Rockbridge County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

EDA renews CD at 4% APY, weighs own counsel; planning commission hears zoning cases

The Rockbridge County Economic Development Authority voted unanimously to renew its certificate of deposit with Cornerstone Bank for a 12-month term at 4% APY, and agreed to consider obtaining its own legal counsel. The board also adopted its July meeting minutes and financial summary report. No other decisions were made at other county meetings in the past two weeks, which were largely agenda-only.

Economic Development Authority

At its Aug. 17 meeting, the EDA took three unanimous actions: adopting the July 20, 2026 minutes, adopting the financial summary report, and renewing the certificate of deposit at 4% APY for 12 months. The rate is the highest offered among local institutions, according to the meeting summary. The board also agreed to consider obtaining its own counsel, with a draft request for information to be reviewed at the next meeting. A presentation by Kerrs Creek Supervisor Steve Hart highlighted regulatory barriers for small businesses, but no formal action was taken on that topic.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission met Aug. 12 for public hearings on four items, but no minutes have been published, so no decisions are recorded. The hearings covered a special exception permit for New Beginnings Church dba Castle Christian School to operate a private school in an A-2 agricultural district, and three zoning text amendments: updating the definition of "Agrivoltaics" (Sec. 30-12), modifying manufactured home regulations (Sec. 30-62), and modifying solar facility regulations (Sec. 30-72). The commission also continued its discussion on the manufactured homes amendment.

Other recent meetings

• **Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)** – Aug. 11 agenda included approving July minutes, an update on Alleghany County CERT, participation in the Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival on 9/12/26, catch-up training classes, and upcoming events: Rockbridge Community Festival 8/29/26, W&L Community Engagement Fair 9/9/26, and Rockbridge Regional Fair 9/10-12/2026. The meeting room changes to the Conference Room with buzzer entrance for September through November. No minutes published.
• **Local Board of Building Code Appeals** – Two meetings on Aug. 13. The first agenda included electing a Chair and Co-Chair, approving minutes from August 2025, and new business. The second was a notice-only meeting scheduled for 9:00 A.M. in the Board Meeting Room at the Administrative Office Building, 150 South Main Street, Lexington. No minutes published.
• **Community Development Committee** – Aug 17 meeting notice only, with no listed agenda items. No minutes published.

Coming up

The EDA Housing Subcommittee will meet Aug. 27 to review completed R-2 zoning outreach and training materials for realtors, bankers, and community partners, update the Housing Redevelopment Program, and review staff property evaluations and scoring. The meeting is a working session to finalize program components and prepare for implementation.

Self-Storage Facility Approved; Planning Commission Hears School, Solar Proposals

The Rockbridge County Tourism Corridor Overlay Board approved a 127-unit climate-controlled self-storage facility at its Aug. 5 meeting, the only substantive decision among recent county meetings. The board also reviewed revised plans for a Sheetz dumpster enclosure and a carwash. Separately, the Planning Commission held public hearings on four items, including a private school and zoning changes, but took no votes.

Tourism Corridor Overlay Board

The board approved a site plan for Renovating Rockbridge LLC to build a self-storage facility with 127 climate-controlled units. It also reviewed two revised plans: a Sheetz dumpster enclosure at 1139 N. Lee Highway, changed from brick to panel style, and a Wish Wash carwash on Route 11, reduced from 5,036 square feet to 3,915 square feet. Administrative approvals were granted for MP2 Contractors and Keydet General projects. Minutes have not yet been published.

Planning Commission

The commission held public hearings on Aug. 12 on four items:

• A special exception permit for New Beginnings Church dba Castle Christian School to operate a private school in an A-2 agricultural district.
• A zoning text amendment to update the definition of "Agrivoltaics" (Sec. 30-12).
• A zoning text amendment to modify manufactured home regulations (Sec. 30-62).
• A zoning text amendment to modify solar facility regulations (Sec. 30-72).

The commission also continued its discussion on the manufactured homes amendment. No decisions were recorded.

Other Recent Meetings

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) met Aug. 11 and discussed a meeting room change for September through November (to a Conference Room with buzzer entrance), an update on Alleghany County CERT, participation in the Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival on Sept. 12, and training catch-up. Upcoming events include the Rockbridge Community Festival on Aug. 29, W&L Community Engagement Fair on Sept. 9, and Rockbridge Regional Fair on Sept. 10-12.

The Local Board of Building Code Appeals met Aug. 13 and elected a Chair and Co-Chair, approved minutes from August 2025, and addressed new business. No specific appeals were listed.

Coming Up

The Economic Development Authority meets Aug. 17. The agenda includes discussion of a $52,581.03 certificate of deposit at Cornerstone Bank, a financial report showing total EDA funds of $155,578.33 (with $23,731 committed to an airport feasibility study), and a strategic plan progress report covering business retention, marketing, workforce, infrastructure, housing, and childcare. Priority projects include the airport study, a housing subcommittee pilot, and redevelopment of the former Natural Bridge High School. Building permit totals for June were $3,790,991 and for July $13,568,745.

The Community Development Committee also meets Aug. 17 at 12:15 P.M. in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room at the Rockbridge County Administrative Building. No agenda items were listed.

Rockbridge County meetings: broadband funding update, utility projects on agenda; minutes pending

Economic Development Authority — July 20

The Economic Development Authority met July 20 and, according to the agenda, adopted the June 15, 2026 meeting minutes and approved the financial summary report. Minutes from the July 20 meeting have not yet been published, so these outcomes are not yet confirmed by official records.

