The Buckingham County Board of Supervisors voted to renew a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a communications tower for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) during its meeting July 8.

The land parcel for the proposed tower is located on approximately 68 acres at South James River Highway, Route 56, in the James River Magisterial District.

The SUP was initially approved by the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors in July 2017 and the microwave communications tower was intended to support the ACP compressor station.

The SUP was valid for 18 months, and had expired in January 2019. Because the zoning ordinance did not provide for authority to renew this same permit or to grant an extension, the ACP LLC has submitted a new application for a special use permit. The SUP for the new permit would be valid for 36 months.

“This application seeks authorization of the same tower, on the same property and under the same terms,” county documentation cited.

The permit was tabled during the board’s June meeting in order to further study the tower and its features.

The public hearing was also held in June. Seven spoke during the meeting, with four speaking in opposition and three speaking in favor.

District Six Supervisor Joe Chambers said during the Monday meeting that the board reviewed the information, said it was satisfactory and made a motion to approve the SUP.

Six supervisors voted in favor. District Three Supervisor Don Matthews abstained.

Dominion Energy Manager of State and Local Affairs Emmett Toms spoke during the meeting and announced that he would be retiring next month. Toms said in a phone interview July 10 that he has worked for Dominion Energy for 42 years.

He introduced his successor for the Buckingham area, Dominion Energy Manager of External Affairs Felix Sarfo-Kantanka.

Toms said Sarfo-Kantanka has worked with the county and community before and would be suited to represent the county for ACP matters going forward.

“He will continue to work with the county,” Toms said about Sarfo-Kantanka.

Toms said during the meeting he has been working with the Farmville/Prince Edward/Buckingham area for years, noting different projects in the county relating to the Bear Garden power station, the pipeline and solar.

“Together, we’ve done a lot of good things for economic development here,” Toms said.