News Flash

At its March 5, 2024 meeting, the Board of Supervisors will appoint residents to serve as Planning Commissioners for terms starting April 1, 2024 and ending March 31, 2028. There are several current Planning Commissioners not eligible for reappointment and there are some districts where there are already applicants for Planning Commissioner. This notice is directed to residents of Districts 3 and 5.

Applications are being sought to provide every interested resident of Districts 3 and 5 the opportunity to express her/his interest in serving on the Planning Commission by completing the Goochland County Boards and Commissions application form located at Goochland County, VA: Boards (granicus.com) Click on “Apply” at the top right corner of the page. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 2024.

Planning Commissioners have an important role in our county: learning about, holding a public hearing on, and making a recommendation to the Board about all land use matters, including rezoning and conditional use applications, and amendments to the county’s comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, and subdivision ordinance.  

The Board representatives for Districts 3 and 5 each plan to meet with the top applicants from their respective districts and then make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for their district appointee, based on an evaluation of the applicants using the following criteria:

1. Registered voter in the district. District 3 residents vote at either Randolph Elementary School or the County Parks & Recreation Complex. District 5 residents vote at St. Mary’s Church or at Dover Baptist Church;
2. Will complete the 2-day Virginia Certified Planning Commissioners Program (CPC) within 12-months of being appointed, with the expenses paid by county;
3. Will attend all meetings and workshops of the Planning Commission. Regular meetings are the third Thursday at 6:30 p.m.;
4. Will review meeting agenda packets prior to each meeting;
5. Will attend all scheduled community meetings for district rezoning and conditional use permit (CUP) applications;
6. Will physically visit every property for each district application prior to the Planning Commission public hearing on the application;
7. Will respond to resident/constituent calls/communications in a timely manner;
8. Will review the 2035 Goochland County Comprehensive Plan to gain an awareness of the county’s land use categories and the general limitations of each;
9. Will develop a general understanding of the rezoning/CUP process, including pre-application, community meeting, planning commission public hearing and recommendation, and Board of Supervisors public hearing and decision;
10. Will work with community development staff to acquire a general understanding of the zoning and subdivision ordinances;
11. Will attend the Town Hall meetings for their district;
12. Will meet quarterly, or more, as needed, with the Board of Supervisors member for their district; and 
13. Will abide by the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct for Goochland County Board of Supervisors’ Appointees.