No proper article this time, but rather a data dump. Below I will paste portions of the Va. Code which Botetourt doubtless forgot to cite in its recent “News Flash” entitled “Botetourt County Clarifies Planning Commission’s Advisory Role in Water Resource Discussions.” It wouldn’t hurt to review these prior to the meeting Monday evening. Reminder that we’re planning to rally around 4:30pm. You will find information here to contradict the Board of Supervisors claim that water usage is an affair for the water monopoly alone.
Here we go (all from Title 15.2 of the Va. Code):
§ 15.2-2202. Duties of state agencies; electric utilities.
B. In addition to the information supplied under subsection A, every department, board, bureau, commission, or other agency of the Commonwealth which is responsible for the construction, operation, or maintenance of public facilities within any locality shall, upon the request of the local planning commission having authority to prepare a comprehensive plan, furnish reasonable information requested by the local planning commission relative to the master plans of the state agency which may affect the locality’s comprehensive plan. Each state agency shall collaborate and cooperate with the local planning commission, when requested, in the preparation of the comprehensive plan to the end that the local comprehensive plan will coordinate the interests and responsibilities of all concerned. The state agency shall notify the chief administrative officer of the locality when updates to its land use plans are completed and available.
§ 15.2-2211. Cooperation of local planning commissions and other agencies.
The planning commission of any locality may cooperate with local planning commissions or legislative and administrative bodies and officials of other localities so as to coordinate planning and development among the localities. The planning commission of any locality shall consult with the installation commander of any military installation that will be affected by potential development within the locality so as to reasonably protect the military installation against any adverse effects that might be caused by the development. Planning commissions may appoint committees and may adopt rules as needed to effect such cooperation. Planning commissions may also cooperate with state and federal officials, departments and agencies. Planning commissions may request from such departments and agencies, and such departments and agencies of the Commonwealth shall furnish, such reasonable information which may affect the planning and development of the locality.
§ 15.2-2221. Duties of commissions.
To effectuate this chapter, the local planning commission shall…8. If deemed advisable, establish an advisory committee or committees.
§ 15.2-2223. Comprehensive plan to be prepared and adopted; scope and purpose.
C. The comprehensive plan, with the accompanying maps, plats, charts, and descriptive matter, shall show the locality’s long-range recommendations for the general development of the territory covered by the plan. It may include, but need not be limited to:
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2. The designation of a system of community service facilities such as parks, sports playing fields, forests, schools, playgrounds, public buildings and institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, community centers, waterworks, sewage disposal or waste disposal areas, and the like;
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4. The designation of areas for the implementation of reasonable measures to provide for the continued availability, quality, and sustainability of groundwater and surface water;
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8. The designation of corridors or routes for electric transmission lines of 150 kilovolts or more.
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F. The comprehensive plan is encouraged to consider strategies to address resilience. As used in this subsection, “resilience” means the capability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with minimum damage to social well-being, health, the economy, and the environment.