DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Executive Summary
As the Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 1995, a comprehensive update of the Plan was undertaken. This involved the development of a new Plan for the Town – including new information and new maps. Notable components of this new Plan include the following:
Developing a New Plan: The introduction to the Plan included information on the process for developing a new Plan. Page 3
Methods for Identifying Issues: This is the first time the Town utilized Online Surveys to assist in gathering citizen input. Citizens were supplied written surveys, as well as links to online surveys to gather input. In addition, a community meeting was held in the beginning of the process as an additional method to identify issues. Page 4
Education - Accreditation Status: The Virginia Board of Education has revised its accreditation standards to provide a more comprehensive view of school quality. The School Accreditation ratings included in the Plan reflect this new approach to accountability. Page 13
Commutation Patterns: Data for this Plan was provided by the U.S. Census American Community Survey and the Virginia Employment Commission. In the case of both sources, data was only available for Charlotte County (not the Town). Previously, commutation patterns focused on how far residents drove to work. New commutation data includes top destinations for out-commuters and top localities from which workers commute into the County. Page 20
Employment: Employment data was gathered based on early 2019 figures, and includes the following: growth occupations (South Central Workforce Investment Area, which includes Charlotte County), unemployment (Charlotte County), and employment by industry (Charlotte County). Page 22
Transportation: The Code of Virginia requires that prior to the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan the locality submit the transportation section to VDOT for review and comment. VDOT reviewed the transportation section and provided comment prior to finalizing the Plan. Page 29
Community Facilities and Services: This section included information on facilities in and around Keysville (schools, industrial parks, etc.) plus updates such as new facilities that have moved into the Town (new businesses). Also, new language regarding Telecommunications & Broadband services was added, as this section was rewritten to accommodate changing technology. Mapping was also provided to display telecommunications service in and around Keysville. Page 56
Land Use: Mapping was added to display current land use in the Town. A general future land use map for the Town was also added. In addition, topo and aerial maps were added to help users understand the layout of the area. Page 74
Goals, Objectives, and Strategies: New goals, objectives, and strategies were developed to reflect issues/concerns identified from surveys and the community meeting. Additionally, a new Implementation Plan was added to aid the Town in implementing the Plan. Page 84
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
I. Introduction
A. Purpose and Legal Basis for a Comprehensive Plan
The challenges that face every community are those of planning for the future and managing the process of change. While the physical manifestations of change vary from time to time and place to place, perhaps the most reliable constant in life is that change – whether we like it or not – is a part of life and things will not remain as they are. Accordingly, the Code of Virginia mandates that jurisdictions prepare and regularly revise a Comprehensive Plan to guide the physical development of their communities.
The Code of Virginia, Section 15.2-2223, requires that local governments develop, review, and update their Comprehensive Plan. A Comprehensive Plan is a document used for community assessment, identifying current concerns, forecasting future needs, developing policies, and implementing problem solving strategies. A Comprehensive Plan is developed by the Planning Commission and adopted by the governing body. Furthermore, Section 15.2-2223 of the Code requires localities to review and update their Comprehensive Plans every five (5) years at a minimum.
Title 15.2-2223 Comprehensive Plan to be prepared and adopted; scope and purpose. The local planning commission shall prepare and recommend a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the territory within its jurisdiction and every governing body shall adopt a comprehensive plan for the territory under its jurisdiction.
In the preparation of a comprehensive plan the commission shall make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of the existing conditions and trends of growth, and of the probable future requirements of its territory and inhabitants. The comprehensive plan shall be made with the purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the territory which will, in accordance with present and probable future needs and resources, best promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants.
Section 15.2-2223 further states that the Comprehensive Plan shall be general in nature in that it shall:
• Designate the general or approximate location, character, and extent of features shown on the plan, including where existing lands or facilities are proposed to be extended, removed or changed;
• Show the long-range recommendations for the general development of the territory and may include such items as the designation of areas for different kinds of public and private land use, a system of transportation facilities, a system of community service facilities, historical areas, and areas for the implementation of groundwater protection measures.
In Virginia, the local Comprehensive Plan is a guide for the governing body to follow in making both long- range and day-to-day decisions regarding all aspects of community development. The governing body can exercise discretion in how strictly it interprets and follows the plan. However, the Code provides that the construction, extension or change in use of streets or other public facilities be subject to review and Page | 2
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025 approval by the Planning Commission as to whether the general location, character and extent of the proposed facility is in substantial accord with the adopted Comprehensive Plan. The Plan, therefore, has great control over the construction of public facilities and utilities, as well as private land uses.
A Comprehensive Plan is an important document to a local government as it serves as a tool for community preservation and development. This Plan reflects the interests of public and private stakeholders with the assurance that the community’s needs are identified and met accordingly. As a community’s character evolves, the Comprehensive Plan adapts through the compilation of corresponding citizen input and assessments accompanied with other data sources.
B. Developing a New Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Keysville
The Town’s existing Comprehensive Plan was last amended in January 1995 and is in need of a comprehensive update to bring the Plan up to-date. In July 2018, the Town contracted with the Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC) for assistance in updating the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The process for updating the Plan took 18 months. This included regular meetings between CRC staff and the Keysville Planning Commission, to review data and materials and develop/update goals, objectives and strategies. Once completed, the Plan was presented to the public for review and comment and then to the Keysville Town Council for adoption.
This Comprehensive Planning Process addressed the major concerns of the Town by identifying the fundamental, long-term goals for community development for the next five to 20 years. Furthermore, the Plan serves as a guide for setting policies for public facilities, utilities, and land use which the Town will need to implement in order to achieve those goals.
C. Process for Plan Development and Adoption
The CRC assisted the Town of Keysville Planning Commission in updating the Plan, gathering public comment, and presenting the Plan to Town Council for adoption. The Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan includes seven (7) phases. The phases are as follows:
• Phases I and II: Collecting/updating/analyzing data, including: o Population o Education o Income o Commutation Patterns o Employment/Unemployment o Economic Activity o Housing o Transportation o Community Facilities/Services o Historical Sites o Natural Resources
• Phase III: Evaluating current land use and updating the Town’s Future Land Use Map.
• Phase IV: Identifying/updating issues, and setting goals and prescribing actions. Page | 3
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
• Phase V: Executive Summary.
• Phase VI: Public Hearing and recommendation for adoption by the Planning Commission.
• Phase VII: Public Hearing and adoption by Town Council.
D. Overview of Methods for Identifying Issues
A range of issues, now and in the future facing the Town of Keysville, has been identified. Review and analysis of these issues by the public, the Planning Commission and Town Council provided the basis for establishing the planning goals and policies for this Comprehensive Plan. For a more detailed review of all the input received from the issue identification methods, please refer to the Appendix materials.
The major issues outlined in this Plan were identified through four methods:
1. Community Meeting: CRC staff held a community meeting on November 15, 2018 at the Keysville Fire Department. The Southside Messenger and The Charlotte Gazette ran stories about the meeting, and a flyer was developed for Town staff to distribute to local businesses. A total of seven (7) people attended this meeting. The input received from attendees proved useful in developing the survey instrument and updating the Plan.
2. Citizen Opinion Survey: CRC staff assisted the Planning Commission with the development and distribution of the survey instrument. Surveys were distributed via U.S. Mail to every Town resident, and an online survey instrument was made available on the Town’s web site and Facebook page. Surveys were distributed on February 22, with a deadline of March 22 to submit completed surveys. The Southside Messenger and The Charlotte Gazette ran stories about the surveys. A total of 69 surveys were completed and returned. This response rate is considered exceptional considering the size of the community.
3. Research and Analysis of Available Data: CRC staff collected and analyzed data on a range of aspects on the Town. These elements included land use patterns, environmental features, transportation conditions, population growth trends and capital facility needs. Much of the information is contained in this Plan and has helped to further enhance the understanding of many of the issues identified by local citizens and by other efforts as outlined in this section.
4. Meetings with the Planning Commission: CRC staff held 10 meetings with the Keysville Planning Commission between July 2018 and January 2020. During these meetings, the Planning Commission reviewed citizen input along with technical information and contributed its own analysis of the issues presented.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
II. Community Profile
A. Regional Setting and History The Town of Keysville is a historic town located in Charlotte County, Virginia. The Town gets its name from John Key, one of the area’s original settlers. He operated a tavern that stood at the site of the old Keysville Hotel, and was appointed the “village postmaster” in 1816. By 1826, the area surrounding the tavern was officially recognized as Keysville. The area was divided into individual lots in 1882, and the Town was incorporated in 1887.
The tavern was a relay station for stage coaches. It is said that this route, which extends beyond Charlotte County to Worsham (in Prince Edward County), was opened by Colonel Tarleton of the British Army. The route became the main source of access for the Town and was identified as “King’s Road” or “King’s Highway” – from which the Town’s King Street originates. Additionally, the train passed within approximately one city block of the Keysville Hotel. The railroad came to Town in 1852, the same year the Hotel opened. By 1860, the railroad extended through Town to Oxford and Durham, North Carolina. The trains brought tourists into Keysville, with 12 passenger trains coming through each day, allowing local commerce to flourish during the early 20th Century. Passenger service to Keysville was discontinued in 1956. The railroad still passes through Keysville, hauling freight through the region.
Today, the Town of Keysville is still a center of commerce in Charlotte County. Keysville is located 20 miles south of Farmville, which is the regional hub for the larger region. Keysville is located approximately 65 miles from Richmond, 45 miles from Lynchburg, and 85 miles from Raleigh, North Carolina. This accessibility to urban cities makes Keysville an ideal community for small town economic development and revitalization. See Maps 1 through 3. Keysville has a number of fine shops, a large grocery store, restaurants, a fast-food chain, a playground, and other amenities.
Map 1 – Location of Keysville in Virginia
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Map 2 – Charlotte County and the Town of Keysville
Map 3 – Town of Keysville
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
B. Population
Introduction The population section of the Keysville Comprehensive Plan includes an analysis of the population characteristics of the Town. Population analysis often concentrates on increases or decreases in population. Important factors include changes in characteristics (age, sex and race), rate of growth and the distribution, which can affect planning for a community. Population trends affect land use, housing, community facilities and other aspects of community development.
Past Population Trends
For the past 60 years, Keysville has shown stability in the areas of commerce and residential retention. The population remained steady between 1960 and 2017, with the exception of a small but noticeable dip in 1980 and 1990 countered by a slight increase in 2000 and 2010. The U.S. Census Annual Estimate of Residential Population estimated the population for Keysville to be 798 in 2017 – a 4.1% decrease from the 2010 U.S. Census (see Figure 1). Keysville is positioned to remain a center of commerce within Charlotte County. For Charlotte County, the population has fluctuated roughly between 11,000 and 13,000 since 1960. For 2017, the County has an estimated population of 12,119 – a drop of 3.7% since the 2010 Census (see Figure 2).
For Figures 1 and 2, the population numbers for 1960 through 2010 are based on U.S. Census historical data for each decennial census. The population estimates for 2017 are derived from the U.S. Census Annual Estimate of Residential Population – which is produced on July 1 of years after the last published decennial census. This estimate uses data series such as births, deaths, Federal tax returns, Medicare enrollment, and immigration, are used to update the decennial census base counts.
Figure 1 - Town of Keysville Population, 1960 through 2017
1000
800
600
400
200
0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2017 Population 733 818 704 606 817 832 798
Source: U.S. Census 1960-2010, U.S. Census 2017 Annual Estimate of Resident Population
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 2 – Charlotte County Population, 1960 through 2017
13,500
13,000
12,500
12,000
11,500
11,000
10,500 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2017 Population 13,368 11,551 12,266 11,688 12,472 12,586 12,119
Source: U.S. Census 1960-2010, U.S. Census 2017 Annual Estimate of Resident Population
Population Density Population density is an often reported and commonly compared statistic for localities. Population density is the measure of the number of persons per unit area. It is commonly represented as people per square mile (or square kilometer). Based on the 2017 U.S. Census Annual Estimate of Residential Population estimate of 798 and a land area of 1.2 square miles, Keysville’s population density is 665 persons per square mile. For Charlotte County, based on the 2017 U.S. Census Annual Estimate of Residential Population estimate of 12,119 and a total land area of 475 square miles, the population density is 25.5 persons per square mile.
Population Change Factors There are a handful of factors that affect population change. There are three ways in which a locality can experience population increase. The first is through having more births than deaths in a given period of time (See Figure 3). Birth rates are affected by such factors as nutrition, fertility, attitudes about abortion, social value, and the availability of contraception and culture. Death rates are affected by disease, medical technology, improved health care, transportation development and nutrition. The second is when more people move into a locality verses more people leaving a locality.
Pull factors for people moving into a locality are characteristics that attract people to the locality. Push factors for people leaving a locality are those characteristics of a place that cause people to leave. Finally, the most common way is a combination of both factors. For 2017, there were 118 births and 176 deaths in Charlotte County. For select years going back to 1995, using every five (5) years as a benchmark, deaths outpaced births with the exception of 2000 (in which births outpaced deaths by four). Given these trends, it can be predicted that the County will have a modest decrease in resident population in future years. For this factor, data is only available for Charlotte County.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 3 – Birth and Death Rates, Charlotte County
200
150
100
50
0 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2017 Births 125 158 138 112 145 118 Deaths 181 154 154 140 154 176
Source: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Health Statistics, 1995-2017 NOTE: This data is not available for the Town of Keysville
Migration patterns are provided by the U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS). It is sent to a small percentage of our population on a rotating basis. The ACS collects detailed information on the characteristics of our population and housing. Since the ACS is conducted every year, rather than once every ten years, it provides more current estimates throughout the decade. The migration statistics in Figure 4 are for the Town.
Figure 4 – Migration: Residence One Year Prior to Census, Town of Keysville
8.00% 3.40% 0% Moved from within county
Moved from different county (same state) Moved from different county (different state) Did not move
88.60%
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
Population Estimates Population estimates used in this Plan were developed by the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center (see Figure 5). Population estimates look to the present or the recent past. They are usually much more accurate than projections because they can make use of current indicators – data series like births and
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025 deaths, licensed drivers, and school enrollment that are direct measurements, usually derived from governmental agency records. These estimates are used in funding formulae based on per capita allocations, in planning, in budgeting, in applications for grants, in approving and setting salaries for certain public officials, and in all manner of state agencies from VDOT to the Virginia Department of Education. The locality estimates are for the mid-year, July 1, population and are released on the last Monday of the following January. For example, July 1, 2011 estimates were released on January 30, 2012. The seven- month period between the estimate date and release date is the time required to collect and clean input data from multiple state agencies, to produce the estimates, and to prepare for the release on the website and to the public.
