Approves Essex Request

General Assembly


The Virginia General Assembly has granted a request by the Essex County Board of Supervisors that will allow a county employee to continue to serve on the county’s Economic Development Authority (EDA).

Essex EDA Vice-Chairman William Croxton announced Friday that the House of Delegates and the Senate approved an amendment to state law that will now include Essex among the localities granted an exception to the law.

Essex County has employed Tim Smith, an EDA director, on a part-time basis to serve as its zoning compliance officer.

In a January memo from EDA chair Lisa S. Andrews to the supervisors, it was noted that while Smith received clearance from the supervisors to continue in his position with the EDA, a review of EDA by-laws discovered that the state’s Industrial Development and Revenue Bond Act prohibits employees from the locality that establishes an EDA from serving on the board of the EDA.

Croxton said that while Delegate Keith Hodges (99th District) was asked to submit the bill in the House of Delegates he had reached his submittal limit.

So, Del. John Avoli (20th District) submitted the (HB2433) bill on Hodg- es’s behalf. Ryan McDougle submitted the request in the Senate.

In another EDA related issue, Smith, during the Authority’s most recent session, reported that the Essex Planning Commission was in process of updating the county Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

The comprehensive plan is a document designed to guide the future actions of a community. It presents a vision for the future, with long-range goals and objectives for all activities that affect the local government.

This includes guidance on how to make decisions on public and private land development proposals, the expenditure of public funds, availability of tax policy (tax incentives), cooperative efforts and issues of pressing concern, such as farmland preservation or the rehabilitation of older neighborhoods areas, according to the Community Planning and Zoning website.

Smith said the update is being performed in-house. He distributed the current document regarding the economy.

The plan says the goal regarding the local economy is to “create a balanced sustainable community through moderate economic growth within the County’s existing growth management plan.

The economy objectives under review include:

. Strengthen local business/industry retention efforts by assisting businesses and industries to expand within Essex County;

. Attract new and relocating businesses and industries to Essex County to support and its economic base and provide high quality jobs for residents;

. Preserve the tradition of agricultural, forestry, fishing, and shellfish industries as important components of County rural character and the local economy. Promote additional tourism/travel industry or Eco-tourism related development which complements the rural, scenic, and historic qualities of the County;

. Continue encouraging efficient and attractive commercial development to strengthen the County’s economic base, and provide both jobs and services for County residents;

. Provide an ample supply of appropriately zoned land areas suitable for future industrial and commercial growth;

. Work closely with an continue to support the Town of Tappahannock in attracting quality commercial and industrial businesses that will help strengthen the local economic base; and

. Assign priority to the adequate provision of infrastructure to areas designated for future industrial and commercial development (i.e. roads, water, and sewer systems).

In another matter, the EDA voted to join the Tappahannock-Essex Chamber of Commerce with initial membership dues of $50.

The Chamber has been dormant for a number of years, but a recent effort included a meeting which attracted “a good cross-section of businesses and professionals,” Croxton told the EDA.

He noted that funding requests have been submitted to the Tappahannock Town Council and the Essex County Board of Supervisors.

Teresa Lankford is currently serving as the organization’s president.

Also, Andrews announced that EDA director James Acors has indicated he plans to resign. Acors also serves on the Tappahannock-Essex Airport Authority and has provided the EDA updates about local aviation developments.

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