Board considering a town hall meeting on Tenaska plant
By Heather Michon
Correspondent
The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday evening (Sept. 3) started with the now familiar pattern of Palmyra residents Donald and Patti Reynard using public comment periods to question how the supervisors and the commissioner of the revenue’s office run the county’s land use program and assess real estate values.
Donald Reynard is running to replace outgoing commissioner Mel Sheridan in a special election in November. Current Deputy Commissioner of Revenue Lauren Ryalls Sheridan is also running for the open seat.
Their comments for this meeting focused on what they see as questionable patterns of land assessments throughout the county.
Mr. Reynard presented several examples of similar businesses having very different land values. One example was Cogswell Stone Fabrication on Lake Monticello Road, with land valued at $150,000, compared with European Stone Concepts near Zion Crossroads, with land valued at $100,000.
“Competitors doing the exact same thing,” he said. “One’s 50 percent higher than the other. That’s just wrong by any standard.”
Mrs. Reynard talked about widely varying appraised values of businesses along Rt. 15 from Fork Union to E.W. Thomas in Palmyra, including one owned by Cunningham Supervisor Chris Fairchild.
“These properties are inconsistent and there is no fair or equal taxation as a result,” she said.
She renewed her call for a full audit of the county’s land book.
“These are things that board members don’t want exposed,” she claimed. “But I’m not tired of talking about it. I will be here at every meeting and I will talk about them.”
During the second round of public comments at the end of the meeting, Fork Union Supervisor and former Planning Commissioner Mike Goad stepped behind the podium to clarify the county’s valuation process.
He pointed to the various parties involved in the valuation process, including not only the commissioner of revenue but also the outside company that conducts assessments and the board of equalization, which can make determinations regarding disputed assessments.
Taking one of Mr. Reynard’s comments on how the county’s three different banks have very different land assessments, Goad noted that the UVA Community Credit Union and the Atlantic Union Bank near Lake Monticello have land valued at approximately $217,000 and $236,000, respectively. In comparison, the Truist branch in the Village of Palmyra is valued at $117,000, and the former branch in Fork Union was valued at just $65,000.
“Where something is located, not necessarily the business it operates, determines, in some part, its assessed value,” he said. Land around Lake Monticello, home to more than 40 percent of the county’s residents, is worth more than land in Palmyra and Fork Union.
Tenaska
Responding to complaints that the “community meeting” held by Tenaska last month regarding its plans to build a second gas-fired power plant did not allow members of the public to speak about their questions or concerns, the supervisors discussed ways they might be able to host some sort of open town hall before the company’s special use permit application comes before the board for a vote in late November.
During the meeting at Fluvanna County High School, Tenaska representatives had audience members write questions on index cards and then answered only a few questions pulled from the large stack of cards.
Fairchild said he was not in favor of it being a joint town hall with Tenaska. People had the impression that the community meeting had been a collaborative effort between the county and the company, but that was not the case.
“They opened it, they closed it, and they led and decided how it was going to be run,” he said.
Rivanna Supervisor Tony O’Brien said it was “challenging,” because without at least someone from Tenaska there, “I’m not qualified to answer many of the questions that are going to come forward.”
There were also questions about how big a venue they might need and how to handle potential security issues.
No decision was made, but they hope to have a plan by the end of the month.
The Planning Commission will be discussing the special use permit at their October 7 meeting. Members of the public will be able to make comments at that meeting.
Legislative update
Supervisors heard multiple presentations during the meeting, including a legislative update from the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC).
Virginia closed fiscal year 2025 with revenues more than $1.5 billion above projections, a figure driven by higher-than-expected tax receipts, gubernatorial veto savings, and transfers. While the numbers appeared positive, the General Assembly is likely to take a cautious approach in 2026, citing economic uncertainty and rising costs in Medicaid and food assistance programs.
Board members were reminded that localities may once again have to “play defense” to protect their authority over land use decisions.
Recent years have seen repeated attempts in Richmond to shift siting control for solar facilities, energy projects, and even high-density housing away from counties. Similar measures are expected to resurface in the 2026 session.
The legislative program for the region will continue to emphasize K–12 education funding, state support for mandated local programs, and preservation of local zoning authority. Data centers and affordable housing legislation are also likely to reappear on the state’s agenda.
Streetscapes
There was also an update from VDOT on the long-anticipated Palmyra Streetscape program.
Funded through a federal Transportation Alternative Program grant, the plan will bring new sidewalks, curbs, crosswalks, and parking to the area between the Historic Courthouse and the modern County Courthouse.
Originally budgeted at $1.6 million, rising costs pushed the total closer to $2.1–$2.2 million. The county has committed $436,000 in matching funds to secure the grant.
Construction is currently slated to begin in October 2026.