It should be noted that the Weldon Cooper Center population estimate for the Town in 2017 is in line with the U.S. Census Annual Estimate of Residential Population estimate for the same year. It should also be noted that, according to the estimates, the Town is experiencing a slow by steady decline in population.
Figure 5 - Town of Keysville Population Estimates
840 830 820 810 800 790 780 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Cens Population 832 825 818 810 803 803 800 798
Source: University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center
Population Projections Population projections look to the future. They aim to produce a quantity that represents the size of a population ten, twenty, thirty years from now. As a result, projection quantities like births, deaths and net migration are an integral part of doing a projection. Additionally, most population projections are based on past trends combined with knowledge of prospective activities that may modify those trends. Projections based on past trends tend to be less accurate for areas with smaller numbers of people than for those with larger numbers. Unexpected events can drastically alter a small area’s population, while only insignificantly affecting a larger area’s population. The projection of population is essential for determining the land needs for future residential, commercial, industrial and public uses. Also, population projections can provide an indication of needs for community services, such as schools, parks and police protection to serve the future population. Figure 6 provides population projections for Charlotte County Projections are not available for the Town. As you can see, the County’s population is projected to decline steadily over the next 25 to 30 years.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 6 – Charlotte County Population Projections
12,000 11,800 11,600 11,400 11,200 11,000 10,800 10,600 10,400 2020 2030 2040 Population 11,929 11,527 10,993
Source: University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center – 2019 Population Projections NOTE: This data is not available for the Town of Keysville
Age and Sex Characteristics By analyzing the population’s gender and age characteristics, it is possible to evaluate a locality’s needs for community facilities, commercial services and housing. The data in Figures 7 and 8 is based on the 2013- 2017 U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates. The ACS replaced the decennial census long form in 2010, and collects information throughout the decade rather than only once every 10 years. The ACS produces population, demographic, social, housing and economic data in 1-year, 3-year or 5-year estimates based on a locality’s population. While the ACS produces regular estimates, census population estimates (like the ones in Figures 1 and 2) produce official population estimates for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns as well as estimates of housing units for states and counties. Additionally, since ACS data is based on a sample as opposed to all people, it has a degree of uncertainty (also known as a sampling error). As can be seen by these figures, males slightly outnumber females in the Town. Another pattern suggested by the numbers is a higher percentage of younger people, suggesting that people move out of Town as they get older.
Figure 7 – Population by Gender, Town of Keysville
Male 49.3% 50.7%
Female
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 8 – Population by Age, Town of Keysville
6.1% 9.5% 0 to 5 5 to 19 7.8%
20 to 29 30 to 39 10.9% 25.3% 40 to 49 50 to 59 10.6% 60 to 69 70 to 79
9.8% 11.8% 8.2% 80 and higher
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
Racial Characteristics Figure 9 shows the racial characteristics for the Town of Keysville, based on data from the 2013-2017 U.S. Census ACS Estimates.
Figure 9 – Population by Race, Town of Keysville
0.6%
36.9%
White alone
Black/African Am.
62.5% Two or more races
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
C. Education
Multiple schools have served the Town through the years. The first was a one-room school house about one (1) mile from Keysville on Charlotte Court House Road (now Route 40, Church Street/George Washington Highway) that operated from 1870 until 1880. After that was the Shotwell Institute, which was located about 150 yards from the intersection of Osborne and I Streets. The Virginia Home School for Young Ladies opened in 1898 at Merry Oaks Plantation.
The first white public school was opened in 1898 and replaced the Shotwell Institute, which the student body had outgrown. The Keysville Mission Industrial School, later renamed The Bluestone-Harmony Academic and Industrial School, opened in 1898 for black students and was less than two (2) miles from Keysville on Charlotte Court House Road. For about 50 years, it had the largest enrollment of any black boarding school in the east and sent a large number of graduates on to college. By 1907, Keysville High School existed with five teachers. The Keysville School was built in 1912.
There are currently no schools within the Town Limits. Today, Keysville is served by Charlotte County Public Schools. Children in Keysville attend Eureka Elementary School, located less than four (4) miles due west of Keysville; Central Middle School, located in Charlotte Court House – a little more than eight (8) miles west of Keysville; and Randolph-Henry High School, also located in Charlotte Court House. In addition, there are a few K-12 private schools in close proximity to Keysville and Charlotte County. They include Fuqua School in Farmville, Kenston Forest School in Blackstone, and Halifax Christian School near South Boston.
Educational Attainment for Town residents is shown in figures 10 and 11. These numbers are based on data from the 2013-2017 U.S. Census ACS Estimates.
Figure 10 – Educational Attainment, Town of Keysville: Ages 18 to 24
4.6% 2.8%
Less than High School
44.5% HS Graduate of Equivalent
48.1% Some College or Associates Degree
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 11 – Educational Attainment, Town of Keysville, Ages 25 and Older
3.8% Less than 9th Grade 6.4% 10.2% 9th to 12th Grade, no diploma 11.9% 12.9% High School Graduate or Equivalent
Some College, no degree
19.8% Associate's Degree 35.0% Bachelor's Degree
Graduate/Professional Degree
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
The Virginia Board of Education has revised its accreditation standards to provide a more comprehensive view of school quality. School Accreditation ratings for the 2017-2018 school year were the first to reflect this new approach to accountability. The revised accreditation standards measure performance on multiple school-quality indicators, not just on overall student achievement on state tests. Elementary and middle schools are evaluated on the following indicators:
• Overall proficiency and growth in English reading/writing achievement (including progress of English learners toward English-language proficiency)
• Overall proficiency and growth in mathematics
• Overall proficiency in science
• English achievement gaps among student groups
• Mathematics achievement gaps among student groups
• Absenteeism
High Schools are evaluated on the following school-quality indicators:
• Overall proficiency in English reading/writing and progress of English learners toward English-language proficiency.
• Overall proficiency in mathematics Page | 14
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
• Overall proficiency in science
• English achievement gaps among student groups
• Mathematics achievement gaps among student groups
• Graduation and completion
• Dropout rate
• Absenteeism
• College, career and civic readiness (effective 2021-2022)
Performance on each school-quality indicator is rate at one of three levels: Level 1 – meets or exceeds standard or sufficient improvement; Level 2 – near standard or making sufficient improvement; Level 3 – below standard.
Under the new system, schools earn one of the following accreditation ratings:
• Accredited – Schools with all school-quality indicators at either Level 1 or 2.
• Accredited with Conditions – Schools with one or more school quality indicators at Level 3.
• Accreditation Denied – Schools that fail to adopt or fully implement required corrective actions to address Level 3 school quality indicators. A school rated as Accreditation Denied may regain state accreditation by demonstrating to the Board of Education that it is fully implementing all required corrective action plans.
The revised Standards of Accreditation prescribes that all schools and divisions, after conducting a comprehensive needs assessment, develop a multiyear plan that will be reviewed annually. The plan should include actions for all performance levels to support continuous improvement for all schools on each school-quality indicator.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 12 – Charlotte County Public Schools Accreditation Status, 2018-2019 School Grad AA AG AA AG AA & English English Math Math Science Chronic Compl Dropout Overall Absent. Index Rate Status
Phenix L1 L1 L1 L1 L1 L1 NA NA Accredited Elementary Eureka L1 L2 L1 L2 L1 L1 NA NA Accredited Elementary Bacon L1 L2 L1 L2 L1 L2 NA NA Accredited Elementary
Central L1 L2 L1 L1 L1 L2 NA NA Accredited Middle
Randolph Henry High L1 L1 L1 L2 L1 L2 L1 L1 Accredited School
Source: Virginia Department of Education, 2017-2018 School Year
Level 1 – meets or exceeds standard or sufficient improvement
Level 2 – near standard or making sufficient improvement
Level 3 – below standard
AA – Academic Achievement
AG – Achievement Gap
Chronic Absent. – Chronic Absenteeism
Grad & Compl Index – Graduation and Completion Index
College, Career, and Civic Readiness Index (Not included as it is not effective until 2021-2022)
D. Income
Introduction The income section of the Keysville Comprehensive Plan includes an analysis of the income characteristics of the Town. Income analysis often concentrates on increases or decreases in the income levels of area residents. The following section on income attempts to review the most current information available to analyze differences between the Town, Charlotte County, State, and Nation as a whole.
Per Capita Income The per capita personal income of local residents is an indicator of the living standard of a locality’s citizens and the strength of its economy. The per capita personal income is the average annual income of each person residing in the locality. Income includes such sources as wages, dividends, pensions, social security
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025 benefits and public assistance. As seen in Figure 13, Per capita income for both the Town and County are well below the State and Nation. This data is from the 2013-2017 U.S. Census ACS Estimates.
Figure 13 – 2017 Per Capita Income: Town of Keysville, Charlotte County, Virginia, and the United States
$40,000 $36,268 Keysville $31,177 $30,000 Charlotte $19,830 County $20,000 $16,448 Virginia
$10,000 United States $0
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
Poverty/Low-to-Moderate income Poverty information is shown in Figures 14 and 15. The numbers are based on the 2013-2017 U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates. As can be seen from those numbers, poverty rates in Keysville and Charlotte County are higher than the State and Nation. Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) information is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD). Individuals or households whose household income is equal to or less than the Section 8 lower income limited established by HUD are determined to be LMI. The most recent data available from HUD is based on 2011-2015 ACS five-year estimates, and is only available for Charlotte County. Based on that data, just less than half (49.6 percent) of Charlotte County’s residents are classified as LMI.
Figure 14 – Poverty Statistics, Individuals (percent of population below poverty level)
25.0 22.7% 20.4% Keysville 20.0
14.6% Charlotte County 15.0
11.2% Virginia 10.0
United States 5.0
0.0
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 15 – Poverty Statistics, Families (percent of population below poverty level)
14.0 13.0% 12.4%
12.0 10.5% Keysville
10.0 7.8% Charlotte County 8.0
6.0 Virginia
4.0 United States 2.0
0.0
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
Median Family Income/Median Household Income A family household is defined as any two or more persons related by birth, marriage, or adoption and living together. For Keysville, the estimated median family income per the 2013-2017 ACS was $36,141 (see Figure 16). This was lower than the statewide estimated median family income of $83,164 for the same time. A household includes all persons who occupy a housing unit. For Keysville households, the estimated median household income per the 2013-2017 ACS was $28,802 (see Figure 17). This was lower than the statewide estimated median household income of $68,766 for the same time.
Figure 16 – Median Family Income
$90,000 $83,164
$80,000 $70,850 $70,000 Keysville
$60,000 $48,104 Charlotte County $50,000
$40,000 $36,141 Virginia $30,000
$20,000 United States
$10,000
$0
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 17 – Median Household Income $68,766 $70,000
$57,652 $60,000 Keysville $50,000
$38,350 Charlotte County $40,000
$28,802 $30,000 Virginia
$20,000 United States $10,000
$0
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates
Wages Figure 18 shows the average weekly wage by industry for workers in Charlotte County during the third quarter of 2018. These figures, derived by the Virginia Employment Commission – Labor Market Information, are from reports by local establishments on both their total monthly employment and their total quarterly gross wages. This is required for unemployment insurance taxes. The average weekly wage is found by dividing quarterly gross wages for the industry by the average employment for the quarter for the industry and then dividing by thirteen weeks.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 18 – Average Weekly Wage by Industry, Charlotte County Third Quarter (July-September), 2018
Source: Virginia Employment Commission NOTE: This data is not available for the Town of Keysville
E. Commutation Patterns
Commuting patterns measure the daily travel between places of residence and places of work. According to the Virginia Employment Commission’s Community Profile for Charlotte County, last updated in February 2019, Charlotte County is relatively an out-commuting locality. The data shows that there are 3,744 out-commuters, compared with 1,624 in-commuters. According to the 2013-2017 ACS five-year
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025 estimates, the average commute to work for a worker in Charlotte County was 31.4 minutes. The breakdown is as follows:
Figure 19 – Travel Times to Work, Charlotte County Workers Ages 16 and Older
10.3% 9.9% Less than 10 minutes
13.6% 10-19 minutes 20.7% 20 to 29 minutes 30 to 44 minutes 45 to 59 minutes 30.5% 15.0% 60 or more minutes
Source: American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates NOTE: This data is not available for the Town of Keysville
The top 10 destinations for out-commuters include many of the surrounding counties (Prince Edward, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Lunenburg) and the City of Lynchburg. The top 10 localities from which workers commute to Charlotte County include many of the surrounding counties. See Figures 20 and 21.
Figure 20 – Top 10 places workers in Charlotte County are commuting to
Lunenburg Co.
Henrico Co.
Nottoway Co.
Richmond
Campbell Co.
Chesterfield Co.
Halifax Co.
Lynchburg
Mecklenburg Co.
Prince Edward Co.
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450
Source: Virginia Employment Commission NOTE: This data is not available for the Town of Keysville
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 21 – Top 10 places workers are commuting from to work in Charlotte County
Henrico Co.
Chesterfield Co.
Campbell Co.
Nottoway Co.
Appomattox Co.
Buckingham Co.
Halifax Co.
Mecklenburg Co.
Lunenburg Co.
Prince Edward Co.
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Source: Virginia Employment Commission NOTE: This data is not available for the Town of Keysville
F. Employment/Unemployment
Occupations The Virginia Employment Commission, in its Community Profile for Charlotte County (last updated in February 2019), identified 20 occupations that are poised for growth and 20 that are expected to decline for the South Central Workforce Investment Area (Region 8 – which covers Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward Counties). Those occupations are identified in Figures 22 and 23.
Growth occupations include the health/medical services field (nurse practitioners, home health aides, nursing assistance, dental assistants, etc.) and mental health fields (mental health counselors and clinical, counseling, and school psychologists).
Declining industries include production jobs, postal service workers, cooks and fast food workers, and administrative jobs.
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Figure 22 – Growth Occupations, South Central Workforce Investment Area
Figure 23 – Declining Occupations, South Central Workforce Investment Area
Source: Virginia Employment Commission NOTE: *** denotes non-disclosable data NOTE: This data is not available for the Town of Keysville Page | 23
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Unemployment The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) was the source for the unemployment statistics in this Comprehensive Plan (see Figures 24 and 25). The monthly unemployment figures are for Charlotte County, and run from January 2018 through January 2019. Annual unemployment figures are for Charlotte County, and run from 2007 to 2017.
