Board schedules public hearing on land gifts and swaps for Courthouse Square veterans memorial move

Rockbridge County staff told the Board of Supervisors on July 28 that Main Street Lexington has begun a Courthouse Square project that includes moving the county veterans memorial to a parcel north of the old courthouse and that three coordinated land transactions are needed to complete the move. The board authorized advertising a public hearing on the transactions.

Staff described three deeds: (1) Rockbridge Partners LLC would gift a new parcel for the relocated veterans memorial to the county; (2) the county would convey the current veterans memorial parcel to Rockbridge Partners LLC (a land swap); and (3) Rockbridge Partners LLC would gift the former memorial parcel to the City of Lexington to become part of the courthouse square. Staff said deeds will include language to ensure the new parcel remains a veterans memorial, a provision important to Rockbridge Partners and the board.

Staff said the items must go to public hearing before the county can divest itself of the existing memorial parcel. The board voted to schedule the public hearing; staff will draft deed language and coordinate timing so the three transactions can be considered together at the hearing.

Ending: Staff will prepare deed drafts and advertise a public hearing on the planned gift deeds and land swap; no property conveyance occurred at the July 28 meeting.