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Solar farm planned for 1,500 acres in Hanover

A large solar energy facility planned on Hanover’s northwestern edge is up for a review by the county Planning Commission.

The project is up before the Planning Commission’s vote this week.

Strata Clean Energy is seeking zoning approval to build a solar farm on a 1,500-acre site east of Ben Gayle Road and just north of its intersection with Beaverdam Road. The solar panels would occupy about 340 acres of the overall project site, according to a staff report.

Read the full story on Richmond Biz Sense.

The Hanover Board of Supervisors has given the nod to a massive planned industrial project outside Ashland

Supervisor Jeff Stoneman, a newcomer to the board since last fall’s elections and representative for the Beaverdam district where the project site is located, responded to concerns about the development’s impact on the county’s rural character by noting it was situated in an area slated for the such development according to per the county’s comprehensive plan.

“I know this project has brought out a lot of passion and a lot of emotion. And there’s a substantial number of our citizens that are in the Beaverdam district that would prefer that a project like this not come into our area,” Stoneman said. “It’s been brought up that we want to keep Hanover rural and that some of us ran on that on as a campaign. And I can’t think of a way that you can do that better than sticking to the comp plan, than placing the growth in areas that it’s designed to go.”

Key sentence is “And I can’t think of a way that you can do that better than sticking to the comp plan, than placing the growth in areas that it’s designed to go.”

If we want Montpelier to remain rural, let’s hold Jeff Stoneman and the other Planners/Supervisors to that statement.

Full story here:

The Hanover Board of Supervisors has given the nod to a massive planned industrial project outside Ashland

Board of Supervisors updated on universal broadband initiative

Last year Hanover County announced its “Connect Hanover” Broadband Initiative to provide high-speed internet services to virtually all unserved or underserved homes and businesses. On March 9, Information Technology Director Kevin Nelson updated the Board of Supervisors on the initiative, which is now only four months away from the start of construction.

“We remain on the timeline that the County Administrator (John A. Budesky) outlined for you last July,” Nelson said. By April 25, the County anticipates signing contracts with all necessary parties, including All Points Broadband, which will actually provide the fiber-to-the-home service. Among those contracts is with CenturyLink/Lumen, which will be required to provide high-speed internet service to 1037 currently unserved customers within its service area within three years.

Nelson told the Board that while the initiative is called “broadband”, it actually will provide high-speed internet, with minimum synchronized internet access speeds of 100/100 mbps.

About 6200 addresses will receive the internet service from All Points Broadband within three years of July 1, which is when grant funds become available to the County. If you are unserved or underserved and have not been counted, the place to register is here: AllPointsBroadcom.com. A phasing plan will determine the order in which areas are to be served.

Construction will begin in the fall of this year. The County’s partners in the project include All Points Broadband, Dominion Energy and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.

For more information go here.

The Montpelier Victorian Event Venue and Bed & Breakfast

The Hanover Planning Commission has given the green light for the development of a bed & breakfast/event venue.

Two existing structures will be updated to accommodate this project.

The location is 17112 Mountain Road, next door to the Church of Our Savior.

Here is the proposal as submitted by the owners, CAROLINE AND SCOTT MECHLING.

The Board of Supervisors will vote up or down the recommendation of the Planning Commission at their Wednesday, October 27th. meeting. See items B, C and D on the agenda found here.

Attended the meeting or contact the Board of Supervisors if you would like to comment on this matter.

Information session on new Montpelier Community Center and Library

Hanover County is planning to build a new Community Center and Library at Montpelier Park. They are considering several options and need your feedback.

Everyone who is interested is encouraged to attend one of the three information sessions being on Thursday, August 5, at the Montpelier Center for Arts and Education. Sessions will be held at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. and will include an overview of the project, potential location and facility options, and cost implications.

Your feedback is important so it can be shared with the Board of Supervisors to make final decisions to move the project forward. If you are unable to attend, information and an opportunity to provide feedback will be available on the Montpelier Park page of the Hanover County website beginning August 6 through August 20, 2021.If you have any questions, please contact Hanover County Parks and Recreation at (804) 365-4690 or email at parksandrec@hanovercounty.gov

South Anna District agenda items for Board of Supervisors 2/24/2021 meeting

If you live at or near these three locations, you might want to review the proposals that the Board of Supervisors will be voting on at their Wednesday, February 24th meeting.

North line of Ceadar Lane approximately 1,150 feet east of Karen Drive – Read the report here:.