While counties like Prince Edward and Buckingham were moderately insulated from the effects of the Great Recession – losing no more than five (5) percent of jobs from a 2006 baseline through 2014. Although Charlotte County experienced more significant job losses of close to eight (8) percent; however, its employment rebounded from 2011 to 2016. All three counties (Buckingham, Charlotte, Prince Edward) have regained all lost jobs since the recession. Poverty and unemployment trends for the region demonstrate key differences among various counties. From 2000 to 2016, counties such as Charlotte and Lunenburg experienced high percentages of residents living below the poverty level compared to Virginia and the United States.
Figure 24 – Monthly Unemployment Rates, Charlotte County
5.0 Jan-18 Feb-18 4.5 Mar-18 Jun-18 Jul-18Aug-18 Jan-19 4.0 Oct-18 Nov-18 Apr-18May-18 Sep-18 3.5 Dec-18 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Unemployment Rate (percent)
Source: Virginia Employment Commission
Figure 25 – Annual Unemployment Rates, Charlotte County
12.0
2010 2011 10.0 2009 2012 2013 8.0 2014 2008 2015 6.0 2007 2016 2017
4.0
2.0
0.0 Unemployment Rate (percent)
Source: Virginia Employment Commission NOTE: Data for Tables 24 and 25 are not available for the Town of Keysville Page | 24
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
G. Economic Activity
Local Industry According to data from the Virginia Employment Commission (Community Profile for Charlotte County, last updated in February 2019), the top employment sectors in the County are government and manufacturing. Other prominent job sectors are health care and social assistance, retail, and transportation/warehousing. See Figure 26.
Figure 26 – Employment by Industry, Charlotte County
Source: Virginia Employment Commission NOTE: This data is not available for the Town of Keysville Page | 25
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Major Employers Charlotte County’s top 30 employers as of the Third Quarter of 2018 are shown in Figure 27.
Figure 27 – Top 30 Employers, Charlotte County Employer Type Size Charlotte County School Board Local Government 250-499 County of Charlotte Local Government 100-249 Southside Virginia Community College State Government 100-249 Genesis Products Inc. * Private 50-99 Cardinal Homes Private 50-99 W & L Mail Service, Inc. Private 50-99 Morgan Lumber Company Inc. Private 50-99 Food Lion * Private 50-99 U.P.S. Private 50-99 Snowshoe LTC Group Private 50-99 Siteline Cabinetry Private 20-49 Ontario Hardwood Company Private 20-49 Tucker Timber Products * Private 20-49 Browns Forest Products Private 20-49 Bridgeway of the Treasury Private 20-49 Care Advantage Private 20-49 Central Virginia Health Service Inc. Private 20-49 Crossroads Services Board Private 20-49 Dolgencorp LLC Private 20-49 Curtis Tharpe Trucking Private 20-49 U.S. Postal Service Federal Government 20-49 Sheldon’s Motel and Restaurant Private 20-49 Bank of Charlotte County Private 20-49 VDOT State Government 20-49 BB&D Products LLC Private 20-49 Red Oak Excavating Private 20-49 Burger King * Private 20-49 Spaulding Equipment South Private 20-49 Stanley Land and Lumber Corporation Private 20-49 Tri County Ford Mercury Inc. Private 20-49 Source: Virginia Employment Commission * Located in the Town of Keysville
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
III. Inventory and Analysis: Community Resources
A. Housing
Introduction Attractive, safe, and affordable housing is a basic requirement of any community. Good quality housing aids in higher land valuation and better living conditions for the population. When proper housing is available, it is an excellent enticement for facilitating the relocation of new industry/ residents to the area. New industry can bring new workers into the community. Incoming personnel are more easily enticed by sufficient and appealing housing. This creates a more prosperous and desirable community in which to live, work and grow.
This section will examine housing in the Town of Keysville by type, quality, vacancy rate and household characteristics, such as household size and race. Furthermore, general trends and concerns relating to future housing needs will be discussed. Although the provision of housing is largely the responsibility of the private sector, which includes builders, developers, realtors, bankers and others, there has always been a close interdependence between the public and private sectors which is essential in meeting the needs of a community. This Plan will provide the basis for analysis of the current status of housing in the area as well as a broad base to aid in future growth decisions.
Housing Units According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a housing unit is defined as a house, apartment, mobile home or trailer, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters, or if vacant, intended for occupancy as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants live separately from any other individuals in the building and which have direct access from outside the building or through a common hall. For vacant units, the criteria of separateness and direct access are applied to the intended occupants whenever possible.
Statistics for the Town of Keysville reflect an increase in the number of housing units from 401 to 437 from 2010-2017; an increase of 36 units. Occupied housing units increased from 353 units to 363 units from 2010-2017; an increase of 10 units. There was also an increase in vacant units from 48 units 73 units from 2010-2017; an increase of 25 units (see Figure 28).
Figure 28 – Housing Unit Characteristics
437 500 (2017) 401 450 (2010) 363 353 400 (2017) (2010) 350 300 250 200 73 150 48 (2017) 100 (2010) 50 0 Total Housing Units Occupied Housing Units Vacant Housing Units
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2017-2013, 2010 Selected Housing Characteristics Estimates Page | 27
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, there was a 0% increase in renter occupied housing units from 2013-2017. With only a 12.6% increase in owner occupied housing units. There also was a 1.2% decrease in vacant units over the same period.
Housing Growth (Building Permits Issued) According to data provided by the Town of Keysville, based on available records, the Town has approved at least nine (9) residential building permits over the last five years. These consist of five (5) permits for stick-built homes and four (4) permits for manufactured homes.
Housing Quality Indicators of housing conditions selected for this analysis include rental characteristics, owner occupied housing values, and housing deficiency characteristics.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 50.1% of the 363 occupied housing units in the Town of Keysville were renter-occupied, with 49.9% being owner-occupied. 29.1% of the housing structures in the Town were built before 1939, 16.7% of the structures in the Town were built between the years of 1950-1959, and 14.6% built between 1970-1979 (see Figure 29).
Figure 29 – Year Housing Units Built
10.5%
14.2% 29.1%
7.1%
14.6%
7.8% 16.7% 1939 or earlier 1940 to 1949 1950 to 1959 1960 to 1969 1970 to 1979 1980 to 1989 1990 or later
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey Estimates
Town of Keysville Governmental Policies The Town of Keysville Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances regulate residential development in the Town. The Ordinances are currently undergoing an update. They regulate development of land and building within the Town including the use of land, buildings, structures, and other premises; the size, height, area, location, etc. and removal of structures; the areas and dimensions of land, water, and air space to be occupied by buildings and structures, and uses, and open spaces; and the excavation or mining of soil or other natural resources. The Ordinances reference the Town’s official zoning map, and delineates the different zoning districts and permitted uses within each zoning district. The Ordinances also lay out how they will be enforced, including penalties for violations, and the process for appeals for variances or appeals of decisions that are thought to be in error. Page | 28
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Building inspections are handled through the Charlotte County Building Inspector’s Office. The County has adopted the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, which sets standards for the construction, alteration, adoption, repair, removal, use, location, occupancy and maintenance of all buildings. This code standardizes the requirements for and quality of construction of all housing regardless of the type or ultimate price.
To date, the current real estate tax rate in the Town of Keysville is $0.16 per $100.00 of assessed value.
B. Transportation
Introduction Several factors must be considered in analyzing the transportation facilities for the Town of Keysville. A transportation system must first and foremost be safe and efficient. Residents expect to be able to transport themselves and their materials in the shortest period of time while being ensured they will arrive at their destination safely. The relationship between the transportation system and existing and proposed land use activities of the area are an additional concern. Greater transportation facilities will be needed for some anticipated land uses than for others. This may have some bearing on the location of transportation facilities. Additionally, it is critical that the perceived transportation needs and desires of Town residents be met.
Highways and Roadways No interstate highways are located in the Town of Keysville and U.S. Highway 360 is the Town’s only nearby four lane highway. U.S. 360 passes along the eastern side of Town, and is the only National Highway System/Strategic Highway Network (NHS/STRAHNET) route near the Town. NHS/STRAHNET routes are deemed necessary for emergency mobilization and peacetime movement of heavy armor, fuel, ammunition, repair parts, food, and other commodities to support U.S. military operations. All of the primary roads and 80% of the secondary roads are hard surface roads (Virginia Department of Transportation, 2016). Map 4 shows the roads and highways in/around Keysville.
• U.S. Highway 360, a four-lane divided high-volume arterial passing near the Town of Keysville from west to east. U.S. Highway 360, which connects the Town with Richmond and South Boston, is the only NHS/STRAHNET route in the immediate area.
• U.S. Highway 15, a two-lane undivided high-volume arterial passing near the Town of Keysville from north to south. U.S. Highway 15 crosses the entire Commonwealth Regional Council area and connects the Town to Farmville. It connects the larger region to Frederick, Maryland and the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill research triangle in North Carolina. This route has the potential of being a significant growth stimulant for the Town in the future if other growth criteria are satisfied adjacent to it.
• U.S. Business Highways 15 and 360 passes through the Town of Keysville, connecting briefly with Virginia Primary Highway 40.
• Virginia Primary Highway 40 passes through the Town of Keysville to connect with U.S. Business Highways 15 and 360.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
• Virginia Primary Highway 59 connects the Town of Keysville to the Town of Drakes Branch, located a little more than seven (7) miles southwest of Keysville.
Map 4 – Roads and Highways in/around Keysville
Map created by CRC – May 2019
Rail Service A rail line owned by the Buckingham Branch Railroad passes through Keysville and continues south into Lunenburg County at Fort Mitchell. This line provides local freight service to the Keysville-Ontario-Fort Mitchell corridor (see Map 5). Page | 30
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
There is no passenger rail service in the area. The closest passenger rail is in Richmond and Lynchburg, which both provide Amtrak services.
Map 5 – Buckingham Branch Railroad Track Network
Source: Buckingham Branch Railroad http://www.buckinghambranch.com/freightservices/systemmap.htm#!prettyPhoto/0/
Airports The nearest airport with scheduled commercial air passenger service is in Lynchburg, Virginia (48 miles). The closest major regional air hubs are located at Richmond Virginia (90 miles), and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (105 miles). There are four airports with paved runways in the regional Planning District – Farmville, Crewe, Blackstone (Fort Pickett), and Lunenburg County. Crewe Airport is classified as a local service facility; all other airports are basic utility facilities.
Maintenance The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) maintains and provides maintenance funds for Charlotte County’s road system, including the Town of Keysville. The criterion for the amount of funding depends on whether a road is classified as primary or secondary. Primary roads are a statewide network connecting cities, towns and other points of interest. They include all roads with state and federal route Page | 31
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025 numbers below 600 and numbered roads that serve as extensions to primary roads. All other public roads in the area are secondary roads.
There are nine (9) construction districts in the State. The Town of Keysville is included in the Lynchburg District. This District covers a total of nine (9) counties, which include: Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Nelson, Pittsylvania, and Prince Edward.
Highway Functional Classification Plan According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, highway functional classification is a grouping of highways into systems according to the character of service that they are intended to provide (see Figure 30 and Map 6). All roads within the Town of Keysville are considered rural. The following are the Virginia Department of Transportation definitions for the rural road classifications:
• Principal Arterial – These highways provide an integrated network of roads that connect principal metropolitan areas and serve virtually all urban areas demands such as statewide and interstate travel. Traffic on this type of road normally has the right-of-way except in areas of high hazard, and then controls are used.
• Minor Arterial – These highways link cities and large towns and provide an integrated network for intrastate and inter-county service. They supplement the principal arterial system so that geographic areas are within a reasonable distance of an arterial highway. They are intended as routes that have minimum interference to through movement.
• Major Collector – These highways provide service to any county seat, large towns or other major traffic generators not served by the arterial system. They provide links to the higher classified routes and serve as important intra-county travel corridors.
• Minor Collector – These highways collect traffic from local roads and bring all developed areas within a reasonable distance of a collector road. They provide service to small communities and link important local traffic generators with the rural areas.
• Local – These roads provide access to adjacent land and serve travel of short distances as compared to the higher systems.
Figure 30 – Total Roadway Miles in Keysville Total miles 4.55 Primary 4.14 Secondary 0.42 Major Collector 2.18 Minor Arterial 1.88 Minor Collector 0.42 Source: VDOT
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Map 6 – Roadway Classification
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VDOT
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation Plans for Road Improvements The Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, through the Commonwealth’s Transportation Board, promulgates the Virginia Transportation Development Plan, formerly known as the Six Year Improvement Program. This plan is updated annually and is divided into two (2) sections for developing highway projects. In the first section, the Feasibility phase, federal and state laws and regulations require various studies. During this phase, the scope, schedule and budget of a project are at their most tentative stage and significant delays often occur. In the second section, the Capital Improvement Program phase, projects are refined and approaching construction. The plan also includes information on all roadway systems, except secondary roads. The Six- Year program for primary roadways includes two projects near Keysville:
• U.S. 15/Four Locust Highway: Install roundabout. o Project UPC: 110767 o Total project allocation as of June 2019: $5,217,268
• U.S. 15/360 Bypass at the Heartland Regional Industrial Park: Construct entrance at the park to include left and right turn lanes. o Project UPC: 109703 o Total project allocation: $789,197. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
Secondary roads (generally roads with route numbers 600 and above) are not included in the State of Virginia 2020 Plan. The secondary road program is developed annually by each county in conjunction with VDOT. Consequently, each county has its own Six-Year Improvement Program for secondary roads. The Program includes two projects near Keysville:
• Route 820 (Pine Creek Road), just north of U.S. 15/Four Locust Highway: Treat non-hard surface road. o Project UPC: 111618 o Total project allocation as of June 2019: $56,000
• Route 652 (Briery Road/Eureka Mill Road), west of U.S. 15 and north of Route 820: Treat non-hard surface road. o Project UPC: 113927 o Total project allocation as of June 2019: $251,000
Map 7 shows all Six-Year Improvement Program projects (both main and secondary roads) near Keysville.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Map 7 – Six-Year Improvement Plan Projects Near Keysville
Maps created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VDOT
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Additionally, the Commonwealth Regional Council’s (CRC) 2035 Rural Long-Range Plan identifies a number of transportation needs in Keysville (see Map 8). They are:
22) Four Locust Highway (U.S. 15/360 Business): Short-term reconstruct roadway to current design standards and incorporate traffic calming. Planning Level Project Cost: $9,964,521
28) Arvin Street, from Route 59 to Osborne Street: Long-term reconstruct road to address geometric deficiencies (including full-width lanes and shoulders). Planning Level Project Cost: $1,147,611
29) Osborne Street, from Hill Avenue to Pettus Street: Long-term reconstruct road to address geometric deficiencies 10-foot lanes. Planning Level Project Cost: $1,953,908
30) I Street, from Route 40/Four Locust Highway to VA Osborne Street: Long-term reconstruct road to address geometric deficiencies (including full-width lanes and shoulders). Planning Level Project Cost: $793,605
31) Pettus Street, from Osborne Street to Route 40/Four Locust Highway: Long-term reconstruct road to address geometric deficiencies (11-foot lanes). Planning Level Project Cost: $626,416
32) Hill Avenue, from Route 59 to Osborne Street: Long-term reconstruct road to address geometric deficiencies (including full-width lanes and shoulders). Planning Level Project Cost: $15,760,746
33) Hill Avenue, from Osborne St. to Route 40/Four Locust Highway: Long-term reconstruct road to address geometric deficiencies (including full-width lanes and shoulders). Planning Level Project Cost: $801,084
34) U.S. 15/360 Business at Route 40: Conduct traffic study and reconstruct intersection to improve capacity. Planning Level Project Cost: $2,420,000
Two other issues have been raised by local citizens, which are not noted on Map 7 or Map 8:
• Explore the feasibility of reducing the speed limit on Front Street (U.S. 15 Business), from the stop sign at Route 40 (Church Street) to the northern Town Limits, from 45 Miles Per Hour (MPH) to 25 MPH.
