martin to the Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization for three-year terms.

Additionally, the Supervisors also approved two noise variances for folks who are getting married and want to play music until midnight. One of the weddings would be outside of Fincastle and the other would be near Buchanan. Both take place in September.

The Board also sent a rezoning amendment to the Planning Commission that, if approved, would rezone acreage along Orchard Park Drive from Residential (R-1) to Agriculture (A-1). Shiotani, Linda et al., and Suzanne and JW Rhoades are petitioning the Board for amendments to the comprehensive plan that would establish an Agricultural Future Land use designation upon the parcels. The petition has been submitted in support of a forthcoming rezoning application that will request a change to the Agricultural (A-1) Use District for the development of a residential subdivision of up to 15 lots. The applicants also request to rezone these properties to Agricultural (A-1) due to the cost of extending public sewer and water to serve these lots and the cost of constructing public roads within the proposed subdivision.

The Board agenda packet may be found on the county’s website, or the meeting may be viewed in its entirety on youtube.

–the Botetourt Bee Photo credit Screenshot Jul 31meeting