Planning Commission Recommends Approving

Planning Commission Recommends Approving

August 21, 2014

8/21/2014

​At the August 19th Planning Commission meeting for Bedford County, the members unanimously voted to recommend the approval of two Special Use Permits (SUPs) presented by the Bedford Regional Water Authority (“Authority”).

The two permits were in conjunction with the Smith Mountain Lake Water Treatment Plant and Pipeline project. The first SUP application was for building a larger intake building at Smith Mountain Lake. This intake building would enable the Authority to draw more water from the Lake to treat, as needed.

The second permit was to build a new water treatment plant at Radford Church Road. This plant will be jointly owned and operated by the Authority and Western Virginia Water Authority. The plant will not only provide for customers at the Lake but will also serve the Town of Bedford and the Forest area.

“We are pleased to be at the SUP permitting stage for this project, and we are delighted with the Planning Commission’s recommendation; this is one of the last major permits needed for the project,” said Brian Key, Authority Executive Director. “Each permit obtained is one step closer to beginning the construction of the project”

During the meeting, a public comment period was available for citizens to speak about the project or ask questions; however, no citizens appeared to speak.

The main items the Commission members discussed was the landscaping at both sites and the road maintenance in the Highpoint community.

After the presentation by the Authority and the public comments period, the Commission members voted 7 – 0 to recommend the Board of Supervisors to approve the SUPs.