The board received a broadband update highlighting federal BEAD program awards to providers serving Rockbridge County. The awards listed on the agenda were:

• ZiTel: $3,864,036
• Amazon: $215,550
• SpaceX: $105,750
• Comcast: $4,885
• Additional awards: $4,190,221

The agenda also included a review of the Modine investment, described as roughly $600,000 in county investment over 7 years, generating about $20,000,000 in local salaries. The board discussed the strategic economic development plan and priority projects, including an airport feasibility study slated for completion by the end of summer.

Community Development Committee — July 20

The Community Development Committee was scheduled to meet July 20 at 12:15 P.M. in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room at the Rockbridge County Administrative Building, 150 South Main Street, Lexington, VA 24450. No agenda items were listed beyond the meeting notice, and minutes have not yet been published.

Public Service Authority — July 21

The Rockbridge County Public Service Authority board was set to review June 9 meeting minutes, July bills, monthly financial reports, and the director's report. Unfinished business items on the agenda included the Long Hollow System Upgrades and the Natural Bridge Project. New business listed an employee retention bonus and a hydrant permit rate resolution for consideration. Minutes have not yet been published, so no outcomes are confirmed.

EDA Housing Subcommittee — July 22

The EDA Housing Subcommittee was scheduled to discuss a distribution strategy for an R-2 zoning pamphlet, review revisions to an evaluation scoring matrix for candidates, and hold a scoring evaluation workshop. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

Tourism Corridor Overlay Board — August 5: The board will review revised site plans for a Sheetz convenience store dumpster enclosure at 1139 N. Lee Highway, changing from brick to panel style, and a revised plan for the Wish Wash Route 11 carwash, reducing its size from 5,036 square feet to 3,915 square feet. The agenda also lists a self-storage site plan from Renovating Rockbridge LLC with 127 climate-controlled units, and administrative approvals for MP2 Contractors and Keydet General projects.

Note: All four recent meetings listed above are classified as "agenda only" — minutes have not yet been published. The items described reflect what was on each agenda, not confirmed outcomes. Readers should consult the official minutes once published for verified decisions and vote tallies.

Rockbridge County Meeting Roundup: Broadband Awards, Solar Appeal, and Zoning Changes on the Docket

Recent Rockbridge County meetings covered zoning permits, emergency response planning, and a solar appeal, but minutes have not yet been published for any of the three sessions held in the past two weeks. Several consequential items — including multi-million-dollar broadband funding and an employee retention bonus — are on upcoming agendas this week.

Planning Commission — July 8

The Planning Commission scheduled a public hearing on a special exception permit for Boundary Line Lane LLC to develop a contractor equipment storage yard and shop/office in the General Business (B-1) zoning district. The commission also planned to consider a zoning text amendment updating membership requirements for the Agricultural and Forestal Districts Advisory Committee under Chapter 30, Article VI, Sec. 30-47(F).

Additional discussion items on the agenda included updates to the agrivoltaics definition per Virginia House Bill 508, revisions to the Manufactured Home Ordinance per Virginia House Bill 655, and changes to chicken-keeping rules in residential zoning districts under Sec. 30-29.

Minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes for these items are not yet available.

Community Emergency Response Team — July 14

The Rockbridge CERT agenda included approval of previous minutes and review of after-action reports for Rockbridge Outdoors, CPR, and Freedom Food Festival events.

The team planned staffing and education discussions for several upcoming community events: Rockbridge Community Festival on August 29, 2026; W&L Community Engagement Fair on September 9, 2026; and Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival on September 12, 2026, alongside the Rockbridge Regional Fair scheduled September 10–12, 2026.

Updates on CERT, EOC, and Stop the Bleed training were also listed. Minutes are not yet published.

Board of Zoning Appeals — July 15

The BZA agenda included election of Jason Tyree as Secretary, replacing the Zoning Administrator. The board was scheduled to hear an appeal of the May 1, 2026, Zoning Determination for USS Hilltop Solar LLC.

The agenda also listed review of minutes from February 18, 2026, approval of an updated Electronic Meeting Policy for 2026, and a site visit of Warm Run Solar, LLC on February 18, 2026. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming Up

Community Development Committee — July 20, 12:15 P.M.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, Rockbridge County Administrative Building, 150 South Main Street, Lexington, VA 24450.

Economic Development Authority — July 20

The agenda includes adoption of June 15, 2026 meeting minutes and approval of a financial summary report. A broadband update highlights BEAD awards totaling over $5 million to providers including Amazon ($215,550), Comcast ($4,885), SpaceX ($105,750), ZiTel ($3,864,036), and an additional $4,190,221. The agenda also references a Modine county investment of roughly $600,000 over 7 years, generating about $20,000,000 in local salaries, and an airport feasibility study slated for completion by end of summer.

Public Service Authority — July 21

The board will review June 9 meeting minutes, July bills, monthly financial reports, and the director's report. Unfinished business includes Long Hollow System Upgrades and the Natural Bridge Project. New business items include consideration of an employee retention bonus and a hydrant permit rate resolution.

EDA Housing Subcommittee — July 22

The subcommittee will discuss a distribution strategy for an R-2 zoning pamphlet, review revisions to an evaluation scoring matrix, and conduct a scoring evaluation workshop for candidates.