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Switching station hearing could be delayed again Tuesday

More than 60 people turned out to the James City County Planning Commission public hearing on a proposed electric switching station at Skiffes Creek in August 2015. (Ian Brickey/WYDaily)
More than 60 people turned out to the James City County Planning Commission public hearing on a proposed electric switching station at Skiffes Creek in August 2015. (Ian Brickey/WYDaily)

A decision on the Skiffes Creek Switching Station may be postponed another six months if the James City County Board of Supervisors accepts another deferment request from Dominion Virginia Power.

A public hearing on the rezoning of land in Grove for the switching station—a key component of Dominion’s proposed power line over the James River—is scheduled for Aug. 9.

The hearing was originally scheduled for Oct. 13, 2015. Since September, the hearing has been postponed five times.

In this sixth effort, Dominion is requesting a delay to Dec. 13. If the board prefers to hold the hearing sooner, Dominion suggests a date of Oct. 25.

In a letter to board chairman Michael Hipple (Powhatan) dated June 27, attorney Brennen Keene, who represents Dominion, said Dominion is waiting on a decision from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with the project but does not expect a resolution before Aug. 9.

“In light of this timing, we believe that a delay in the public hearing on Dominion’s Applications for the Station would be appropriate,” Keene wrote.

Regardless of the board’s decision Tuesday night, the hearing will take place more than a year after the JCC Planning Commission recommended denying Dominion’s application in a 4-2 vote.

The Army Corps released a revised draft Memorandum of Agreement, which addresses mitigation measures for the project, June 16. A 30-day comment period for the draft recently closed.

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