Public comment procedures for Board's May 6 public hearing

On Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 7 p.m., the Hanover County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Air Park Associates (Wegman’s project) request to amend proffers associated with the 1995 zoning of 217 acres near the intersection of Sliding Hill Road and New Ashcake Road. The Board has extended the allowable time for comment. The proponents and opponents will each have two hours for a total of four hours.
 
Hanover County is striving to conduct the public’s business, take the necessary precautions to protect residents participating in public meetings, and comply with Governor Northam’s guidelines prohibiting large gatherings and maintaining social distancing. Accordingly, Hanover County has greatly expanded the ways residents may participate. Residents may submit comments via recorded voice messages and emails. We are also allowing in-person speaking opportunities with specific precautions outlined below. The county strongly encourages those who wish to make their opinions known to provide their comments online or by phone.
 
To submit comments via voice message, please call 365-3333. Each caller has up to three minutes. The deadline to leave a voice mail message on this case is Monday, May 4, at 5 p.m.
 
To submit comments via email, please send to [email protected]. The number of words in the email should correspond to three minutes (about 400 words). The deadline for emails on this case is Monday, May 4, at 5 p.m.
 
All those wishing to speak in person are required to register here. The opponents and proponents will each have one hour for in person public comment followed by an hour each for emails and voice messages to be read into the record.  Each speaker will be allowed three minutes, therefore 20 opponents and 20 proponents (including the applicant) can register.
 
If you are not registered, you will not be permitted to speak at the public hearing, and you will not be allowed in the Administration Building. If you attempt to register but find the registration has closed, you will need to send a voice mail or an email to the Board in lieu of speaking.

To allow the public to view the public hearing on their mobile device while remaining outside, public Wi-Fi hotspots are available in front of the Administration Building and in the Administration Building parking lot. This Wi-Fi will be visible on your phone under Hanover Guests – you do not need a password to log in, but you will be asked to provide an email address.
 
At the conclusion of the public hearing, up to 10 non-staff individuals will be permitted to remain in the Board room. The applicants/proponents may have no more than five individuals in attendance, and opponents will have all remaining seats (no less than five) available to them. Hanover County staff will not be responsible for selecting or determining which individuals can remain but will be enforcing the 10-person rule.