Residents will have an opportunity to learn more about a possible boundary line adjustment for the Town of Gordonsville next week.
The Gordonsville Town Council will host an informal information session related to a possible boundary adjustment Thursday, Oct. 9, 6-8 p.m. at Gordon-Barbour Elementary School. The adjustment, if approved, would bring additional property currently located outside of the town’s boundary into the town limits.
According to the Code of Virginia, boundary line adjustments taken into consideration the need for services and zoning in the affected area; the current level of relative services provided; efforts to comply with state policies; community interest; the need to expand tax resources; the need to obtain land for industrial or commercial use; any adverse impact to county taxes and any adverse impact on agricultural operations. A voluntary boundary adjustment between Orange County and Gordonsville has been discussed since 2004. In 2018, an Orange County Board of Supervisors member informally suggested completing the adjustment before 2026 and in 2019 a draft timeline was provided by Troutman Pepper, the legal firm hired by the town to assist with the adjustment. In 2024, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission provided an initial report for Gordonsville Town Council of the areas that could be adjusted into town.
According to the report, the adjusted areas were split into five sub-areas collectively totaling 963.9 acres with 236 residential housing units, eight commercial businesses and two industrial businesses. The adjustment would result in approximately $200,000 in increased revenue for the town. The RRRC report stated that the county would have no significant increase or decrease since town residents pay both town and county taxes. The RRRC report was sent to the board of supervisors and this May, former county administrator Ted Voorhees confirmed via email to Gordonsville officials the board was accepting of moving the matter forward through the required legal process in the form of a “settlement agreement” and would “likely approve the proposal as drafted but always reserves the right to object or make changes depending on the public input.”
However, when mayor Ron Brooks, elected in November, announced the town would be initiating the legal process for the adjustment, which requires several opportunities for public input, residents and the supervisors balked. In August, the supervisors pulled their support of the project stating it was not in the best interest of Orange County and its residents at this time.
Thursday’s meeting will serve as a way for town leaders to share more information about the possible boundary adjustment and receive feedback. The first hour of the meeting will serve as an informal discussion and presentation of information. A question and answer session will be held during the second hour of the meeting.
For more information, visit https://www.townofgordonsville.org/news_detail_T15_R327.php.
