Minutes: Wetlands Board, October 14

The county’s own words, from the minutes it posted. Only the line breaks of its file are changed, so a paragraph reads as one. Part of the county’s file is a scan and couldn’t be read here, so the pages aren’t numbered.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY WETLANDS BOARD

OCTOBER 14, 2025

MINUTES

At the regular monthly meeting of the Northumberland County Wetlands Board held on October 14, 2025 in the Sheriff’s Office in Heathsville, Virginia at 5:00 PM:

Present Absent

Spencer Headley–Chairman Albert Fisher – Vice-Chairman

Robert Vanlandingham Tylynn Lewis

George Rew

Spencer Headley, Chairman, called the meeting to order.

Chairman Headley thanked Mr. Scott for putting up signs that make it easy to find his projects. On a motion by Robert Vanlandingham, seconded by George Rew, the minutes of the July 8, 2025 meeting were approved.

Application No. 25-1740

Landon M. Burke – to install 250 linear feet of riprap sill, 166 linear feet of riprap marsh sills and install 85 linear feet of riprap revetment along the shoreline of Hack Creek and 621 Wildlife Lane.

Craig Palubinski, agent for the owner, described the revised project to install 232 linear feet of riprap revetment, 166 linear feet of riprap marsh sills and install 18 linear feet of riprap sill. He noted that the revision was due to the high cost of construction.

Jeff Madden asked if there would be any vegetative impacts.

Craig Palubinski said there would not be any.

After review of the project and there being no objections, Robert Vanlandingham made a motion to approve the application in modified form for three years. George Rew seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved.

Application No. 25-2105

Lucas S. & Sherri M. Geiger – to install 232 linear feet of riprap revetment and install 30 linear feet of riprap sill along the shoreline of Hull Creek and 697 Earls Lane.

Craig Palubinski, agent for the owner, described the project. He noted that there is six square feet of needle rush that will be impacted. “There is a place on site to mitigate.”

Jeff Madden informed the Board that the current legislation states that if there are permitted impacts that credits be purchased through VARTF. “ For Mr. Headley to sign the permit, he must have a copy of the letter from VARTF that shows he has purchased credits.”

After review of the project and the possible need for wetland credits, Robert Vanlandingham made a motion to table the application until the November meeting. George Rew seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved.

Application No. 25-1926

Robert Muzzio – to install 70 linear feet of riprap revetment along the shoreline of Cockrell Creek and 2692 Fleeton Road.

Joseph Scott, agent for the owner, described the project.

After review of the project and there being no objections, George Rew made a motion to approve the application as submitted for three years. Robert Vanlandingham seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved.

Application No. 24-1861

Henry Ross – to repair and add additional stone to 190 linear feet of existing armor stone revetment and install a 10-foot stone return wall along the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay and 337 Lane Road.

Joseph Scott, agent for the owner, described the project.

James Bailey presented information to the Board regarding the runoff from Lot #7 which runs to an outfall on his property line. He said the riprap would run up to his property line and bring either a wash or a fill to that area.

Henry Ross explained what he is planning and how he believed it would work.

Paul Poyant supported Mr. Ross in his plans. He described how this beach had been dug up by the neighbor in order to drain the lot.

Chairman Headley suggested having VIMS evaluate the project and give a report before a decision is made. The Board members agreed.

After review of the project , Robert Vanlandingham made a motion to table the project until the November Wetlands Board meeting in order to obtain a VIMS report on the project. George Rew seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved.

Application No. 25-1682

John Scherbenske – to install 160 linear feet of riprap revetment along the shoreline of the Great Wicomico River and 1203 Eagle Point Road.

Joseph Scott, agent for the owner, described the project.

Application No. 25-2120

Harry Lee Self, ET AL – to install 61 linear feet of riprap revetment along the shoreline of Kingscote Creek and 268 and 282 Kingscote Drive.

Craig Palubinski, agent for the owner, described the project.

After review of the project and there being no objections, Robert Vanlandingham made a motion to approve the application as submitted for three years. George Rew seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved.

Application No. 25-1860

R. Scott Tidey – to install 48 linear feet of riprap revetment and install a 20 linear foot riprap spur along the shoreline of Indian Creek and 180 Waterbury Road.

Joseph Scott, agent for the owner, described the project. “This was previously permitted as a living shoreline. However, it didn’t survive so now we are replacing it with a revetment and spur.”

After review of the project and there being no objections, Robert Vanlandingham made a motion to approve that portion of the project within the Board’s jurisdiction for three years. George Rew seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved.

Application No. 25-2093

Arpad Toth – to install 195 linear feet of riprap revetment channelward of an existing failing bulkhead and eroding bank along the shoreline of Cranes Creek and 312 Stilwater Drive. Joseph Scott, agent for the owner, described the project.

Other Business

Philip Marston informed the Board that the November 11, 2025 meeting would fall on a holiday and that another date needed to be chosen. After discussion, Robert Vanlandingham made a motion to meet on Monday, November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM. George Rew seconded the motion and the Board approved unanimously.

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.

Read from the county’s file automatically. If anything here differs from that file, the file is right.