Boards discuss housing, financial system in newest complete plan work session

That knowledge, principally pulled from census surveys and actual property market research, demonstrates a number of developments: house values have spiked however extra individuals are shopping for properties within the county; extra employees are commuting into the county and dealing remotely; and losses in manufacturing and associated industries have been coupled with positive factors within the service business.

Bridgewater consulting agency The Berkley Group has been commissioned to assist creator an up to date complete plan, a doc to information county decision-making concerning progress and improvement up till 2042. At a current third work session, the Nelson County Board of Supervisors and Planning Fee met to evaluate two new draft chapters of the plan.

Chapters current and summarize knowledge and pick developments, and a piece on the finish of every chapter lists round 15 potential methods to assist tackle recognized challenges.

Information from draft chapter 5 signifies housing has grow to be costlier within the county over the previous decade. In response to The Berkley Group, the median property worth within the county is $243,900. Whereas the median assessed worth of properties bought since 2010 has decreased by 33.5%, the median sale worth of homes has elevated by 51.6% over the identical interval.

That development was particularly pronounced through the COVID-19 pandemic; from April 2019 to April 2022 the median house value within the county rose 58%, in comparison with a 32% enhance statewide and a 39% nationwide enhance. House gross sales remained robust, nevertheless, with a 37% progress in gross sales in 2020 and a 23% progress in 2021. The Berkley Group makes a connection between that development and broadband enlargement, suggesting distant employees have relocated to the county for dependable web entry.

A drop in residential constructing permits issued since 2005, nevertheless (from round 200 per yr in 2005 to a reasonably fixed 50 per yr up till 2020) means that housing provide may not be maintaining with demand. At present round 60% of the county’s housing inventory is 30 years or older.

The U.S. census contains short-term leases below the umbrella of “vacant” housing, which additionally contains “seasonal, leisure, or occasional use” housing. In response to up to date figures in draft chapter 5, of the three,821 vacant housing items within the county in 2020, 2,328 of them have been thought of seasonal, recreation or occasional use, which incorporates short-term rental items. That quantity accounts for 28% of the entire 9,902 housing items within the county.

How are Nelson County residents working in 2023? Draft chapter seven recommend some solutions.

The Berkley Group studies that from 2004 to 2019, the quantity of people that stay and work within the county has decreased 21% to 1,660 employees. Concurrently, the quantity of people that commute into the county for work has elevated 24% over the identical interval to 2,179 employees in 2019. The quantity of people that stay in Nelson and commute out has remained almost fixed, rising only one% over the identical interval to 4,837 employees (which accounts for the biggest portion — 56% — of the county’s commuters).

Distant work is on the rise, from 11.7% of the county’s workforce working distant in 2019 to 18.8% working distant in 2021.

“This is a crucial factor for us to have the ability to name out — to understand how many individuals are telecommuter corkers, as a result of it adjustments our progress methods. Will we develop making an attempt to supply brick-and-mortar jobs or do you develop by making an attempt to supply an setting by which teleworkers need to stay and help their households?” Commissioner Charles Amante mentioned.

The county’s median family earnings is $67,707, about 16% decrease than the state median of $80,615, and behind Albemarle ($90,568) and Augusta ($69,082) counties. Nevertheless, Nelson’s median earnings is nicely above these of Amherst, Rockbridge, Appomattox and Buckingham counties.

Census knowledge exhibits that employees aged 55 and older make up 29% of the workforce, the identical p.c as in 2000. Staff within the 24 and youthful age group have decreased from 28% of the workforce in 2000 to 14% at present. Staff aged 25 to 54 have elevated over the identical time interval, from 43% to 57%.

The draft chapter identifies that development as a possible problem, a “information hole” as older employees retire and fewer expert employees are ready to take their place within the workforce.

It follows from the final inhabitants development — residents ages 55 and older now make up 44% of the county’s inhabitants, up from 29% in 2000.

Concerning Nelson County employers, the manufacturing business, transportation, warehousing and utilities industries and publishing, broadcasting and telecommunications have seen the best declines from 2000 to 2021, dropping 59%, 49.5% and 58.5% respectively.

Over the identical interval different industries have seen the most important positive factors: finance and insurance coverage, and actual property and rental and leasing (up 117.2%); skilled, scientific, and administration, and administrative and waste administration providers (up 53.8%); and academic providers, and well being care and social help (up 53.8%).

In response to The Berkley Group, over 67,800 acres of land at present are getting used throughout 409 farms within the county, a ten% and 15% lower since 2012 respectively. The whole market worth per acre, nevertheless, has elevated from $170 to $394 from 2007 to 2017.

The Berkeley Group had beforehand reported that the Nelson County College Board was the second largest employer within the county, after Wintergreen Pacific LLC; however has up to date the plan to replicate the varsity board because the county’s high employer.

Planning Fee chair Mary Kathryn Allen mentioned she’d have an interest to study what number of of Nelson County Public Faculties workers are residents of the county. Her remark that Nelson County academics are a few of the highest paid within the area drew some disagreement across the desk.

“…[W]e name them an enormous employer, however are they an employer of county residents?” Allen mentioned.

The subsequent complete plan work session is scheduled for Might 17. Subjects to be mentioned are future land use, transportation, and implementation instruments.