Washington County Commission Delays BWXT Rezoning Hearing

The commission voted 11-4 to move the proposed rezoning from February to March 23 meeting

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The Washington County Commission voted to move the proposed BWXT rezoning from its February 25 meeting to its March 23 meeting. The motion was approved in an 11-4 vote, with some commissioners citing concerns from citizens about the original Wednesday meeting date and a desire to have as many commissioners present as possible.

Why it matters

The BWXT rezoning request has been a contentious issue in the community, with residents expressing concerns about the potential impact on the local area. The commission's decision to delay the hearing to a later date will give both sides more time to prepare and potentially sway more commissioners ahead of the final vote.

The details

The motion to delay the rezoning hearing was made by Commissioner Richard Tucker and approved in an 11-4 vote. Some commissioners, like Marty Johnson and Jim Wheeler, supported the delay to a Monday meeting date when the full commission is typically present. However, Jodi Jones opposed the delay, arguing the public had already prepared for the original Wednesday meeting. County Attorney Allyson Wilkinson confirmed there would be sufficient time to republish the public hearing notice if the rezoning was pushed to March 23.

  • The original BWXT rezoning hearing was scheduled for February 25, 2026.
  • The commission voted on February 10, 2026 to move the hearing to March 23, 2026.

The players

Richard Tucker

A Washington County Commissioner who made the motion to delay the BWXT rezoning hearing.

Marty Johnson

A Washington County Commissioner who supported delaying the hearing to a Monday meeting date when the full commission is typically present.

Jim Wheeler

A Washington County Commissioner who also supported moving the hearing to a Monday night meeting.

Jodi Jones

A Washington County Commissioner who opposed delaying the rezoning hearing, arguing the public had already prepared for the original Wednesday meeting.

Allyson Wilkinson

The Washington County Attorney who confirmed there would be sufficient time to republish the public hearing notice if the rezoning was pushed to March 23.

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What they’re saying

“My goal would be to have as many commissioners here as possible, hopefully all of us. So I like it much better going on a regular night that we've known (about) for the duration of the year.”

— Jim Wheeler, Washington County Commissioner (wjhl.com)

“I feel like the public has had so much time to prepare for a Wednesday night meeting that it shouldn't be a challenge. I also feel like just because we are all planning on being here on a day — you never know. And there have been plenty of times when one or another of us have had to miss a meeting at the last minute.”

— Jodi Jones, Washington County Commissioner (wjhl.com)

“I would love to be respectful to those individuals and not create a conflict there.”

— Kenneth Huffine, Washington County Commissioner (wjhl.com)

What’s next

The BWXT rezoning request will now be heard at the Washington County Commission's regular meeting on March 23, 2026 at 6 p.m. There will also be a called budget pre-planning meeting that evening starting at 5:30 p.m.

The takeaway

The commission's decision to delay the BWXT rezoning hearing demonstrates the complex political dynamics at play, as they try to balance the desire for public participation with logistical concerns. This delay gives both supporters and opponents more time to make their case ahead of the final vote, which could have significant implications for the local community.