• Explore the feasibility of adding pedestrian/bicycle access in the area around Cruise-in Café – Front Street (U.S. 15 Business), Route 40 (Church Street/King Street), Route 712 (Church Street), and Route 714 (Railroad Avenue).
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Map 8 – Needs Identified in Keysville through the CRC 2035 Rural Long-Range Plan
Source: CRC 2035 Rural Long-Range Plan Page | 37
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
VTrans VTrans is the long-range, statewide multimodal policy plan developed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) that lays out overarching Vision and Goals for transportation in the State of Virginia. It identifies transportation Investment priorities and provides direction to transportation agencies on strategies and programs to be incorporated into their plans and programs. The VTrans2025 Report was completed in 2004, and the VTrans2035 Report was accepted by the CTB in December 2009. The interim update of VTrans2035 (VTrans2035 Update) did not establish a new horizon year, nor did it include a fully updated analysis of anticipated long-range transportation needs. Rather, it focused on transforming the existing components of VTrans2035 into a new framework for linking system-wide performance evaluations to planning, policy development, and funding decisions. Using this “performance-based planning” framework, transportation agencies and decision-makers can use information about projected transportation needs with assessments of current system performance to develop cost-effective strategies that simultaneously address existing transportation needs and anticipated future conditions.
VTrans 2040 was adopted by the CTB in January 2018. The most recent iteration of VTrans is the VTrans Update, which is currently underway (the CTB is moving away from including the year on each update). The VTrans Update notes VDOT is working with the 20 Planning District Commissions/Regional Councils (PDCs/RCs) throughout the Commonwealth to evaluate the state's rural multimodal transportation system and to recommend a range of improvements that address existing and future needs. Charlotte County is located in the Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC – Planning District 14) region. There are no identified tiered needs, Corridors of Statewide Significance or Urban Development Areas in Keysville or Charlotte County. There are two (2) Potential Safety Improvements identified in Keysville: Route 40, on the west end of Town; and U.S. 15/360 just east of Town at the interchange with Route 40. See Map 9.
Map 9 – VTrans Potential Safety Improvements (PSIs)
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VTrans Page | 38
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Traffic Volumes The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) compiles data to assess the condition of roads, highways, bridges, and large culverts. VDOT conducts a program where traffic count data is gathered from sensors in or along roads and highways. From these data, estimates of the average number of vehicles that traveled each segment of road are calculated. Annual data going back to 2001 can be seen at http://www.virginiadot.org/info/ct-TrafficCounts.asp (Traffic Volumes Maps). VDOT also calculates future traffic projections for roads and highways. Maps 10 and 11 show present and projected future traffic volume for the Town of Keysville.
Map 10 - Average Annual Daily Traffic Volumes - 2017
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VDOT
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Map 11 – Projected Average Annual Daily Traffic Volumes - 2045
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VDOT
Maps 12 and 13 show present and projected Level of Service for the major roads in Keysville. Level of Service is defined as follows:
• Level of Service A: Free-flow traffic with individual users virtually unaffected by the presence of others in the traffic stream.
• Level of Service B: Stable traffic flow with a high degree of freedom to select speed and operating conditions but with some influence from other users.
• Level of Service C: Restricted flow that remains stable but with significant interactions with others in the traffic stream. The general level of comfort and convenience declines noticeably at this level.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Map 12 – Capacity Analysis (Level of Service, 2017)
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VDOT
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Map 13 – Capacity Analysis (Projected Level of Service, 2045)
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VDOT
Maps 14 and 15 show the current and projected future volume-to-capacity ratios in Keysville. Volume-to- Capacity Ratio refers to the sufficiency of a roadway or intersection to accommodate vehicular demand. It is calculated by dividing the number of vehicles passing through by the number of vehicles that could theoretically pass through when at capacity. A ratio of less than 0.85 generally means that capacity is adequate and vehicles are not expected to experience significant delays. A ratio of closer to 1.0 means that traffic flow may become unstable, and delays are possible. A ratio of more than 1.0 means that traffic flow is unstable, and excessive delays can be expected.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Map 14 – Volume-to-Capacity Ratios, 2017
Map 15 – Projected Volume-to-Capacity Ratios, 2045
Maps created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VDOT Page | 43
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Figure 31 breaks out crash data for roads in Keysville. Map 16 shows historical locations of crashes in Keysville.
Figure 31 – Crash Data, Town of Keysville Severity by Type of Crash, 2013 to 2018 Type Property Damage Visible Injury Severe Injury Total Only (PDO) Rear-end 5 3 0 8 Angle 9 3 1 13 Head-on 1 1 0 2 Fixed Object—In Road 0 0 1 1 Fixed Object—Off Road 5 2 0 7 Other 1 0 0 1 TOTALS 21 9 2 32 Severity by Year – 2013 to 2018 Year PDO Visible Injury Severe Injury Total 2013 3 1 1 5 2014 5 5 0 10 2015 4 0 0 4 2016 4 2 0 6 2017 3 1 1 5 2018 2 0 0 2 TOTALS 21 9 2 32 Source: VDOT
Map 16 – Crashes, Town of Keysville
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VDOT Page | 44
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Map 17 shows the location and assessed condition of the two bridges in or near Keysville. Figure 32 shows data for those bridges, including ratings and whether they are functionally obsolete.
Map 17 – Bridge Conditions
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Source: VDOT
Figure 32 – Bridge Data, Bridges around Keysville Bridge Name Year Built Rating Functionally Obsolete Horseshoe Bend Road 1965 6 (Good) No Lunenburg Hwy. 1965 6 (Good) No Source: VDOT
Public Transportation Residents of the Town of Keysville have no access to public transportation. Limited or no access to public transportation is a common characteristic of the entire region. Services are extremely limited in the Commonwealth Regional Council area, with vast areas and many communities not served by the limited transportation systems that do exist.
Other (Bike, Waterways, Pedestrian) Bicycling and walking are fundamental travel modes and integral components of an efficient transportation network. Appropriate bicycle and pedestrian accommodations provide the public, including the disabled community, with access to the transportation network; connectivity with other modes of transportation; and independent mobility regardless of age, physical, constraints, or income. Effective bicycle and pedestrian accommodations enhance the quality of life and benefit the environment. Bicycling and walking are successfully accommodated when travel by these modes is efficient, safe, and comfortable for the
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025 public. Under the 2004 VDOT Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations, VDOT will initiate several policies relating to bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. These policies are as follows:
• VDOT will initiate all roadway construction projects with the presumption that the projects shall accommodate bicycling and walking;
• VDOT will promote the inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian accommodations in transportation activities at Local, Regional and Statewide levels;
• Bicycle and pedestrian accommodations can be developed through projects that are independent of highway construction either within the highway right-of-way or on an independent right-of-way;
• Highway construction funds can be used to construct bicycle and pedestrian accommodations either concurrently with highway construction projects or as independent transportation projects;
• Bicycle and pedestrian accommodation project will be funded in the same manner as other highway construction projects for each system; and
• All accommodations will be designed and constructed, or installed, using guidance from VDOT and AASHTO publications, the MUTCD and the American with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).
Sidewalks in Keysville are maintained by VDOT. Map 18 shows the sidewalks in the Town.
Map 18 – Sidewalks in Keysville
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Page | 46
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
In June 2000, the Piedmont Planning District Commission (PPDC) prepared the Piedmont Regional Bicycle Plan in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and Virginia Department of Transportation. The FY 2002 Rural Transportation Planning Grant under the Rural Transportation Program funded the project. In order for any locality or region to be eligible for VDOT funding for highway projects, including bicycle facilities, the local government participating must have an adopted bicycle plan. The Commonwealth Regional Council (formerly the PPDC) completed the CRC Bicycle Plan Update in 2010. The Bicycle Plan identifies two (2) routes that go through Keysville: Route M, which runs east-west, and Route Z, which runs southwest-northeast. Additionally, Route T runs north from Keysville into Prince Edward County. See Map 19.
Map 19 – CRC Regional Bike Plan (2010 Update)
Source: CRC Regional Bike Plan, 2010 Page | 47
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
One thing that the Town of Keysville has in abundance is scenic natural environment, including rivers, streams and forests. These resources offer great potential for the development of special transportation facilities including bikeways, pedestrian paths and boat ramps. The Town of Keysville also offers close proximity to a number of biking trails for riders ranging from novice to experienced off-road rider. These scenic routes can be found in the Staunton River Battlefield State Park, Twin Lakes State Park, High Bridge Trail State Park, and Staunton River State Park (see Map 20).
Map 20 – Trails Near Keysville
Map created by CRC – May 2019 Page | 48
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Staunton River Battlefield State Park, located on the Staunton (Roanoke) River along the Charlotte-Halifax County border, is a 300-acre Civil War historic site. Hiking facilities include a 1.2-mile self-guided trail through the battlefield and a .75-mile nature trail with two wildlife observation towers overlooking wetlands.
The Staunton River State Park in Scottsburg (Halifax County) offers 2,400-acres of woodlands, meadows and shoreline along the Dan and Staunton rivers. The equestrian campground offers large campsites and horse stalls. Access to Virginia's largest lake, Buggs Island Lake, offers freshwater fishing and boating, along with water skiing and many other aquatic activities. The park also has Olympic-sized and wading pools, picnic shelters, three playgrounds, tennis and volleyball courts, several boat launches and more than 17 miles of multi-use trails.
Nearby High Bridge Trail is 31 miles long and ideally suited for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. Once a rail bed, the trail is wide, level and generally flat. Its finely crushed limestone surface and dimensions make it easy to enjoy. The park’s centerpiece is the majestic High Bridge, which is more than 2,400 feet long and 125 feet above the Appomattox River. It is the longest recreational bridge in Virginia and among the longest in the United States.
Twin Lakes State Park in Prince Edward County offers areas for swimming, fishing, and boating. The park also has Six miles of hiking trails that go through hardwood forests and along the two lakes, and an eight- mile (non-loop) multi-use trail in the adjacent Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest for hikers, bikers and horses.
In 2008, Roanoke River Rails-to-Trails – a regional group representing localities in Southside Virginia – worked with Southside Planning District Commission, a consultant, and other stakeholders to develop a Master Plan for the Tobacco Heritage Trail (THT). The THT is a multi-use trail system that, when completed, will connect multiple towns in Southside Virginia – mainly through abandoned railroad right-of-way. Portions of the trail system are completed. Two planned future regions of the THT, Regions 6 and 7, will affect Keysville.
• Region 6 (Randolph to Drakes Branch to Keysville): Entirely on-road; however, within the Town of Drakes Branch, the road shoulder and adjacent land within the road right-of-way is available for either bike land or separated trail use. Route 59 from Drakes Branch to Keysville is considered more feasible (when actual route selection takes place in this area, other roads north of the proposed route may prove more feasible and may be considered before final decisions are made).
• Region 7 (Keysville to Meherrin): Active rail section. It can be classified as level 3 Active Rail, due to the narrow rail corridor. Prior to completion of the active rail trail in this region, an alternative on-road route may need to be demarcated in order to effectively connect Keysville and Meherrin. Costs for this area may include acquiring easements to effectively widen the rail corridor, or constructing higher or wider barriers (as the trail here could be closer to an active rail line).
The next planned phase of the TBT, from Alberta to Halifax, was submitted to VDOT on July 1, 2019. There is currently no timetable on when phases for Randolph, Drakes Branch, and Keysville will be implemented.
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
VDOT Funding Programs
Purpose SMART SCALE is a statewide program that distributes funding based on a transparent and objective evaluation of projects that will determine how effectively they help the state achieve its transportation goals.
Funding There are two main pathways to funding within the SMART SCALE process—the Construction District Grant Program (DGP) and the High Priority Projects Program (HPPP). A project applying for funds from the DGP is evaluated against other projects within the same construction district. A project applying for funds from the HPPP is evaluated against projects statewide. The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) then makes a final decision on which projects to fund.
Eligible Projects Projects must address improvements to a Corridor of Statewide Significance, Regional Network, or Urban Development Area (UDA) that meet a need identified in the statewide multimodal long-range transportation plan, VTrans. Project types can include highway improvements such as widening, operational improvements, access management, intelligent transportation systems, transit and rail capacity expansion, and transportation demand management, including park and ride facilities. Projects may also address a documented safety need.
Eligible Applicants Applications may be submitted through the SMART Portal by regional entities including Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOS) and Planning District Commissions (PDCs), along with public transit agencies, and counties, cities, and towns that maintain their own infrastructure. Projects pertaining to UDAs and safety needs can only be submitted by localities. Applications may be for eligible project types only and sufficiently developed such that benefits can be calculated.
Evaluation Criteria There are five factors evaluated for all projects: Safety, Congestion Mitigation, Accessibility, Environmental Quality, and Economic Development. Projects in MPOs with a population greater than 200,000 are also evaluated by a land use factor.
Funding Cycle Beginning with the FY2018-FY2023 SYIP Update, the application cycle began alternating every other year with funding generally applied to projects in the last two years of the SYIP. Applications are generally accepted beginning in the Spring through Fall. Approximately $500-600 million is expected to be available Page | 50
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025 per cycle. Funding includes both state and federal sources. Projects that can be developed as federal projects will follow the federal process.
