At last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting county staff presented several ordinance amendments, including two drafts of a noise ordinance amendment and an amendment to a companion animal and public nuisance ordinance.
The primary difference between the two noise ordinances is whether noise violations are measured by decibel or “plainly audible” standards.

Examples of noise disturbances included social gatherings and parties, sound producing devices such as radios or MP3 players, noisy animals, trash and recycling collection, street cleaning and construction, peddlers and hawkers, amplified sound from vehicles, lawn care activities, on- or off-road motor vehicles, and the sounding of horns or other warning devices.

“This is probably the third time this has come up in the last 10 or 15 years,” said Steve Oakley of Manakin-Sabot.

Oakley said that he felt that the cost of monitoring decibel levels would be cost-prohibitive for the county. He also noted that agricultural operations were listed as an exemption to the noise ordinance.

“It would be nice if we had some stipulations for that,” he said, “such as they can run from 11 at night to 7 in the morning.”

An amendment to a companion animal and public nuisance ordinance would clarify the definitions of “public nuisances” to include the following: Interfering with a pedestrian’s use of the public right of way, chasing vehicles, attacking other companion animals, entering upon public or private school grounds and public parks without being under the control of the owner and entering private property in such a manner to damage real or personally property.

Quick Hits

Three Chopt Water Line
Dickson presented an update on the Three Chopt Water Line project, saying that the water line is about 95 percent complete.
The project, which has been underway since September 2009, is being constructed through Henrico County Public Utilities at an initial projected cost of $2.7 million.

At a meeting of the Goochland Board of Supervisors in October 2009 county staff recommended that due to unforeseen circumstances, such as the discovery of rock at the site, that $3 million be set aside for the project.
 
The revised total was approved and $3 million was appropriated for the water line, as was a general fund loan to the Tuckahoe Creek Service District.

More rock has been encountered at the site, however, resulting in three change orders that add up to $266,000. And, Dickson told the board, additional rock was found last week, which could impact the project’s timeline and budget.

Henrico has been billing Goochland for exact costs throughout the project and the county will reconcile all final costs with Henrico when the project is finished.
 
Dickson said that county staff will report back to the board in December with any appropriation adjustments.

Fires in Goochland
Goochand’s Fire-Rescue reported on several high-profile fires that occurred in September, including a blaze at a Capital One building at West Creek.
Fire-Rescue Chief Bill MacKay reported that firefighters at the blaze were confronted by a fire that involved nine vehicles. Efforts to fight the fire were hampered, he said, by the fact that hydrants within the property were not functioning as designed.

County staff is working with Capital One to correct this issue.

The fire caused damages of more than $200,000 and was investigated by Hanover County under a mutual aid agreement.

HCA Hospital
HCA has submitted initial site development and building plans for review and permitting at its West Creek location at the Route 288 and Tuckahoe Creek Parkway interchange, said Dickson.

Phase 1 of the project will be an emergency department consisting of an 11,000 square-foot building that will eventually connect to two future phases, a medical office building and the primary hospital.

In order to finalize the permitting process, certain Virginia Department of Transportation, or VDOT, certain requirements must be met; Dickson said that the county doesn’t expect any issues or delays.

“We hope to have some dirt moving within the next 60 days at that site,” said Dickson.

She added that the county has been advised that the facility should be operational about one year after construction begins.

James River Association
The James River Association has proposed an informal joint meeting, to include Goochland and Powhatan, to discuss ways in which the river could better be used and promoted.

Supervisors unanimously voted to participate in the discussions.

During the citizens’ comment period, Mary Ann Cisne expressed her concerns about the river.

“In our neighborhood, there are 100-year-old trees right on the bank that had been pushed over into the river, littering the flood plain,” said Cisne, adding that she had contacted the county, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

“Nobody took any responsibility,” said Cisne. “Areas are eroding.”  She suggested that the county create a staff position to address issues related to protecting the river.