Planning Commission

Planning commissioners are charged with developing land-use plans and providing recommendations on their implementation to the Board of Supervisors.

They have a great deal of responsibility, as recommendations they make that are implemented by county supervisors can have long-lasting implications on how land is used, economic development opportunities, and the general quality of life in a community.

In Virginia, no prior experience or training in planning is required to be a planning commissioner.

The Greene County Planning Commission meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise announced, at 7:30 p.m. in the county administration building at 40 Celt Road in Stanardsville.

Chairman Anthony Herring is a Greene County native who graduated from James Madison University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He immediately entered the housing industry in the Charlottesville area, where he worked with a local builder for 14 years. For the next six years, he worked with national builders. In 2008 he became self employed as a consultant to the Active Adult & Senior industry across the nation.

A resident of Ruckersville, Herring is entering his fifth year of service as a Greene County planning commissioner. As such, he served one full term as the Greene County Planning Commission liaison to the county’s Economic Development Authority.

Herring’s term will expire on December 31, 2015.

Vice-chairman Jay Willer grew up in an agricultural community along Lake Erie in Ohio. He has been a property owner in Greene County since 1997 and a permanent member of the community since 2005. Appointed to the Greene County Planning Commission in January 2012, he describes himself as “tentatively retired.” Prior to his retirement he directed the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association, which represents builders and related businesses in Greene, as well as in the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Madison and Nelson.

Willer holds a bachelor’s degree in English and has completed all but his final dissertation for a master’s degree in community development. His background is varied. He has been a high school English and chemistry teacher, and a basketball coach. He was worked for a multi-county law enforcement program, run a supplemental social services program, and worked as legislative staff in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, focusing on energy, environment and agricultural issues. He has also done business development and federal lobbying for the research arm of the natural gas industry.

His appointment to the Greene County Planning Commission is Willer’s first official service to the county. He has, however, attended meetings of both Greene’s Board of Supervisors and its Planning Commission, and has addressed each many times, both as a representative of the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association and as a resident. He was also an active participant in community meetings that called for input into the county’s most recent comprehensive plan update.

Willer’s term will expire on December 31, 2013.

Commissioner Norman Slezak spent 32 years on active duty in the US Navy, with most of that career in a submarine specialty that required considerable training in the nuclear industry. After ending his sea duty as the commanding officer of a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, he spent the remaining years of his Naval career ashore primarily in the Washington DC area.

Following his retirement from service, Slezak co-owned a small start-up company that provided services to the military in the area of electronics. Ten years later he divested himself of the company and retired from working life.

He has been actively involved in the Greene County community since settling here 12 years ago. He is a member of American Legion Post 128 in Stanardsville and of the Greene County Ruritans, serving the former as commander for two years, and the latter as secretary. He also serves the county as a member of the Greene Alliance of Church and Community Efforts Board of Directors.

Slezak was chairman of the Planning Commission for two years. His term expires December 31, 2014.

There are currently two  vacancies on the Commission. Application can be made by visiting www.gcva.us, or by stopping by the County Administration Building on Celt Road in Stanardsville.