Website http://www.vasmartscale.org/
Purpose This federal transportation program is structured and funded to identify and improve locations where there is a high concentration, or risk, of vehicle crashes that result in deaths or injuries and to implement strategies to attain Virginia’s Towards Zero Deaths vision.
Funding There are several core safety programs, including Highway Safety, Systemic Safety, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety, and Highway-Rail Safety. Eligible Projects Projects involve the identification of high-crash spots or corridor segments, an analysis of crash trends and existing conditions, and the prioritization and scheduling of improvement projects. Submitted projects must demonstrate a cost benefit and must:
• Be relevant to the program purpose of reducing severe crashes or risk to transportation users.
• Address hazardous situations through good safety planning and identified by safety data driven network screening.
• Demonstrate compliance with the appropriate VDOT design guideline and standards.
Eligible Applicants The Highway Safety Programs (HSP), Rail-At-Grade-Crossing and the Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Program (BPSP) applications must be submitted through the SMART Portal by local governments, VDOT District and Regional Staff.
Evaluation Criteria The eligibility criteria and process for the safety programs are different. The Portal automatically scores each application based upon the various factors such as: Benefit/Cost ratio, PSI listing, supporting documents, complete cost estimate/schedule etc. The (HSP) application targets vehicle only crashes and requires a benefit-cost (B/C) ratio analysis, or the Systemic Safety Improvement (SSI) application can utilize a risk assessment methodology that addresses these risks throughout a network of roadways. The Rail
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Safety and Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety applications require a risk analysis due to the unpredictability of the crash types.
Funding Cycle The funding cycle for the Highway Safety program will be every year. Approximately $60 million is available per year. Applications are generally accepted August through October of each year. All funding is federal.
Website http://www.virginiadot.org/business/ted_app_pro.asp
Purpose This program is intended to help sponsors fund projects that expand non-motorized travel choices and enhance the transportation experience by improving the cultural, historical, and environmental aspects of transportation infrastructure. It focuses on providing pedestrian and bicycle facilities and other community improvements.
Funding TAP is not a traditional grant program and funds are only available on a reimbursement basis. The program will reimburse up to a maximum 80% of the eligible project costs and requires a minimum 20% local match. These are federal transportation funds and therefore require strict adherence to federal and state regulations including Americans with Disability Act (ADA) design standards. Funding is allocated statewide and to specific population areas as set forth in federal regulation. Funds are awarded by the CTB and the MPOs in Virginia’s Transportation Management Areas (TMAs).
Eligible Projects • On-road and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and shared use paths.
• Infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for non-drivers to access daily needs.
• Conversion and use of abandoned railway corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized transportation users.
• Construction of turnouts, overlooks and viewing areas.
• Inventory, control or removal of outdoor advertising (billboards).
• Preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities including train depots, lighthouses and canals.
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• Vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way.
• Archeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of a transportation project.
• Environmental mitigation activities to address storm water management control and water pollution related to highway runoff.
• Wildlife mortality mitigation activities to decrease negative impacts of roads on wildlife and habitat connectivity.
Eligible Applicants Applications may be submitted through the SMART Portal by local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, school districts, local educational agencies, schools, tribal governments, and any other local/regional entity with responsibility for oversight of transportation or recreational trails.
Evaluation Criteria • Project funding.
• Project concept.
• How the project improves the existing transportation network.
• Sponsor’s experience administering federal-aid projects.
• Project’s readiness to proceed
Funding Cycle Beginning with the FY2019-2024 SYIP Update, the application cycle began alternating every other year with allocations available in the first and second year of the SYIP. Approximately $20 million is available per year with a maximum request of $1M per year ($2M per application). Applications are generally accepted August through October of every other year. All funding is federal.
Website http://www.virginiadot.org/business/prenhancegrants.asp
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Purpose This program provides additional funding for use by a county, city, or town to construct, reconstruct, improve, or maintain the highway systems within such county, city, or town and for eligible rural additions in certain counties of the Commonwealth. Locality funds are matched, dollar for dollar, with state funds, with statutory limitations on the amount of state funds authorized per locality.
Funding Application for program funding must be made by resolution of the governing body of the jurisdiction requesting funds. Project funding is allocated by resolution of the CTB. The Revenue Sharing program will match, dollar for dollar, eligible project costs up to limitations specified in CTB Policy
Eligible Projects • Supplemental funding for projects listed in the adopted in the SYIP.
• Construction, reconstruction, or improvement projects not including in the adopted SYIP.
• Improvements necessary for the specific subdivision streets otherwise eligible for acceptance into the secondary system for maintenance (rural additions).
• Maintenance projects consistent with the department’s operating policies.
• New hard surfacing (paving).
• Deficits on completed construction, reconstruction, or improvement projects
Eligible Applicants Applications may be submitted through the SMART Portal by any county, city, or town in the Commonwealth. Evaluation Criteria:
• Priority 1: Construction projects that have previously received Revenue Sharing funding.
• Priority 2: Construction projects that meet a transportation need identified in the Statewide Transportation Plan or projects that will be accelerated in a locality’s capital plan.
• Priority 3: Projects that address deficient pavement resurfacing and bridge rehabilitation.
• Priority 4: All other projects
Funding Cycle Beginning with the FY2019-2024 SYIP Update, the application cycle began alternating every other year with allocations available in the first and second year of the SYIP. Approximately $100 million in state funding is available per year. Applications are generally accepted August through October of every other year. All funding is non-federal.
Website http://www.virginiadot.org/business/local-assistance-accessprograms.asp#Revenue_Sharing
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Purpose SGR provides funding for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pavements and bridges. The funds are used for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of deteriorated pavements on the Interstate and Primary Systems, including Primary Extensions, as well as the replacement and rehabilitation of structurally deficient bridges on all systems.
Funding Funding is allocated to each district based on needs for VDOT and locality owned bridges and pavements. Allocation of the funding is based on a needs prioritization methodology as approved by the CTB. All nine construction districts will receive funding in a given year, with no district receiving less than 5.5% or more than 17.5% of the funds in a given year.
The Code of Virginia allows for two waivers in the SGR. The first waiver allows the CTB to remove the cap and allocate the SGR funds to a key need or project. The second waiver allows the CTB to allocate 20% of the funds to secondary pavements if the Department does not meet its secondary pavement performance targets.
Eligible Projects Projects must meet the three tests as depicted in the following chart prior to receiving funding:
Eligible Applicants Localities may submit applications for primary extensions and work notification forms for structurally deficient bridges through the SMART Portal. If a locality has multiple structurally deficient bridges, the locality is required to submit work notification forms for all bridges to show what work will be completed in order to remove the deficiency.
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Evaluation Criteria The SGR Program requires the prioritization process to consider mileage, condition and costs for pavements while considering number, condition and costs for bridges. For additional detail related to the prioritization process, refer to: http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resources/2016/june/reso/Resolution1.pdf
Funding Cycle The funding cycle for SGR will be every year. Approximately $300 million is available per year beginning in FY 2021. Applications are generally accepted November through January. Funding includes both state and federal sources.
Website http://www.virginiadot.org/business/local_assistance_division_funding_programs.asp
C. Community Facilities and Services
Introduction Community facilities and services are made possible by individuals, families, businesses and industries working together to serve the Town of Keysville. The provision of such facilities and services is usually determined by the tax income that can be obtained from local population and businesses.
The following inventory analysis summarizes the public resources for which the Town of Keysville has primary responsibility and control. However, it also considers other important resources and activities of other levels of government such as Federal and State agencies. In addition, some private or quasi-public facilities such as educational institutions and some utility systems are important resources for the local community and must be taken into account when analyzing the full range of public resources available to the citizens of this locality.
Administrative Facilities The Keysville Town Office, located on J Street, serves as the center for government business in the Town. The Mayor oversees the Town Clerk, who conducts daily business for the Town. In addition, the Keysville Town Council and Planning Commission hold their meetings at the Town Office.
Education Facilities • Southside Virginia Community College (John H. Daniel Campus) Established in 1970, SVCC is one of the 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System. The Christianna Campus near Alberta and the John H. Daniel Campus located just east of Keysville serve ten counties and one city - the largest community college service region in the state. In 1985, SVCC opened the Southside Virginia Education Center near the John H. Daniel Campus. The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate degrees. About 4719 students, 63% of them females, are enrolled at SVCC. The average student age is 23. The majority of students work and attend college part-time. SVCC operates on the semester system with classes offered during the day and evening.
• Eureka Elementary School: Located just under four (4) miles west of Keysville on Eureka School Road, just off of Route 40, Eureka Elementary School serves 474 students in grades Pre-K through 5 (per 2018-2019 enrollment statistics from the Virginia Department of Education).
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Industrial Parks Charlotte County has two business/industrial parks, both located adjacent to U.S. Route 360 near Keysville (see Map 21). Both of these parks are in a Virginia Enterprise Zone.
• Charlotte County Industrial Park The Charlotte County Industrial Park has 19 acres, with water and sewer service provided by the town of Keysville.
• The Heartland Regional Industrial Park The Heartland Regional Industrial Park has approximately 400 acres, also with water and sewer service, and an area designated for future retail and hospitality activities. The Heartland Park has many unique and innovative features to assist new tenants – a virtual building ready for construction, graded sites, a technology and training center, a temporary office space, and a partnership with Southside Virginia Community College’s heavy equipment operators’ school for further site improvements. The park is a node on the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC) Network, and is designated as an MBC GigaPark. GigaParks offer access to multiple telecommunications and optical services through MBC.
Map 21 – Industrial Parks
Map created by CRC – May 2019 Page | 57
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Health Care Facilities Town of Keysville residents are within approximately 60 miles of the following hospitals:
• Centra Southside Community Hospital (Farmville, Virginia)
• Lynchburg General Hospital (Lynchburg, Virginia)
• Virginia Baptist Hospital (Lynchburg, Virginia)
• Bon Secours-St. Francis Medical Center (Midlothian, Virginia)
• Chippenham Johnston Willis (CJW) Medical Center (Richmond, Virginia)
• Bedford Memorial Hospital (Bedford, Virginia)
• VCU Health Community Hospital (Mecklenburg, Virginia)
• Halifax Regional Hospital (Halifax, Virginia)
• Person County Memorial Hospital (Roxboro, North Carolina)
There are also a number of other health care facilities located within the Town of Keysville.
• Wayland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
• Centra Medical Group – Keysville (primary care facility)
• Michael A. Campbell, DDS Ltd.
• Keysville Pediatrics
• Billy M. Rutherford DDS
• Keysville Chiropractor PLC.
Nursing Homes There is one (1) nursing home in Keysville: Wayland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Libraries The Keysville Branch Library, a branch of the Charlotte County Public Library, is located in Keysville.
Museums There are no museums that exist within Keysville Town limits; however, there are a number of museums within close proximity in Charlotte County.
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• Central High Museum (located in Charlotte Court House): Charlotte Training School, the first attempt at secondary education for African-Americans in the area, opened on February 12, 1928. The facility was constructed on land donated by Daniel Ragsdale. The $7,000 needed to build the school was raised through community efforts. In the late 1930’s Ambassador David K.E. Bruce donated funds for an accredited African-American high school in Charlotte County. Land for the facility was contributed by Elizabeth Curtis Smith. Central High was completed in 1939 and the first graduation was held in June of 1941. Central High remained in operation until the county integrated its schools in 1969. The facility then became the county's consolidated junior high school, Central Junior High, and was later renamed Central Middle School. In 1994 the county constructed a new middle school, closing the school formerly known as Central High. The facility later served as the County's Early Learning Center, a preschool education facility. STEPS, Inc. runs the Head Start Program for Charlotte County on the Museum grounds, in the building behind the Museum.
• Drakes Branch Museum (located in Drakes Branch): The Drakes Branch Museum is housed in the old State Bank of Charlotte County on Main Street in Drakes Branch, Virginia. The museum honors the railroad, the industries, the churches, the schools, and the farms that have been a part of the proud history of the community.
• Museum of Charlotte County/Visitors Center (located in Charlotte Court House): Commemorates the longstanding history of Charlotte Court House and Charlotte County, Virginia.
• Roanoke Station Visitors Center (located in Staunton River Battlefield State Park): The Roanoke Station depot opened on May 31, 2002, and is now the Roanoke Station Visitor Center. It houses an archaeological exhibit of Native American artifacts excavated from the park by the Longwood University Archaeological Field School. There is also an exhibit of rare Southern Railway memorabilia from the Crescent Passenger line that served the Roanoke Depot in the early 1920- 1930’s. Some of the items included on display are dining car items and place settings, books, lanterns, and miscellaneous railroad merchandise.
Religious Facilities There are several religious facilities, of various denominations in the Town of Keysville, these facilities are:
• Ash Camp Baptist Church
• Keysville United Methodist Church
• Emmanuel Baptist Church
• King Street Church
• Bluestone Harmony Baptist Association and Ministries
• Mount Ellis Baptist Church
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Water Service/Sewer Service Water and sewer are provided to residents by the Town of Keysville. The Town’s water source is the Keysville Reservoir.
According to the Regional Water Supply Plan for Charlotte County, developed in 2011, the Town’s water treatment plant and the reservoir are expected to meet projected daily demand for water usage going out to 2060 (or longer) as long as increases in population and water demands are in line with – or similar to – “lower level” population projections. Those are based on population projections from the Weldon Cooper Center. However, if actual increases in population and water demands are more in line with “upper level” projections – developed for the Plan by factoring in growth that could result from future business development in the area (and assuming an annual growth rate of 0.5% to 2.5%) – or if the Town provides water to another locality (Drakes Branch or Charlotte Court House), then the Town may need an additional water source by 2040.
The Charlotte County Source Water Protection Plan, also developed in 2011, identifies potential contaminants that can affect water sources within the County and outlines steps to protect those sources. Potential sources of contamination for the Keysville water system include a car wash, golf course, gas/fueling stations, and auto repair shops. In many cases, the issues can be addressed with proper education and outreach to citizens about proper disposal of hazardous materials. According to the Plan, the Town can access existing wells as an emergency water source should the primary source be contaminated. The Plan also identifies other actions that could be taken to protect water system users in the event of a source contamination. They include: source chlorination, point of use or point of entry treatment, use of bottled water, and water conservation.
