Recap of April 23, 2024 Board of Supervisors Meeting

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April 23 Recap

 
At its April 23 meeting, it was brought to the Board’s attention that a citizen in River’s Edge Subdivision was told she is not allowed to keep chickens on her property due to County Code Section 90-1035.1, which states poultry must be on a parcel of two acres or more in a residential zoning district.  She said she was not aware and had her chickens for quite some time.  They produce eggs for her family’s consumption and have become pets to her.  She said that her neighbors have never complained.  Another citizen in that subdivision spoke in her favor.

Prior to 2013, poultry and livestock was not permitted in Residential Zoning Districts (R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3). In January 2014, the Board voted to approve Ordinance O-14-01 to amend several Chapter 90 Zoning sections to allow poultry and livestock within Residential Districts with certain conditions.  In 2020, the Board of Supervisors discussed options to amend the residential poultry conditions and a draft of ordinance amendment options were presented to the Planning Commission.  The Planning Commission affirmed that staff would not advertise for a public hearing for an ordinance for existing residential poultry conditions and no recommendation was made to the Board of Supervisors.

At its April 23 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to suspend the ordinance through December 31, 2024 while the Planning Commission takes time to revisit the ordinance and give the Board a recommendation on how to move forward.

Other matters that came before the Board at its meeting: 

·       Approved on consent Personal Property Tax Relief rate. 

·       Approved on consent a resolution authorizing the Police Department to apply for a DCJS Ceasefire Grant in the amount of $186,380. 

·       Approved on consent a resolution authorizing the Commonwealth’s Attorney to apply for a DCJS Ceasefire Grant. 

·       Approved on consent an appropriation in the amount of $5,670 for welcome sign contribution. 

·       Held a public hearing and approved by a 3-2 vote (with Mr. Cox and Mr. Pugh opposed) an Ordinance to Amend The Code of the County of Prince George, as amended, by amending Section 82-261, 82-262, 82-536, 82-537 to review water and wastewater connection fees and user charges. 

·       Held a public hearing and unanimously approved a Special Exception request within a General Business (B-1) Zoning District to permit a private school (pre-school) for children ages 3 through 5 and to permit a child-care center for children ages 3 through 12 at 5258 Oaklawn Boulevard. 

·       Held a public hearing and unanimously approved a Special Exception request to permit a furniture sales and repair shop as a home occupation at 15200 Lindberg Drive. 

·       Held a public hearing and unanimously approved a Special Exception to permit a reupholstery shop as a home occupation within an accessory building at 17000 Jolly Road. 

·       Received a Quarterly Financial Report. 

·       Received a Strategic Plan Update. 

·       Unanimously approved an appropriation in the amount of $87,109.12 for Opioid Abatement.

·       Approved an ambulance purchase and award of contract to Southeastern Specialty Vehicles in the amount of $419,858 with a 4 to 1 vote with Mr. Cox opposed.  

·       Held a discussion and unanimously agreed to cancel the May 7 Budget Work Session. 

·       Held a discussion and unanimously agreed to suspend the ordinance for residential zoning district conditions regarding poultry.  Staff was instructed to provide ordinance amendment options at a future meeting.