North line of Greenwood Church Road (State Route 657) at its intersection with Scotchtown Road (State Route 671) – Read the report here::

West line of Mountain Road (U.S. Route 33) approximately 300 feet north of its intersection with Locust Run Drive (private road) – Read the report here:

County Opens COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic

The County’s vaccination team and Chickahominy Health District staff will vaccinate as many people as possible based on the supply of the vaccine. The clinic will not be open daily and hours of operation will vary, depending on the week, and appointments will be required to get vaccinated. No walk-in or drop-in vaccination opportunities are available at this time.

“If the vaccinations are not yet being distributed to the group you are in, we will put your name on the list and reach out to you when your group’s turn has arrived,” said Deputy County Administrator Jim Taylor, referring to the sign up process. “We realize that people want information, and they want to know when they can receive the vaccine. We are working as fast as we can to provide more opportunities to our residents in the weeks and months to come.”

Sean Davis, Chairman of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, also spoke at today’s press conference. He said “I don’t know how long it will take before every Virginian and every Hanoverian who wants a COVID-19 vaccination will be able to get one. To be frank, I suspect it will be several months” because of limitations on vaccine supply. “But I do promise you that we will continue to be pro-active in doing everything we can to get people through this safely.” Davis emphasized that it was the Board’s #1 priority.

For more information, read here.

Hanover County Utility Relief Program to Assist Customers

If you have incurred an economic hardship due to COVID-19 and desire to participate in this program, a CUSTOMER INTAKE FORM must be completed and received by Hanover County’s Department of Public Utilities by 5:00 pm on January 13, 2021 to ensure evaluation of your account.

Applications received after January 13, 2021 but prior to January 26, 2021 will be processed if there are remaining funds and time allows. Hanover County must return to the State of Virginia all funds not utilized by January 29, 2021.

The CUSTOMER INTAKE FORM may be returned the following ways:

  • Mailed to PO Box 470, Hanover, VA 23069-0470.  Please allow at least seven (7) days for delivery. Please note if you send it by mail, having it post marked by January 13, 2021 is not sufficient to ensure your account will be evaluated for participation
  • Emailed to utilityrelief@hanovercounty.gov
  • Dropped at Public Utilities offices at 7516 County Complex Road, Hanover, VA 23069
  • Submitted on our website at www.hanovercounty.gov/utilityreliefprogram

Below is a fillable PDF Customer Intake Form as well as an electronic Customer Intake Form that will electronically get submitted to the Department of Public Utilities.

Board of Supervisors approves Broadband plan

The committee concluded that broadband internet access is essential…

You think??

The Hanover Board of Supervisors yesterday approved a Broadband plan proposed by its Broadband Advisory Committee. The committee concluded that broadband internet access is essential and that the solution will have to be diverse because no one solution is going to solve broadband access issues throughout the county.

Many in rural areas do not have adequate access to high-speed internet options and many in suburban areas who do have access to a wired solution are not satisfied with their provider. The committee recommended a public/private partnership which would seek to leverage the expertise and infrastructure of private internet service providers under the direction of the county government and use grants to supplement funding solutions.

Among new initiatives, wireless access is being made available at several parks and in the front parking lot of the Courthouse complex. The County continues to welcome all providers – “we will take all comers, we just want a solution,” said Information Technology Director Kevin Nelson.

County Administrator John A. Budesky acknowledged the plan will have to be implemented in phases and probably take years to accomplish.

In other County news…

County postpones rabies vaccination clinic
The Hanover County Animal Control rabies vaccination clinic originally scheduled for December 12 has been postponed. “Out of concerns for the safety and health of our staff members, volunteers and the veterinarian, we have decided to postpone the rabies clinic set for December 12, 2020 due to the increase in positivity rate in Hanover County and across the state,” said Animal Control Chief Jeffrey S. Parker. “Hanover County Animal Control is hoping to have this rabies clinic at a later date in the future. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but at this time we feel this is the necessary step to keep the community safe. If you have any questions, please feel to contact Animal Control at 365-6485.”

Drive-through flu vaccinations offered in Beaverdam
The Hanover County Health Department is offering free drive-through flu vaccinations at Beaverdam Baptist Church on Sunday, December 13, from 12 to 2 p.m. No insurance is necessary. Drive-ups are welcomed. The vaccinations are good for 6 months. If you have questions please call 351-6206. Beaverdam Baptist Church is located at 19110 Beaver Dam Road, Beaverdam VA 23015.

Free COVID-19 testing and flu shots offered
The Hanover County Health Department is offering free drive-through COVID-19 testing and flu shots. These will be offered on Monday, December 14, at First Baptist Church in Ashland from 4-6 p.m. No insurance is required and drive-ups are welcome. Pre-registration is available by calling 351-6206.