Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

In addition to looking over financial plans for this year, the Farmville Town Council used their annual retreat to sketch out a timeline of what projects take priority, which ones go first and point out the ones headed to the back of the pack. 

The immediate needs for Farmville involve hiring a public works director, raise awareness of the Mary E. Branch Community Center project and talk with engineering firms about the cost of developing a sidewalk plan. 

Looking ahead, there are also several projects slotted to be finished by June 1. Council members want to schedule a meeting in April with senior leadership at Longwood, as well as revise all current leases for tenants at the Farmville airport. That last piece is expected to be finished by May. Also, council asked Farmville Town Manager Dr. Scott Davis to work with his staff and see if it’s feasible by June 1 to explore designating the entire town as an Urban Development Area (UDA). That could improve Smart Scale scoring and make it easier for the town to land state funding for road projects. During this timeframe, the council also wants to better understand how long it would take to revise the Comprehensive Plan. They’re requesting a plan, with a tentative schedule, to be presented in their hands by May 1. 

Within six months to a year 

Now what about the longer term projects? Where do they fall? By Sept. 1, Farmville council members want restrooms to be installed at the Splash Park. Also, town staff is being asked to close the loophole in the subdivision ordinance regarding sidewalk requirements for new residential developments. That issue popped up in October, during hearings for the planned Zion subdivision on Layne Street. At that time, council members learned there is actually no Farmville ordinance saying where a sidewalk needs to be placed at a new subdivision. The ordinance also only requires one sidewalk right now, even in locations where two would be appropriate. 

Also by Sept. 1, town staff has been asked to look into the potential to extend Meriwood Farm Road to South Main Street. Council members have asked Davis to contact the owner of the property between Peery Drive and South Main Street to see if the lot is for sale and if so, what is the asking price. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will also be asked to do a traffic study on that proposed extension. 

Within the calendar year, staff is being asked to set up a joint meeting between the town council and the Prince Edward Board of Supervisors, tentatively for the fall. Council members also want to see a financing plan in place for the proposed fire station renovations, as well as the purchase of a new ladder truck in the fall. Three years ago, the Farmville town council agreed to make a change over time, moving to a combination fire department that includes both paid positions and volunteers. In order to do that, however, you need more space. During the council’s February meeting, they heard from Greg Gilbert with Bignell Watkins Hasser Architecture and Interiors. Gilbert and his group had been hired to detail what was needed in a renovation and what kind of costs the town would be looking at. Current estimates place the renovation costs at around $11 million. 

Farmville town council looks beyond 

Town council members have also set some timeframes for work beyond this year. For example, they want to see a mobility study to look at the potential, possible location of and cost of an expanded series of trails and bikeways, all by 2028. They want to upgrade the town’s emergency operations center, to accommodate joint operations with Prince Edward County, by 2027. The council also wants to see a new Emergency Operations Plan, one coordinated with Prince Edward. That’s being penciled in for 2027, along with a study on ways to promote new housing development, especially starter homes, to try and bring young families to town.