The Architectural Review Board is responsible for reviewing proposals for exterior modifications to buildings and signs within the city’s Downtown Historic Preservation District. This includes construction of new buildings and additions; demolition of all or part of a building; remodeling or renovation of the exterior of a building; changing the color or removing any architectural element; removal, alteration, repair, or construction of amenities such as fences, walls, and walkways; and all exterior signs. The Architectural Review Board also reviews proposals within the Residential Historical Districts including demolition of main or accessory buildings, moving of main or accessory buildings, and construction of new main or accessory buildings.
The Cemetery Advisory Board advises and recommends to City Council the policies of cemetery operation, costs of interment, lots, equipment, and all other things incident or necessary in maintaining a cemetery. Additionally, the Cemetery Advisory Board makes recommendations concerning expansion and landscaping.
The Rockbridge Area Community Services Board provides mental health, intellectual disability, substance abuse services, and prevention measures to residents of the Rockbridge Region and Bath County. For more information on their programming, please visit https://www.racsb.org/.
The Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Board serves as an advisory board for Dabney S. Lancaster Community College. The Board meets with members of the school’s administration to discuss and approve policies in the best interests of the DSLCC community. For more information on the board please visit https://www.dslcc.edu/about/administration/local-board/.
The Disability Service Board is a regional advisory board charged with making recommendations to local governments for improving services provided to disabled persons.
The Electoral Board appoints the Voter Registrar for a four year term. The Electoral Board also appoints officers of election to work at the polls on elections days and conducts all general and special elections. After each election, the Electoral Board meets to canvass the vote for the City and certifies the results to the State Board of Elections.
The Board of Equalization is established after every general reassessment of real estate performed by the City. The Board of Equalization is responsible for hearing appeals to the assessment established by the City’s real estate assessor during the calendar year that the reassessment goes into effect.
The Industrial Development Authority issues tax exempt industrial revenue bonds on behalf of organizations wishing to seek tax exemption for their projects.
The Maury Service Authority produces bulk water for the City and its surrounding area through ownership and operation of a water treatment plant. It also treats all the wastewater from the City at its newly constructed wastewater treatment plant. For more information please visit http://lexingtonva.gov/gov/depts/utilities_processing.htm.
The Planning Commission advises City Council in matters related to land use planning and development. It is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to City Council concerning proposed subdivisions of land; site plans for proposed construction; conditional use applications; requests for rezoning; design review for building modifications, signs, and landscaping in the City’s entrance corridors. The Planning Commission is also responsible for preparing and maintaining the Comprehensive Plan.
The Public Safety Communications Board provides emergency services dispatching for Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County. The Central Dispatch Center, located in Buena Vista, dispatches for local police, fire, rescue, and emergency services. The Board oversees the operations of the center and hires an executive director to manage the day-to-day activities.
The City Jail is located at the Rockbridge Regional Jail, which serves Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County. The Regional Jail Commission manages the operations of the jail and hires a superintendent to carry out the day-to-day activities.
The Regional Tourism Board oversees the activities of the regional tourism program that includes Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County. The goal of the Lexington & Rockbridge Area Tourism Development is to use a variety of marketing strategies to attract visitors to the area.
The Rockbridge Regional Library Board oversees the Rockbridge Regional Library system which serves Lexington, Buena Vista, Rockbridge County, and Bath County. The Board helps guide the library towards their mission of “bolster[ing] the power of education, cultivat[ing] opportunities for learning, foster[ing] the fun in reading, and serv[ing] communities as information professionals. For more information please visit https://www.rrlib.net/.
The School Board oversees the operation of the local Lexington City Schools, which include Harrington Waddell Elementary School and Lylburn Downing Middle School. For more information please visit http://lexingtonva.gov/community/schools/default.htm.
The Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board serves as the fiscal agent and administrative entity for employment and training programs funded under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act for the Shenandoah Valley. They work with a wide range of regional and state partners to offer a variety of services such as employment information, career development training opportunities, easy access to support programs, and self-directed job search/job posting options, on the job training, work experiences, worker training and other business services. For more information please visit https://vcwvalley.com/.
The Regional Social Services Department, comprised of Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County, provides social services for Lexington residents. The Social Services Board sets policy for the Social Services Department and hires an executive Director to oversee day-to-day operations.
The Total Action Against Poverty Board oversees the regional Total Action Against Poverty program. TAP provides a variety of services to help lift families and individuals from poverty including adult education programs and the Head Start preschool programs. For more information on TAP’s programming please visit https://tapintohope.org/.
The Lexington Tree Board was created by the City’s Tree Ordinance adopted in 2000. The Board advises City Council, the Planning Department, and the City Arborist. It reviews notifications for activities that affect tree within the Central Business District (a City ordinance does regulate the planting and removal of trees in the Central Business District. The Tree Board also conducts community outreach and education programs. It assists with the development, revision, and evaluation of the Comprehensive Tree Management Plan. The Tree Board seeks relevant funds from state, federal, and other granting agencies. Additionally, it evaluates yearly progress made towards the goals of the Tree Ordinance.
The Board of Zoning Appeals considers applications for variances from the Zoning Ordinances, as well as appeals pertaining to the administration of the Zoning Ordinance. The five members are appointed by the judge of the Circuit Court. The director of the Planning and Development Department, as the City’s zoning administrator, is secretary to the Board of Zoning Appeals.