Solid Waste Collection/Recycling Charlotte County operates seven (7) manned recycling centers where County residents may bring their household waste and recyclables for disposal. These centers are managed by the County's Public Works Department. The Department administers the Solid Waste Ordinance, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Environmental Protection Agency regulations relating to solid waste issues. The Town of Keysville has one recycling site at the Keysville Recycling Center, located on Arvin Street.
Using grant funds from DEQ, the County and its four towns – including Keysville – recently purchased blue top garbage cans for the collection of recyclable materials. The Town of Keysville has placed these cans throughout the Town. They are located next to the Town’s regular garbage cans.
Law Enforcement and Public Safety The Town of Keysville does not have a police department, but is serviced by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to providing experienced and quality law enforcement to the citizens of Charlotte County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Sheriff's Office is responsible for criminal investigations, calls for service, court room security, service of civil process and the operation of the Charlotte County Jail which houses an average of 65 inmates. The Sheriff’s Office has a total of 42 officers – including patrol officers, jail and administrative staff, court officers, animal control, and other personnel. In addition, the Virginia State Police provides traffic enforcement and investigation for the Town.
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Fire Department The Keysville Volunteer Fire Department serves the Town of Keysville and surrounding areas. The fire station is located on Osborne Street. The Department has 30 active members and four (4) vehicles, and is a second responder to many surrounding fire departments. Lynn Duffey is the current Chief of the Keysville Fire Department.
Rescue Squad The Charlotte County Rescue Squad main building is located in Keysville, Virginia. The Charlotte County Rescue Squad has two satellite stations in Wylliesburg and Phenix, Virginia. The organization has been in operation for over 40 years serving the needs of Charlotte County and surrounding areas. It currently has a total of 30 members, both paid and volunteer.
Electric Services The Town of Keysville is serviced by Dominion Virginia Power and Southside Electric Cooperative.
Telecommunications Within any community, access to fiber optics is extremely important. The unprecedented growth in telecommunications capacity and in telecommunication applications has changed the way all persons and businesses function. Due to the Town of Keysville’s rural nature and limited resources, it is unable to implement the infrastructure necessary for fiber optics on its own. There are a number of Internet service providers in the County and surrounding area. Specifically, cable/telecommunications service providers include:
• Century Link
• Shentel
• AT&T
• Verizon
• DirectTV
• Hughes Net
• U.S. Cellular
• Kinex
• Viasat
Kinex is based in Farmville. Their coverage for Kesyville and the surrounding area is shown on Map 22. The company has plans to expand its service in the area in the Spring of 2020. Those plans are in the early discussion phase. Shentel has an office in Farmville. They provide service via cable, and have no expansion plans in the foreseeable future. Their coverage for Keysville and the surrounding area is shown on Map 23.
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Map 22 – Kinex Coverage in and Around Keysville
Source: Kinex Telecom
Map 23 – Shentel Coverage in and Around Keysville
Source: Shentel Page | 62
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Charlotte County and the entire region are served by Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC). Using a $4,000,000 federal matching grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and a $4,000,000 grant from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, MBC built an open access 144 strand fiber optic backbone which extends over 300 miles and serves more than 350 businesses, commercial, community colleges and industrial parks in Southside Virginia. See Map 24 for MBC coverage in and around Keysville.
Map 24 – Mid-Atlantic Broadband Fiber Routes in and around Keysville
Source: MBC
Natural Gas/Fuel Sources A natural gas pipeline (Transcontinental Pipeline) runs through Charlotte County, but there is no distribution of natural gas in the Town of Keysville. Tapping into the existing lines in the County would include a large capital investment, including the provision of a facility to tap into and the cost of the lines to the desired site. However, the County does have a close proximity to other natural gas distribution including the City of Lynchburg and City of Richmond.
On September 2, 2014, Dominion Resources, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, and AGL Resources announced a joint venture to build the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline to provide growing mid-Atlantic markets with a new route to access Marcellus and Utica basins of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The partnership, called Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, will own the proposed 550-mile natural gas pipeline, formerly called Southeast Reliability Project. The project would cost an estimated $4.5B-$5B and have an initial capacity of 1.5 Bcf/d of natural gas. It would run from Harrison County, West Virginia to Robeson County, North Carolina. The route of the pipeline includes the crossing into nearby Buckingham, Prince Edward, and Nottoway Counties (see Map 25). Page | 63
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Map 25 – Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Source: Dominion Power – Proposed Atlantic Pipeline Route, September, 2014 Page | 64
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025
Recreation Town of Keysville residents and Charlotte County youth can participate in local sports through the various youth leagues and organizations or through the public-school systems. Charlotte County does not have its own Recreational Department. Organized baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, football, and cheerleading are run by various volunteer youth organizations.
Dixie Youth has their own fields for baseball. The other sports use county facilities. Tower Park, an outdoor playground located on Main Street in the town of Keysville and owned by the Town, is the perfect place to play with friends. The local extension office offers a variety of youth activities through the 4-H program. Other activities including scouting are also available through the public-school system & local civic and religious organizations.
Civic Organizations The Town of Keysville has many civic clubs and organizations for children and adults. Some, but not all, are listed below:
• Piedmont Habitat for Humanity (serves Charlotte County).
• Charlotte Lions Club.
• American legion post 0260.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8902.
• Charlotte County Meals on Wheels
Festivals/Community Events • Charlotte County Relay for Life: a grass roots, community-based team event held annually at Southside Virginia Community College in Keysville to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
• Truckers Parade Against Cancer: held every October, this event raises money to fight cancer. The route starts at Randolph-Henry High School, and runs through Drakes Branch and Keysville before ending at Southside Virginia Community College.
• Keysville End of Summer Festival, held in late August.
• Keysville Christmas Parade, held in early December.
• Philbeck’s Music House: Each Friday evening the “pickers” and listeners join for fellowship and bluegrass music in Keysville, Virginia.
Commerce Businesses within the Town include a grocery store, hardware stores, general merchandise stores, sporting goods store, convenience store, Virginia ABC Store, dance studio, art studio, two florists, and various service-related businesses (insurance, attorneys, auto sales/repair, medical, food, lumber, gas/oil, and banking). Because of the strategic location of the Town of Keysville, the City of Richmond, the City of
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Lynchburg and the City of Charlottesville are also popular destinations for residents when shopping for goods and services.
D. Historical Sites
Introduction Many historic sites exist throughout the Town of Keysville and Charlotte County. Of these, some have been placed in the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. Through the enhancement of the assets comes tourism via economic development.
Local Historical Sites • Four Locust Farm (just north of Keysville): The property includes a vernacular farm house dwelling, built around 1859, and a row of 20th-century farm buildings. The house is a two-story, three-bay- wide, frame dwelling that is covered by a low-pitched, hipped roof of standing-seam metal, and clad with weatherboards. Farm buildings include frame and masonry dairy/hay barns, silos, a milk house, workshop, equipment sheds, cattle pens, and tenant houses. The farm produced tobacco from 1919 until 1925; beginning in 1925, the farm turned to dairy production with a 100-head Holstein-Friesian herd. In 1962, the farm ended its dairy operations and turned to beef cattle production.
• Keysville Railroad Station (Osborne Street and Hill Avenue): The Keysville Railroad Station was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. It was built by the Richmond and Danville Railroad in stages between 1890 and 1900, and is a one-story, vernacular frame railroad building. It contains offices and segregated waiting rooms at the north end and a large freight area extending to the south with docks on three sides. It remained in use as a passenger station until 1956. The Keysville Railroad Station appeared as the stations in Eastport, Maine, and in Warm Springs, Georgia, in the filming of Eleanor and Franklin, a television film about the Roosevelts that would earn 11 Emmy awards.
• Maple Roads (just west of Keysville): The Maple Roads plantation was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. It was built in the early-19th century, and is a two-story, five- bay, brick dwelling in the Federal style. It is a single-pile I-house with a 1 1/2-story rear wing. Also on the property are a contributing 19th century one-room wood framed office with a steep standing seam metal gable roof, a simple early-20th century wood frame barn, and a family cemetery.
• Watkins House (just northwest of Keysville): The Watkins Farmhouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. It was built in the early-19th century, and is a two-story, five- bay, brick dwelling in the Federal style. It is a single-pile I-house with a 1 1/2-story rear wing. Also on the property are a contributing 19th century one-room wood framed office with a steep standing seam metal gable roof, a simple early-20th century wood frame barn, and a family cemetery.
• Morton Hall (U.S. 15 Business, near the northern Keysville Town Limits): Morton Hall, which dates back to the late 19th Century, is the site of a large Queen Anne style house that was built by Keysville Mayor Jacob W. Morton following the destruction (by fire) of an earlier house on this site. The
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Historic Architectural Survey of Charlotte County, completed in June 1998, identified this property as being potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Regional Historic Initiatives In March, 1993, Virginia’s Retreat was organized to explore ways that the Counties of Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Nottoway and Prince Edward and the City of Petersburg, could work together to promote the region’s rich abundance of natural and historical resources. Representatives of these localities, working closely with the Virginia Division of Tourism, the Virginia Division of State Parks and the National Park Service, held a planning retreat in April 1993, to design a strategy for accomplishing the Consortium’s mission—increase tourism and economic development activity in this region of Virginia.
Virginia’s Retreat, now known as Virginia’s Crossroads, has continued its successful mission of increasing tourism, economic activity and quality of life in the participating Southside Virginia localities through the promotion, preservation, enhancement and education of the region’s natural, recreational and historic resources.
One of those successful regional historic initiatives is the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail (see Map 26). In March 2004, Virginia’s Crossroads kicked off the grand opening of the trail – which is modeled after the successful Lee’s Retreat Trail and the Wilson-Kautz Raid Driving Trail. Instead of focusing on the Civil War, the Heritage Trail highlights contributions made to bring equal education to all Americans. The trail includes 41 sites throughout 13 counties (including Charlotte County) and the City of Petersburg that describe the history of education in Southside Virginia. The self-guided driving tour allows you to enjoy the trail at your own pace, letting you linger longer at some stops and pass by others, if time is short. Because the trail is not linear or chronological, it can be started and ended at any point. Once you begin, follow the Civil Rights in Education trail blazing signs from one stop to the next. The Trail has more than 40 stops, with three (3) in Charlotte County:
• Southside Virginia Community College, Dan Daniel Campus (located just east of Keysville).
• Charlotte County Library (located on LeGrande Avenue in Charlotte Court House).
• Salem School (located in the Red Oak Community).
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Map 26 - Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail
Source: https://vacrossroads.com/pdf/Civil-Rights-in-Education_Brochure.pdf
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E. Natural Resources
Land Surface The Town of Keysville is located in Charlotte County, which is located in the Piedmont province where rolling topography is the norm. The Town encompasses 1.18 square miles.
The Virginia Piedmont is largely characterized by rolling hills and numerous ridges near the boundary with the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lying between the mountain and coastal plain regions, the piedmont region is a naturally diverse landscape. The bedrock consists mostly of gneiss, schist and granite rocks at a typical depth of between 2 and 10 feet. Soils developed from these rocks and minerals form acid, infertile soils, with sandy loam surfaces. Many of the clayey subsoils are red or yellowish red due to the oxidized iron weathered from the primary minerals. Natural fertility is low; however, these soils respond well to liming and fertilization. Historically, much of the Piedmont region was cleared and farmed intensively, causing extreme erosion over much of the region. Before modern soil fertility and managerial practices were adapted to these soils, agricultural production diminished and most farms reverted to forests. Over two thirds of this region is wooded today. The best soils are still agriculturally productive through well managed soil fertility and erosion control plans. The region contains several areas and stretches of land which are of relatively high agricultural value.
Climate The Town of Keysville has warm summers, relatively mild winters, and normally adequate rainfall (see Figure 32). The growing season is approximately 190 days, long enough to allow maturity of a wide variety of crops. The pasture season is slightly longer, but winter months are cold enough to require feed and shelter for livestock. Monthly average precipitation amounts vary greatly from year to year for any given month. Although Charlotte County is more than 150 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, remnants of hurricanes or tropical storms may pass over the county from the east or south, occasionally causing flooding and wind damage.
Figure 33 – Climate Data (Averages), Keysville Criteria Data Annual Average Rainfall 44.75 inches Annual Average Snowfall 7.0 inches Annual Average Temperature 56.5 oF January Average High Temperature 46.3 oF January Average Low Temperature 25.7 oF July Average High Temperature 87.2 oF July Average Low Temperature 66.4 oF Month with Highest Average Rainfall July – 4.25 inches Month with Lowest Average Rainfall February – 3.07 inches Month with Highest Average Snowfall January – 3 inches Source: usclimatedata.com
Rivers and Watershed Dams There are several rivers that are located in close proximity to the Town of Keysville (see Map 27).
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Map 27 – Rivers and Watershed Dams in Charlotte County
Map created by CRC – June 2019 Source: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Page | 70
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The Meherrin River is a 92-mile (148 km) long river that flows near Keysville into Lunenburg County. Then it flows roughly east-southeast into North Carolina, where it joins the larger Chowan River. Ash Camp Creek flows from near Keysville west/southeast toward Roanoke Creek, which flows into the Roanoke River. Twittys Creek flows from south of Keysville, roughly northeast-southwest, into Roanoke Creek. Roanoke Creek flows roughly north-south through Charlotte County between Keysville, Charlotte Court House, and Drakes Branch. It flows into the Roanoke River.
The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 miles (660 km) long. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains southeast across the Piedmont to Albemarle Sound. An important river throughout the history of the United States, it was the site of early settlement in the Virginia Colony and the Carolina Colony. An 81-mile (130 km) section of its lower course in Virginia between the Leesville Lake and Kerr Lake is known as the Staunton River, as is the Shenandoah Valley city of that name. It is impounded along much of its middle course to form a chain of reservoirs.
Watersheds The Town of Keysville is within the Roanoke River Watershed (see Map 28). The Roanoke River Basin covers 6,393 square miles, or approximately 15% of the Commonwealth’s total area. The basin is bordered by the James River Basin on the north, the Albemarle-Chowan River Basin to the east, and the New River Basin to the west. The southern boundary of the Basin is the Virginia/North Carolina state line. The Roanoke River headwaters begin in the Blue Ridge Mountains in eastern Montgomery County. Once through the City of Roanoke, the river generally flows east-southeast to the Virginia state line, exiting the Commonwealth near the Mecklenburg-Brunswick County line. The river travels southeast across North Carolina and enters the Albemarle Sound. In Virginia, the Roanoke River is often referred to as the Staunton River, particularly below Leesville Lake.
