BOCO Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors Meeting - October 13, 2026

Botetourt County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors meeting, October 13, 2026: The main procurement- and infrastructure-related matter was a proposed 199-foot telecommunications tower for the county’s 911 radio system, to be built and owned by Diamond Communications on Dynax America property. Diamond said it responded to an RFP, Verizon is committed as the first carrier, and the tower is designed to accommodate two more carriers. County staff estimated fiber installation at about $180,000 per mile. Emergency communications staff said the project is needed to avoid delays in optimizing the radio system under the county’s Motorola Solutions contract; a nine-month delay could result in penalties estimated at just over $1 million. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the tower’s special exception and commission permits, but recommended denial of a countywide telecommunications setback and fall-zone text amendment. The Board approved that amendment and the special exception permit; the transcript does not clearly record a Board vote on the related comprehensive-plan map update. Board members asked staff to prepare a future advertisement to revisit the zoning amendment. No new contract award or spending appropriation was recorded.

The commission also considered a residential proposal for townhomes near Bonnie View Lane. It unanimously recommended a text amendment reducing the minimum attached-home grouping from six units to three, and voted 4–1 to recommend rezoning to R4 with a maximum of 51 units. It unanimously recommended approval of the special exception permit with conditions, including an evergreen buffer and fence to be installed before construction, limits on building form, and no road connection or construction traffic through Bonnie View Lane. Residents raised concerns about notice, neighborhood impacts, drainage, and consistency with the comprehensive plan. The meeting began discussion of a Kroger sign application, but the transcript ends before substantive consideration or action.