What’s next for the M.C. Dean proposal, and a frosty, sunny weekend

Good evening. The forecast for the weekend is sunny and cool, with patchy frost on Saturday morning and not one raindrop in sight. Put the scraper where you can find it.

Friday | High 64, Low 36. Sunny, then a clear, cold night.

Saturday | High 62, Low 41. Patchy frost before 9am, then sunny.

Sunday | High 65, Low 40. Sunny.

(National Weather Service, updated Oct. 22, 6:31am: forecast)

The Board of Supervisors recognized Commissioner of the Revenue Mark Bissoon for his service as the 87th President of the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia, according to the county's news release. The Board also presented a resolution to Bishop Thomas O. Holmes, Jr. and Lady Catherine Holmes, honoring their 30th anniversary at New Life Pentecostal Church. (county news release)

The Planning Commission meets tonight at 6:30pm in the Community Services Center Auditorium in Milford, and the county is streaming it live. The agenda lists a worksession on RZ-07-2026, in which M.C. Dean Inc. asks to rezone five parcels, about 600 acres west of Route 207 near Moncure Drive, from Rural Preservation and Rural Residential-2 to Planned Industrial Park "for the development of a technology park." (agenda)

The staff packet describes three phases, starting with one building of roughly 1.5 million square feet. Draft proffers dated Oct. 1 list 22 by-right uses, including manufacturing, research and development, and warehouse facilities. The packet's list does not include data centers. The application mentions data centers only as one of the customers for the modules the company builds. (staff packet)

A worksession is not a public hearing. The packet says a hearing before the Commission "will be scheduled for a later date," and none is set. The Board of Supervisors would also hold a hearing, according to the county's release. The $412.5 million investment and 1,950 jobs come from the governor's Oct. 13 announcement.

Not known yet: a hearing date, final proffers (the draft has a blank buffer length and unsigned owner blocks), and a staff recommendation, since the memo includes none.

Planning ahead: Wed., Oct. 28, 3 to 6pm, the Friends of the Rappahannock tree giveaway, free, in the large pavilion at Caroline Recreation Park, 19127 County Park Dr., Milford. Choices are Pin Oak, River Birch, Arrow-wood and Pawpaw, one gallon each. (organizer) Sat., Oct. 31, the Frog Level Fall Festival, Parade and Brunswick Stew Sale, 30240 Richmond Tpke. The department's event page lists a 10am start, and its earlier posts put the parade at 11am. (county calendar) Sun., Nov. 1, 6 to 8pm, Frog Level's free Trunk or Treat, with a hay maze and a fire truck display. (event page)

The CCPS calendar shows no early releases or closings through the weekend. Caroline High's three events this week are all away, per NFHS Network, including Friday's varsity football game at Courtland. (NFHS Network)

Little ones next week: Tue., Oct. 27, Mother Goose at Ladysmith, 10 to 10:20am. Wed., Oct. 28, Story Time at Dawn, 10 to 10:30am. Thu., Oct. 29, Mother Goose at Bowling Green at 10am, preschool story time at Ladysmith at 10am and at Bowling Green at 10:30am. Sat., Oct. 31, 10am to noon, mini pumpkin painting at the Bowling Green branch. For grown-ups, a virtual author talk with Mark Groves, Tue., Oct. 27, 2 to 3pm. (library calendar)

Meetings: the Town of Bowling Green's Planning Commission meets jointly with Town Council tonight at 6pm. The town has not posted a location, so call 804-633-6212. (town site) Port Royal Town Council meets Fri., Oct. 23 at 6pm, Council Chambers, 419 King St.; the public may speak during comment. (town calendar) The Transportation Committee meets Wed., Nov. 4 at 6:30pm in Bowling Green. The Board of Supervisors next meets Thu., Nov. 12 at 6pm, Community Services Center Auditorium, Milford. (county calendar)

What the Board Took Up (Oct. 13). Minutes are not posted yet, so these are the items on the agenda, not confirmed votes. (agenda)

Trunks and tables wanted: Frog Level Volunteer Fire Department is looking for participants in its Nov. 1 Trunk or Treat. Sign-ups close tonight, Thu., Oct. 22, at 10pm. (registration form)

Stew crew wanted for the Oct. 31 Brunswick stew: stirring runs 3am to noon, and the department says three hours or more earns a thank-you gift. (sign up)

Seniors 60 and older: registration for the free Senior Gala, Thu., Dec. 10, 5 to 8pm at Caroline High School, runs through Nov. 13 or until full, according to CCPS. (registration form)

Correction: last week we reported that I-95 bridge work over the CSX Railroad would start Oct. 19. VDOT now says the contractor postponed the start to Monday, Nov. 9. The $13.3 million project is near mile marker 103, just south of exit 104, with periodic lane closures expected this fall. (VDOT)

Through Friday, VDOT lists right lane closures on Route 1 between Ladysmith Rd. and Route 207 (Rogers Clark Blvd.) and a single lane on Route 639 (Ladysmith Rd.) between Route 1 and Partlow Rd., both weekdays 9am to 3pm for utility work under permit. VDOT had not posted next week's alert at press time. Check 511virginia.org or dial 511. (VDOT alert)

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls open 6am to 7pm. Friday, Oct. 23 (tomorrow) is the deadline to register or update a registration, and 5pm that day is the deadline to apply for a mail ballot. Early voting runs through Sat., Oct. 31 at the Annex behind 212 N. Main St., Bowling Green: weekdays 9 to 5, Sunday Oct. 25 from 11 to 4, Saturdays Oct. 24 and 31 from 9 to 5. Caroline's ballot includes the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House (7th District), and three proposed amendments to the state constitution, plus town council seats in Bowling Green and Port Royal. No county-level office is on the ballot this year. Sample ballots and details: Caroline General Registrar and Virginia Department of Elections.

Per the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the Caroline County Courthouse in Bowling Green dates to the early 1830s and is attributed to master builders William B. Phillips and Malcolm F. Crawford, who had worked for Thomas Jefferson at the University of Virginia. The records are lost, so the attribution rests on the building's resemblance to other courthouses. (DHR)

That's all for this week. Each new reader makes this newsletter a little stronger. Thanks for being one of them.

Did we miss something, or is there an event, a person, or a bit of good news you think belongs in the next issue? Email [email protected] or send a message to our Facebook page, The Caroline Ledger. I read everything, even when I can't fit it all in.