Shenandoah County meetings address drought, data centers, and agricultural district renewals
Agricultural and Forestal Districts up for renewal
The Shenandoah County Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee met July 16 to consider renewing five agricultural and forestal districts for 2026: Coal Mine Hollow, Columbia Furnace, Lebanon Church, Liberty Furnace, and St. Luke. The agenda also included approval of the meeting agenda, review of draft minutes from the January 12, 2026 meeting, and a public comment period. Minutes from the July 16 meeting have not yet been published, so the outcome of the renewal votes is not yet on record.
Planning Commission reviews Data Center Ordinance
The Planning Commission held a work session July 15 on the data center zoning ordinance approved June 23. The session included a presentation on the Data Center Ordinance and 2026 Code Updates, followed by a review of survey responses and public comments regarding the June 23 ordinance. No ordinance amendments were officially adopted at this meeting. The purpose was to summarize public questions and survey responses to identify priority topics for potential future amendments. Minutes have not yet been published.
Water Resources Advisory Committee tracks drought status
The Water Resources Advisory Committee met July 8 to approve the July agenda and review draft minutes from the May 13 meeting. The committee also received updates on drought conditions and an ordinance update, followed by a public comment period. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so no decisions or findings are confirmed in the record.
Coming up
The Shenandoah County Tourism Council meets July 21 to approve minutes from May and June 2026, review the May 2026 financial report, and discuss ongoing marketing efforts. Agenda items include discussion of the Outdoor Recreation Guide, review of FuseIdeas marketing performance, and review of the Black Valley Creative FY27 Plan.
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*Note: All three recent meetings listed above are agenda-only entries — minutes have not yet been published. The items described reflect what was scheduled for discussion, not confirmed outcomes. Readers seeking verified decisions should check the official minutes once posted on the Shenandoah County website.*