In addition to the Roanoke itself, the Basin also contains the Yadkin River sub-basin. The Yadkin River forms in North Carolina and is the northernmost part of the Pee Dee River drainage. The Pee Dee River flows south entering the Atlantic Ocean near Georgetown, South Carolina. The following seventeen counties and four cities are entirely or partially located within the Basin: Counties of Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Brunswick, Campbell, Carroll, Charlotte, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, and Roanoke; Cities of Danville, Martinsville, Roanoke, and Salem. These jurisdictions are represented within eight regional water supply plans: Lake Country, Charlotte/Town, Halifax/Towns, Region 2000, Roanoke Valley, New River Valley, West Piedmont, and Southwest Virginia.
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Map 28 - Watersheds
Source: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Website, 2014 https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/wsheds
Soils/Forests/Farmland Charlotte County contains a wide variety of soils, with agricultural productivity ratings ranging from very good to very poor. A county-wide soil survey and analysis is found in the publication Soil Survey – Charlotte County Virginia, United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, July 1974. The Soil Conservation Service has also produced a map of important farmlands in Charlotte County. The areas in Keysville are highlighted in Map 29. This map shows that 81,777 acres (26.9%) are classified as prime farmland, and 78,466 (25.8%) acres are classified as additional farmland of statewide importance. Thus, 52.7% of the county’s total land area is classified as significant farmland. Although Keysville does have some open space, there is no land in the Town designated for farming. As the Plan will discuss in the next section, there is no land zoned agricultural within the Town Limits.
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Map 29 – Soils in and around Keysville
Map created by CRC – November 2019 (source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) Page | 73
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IV. Land Use
A. Introduction
Land use planning and an assessment of Keysville’s development patterns are an essential part of the Town’s comprehensive plan. The land use inventory accounts for the different types of land uses in the community, which would serve as the framework to accommodate all future growth and development within the Town. An assessment of developmental patterns will assist the Town in planning future residential and commercial development. This land use plan should be updated periodically to keep pace with future trends that occur within the Town.
B. Current Zoning/Land Use
The Town of Keysville’s current land zoning includes the following districts: Limited Residential, General Residential, Light Commercial, General Commercial, and Industrial.
• Limited Residential: Development is limited to single unit dwellings providing homes for the residents plus certain other uses, such as schools, parks, churches, and public facilities that serve the residents of the district.
• General Residential: This district is designed to stabilize and protect the essential characteristics of the district, to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life where there are children, and to prohibit activities of a commercial nature.
• Light Commercial: this district covers that portion of the community intended for the conduct of general business to which the public requires direct and frequent access.
• General Commercial: This district is to establish and protect general business district that will serve the surrounding residential districts. This district covers that portion of the community intended for the conduct of general business to which the public requires direct and frequent access.
• Industrial: This district is to establish areas where the principal use of land is for heavy commercial and industrial operations, which may create some nuisance, and which are not properly associated with, nor particularly compatible with residential, institutional and neighborhood commercial service establishments.
The Town of Keysville’s Current Land Use Map (see Map 30) shows the various land uses and their location. The majority of Keysville’s businesses are on King Street (Route 40), with a handful of businesses located on Church Street (Route 40), Front Street (U.S. 15 Business), and other streets. Industrial uses are located mainly in areas south of Church and King Streets, with one industrial property just off of Front Street. Much of the rest of Town is zoned residential.
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Map 30 – Current Zoning in Keysville
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C. Future Land Use
While many aspects of this Comprehensive Plan will be of interest to potential new residents, investors, or developers, the future land use – viewed in comparison with current zoning – best summarizes the Town’s vision for the future. The future land use plan is not meant to be specific in terms of exactly where certain individual features will occur. Rather, it is general in nature to guide the various land uses and where future growth is desired.
Map 31 (on the next page) shows the generalized Future Land Use Map for the Town of Keysville. The future land use plan seeks a way to balance new growth and development, while maintaining the Town’s rural character and viability. The guiding principle to achieve this balance is to concentrate growth in specific areas. In addition to the established uses per the zoning ordinance and map, the future land use plan identifies three (3) growth areas and two (2) areas to be developed/maintained as open space for public use, plus one area for possible future annexation.
Growth Areas
• Map 31, highlighted in purple: Between Shaw Drive/Shadow Lane, Farrar Street, H Street, and the Northern Town Limits. This area has a mix of zoning: Commercial, Industrial, and Residential. Much of this area is undeveloped, and there is an abandoned factory located in this area.
• Map 31, highlighted in blue: Between King Street, Lunenburg Highway, and Pine Haven Street. This area is zoned General Commercial. The area has a vacant commercial building, with some open space.
• Map 31, highlighted in red: Between King Street, June Lane, and the Southeastern Town Limits. This area is zoned General Residential, and has a few houses with some open space.
Open Spaces (Map 31, highlighted in green)
• Between King Street, Church Street, I Street, and Keysville Main Street: Specifically, the area near the existing playground. This area is zoned General Commercial; however, the area currently consists of open space.
• South of Osborne Street: The area is zoned General Commercial; however, there is also currently open space there. The Keysville End of Summer Festival is held in this area.
Possible Future Annexation (Map 31, highlighted in orange)
• North of Town: Between the northern Town Limits, U.S. 15, U.S. 15 Business, and U.S. 15/360. This area has a mix of uses, including residential and commercial.
The specific location of future land uses should be determined by the zoning ordinance, and when required by the zoning ordinance, Planning Commission and Town Council reviews of specific land use requests. Such a review should consider the compatibility and benefits of the use, and the land impacts of a specific use on the surrounding neighborhood and larger community. It is important that the Town’s ordinances be in sync with this Comprehensive Plan and – specifically – the future land use plan. Page | 76
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Map 31 – General Future Land Use
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D. Topography, Soil Suitability
In order to better evaluate suitability of land for various uses, it is important to know the topography of the area and what already exists in the area. Map 32 shows an aerial view of Keysville and the surrounding areas, to give a general idea what is already on the land. Map 33 shows the topography of Keysville and the surrounding areas. While a topographic map shows features such as streets, buildings, streams, and vegetation, the distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is the contour lines. Contours show the general shape of the terrain. Each contour line represents an equal elevation; therefore, contour lines never cross.
Additionally, it is important to know the suitability of soils in the area. Maps 34 through 36 show soil suitability in and around Keysville for three different types of uses – Residential (dwellings with basements), Playground, and Trails. The Residential use was chosen because it is expected that much of the future growth and development in the Town will be residential. Playgrounds and Trails were chosen because there has been a desire expressed to see additional recreational options and/or open spaces in the area. Soil suitability was determined by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey. The ratings indicate the extent to which the soils are limited by all of the soil features that affect the specified use. The ratings are based on different soil properties that include stoniness, depth to a water table, ponding, flooding, slope, texture of the surface layer, subsidence, linear extensibility (shrink-swell potential), and compressibility.
If a soil is rated "Not limited," that indicates the soil has features that are very favorable for the specified use. Good performance and very low maintenance can be expected. A rating of "Somewhat limited" indicates that the soil has features that are moderately favorable for the specified use. The limitations can be overcome or minimized by special planning, design, or installation. Fair performance and moderate maintenance can be expected. If a soil is rated "Very limited," that indicates the soil has one or more features that are unfavorable for the specified use. The limitations generally cannot be overcome without major soil reclamation, special design, or expensive installation procedures. Poor performance and high maintenance can be expected. A few soils are not rated for suitability. Specific properties that affect suitability for the three identified uses, per the Web Soil Survey, include:
• Residential (dwellings with basements): The properties that affect the load-supporting capacity include depth to a water table, ponding, flooding, subsidence, linear extensibility (shrink-swell potential), and compressibility (which is inferred from the unified classification of the soil). The properties that affect the ease and amount of excavation include depth to a water table, ponding, flooding, slope, depth to bedrock or a cemented pan, hardness of bedrock or a cemented pan, and the amount and size of rock fragments.
• Playgrounds: Slope and stoniness are the main concerns affecting the development of playgrounds. For good trafficability, the surface of the playgrounds should absorb rainfall readily, remain firm under heavy foot traffic, and not be dusty when dry. The soil properties that influence trafficability are texture of the surface layer, depth to a water table, ponding, flooding, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), and large stones. The soil properties that affect the growth of plants are depth to bedrock or a cemented pan, Ksat, and toxic substances in the soil.
• Trails: Soil properties that affect trafficability and erodibility include stoniness, depth to a water table, ponding, flooding, slope, and texture of the surface layer. Page | 78
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Map 32 – Aerial of Keysville and Surrounding Areas
Map created by CRC – November 2019 (source: ESRI) Page | 79
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Map 33 – Topography, Keysville and Surrounding Areas
Map created by CRC – December 2019 (source: ESRI, USGS Topographic Base Map) Page | 80
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Map 34 – Soil Suitability – Residential (dwellings with basements)
Map created by CRC – November 2019 (source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service)
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Map 35 – Soil Suitability – Playgrounds
Map created by CRC – November 2019 (source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) Page | 82
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Map 36 – Soil Suitability – Trails
Map created by CRC – November 2019 (source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) Page | 83
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V. Goals, Objectives, and Strategies
A. Introduction
The Town of Keysville Planning Commission has developed the following goals, objectives, and strategies to serve as a guide for future community actions. Goals are broad statements that represent the purpose or end that provides direction for community decisions. Objectives are measurable statements of actions the community will take to carry out a desired end-result. Strategies are definite courses of action chosen from alternatives to guide present and future decisions in the accomplishment of objectives. It is intended that through implementing these strategies, the Town will achieve the identified community goals and realize the community vision.
The goals identified are long-range in their scope, generally 10 to 20 years, and set directions for Town actions in the coming years. The objectives are generally set in a shorter time frame of 5 to 10 years, and set the foundation for effective and continuous planning. Although certain objectives may appear overly ambitious at present, continuing growth in the Town will benefit by their achievement. Strategies are more immediate and should be considered as guidelines for the future, which may be changed and updated as circumstances warrant. New strategies could, and should, be added whenever the need becomes apparent that the direction of the Town is changing.
B. Economy and Employment
GOAL: Promote the expansion of a diversified economy.
Objective 1: Encourage quality businesses and industries to locate in or around the Town.
Strategy 1: Work with Charlotte County Government, the Charlotte County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), the Virginias Heartland Industrial Authority, and Virginia’s Growth Alliance (VGA) to promote the Charlotte County Industrial Park and the Heartland Regional Industrial Park to new industries.
Strategy 2: Promote new investment and commercial development in downtown and other commercial areas of Keysville. Work with Charlotte County, Longwood Small Business Development Center, VGA, and other entities to promote/encourage new business development.
Strategy 3: Develop Pavilion/Farmer’s Market in Town as a way to make more local products available and promote local businesses.
Objective 2: Provide adequate land and resources for commercial and industrial uses.
Strategy 1: Work with Charlotte County Government, the Charlotte County IDA, the Virginias Heartland Industrial Authority, and VGA to promote the Charlotte County Industrial Park and the Heartland Regional Industrial Park to new industries.
Strategy 2: Encourage the rehabilitation and use of existing vacant structures (when feasible) for commercial use as an alternative to building new structures. Page | 84
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Strategy 3: Support beautification and improvement programs in the Town including alley/side street maintenance, general cleanup (trash, leaf collection, tree/limb removal, etc.), removal of dilapidated/junky properties, joint marketing/advertising efforts, and building/façade improvements.
Strategy 4: Guide community and industrial uses into areas suited for such uses per the Land Use component of this Plan.
Strategy 5: Research, determine suitability, and encourage the use of all available state and federal grant and incentive programs to assist with economic development efforts.
Objective 3: Improve employment opportunities for all residents; capitalize on technology as a means to create high-paying, sustainable jobs.
Strategy 1: Work with Southside Virginia Community College, Longwood Small Business Development Center, and South-Central Virginia Workforce Investment Board to encourage job training and educational opportunities.
Strategy 2: Encourage the retention and expansion of existing businesses and industries.
GOAL: Encourage and promote tourism.
Objective 1: Develop, enhance and promote activities and attractions that will better utilize the tourism potential of the Town and surrounding areas.
Strategy 1: Continue to develop and promote existing events including the End of Summer Festival and Keysville Christmas Parade.
Strategy 2: Develop new events or bring back previous events (for instance, Dixie Days).
Strategy 3: Work with Charlotte County and Virginia’s Crossroads to promote the area’s historic attractions.
Strategy 4: Develop the land around the Keysville Reservoir for recreational use.
C. Land Use
GOAL: Promote a balance of land uses that meet economic and demographic needs of the Town of Keysville.
Objective 1: Provide land areas for orderly and efficient growth.
Strategy 1: Complete update of Town’s zoning regulations to designate areas best suited for residential, commercial, industrial, and other types of uses.
Strategy 2: Update zoning regulations to prevent disorderly development and guide desired growth. Page | 85
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Objective 2: Retain the rural setting and single-family character of the Town of Keysville while providing a variety of residential uses.
Strategy 1: Promote single-family development in areas designated for limited residential use.
Strategy 2: Promote multi-family uses in areas designated for general residential use.
Strategy 3: Buffer residential uses from commercial and industrial uses.
Strategy 4: Confine commercial/industrial uses to areas designated for such uses.
Objective 3: Provide for a stable and attractive downtown area that meets the needs of the communities.
Strategy 1: Promote new investment and commercial development in downtown and other commercial areas of the Town of Keysville.
Strategy 2: Support beautification and improvement programs in the downtown area of the Town including alley/side street maintenance, general cleanup (trash, leaf collection, tree/limb removal, etc.), removal of dilapidated/junky properties, joint marketing/ advertising efforts, and building/façade improvements.
Strategy 3: Study the downtown business district to determine what improvements are needed, such as adding parking, benches and repairing buildings. This will make the downtown business district a more attractive and appealing location for shoppers.
Strategy 4: Encourage the placement of utilities in commercial areas either underground or along rear alleys.
Strategy 5: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
Objective 4: Encourage quality industries to locate in and around the Town of Keysville.
Strategy 1: Encourage industries to locate in the industrial parks or in areas where they are compatible to adjacent uses.
Strategy 2: Guide community and industrial uses into areas with adequate public utilities and transportation access.
Strategy 3: Work with Charlotte County Government, the Charlotte County IDA, and VGA to attract new industries to the area.
Strategy 4: Coordinate with the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, and other parties, to promote the area to environmentally friendly industries.
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Strategy 5: Promote new investment and commercial development in downtown and other commercial areas of Keysville.
Objective 5: Preserve historical sites in and around the Town of Keysville.
Strategy 1: Identify all sites worthy of historical preservation.
