Comments Document
I am President of the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection (RLEP) and have been a resident of Rappahannock County for the past 38 years. In addition to my role with RLEP, I am also a licensed real estate agent and have served on our Planning Commission for many years. RLEP, an organization of concerned citizens, taxpayers and landowners in Rappahannock County, has worked for over fifty years to protect our natural resources and the rural character of our county. With a mailing list of over 800 people and strong membership support, RLEP has played a key role in guiding our elected officials toward prudent, community-oriented decisions.
I am writing to express my support for HB535 and HB1083. These bills are a positive first step toward addressing the unintended consequences of efforts to “streamline” Virginia’s subdivision and site plan laws brought about by SB974 and HB2660. Framed as technical reforms to help expand the housing market, these new laws inadvertently create unique burdens on low population counties. By mandating the use of a designated agent rather than allow review by a full Planning Commission, smaller counties like Rappahannock are at risk because we do not have adequate resources to grow the staff to contend with multiple applications for subdivisions. In the case of Rappahannock County, our Office of Zoning Administration is staffed by a single person. This fact, coupled with limited budget resources means county residents are at risk of rushed decisions and likely inadvertent mistakes. In addition, in smaller population rural counties, each subdivision has a greater impact on our community than subdivisions in larger population counties. Such decisions deserve the careful
consideration of our Planning Commission—the entity whose members are appointed by our elected
officials to consider the best interests of our community. These decisions should not be made by staff,
acting alone.
The 2025 laws created several challenges for small population counties, which are detailed in the full comments attached to this public comment.
Thoughtful planning takes time and genuine community engagement. We urge you to revisit SB974 and HB 2660 and work toward a more balanced approach for smaller population counties.
Comments Document
I am President of the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection (RLEP) and have been a resident of Rappahannock County for the past 38 years. In addition to my role with RLEP, I am also a licensed real estate agent and have served on our Planning Commission for many years. RLEP, an organization of concerned citizens, taxpayers and landowners in Rappahannock County, has worked for over fifty years to protect our natural resources and the rural character of our county. With a mailing list of over 800 people and strong membership support, RLEP has played a key role in guiding our elected officials toward prudent, community-oriented decisions. I am writing to express my support for HB535 and HB1083. These bills are a positive first step toward addressing the unintended consequences of efforts to “streamline” Virginia’s subdivision and site plan laws brought about by SB974 and HB2660. Framed as technical reforms to help expand the housing market, these new laws inadvertently create unique burdens on low population counties. By mandating the use of a designated agent rather than allow review by a full Planning Commission, smaller counties like Rappahannock are at risk because we do not have adequate resources to grow the staff to contend with multiple applications for subdivisions. In the case of Rappahannock County, our Office of Zoning Administration is staffed by a single person. This fact, coupled with limited budget resources means county residents are at risk of rushed decisions and likely inadvertent mistakes. In addition, in smaller population rural counties, each subdivision has a greater impact on our community than subdivisions in larger population counties. Such decisions deserve the careful consideration of our Planning Commission—the entity whose members are appointed by our elected officials to consider the best interests of our community. These decisions should not be made by staff, acting alone. The 2025 laws created several challenges for small population counties, which are detailed in the full comments attached to this public comment. Thoughtful planning takes time and genuine community engagement. We urge you to revisit SB974 and HB 2660 and work toward a more balanced approach for smaller population counties.