The Simply Shenandoah project (SUP-19-06-02) affects land use, power, water resources, emergency services, road infrastructure, and the long-term character of the surrounding community. At the Forest Colony Association meeting on March 11, 2026, residents expressed strong support for obtaining access to public records in order to better understand how the project has evolved from the 2019 baseline plan, through the 2022 site plan approvals, to the currently advertised 2025 version.
To support transparency and equal access to information, a Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted on February 25, 2026. The County Board was previously informed that if fee-waiver questions remained unresolved, a community fundraiser would be pursued so that cost would not limit public access to records. Those questions remain unresolved, and fundraising is proceeding consistent with that prior communication.
FOIA Cost Estimate: $1,930.73
Shenandoah County issued a cost estimate of $1,930.73 to fulfill the FOIA request, covering approximately seven years of records across multiple County departments. The estimate includes hours billed by:
• County Administrator
• Deputy County Administrator
• Director of Community Development
• Executive Assistant
• Community Development Technician
• Network Administrator
The County described the estimate as an “approximate calculation” and stated that no further itemized breakdown, such as specific tasks, record categories, or document counts, was available.
FOIA Council Clarification
On March 11, 2026, the Virginia FOIA Council issued advisory guidance stating that:
• Fee waivers are permitted at the public body's discretion
• FOIA processing is generally clerical in nature
• Use of high-level staff should be reasonable and justified
• Charges must reflect actual cost
This differed from the County's earlier written statement that no fee waiver was available. Additional clarification was requested from the County, and no response has yet been provided.
Why I'm Raising Funds
The cost is significant, and these records are important for informed community understanding. Cost should not become a barrier to public access and transparency.
Commitment to Transparency
All documents received will be posted publicly at:
Updates will also be shared on the Forest Colony Facebook page.