Strategy 2: Encourage historical sites worthy of preservation be designated on the National Register for Historical Places to allow tax breaks for developers and property owners.
Strategy 3: Seek appropriate uses for vacant buildings.
Strategy 4: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs in historical preservation.
Objective 6: Promote a clean-living environment.
Strategy 1: Eliminate litter in the Town through enforcement and clean-up efforts.
Strategy 2: Work with the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce and Charlotte County IDA to promote the area to environmentally friendly industries.
Strategy 3: Work with Charlotte County Animal Control, the Southside SPCA, and other groups on efforts to reduce the population of stray pets (through adoption and spay/neuter programs) and control animals roaming through Town.
Strategy 4: Work with VDOT to address road maintenance issues including pothole repair, sidewalk maintenance, cleaning out drainage ditches, and tree maintenance/limb removal in public road Rights of Way.
D. Housing
GOAL: Preserve the integrity of residential neighborhoods and encourage an adequate supply of good quality, affordable housing for all residents.
Objective 1: Encourage the rehabilitation of dilapidated housing; discourage housing neglect.
Strategy 1: Draft/adopt and enforce more stringent codes to address dilapidated housing and unsightly conditions.
Strategy 2: Encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
Objective 2: Maintain suitable housing and improve substandard housing.
Strategy 1: Prepare and maintain a detailed inventory of housing types and conditions. Page | 87
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Strategy 2: Encourage the rehabilitation of deteriorated housing.
Strategy 3: Encourage that abandoned or dilapidated housing be removed.
Strategy 4: Work with the Charlotte County Building Office to ensure the building code is enforced for all new construction.
Strategy 5: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
Objective 3: Promote the provision of adequate and affordable housing for low-income and elderly persons, as well as the area’s workforce.
Strategy 1: Work with local, state and federal agencies to identify and obtain technical assistance and funding for housing activities.
Strategy 2: Encourage developers to construct new housing units to replace those unfit for human habitation.
Strategy 3: Work with Piedmont Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable housing for low-income persons.
Strategy 4: Restrict the encroachment of incompatible activities and uses or other blighting influences in residential neighborhoods.
Strategy 5: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
E. Transportation
GOAL: Strengthen and expand public transportation.
Objective 1: Promote and enhance public transportation for groups that need such services.
Strategy 1: Assist local charitable and social service agencies (for instance, Centra PACE and Piedmont Senior Resources) to provide and/or improve transportation services for the elderly and handicapped.
Strategy 2: Encourage expansion of existing public transportation from other areas into the Town.
Strategy 3: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
GOAL: Maintain efficient traffic flow, movement of vehicles through the Town of Keysville.
Objective 1: Assess the need for alternate routes, or other traffic control measures. Page | 88
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Strategy 1: Promote ongoing studies of traffic and intersections; make recommendations for improving traffic flow and safety for the protection of residential areas.
Strategy 2: Encourage adequate off-street parking facilities for all new business and industry.
Strategy 3: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
GOAL: Provide a safe and adequate transportation system for the movement of people, goods and services within the Town of Keysville.
Objective 1: Provide and maintain adequate vehicular and pedestrian facilities.
Strategy 1: Work with VDOT to identify needed secondary road improvements for the Town of Keysville as part of the Six Year Highway Improvement Plan.
Strategy 2: Work with VDOT to assure existing roads are adequately maintained (fix potholes, clean ditches, remove trees in road Rights of way, etc.)
Strategy 3: Encourage off-street parking facilities for all new business and industry.
Strategy 4: Maintain, through VDOT, sidewalks, curbs and gutters throughout the Town, assuring that they meet ADA requirements. Replace sidewalks, curbs and gutters that do not meet those guidelines.
Strategy 5: Maximize citizen participation in planning for transportation activities.
Strategy 6: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
Objective 2: Promote alternative forms of transportation other than private automobile.
Strategy 1: Assist local charitable and social service agencies to provide transportation services for the elderly and handicapped.
Strategy 2: Encourage the development and use of pedestrian/bike paths in and around the Town of Keysville; seek grant funds for such projects.
Strategy 3: Adopt by reference, as part of this Comprehensive Plan, the 2010 CRC Regional Bicycle Plan – specifically those portions that relate to bicycle routes within the Keysville Town Limits.
Strategy 4: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
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F. Natural Resources
GOAL: Protect and preserve the natural resources of the community.
Objective 1: Prevent development in areas of critical environmental importance.
Strategy 1: Restrict development in drainage ways.
Strategy 2: Restrict development on soils that will not adequately support structures.
Strategy 3: Determine where improvements are needed to the storm water drainage structures.
Strategy 4: Identify and protect all open spaces which have recreational potential or which would enhance the environment in the Town of Keysville.
Strategy 5: Promote the preservation and planting of trees, shrubs and other natural foliage.
Strategy 6: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
GOAL: Ensure residents have adequate recreational opportunities.
Objective 1: Encourage recreational opportunities for County and Town residents.
Strategy 1: Develop recreational facilities appropriate for and accessible to all citizens including a public pavilion, additional park/playground facilities, and a ball field complex.
Strategy 2: Encourage participation in and continuance of Town functions and activities.
Strategy 3: Work with local schools, churches, and groups such as 4-H to establish programs for youths and teens.
Strategy 4: Work with Piedmont Senior Resources, the Southside Virginia YMCA, and other groups to establish programs for senior citizens.
Strategy 5: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
GOAL: Utilize the Keysville Reservoir as a venue for recreational use, while protecting the watershed.
Objective 1: Provide recreational opportunities related to the reservoir for residents and visitors, encourage efforts to preserve the reservoir’s habitat.
Strategy 1: Work with interested groups to develop and implement programs and activities such as tree plantings, river cleanups, and educational forums. Page | 90
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Strategy 2: Develop trails and other recreational facilities around the reservoir for use by residents and visitors.
Strategy 3: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
G. Community Facilities and Services
GOAL: Provide community facilities and services consistent with citizen needs and orderly development.
Objective 1: Provide for the adequate, safe supply and distribution of public water.
Strategy 1: Require all new development in areas served by public water system to be connected to that system.
Strategy 2: Require the user pay the cost of water line installations outside the Town Corporate limits.
Strategy 3: Work with the Virginia Department of Health and other interested parties to develop and access new sources of water to supplement the water system and provide emergency water during times of drought.
Strategy 4: Work on repairs, maintenance, and upgrades of the water system to improve water quality.
Strategy 5: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
Objective 2: Provide for the adequate sewage collection and treatment for the Town of Keysville.
Strategy 1: Require all new development in areas served by public wastewater system to be connected to that system.
Strategy 2: Reduce water infiltration by relining manholes and by replacing or repairing inadequate sewer lines.
Strategy 3: Require the costs of sewer system expansion within a development be borne by the developer.
Strategy 4: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
Objective 3: Provide an adequate system of storm water drainage.
Strategy 1: Ensure that current development within the Town is compliant with State Storm Water Regulations.
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Strategy 2: Future development must comply with State Storm Water Regulations.
H. Emergency Services/Health Care
GOAL: Ensure the continued availability of emergency and health care services to Town of Keysville residents.
Objective 1: Maintain and improve public safety services for Town of Keysville residents.
Strategy 1: Work with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office to expand police protection in the Town with additional patrols.
Strategy 2: Look into the establishment of a Town Police Department to service the Town of Keysville.
Strategy 3: Work with Charlotte County to assure that the Keysville Volunteer Fire Department and Charlotte County Rescue Squad have the resources they need to adequately serve area residents.
Strategy 4: Research, determine suitability and encourage the use of all available state and federal grants and incentive programs.
GOAL: Support and promote the availability of quality health care for Town of Keysville residents.
Objective 1: Develop and promote services for all residents, including the medically underserved.
Strategy 1: Work with Centra Health to maintain and expand services provided by Centra Medical Group – Keysville, to assure that there is a local doctor or nurse practitioner available to see patients during regular weekday working hours.
Strategy 2: Work with Charlotte Primary Care (Central Virginia Health Services) and other providers/stakeholders to expand health coverage and services for the middle-and low- income children and adolescents in the surrounding community.
I. Education/Workforce Training
GOAL: Ensure residents have access to an educational system that will provide quality employment opportunities, training for advanced education, career technical education, and continuing intellectual growth and development for all segments and age groups of the population.
Objective 1: Improve employment opportunities for residents through workforce training.
Strategy 1: Work with Southside Virginia Community College, Longwood Small Business Development Center, and South-Central Virginia Workforce Investment Board to encourage job training and educational opportunities.
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J. Community Building
GOAL: Establish/maintain an individual identity for the Town of Keysville.
Objective 1: Maintain/improve the Town of Keysville’s unique character.
Strategy 1 – Develop and encourage community gathering spaces such as parks and public pavilions.
Strategy 2 – Maintain existing community gathering events, such as festivals and parades, and work with local stakeholders to develop new events.
Strategy 3 – Work with Charlotte County, Virginia’s Crossroads, and other stakeholders to market the community’s assets.
Strategy 4 – Promote the Town of Keysville’s attractions through the installation of way- finding signage and enhancement of the Town website.
Strategy 5 – Develop a Downtown Master Plan addressing sidewalks, building facades and landscaping.
K. Other
GOAL: Promote the general safety of the Town of Keysville and its residents, and protect against unforeseen hazards through preventive measures.
Objective 1: Reduce the effects of natural disasters on the community through the use of cost- effective structural projects, increased public awareness and education, improved data available to local officials, and other measures, where appropriate.
Strategy 1: Adopt by reference, as part of this Comprehensive Plan, the CRC Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan; specifically, those portions that affect the Town of Keysville.
GOAL: Ensure sufficient resources to effectively serve the Town’s residents.
Objective 1: Assure adequate revenues to fund essential services.
Strategy 1: Set reasonable rates for real estate and personal property taxes, to assure adequate revenue for Town services.
Strategy 2: Implement a tobacco stamp as an additional source of revenue to fund town services.
Strategy 3: Explore the potential for a boundary adjustment in one or more directions out of Town, as a way to expand the Town’s tax base.
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VI. Implementation Plan
A. Introduction
The adoption of the Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan is not the end of the planning process. Planning is an ongoing process that is intended to periodically review changes which are occurring and the effects of those changes on the Town.
In addition to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, other agencies have plans which must be considered and coordinated with this Plan. Planning is not done in a vacuum, and would be ineffective if done so. While the Town must be cognizant of other plans, there are a number of implementation measures available to the local government. This section summarizes these measures and actions which should be undertaken to help implement the Comprehensive Plan.
B. Ordinance Revisions
Complete revisions to the Town of Keysville Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances to bring them into compliance with this new Comprehensive Plan.
The Zoning Ordinance is one of the principal means of implementing the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of the Zoning Ordinance is to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the public by addressing issues such as traffic, public facilities, types of land uses, density, water supplies, wastewater treatment, and environmental protection. The Ordinance establishes the regulations to reflect and implement the land use plan.
The Subdivision Ordinance establishes the procedures to subdivide property in order to establish a usable lot for its intended purpose. By providing reasonable regulations relating to development, both prospective owners and the Town are protected from the adverse impacts of unmanaged development.
C. Capital Improvement Program
Adopt a Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
The Town of Keysville should begin adopting a CIP each year. The CIP will be an important planning document for the Town, as it will help the Town focus on and plan for improvements to/maintenance of public facilities. Planning for needed improvements and maintenance will help assure that the Town’s public facilities are well maintained, efficient and functionally appropriate to meet the Town’s needs. The CIP should be reviewed and updated annually as part of the Town’s budget process, with continuous efforts to improve the document and the process to update it.
Secure/identify funding for capital improvements.
There are a number of state and federal grant/loan programs available to fund many different types of capital projects. They include programs from the Virginia Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. There may also be some foundation grants available to help fund certain types of projects. Additionally, the Town should set aside funding for planned capital Page | 94
DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025 projects and look into establishing new revenue streams to help pay for planned capital projects. This could include new revenue streams such as a tobacco stamp, or adjusting the Town’s tax rates to ensure adequate revenue for providing services.
D. Planning Commission/Town Council
Establish periodic Comprehensive Plan review session between the Planning Commission and Town Council.
As discussed earlier, planning is an ongoing process. The Comprehensive Plan is not designed to be taken off the shelf every five years, revised and placed back on the shelf. The plan is the guide for everyday land use decisions. As a means of more consistently reviewing the plan, the Town Council and the Planning Commission should periodically meet for the purpose of reviewing the plan. This will ensure a continuous dialogue between the two bodies and provide a better means of evaluating the implementation of the plan.
E. Strategic Planning
Establish a strategic planning process for the Town.
Strategic planning is a concept developed by the private sector which is applicable and beneficial to the public sector. It is a systematic way of managing change and creating the best possible future. It is also a process for identifying and accomplishing important actions based on identified strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities.
Strategic planning is not the same as comprehensive planning. Comprehensive planning is goal and objective oriented, while strategic planning focuses on allocation of resources to critical issues. Strategic planning is the process of defining a direction and making decisions on allocating resources toward that direction, including financial resources and people. Thus, strategic planning compliments comprehensive planning.
Therefore, the Town needs to implement a strategic planning process as a means of fostering public-private partnership for the betterment of the community. The public-private partnership brings together at a local level the different parts of the public sector as well as the private, business, community and voluntary sectors so that different initiatives and services support each other and work together. This could include the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, the Charlotte County Department of Health, local faith groups, local government, law enforcement and fire/rescue services, charity groups, businesses, and others. Pooling experience and expertise, the Town can understand local people, places and problems and make sure the right actions are taken and right services delivered.
F. Comprehensive Plan Amendments
Establish a policy on Comprehensive Plan amendments.
The Keysville Town Council should establish a policy on amendments to the Comprehensive Plan. Such a policy would benefit the development community, citizens, staff and the Keysville Town Council by clearly
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DRAFT Town of Keysville Comprehensive Plan, 2020 - 2025 identifying the process through which development proposals that are inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan will be evaluated.
G. Summary
1. Complete revisions to the Town of Keysville Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances to bring them into compliance with this Comprehensive Plan and to address other needed changes.
2. Prepare and update a Capital Improvements Program (CIP) annually.
3. Identify additional funding sources for capital improvement projects, including a tobacco stamp and other revenue streams.
4. Establish a joint review session between the Planning Commission and the Town Council for the purpose of an annual review of the Comprehensive Plan.
5. Establish a Strategic Planning Process that includes a public-private partnership to visualize how the Town should look and be developed in the future.
6. Establish and implement a policy on Comprehensive Plan Amendments.
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