NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY WETLANDS BOARD
FEBRUARY 10, 2026
MINUTES
At the regular monthly meeting of the Northumberland County Wetlands Board held on February 10, 2026 in the Sheriff’s Office in Heathsville, Virginia at 5:00 PM:
Present Absent
Spencer Headley–Chairman Tylynn Lewis
Albert Fisher – Vice-Chairman
George Rew
Robert Vanlandingham
Spencer Headley, Chairman, called the meeting to order.
On a motion by George Rew, seconded by Robert Vanlandingham, the minutes of the January 13, 2026 meeting were approved.
A request was made to hear the # 2 request first. On a motion by Robert Vanlandingham, seconded by Albert Fisher, the Board unanimously approved the change.
Application No. 26-0015
Jessica Wittkamp – to install 297 linear feet of armor stone revetment channelward of an existing bulkhead and to remove five (5) failed timber groins and replace with five (5) 48’low -profile timber groins along the shoreline of the Potomac River and 845 Virmar Beach Road. Joseph Scott, agent for the owner, described the project. He said the plan is to get a permit to put rock to the top of the bank, but to install it only halfway. He said that if they find it is needed in the future, they would already have a permit to install it to the top of the bank. After review of the project and there being no objections, Albert Fisher made a motion to approve the application as submitted for three years. George Rew seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved.
Application No. 25-2567
Harbour Pointe HOA – to construct a landward extension to an existing timber groin along the shoreline of the Potomac River and Tax Map Parcel #20-C(2)-14-A at the cul-de-sac on Riverside Court.
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James Gray, president of the HOA, described the project . He noted that the extension would probably be between 5 and 7 feet.
Albert Fisher noted that this is a good option.
After further review of the project, Robert Vanlandingham made a motion to approve the application as submitted for three years. George Rew seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved.
Old Business
The Board then heard two applications which were tabled at the January 13, 2026 meeting. Application No. 25-2653
David E. Ellis – to install 81 linear feet of riprap revetment along the shoreline of Balls Creek and 426 Balls Hill Road.
Roger McKinley, agent for the owner, described the project and noted a revision to skip the area where the grass is located.
Albert Fisher stated that he is in favor of the project .“It’s maybe three square feet there. This situation is a little bit different. He wants to access a pier. Sometimes we run across things that I think we need an exception for. Two reasons. First of all, thank you Roger I appreciate what you said and that’s fine. My experience is that it usually comes back to haunt us. I’m afraid that bank is going to slough down and cover that grass after all. I think the Board needs the ability to review these things and I think that ability has been taken away from us. If we can’t make a decision like this, maybe they don’t need a Board . They just need an administrative officer. I’ll find out a little more about this. I want my thoughts in the minutes. I expect to address this to our Virginia legislature, our Virginia representative. I think they have gone a step too far when we can’t make an exception for a paraplegic.”
Chairman Headley asked Jeff Madden to address this. “If I am correct, it’s in the code of Virginia that you can’t do anything with the grasses. Is there any exception in that code?” Jeff Madden said, “Not to my knowledge.”
After further discussion, on a motion by Albert Fisher, seconded by Robert Vanlandingham the request was unanimously approved as revised with a gap.
Application No. 25-2662
Marie Johnson – to remove an existing timber bulkhead and install 83 linear feet of bulkhead in the same footprint along the shoreline of Taskmakers Creek and 77 Connies Lane.
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Roger McKinley, agent for the owner, described the project. He stated that the owner bought the property in order to clean it up. He said they would install a 35 foot long living shoreline which includes a stone breakwater. He noted that this would impact various types of marine vegetation and they would plant vegetation in the 35 foot section to compensate.
Jeff Madden asked if fill would be placed over wetland vegetation as a result of construction of the bulkhead.
Roger McKinley said it would be. “That’s why we’re doing the living shoreline, to replace that.” Chairman Headley asked if this would be a question for VIMS.
Philip Marston said that we could ask VIMS to look at it and advise us.
Albert Fisher stated that this is what he was talking about. “We have a code to deal with and we can’t make a decision on it. That choice has been removed from us.”
After further discussion. Albert Fisher made a motion to table the request until the March meeting and request VIMS review the project and determine the number of square feet of wetland grass involved. Robert Vanlandingham seconded the motion. The Board unanimously approved. There being no further business to come before the Board, on a motion by Robert Vanlandingham seconded by George Rew, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn.