Planning commission adopts revised Southampton County comprehensive plan and forwards it to supervisors with a mixed‑use map change

The Southampton County Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt a revised county comprehensive plan and forward it to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation to approve.

Miss Lewis, planning staff, opened the public hearing and cited the Code of Virginia authority for the meeting. She summarized the draft plan — which includes chapters on population, housing, economy, transportation, public education, agriculture, energy, community facilities, environment and land use — and reminded the commission that the update began in 2019 and that the draft is available online and at the Community Development office.

Commissioners discussed cosmetic and mapping edits, including cover imagery (courthouse, rivers and agriculture) and a proposal from a commissioner to change a thumb‑shaped area on the north side of Southampton Parkway into a mixed‑use designation. That map change was proposed to promote development that can connect to existing sewer and to encourage a single master‑planned entrance rather than numerous individual driveways. Miss Lewis explained the mixed‑use category allows 3–10 units per developable acre and supports a mix of commercial, office and medium‑density residential uses.

A motion to apply the map change and to forward the revised comprehensive plan to the Board of Supervisors carried unanimously. Miss Lewis said the plan will be advertised and submitted to the board for consideration at its April meeting and that final mapping will reflect any supervisor changes if the board approves the plan.

The commission asked staff to circulate alternate cover designs and updated maps prior to board consideration. The board of supervisors will hold its own advertised public hearing before taking final action.