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As part of putting together the proposed comprehensive plan, Lunenburg County residents were asked what they wanted to eliminate. What should be removed from the county? 

This was the spot to basically complain about problems, to demand changes. And there were several that people raised concerns about. Specifically, they want to see blighted houses either cleaned up or demolished. The same goes for vacant retail buildings. If a tenant can’t be found to either buy or rent the structure, better to tear it down than to let it get overgrown with weeds and start crumbling. 

“There is a call for specific site redevelopment, such as the old nursery in Victoria, to revitalize and repurpose unused spaces for the benefit of the community,” the draft version of the new comprehensive plan says. 

Addressing blight and vacant properties was overwhelmingly number one, when it came to concerns. Residents want to see their county look good, arguing that the current visuals in some parts doesn’t help to attract either new residents or new business. 

Comprehensive plan calls for crackdown on crime 

Second behind that is a push to crack down on crime overall and specifically drug-related issues. But the numbers are positive for Lunenburg in that area. The latest Crime in Virginia report shows both the crime rate and number of crimes committed keeps dropping. 

Compiled by the Virginia State Police (VSP) in July of each year, the newest edition shows the crime rate at 16.75 per thousand people in 2023, a steep decline from 26.17 per thousand in 2022.

The two years prior were lower than 2022, with a rate of 21.44 per 1,000 people in 2021 and 21.03 in 2020. The highest crime rate over the five year reporting period was in 2019 at 34.38 per 1,000 people.

The number of crimes also declined by nearly a third last year.

Crime in Virginia shows there were 202 crimes reported in Lunenburg during 2023. Of these, the sheriff’s office handled 144 of them, with 19 by Kenbridge Police Department (KPD), 12 by Victoria Police Department (VPD) and 27 by state police.

The report shows there were 313 total crimes reported in the county during 2022, of which the Lunenburg sheriff’s office handled 212, Kenbridge police 45, Victoria police one and VSP 53.

Residents also said they were tired of what they called “double town tax” in Lunenburg, as well as an excessive amount of consignment shops. 

“By addressing the identified priorities and considering the limitations, we can develop a strategic plan that aligns with the community’s vision and enhances the overall quality of life,” the plan states. “Continuous engagement and feedback is encouraged to ensure the plan remains relevant and effective.”

Part of that means preventing what residents labeled as “undesirable businesses” not to set up shop in Lunenburg. By that, we’re referring to pot stores and casinos. Diving further down, residents also want to ban some practices used in businesses, such as self-checkout and plastic bag fees. 

What about solar? 

And of course, solar restrictions were brought up a lot. If solar is to succeed in Lunenburg County, residents want clear and strong restrictions put in place. Projects such as the Laurel Branch Solar farm and Poorhouse come to mind as examples. 

For those who need a refresher, Laurel Branch is an 80-megawatt one located southwest of Kenbridge, primarily between Plank Road and Sneads Store Road and along Oral Oaks Road. The site is currently used for timbering and agriculture. The project would power up to 20,000 homes at peak output and could begin construction as early as spring 2026 if permitted. This project also includes a “switchyard,” which would serve to transfer generated power to the grid. Construction is set to finish and the project is expected to go active by early 2028.

But residents want protection against any potential environmental impacts, including everything from deteriorating solar panels to chemicals seeping into the soil. They want stronger restrictions in place before another project is voted on. 

Where can I read the comprehensive plan?

If you want to read through the current proposed comprehensive plan, copies are available at the Lunenburg County Administration (434-696-2142), Kenbridge Town Office (434-676-2452), Victoria Town Office (434-696-2343), Ripberger Public Library in Kenbridge, and Victoria Public Library in Victoria. The file can also be viewed on the Lunenburg County website at www.lunenburgva.gov.