Justin Faulconer
RUSTBURG -- The owners of Huckleberry Knob Nursery in Rustburg are granted a special use permit for an events venue but are denied two primitive campground sites, the majority of the Campbell County Board of Supervisors voted Nov. 7.
Scott and Amanda MacLeod, who operate the nursery at 1469 Sunnymeade Road, sought the permit on property zoned agricultural and located in an area designated as medium to high-density residential.
The existing facilities would host workshops, classes, small celebrations, micro-weddings, art showcases, vendor markets and other small events, according to the applicants. They also sought to operate a small primitive campground of two campsites.
Parking would be in the existing parking lot with a walking trail to the campsite area, and no new facilities are planned with the request.
Scott MacLeod in a project narrative wrote the nursery is a recipient of a Campbell County economic development grant and is excited to apply for the permit.
"With this permit, we will have the opportunity to continue bringing new areas of interest and commerce to Campbell County," the narrative reads. "We have developed a beautiful garden center with a good reputation. We have a small natural pergola and a metal pavilion that can host workshops, classes, and community events related to gardening."
The property has several acres available for use and the business would mark each campsite to fit the zoning guidelines, Scott MacLeod wrote.
"It is a beautiful area that we would like to share," he wrote in the project narrative.
The Campbell County Planning Commission recently recommended approval of the request. Scott MacLeod said to the board Thursday the two campsites would be tent only in a primitive-style, cleared out area, and a staff member is planned to be present when the campsites are in use.
"We have interest in it," Scott MacLeod said of the campsites.
Supervisor Matt Cline said he fielded a few calls from neighbors concerned about the campsites, and he struggles with that aspect of the permit application.
"I will say you guys have a great job with the property. It looks great," Cline told the couple. "I have full faith you guys will execute whatever you do to the highest standards. It has been good for that area and the property looks much better. You guys are doing everything topnotch, so I appreciate that. It's great for the community."
Cline said he is concerned the campsites use could "go awry" after a wedding or similar event.
"I have concerns how that could impact some of the neighbors," Cline said. "I want to address their concerns. It's not because I hate campsites. I actually like camping."
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He motioned to approve the special event venue portion and remove the two campsites.
Supervisor Charlie Watts said the couple has done a great job with the property, and voiced support for the camping portion remaining. Supervisor Justin Carwile motioned to approve the application with both aspects, which failed on a 3-4 vote before Cline's motion passed.
Cline said he feels the special events venue is a great use of the property and complimented the couple for doing a "fantastic job" with the site.
Used car storage lot denied
After hearing from five residents in opposition, the board voted unanimously to deny a special use permit for a used car storage lot on property zoned agricultural at 3686 Dearing Road in Altavista. The applicant, David Hall, is renting a portion of the property, and desires to use some of it for storage of used cars, according to the staff report.
Hall states he plans to have a maximum of 200 vehicles on the property, the report states. A handful of residents spoke against the permit request during a public hearing Thursday, a few of them saying they do not want to see a vehicle "junkyard" in Altavista.
Altavista town officials in a letter to the board wrote their opposition stems from Hall's past issues with zoning compliance, and a desire to keep the Altavista community well-kept and attractive.
The planning commission recently recommended denial of the permit request in a 6-0 vote. Supervisor Tom Lawton, who represents the district where the used car lot is proposed, said he received a lot of concerns about it and no one he has spoken with or heard from supports it.
Revenue-share measure advances
In another matter, the board voted unanimously to create an ordinance for a vote during its Dec. 3 meeting on a special tax assessment for roughly a dozen separate properties on Springfield Road and Briarwood Lane as part of a revenue-share project petition through the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The residents of those two roads have requested that VDOT perform construction to bring them up to standards required for inclusion in the department's maintenance system. The construction cost is estimated at about $126,000 for the local match, which the residents pay back to the county for a period of two to five years, according to county staff.
County Administrator Frank Rogers said an interest-free loan to cover the amount is coming from the county's fund balance with the intent to improve the quality of life and property values for those residents.
"They are paying it over time by a special tax," Rogers said, adding the county has done a similar measure once before. "This is our second time down this road."
The county's involvement in the local match gives the residents more time to pay it back, and they legally are obligated to do so, according to county staff. Rogers said the county's policy is to maximize the amount the county will do so for at $200,000.
Kenneth Brown, the board's chair, said the residents asking for the county's help are "super nice people."
"It's going to be better for us in the long run," he said.
Justin Faulconer,
(434) 385-5551
jfaulconer@
newsadvance.com
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