The timing of real estate reassessments, county comprehensive plan updates, rezoning requests and the next fiscal year’s budget will be considered when Montgomery County supervisors meet Wednesday, Jan. 28.
The meeting was postponed from Monday, Jan. 26, because of the massive winter storm that was headed toward the region.
The board will convene at 7:15 p.m. in the second-floor meeting chambers at the county government center, 755 Roanoke St., Christiansburg.
It’s time to re-evaluate real estate reasessment times
Supervisors will hold a public hearing on a proposal to conduct real estate reassessments every two years.
A reassessment is underway in Montgomery County, with property owners expected to receive notice of their new assessed values this fall. New real estate values are set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Montgomery is the largest county in Virginia that still reassesses property values every four years, according to a presentation prepared for the meeting. Out of 95 counties, only 19 reassess on a four-year cycle, while 15 do biennial reassessments and 13 reassess annually, including Roanoke County.
More frequent reassessments would provide greater uniformity and consistency of assessed values throughout the county, the presentation claims. Also, assessed values would more accurately reflect market values, and increased frequency would spread out tax rate adjustments so property owners don’t face such a big hit after a reassessment.
Outdoor and cultural assets part of the comprehensive plan review
County planning staff will give supervisors a rundown on the first two sections of the comprehensive plan, which the Planning Commission is in the final stages of updating.
Why is a comprehensive plan important? Here are two striking statistics that illustrate the need for good planning and periodic updates:
— Over the three decades from 1990 to 2020, Montgomery County’s population grew by 33 percent, or nearly 24,500 people.
— Christiansburg’s population grew the fastest during that time, nearly doubling at 45.4 percent.
State law requires local governments to create comprehensive plans and update them every five years.
County planners have worked for 18 months to gather input from citizens and local stakeholders, such as town governments and other entities, through surveys and community meetings, according to a planning department memorandum. The county is working with EPR P.C., a consulting firm, on the plan, titled “Montgomery Matters.”
The first two sections to be reviewed Jan. 28 are a description of the planning process and a detailed examination of matters involving outdoor and cultural assets.
Sections three and four address community development and health care and public services. Section five addresses land use and the county’s villages, Prices Fork, Belview, Riner, Shawsville and Elliston-Lafayette.
The commission will hold a public hearing on the overall plan in February. The board of supervisors is expected to hold a final public hearing in late February or early March.
General store could rise from rezoning approval at Tyler and Barn Road
Supervisors will receive public comments and vote on several rezoning requests.
RWW36 LLC and RWW34 LLC seek rezoning of nearly 7/10ths of an acre at the intersection of Tyler Road (Route 177) and Barn Road (Route 627) from A-1 agricultural use to general business use for construction of a general store, a convenience store with motor fuel sales and a restaurant with a drive-through.
The companies also seek rezoning of roughly 4/10ths of an acre of vacated right-of-way identified as Youngs Lane, and nearly 1/10th of an acre of vacated right-of-way between Meadow Creek Road, Tyler Road and Interstate 81 from conservation to general business.
The properties are slightly north of Carillon New River Valley Medical Center.
Planning staff recommend approval, noting that attention should be given to exterior lighting to preserve nighttime skies.
Other notable items on the agenda include:
— A public hearing on the budget process for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which will begin in July.
— Appropriation of nearly $5.1 million in interest from a Christiansburg High School capital project bond for the following: Christiansburg High renovations, $4.5 million; school district server replacement, $265,000; Christiansburg Elementary and Christiansburg Primary playground replacements, $78,650; Montgomery Central renovation for an alternative education classroom, $40,000; Auburn Elementary School HVAC replacement design work, $52,000.
You can find meeting documents at https://montva.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=397.
