UPCOMING: - Thursday, April 27th - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' BUDGET WORK SESSION 6:00pm Courthouse - Thursday, May 4th - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY - 3:00pm at The Nelson Center ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: - Central VA Rodeo at Oak Ridge - volunteers needed to earn a donation for Rural Nelson on Saturday, May 20th 7pm - 10pm and Sunday, May 21st 1pm - 4pm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, April 26, 2006 Present: Ms. Philippa Proulx, Ms. Emily Hunt, Mr. Mike Harman, Ms. Delores Truesdale, Mr. Tommy Bruguiere Absent: Ms. Linda Russell REZONING/CORBIN - Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Corbin have requested a rezoning from Residential (R-1) to Agricultural (A-1) on two parcels located on the east side of Rt. 151 approximately 800 feet north of Sycamore Lane. The parcels are 1.75 and 2.22 acres each. The owners have a buyer interested in purchasing the property to construct a dwelling and operate an agri-business. Mr. Boger noted that the surrounding land use is a mixture of residential and agricultural uses and that there is a commercial nursery in the vicinity. He said that the Comprehensive Plan designates the area as Rural and Farming but said that the primary issue for the county is whether the rezoning would constitute "spot zoning" as the zoning along Rt. 151 is Residential. Mr. Bruguiere noted that, when zoning was first instituted in the county, many of the main highways were zoned Residential for approximately 300 feet back from the road, resulting in split zoning on many properties. Mr. Taylor Smack, potential buyer for the two lots, said that his plan is to build a home on one of the lots and build a microbrewery, Blue Mountain Brewery, on the other. He said that he has been brewing professionally for seven years and wants to develop the business with a farm-like atmosphere similar to that of the county wineries. He said that he is planning to build a 1,900 square foot brewery and a 1,900 square foot tasting room. Mr. Smack said that he has talked with the ABC officials and his plan fits into their requirements. He noted that he plans to grow hops on the property to be used in his finished product. During Public Comment, Mr. Andrew Hodson, owner of Veritas Winery, said that he supports the application for a rezoning. He said that his support is in part based on the fact that Mr. Smack is an excellent beer maker and will be an asset to the community. Mr. Hodson said that having an agricultural front on Rt. 151 is an excellent idea and that hops growing along 151 is preferable to a housing development along the road. He said that the microbrewery would add to Nelson's sense of agri-tourism. Mr. Edward Pelton, an employee of Veritas, said that he believes Mr. Smack will develop the business and property tastefully and that the business and the Smack family will be assets to Nelson. Ms. Proulx said that she does not consider the rezoning to be spot zoning as there is a mix of uses as well as agricultural business in the area. She said that the proposed use is not very different from the surrounding uses. Mr. Harman agreed, saying that he does not see the rezoning as spot zoning. Ms. Hunt asked Mr. Smack about water consumption for a microbrewery and he said that the business would use no more water than a winery. She also asked about growing hops. Mr. Smack said that they are grown similar to grapes in that they grow on trellises. He said that it will take a couple of years for full production, but that he would eventually like to grow all of the hops needed for his brewing. Commissioners voted 5-0 to recommend approval of the rezoning. RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE/VEGETATIVE RUBBISH RECYCLING FACILITY BY CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT - Mr. Boger noted that the County Attorney has recommended adding conditions to the ordinance itself as conditions can be added to the Conditional Use Permit for a facility based on the individual applicant's situation. Mr. Bruguiere noted that the Board of Supervisors had removed the reference to a stump grinder as there are many types of machines that can be used to process vegetative waste to mulch. Ms. Proulx agreed but said that removing that phrase made the language unclear as to whether the material can actually be processed on site. She suggested making the following change (in all caps) for clarification: "2. That Article 2 of the Zoning Ordinance entitled Definitions should be amended by the addition of the following subsection: Vegetative Rubbish Recycling Facility: a facility in which vegetative rubbish, as defined in Section 10-1.T. of the Solid Waste Ordinance, is received from off-site properties and temporarily stored until converted ON SITE into firewood, and into mulch and compost, and where the resultant firewood, mulch, compost, soil, and rocks are temporarily stored prior to their removal." Commissioners voted 5-0 to authorize staff to advertise a public hearing on the proposed amendment with the change noted above. (NOTE: Public Hearing to be held on May 24th at 7:30pm.) RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE/DWELLINGS IN BUSINESS DISTRICT (B-1) BY CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT- After discussion, Commissioners voted 5-0 to authorize staff to advertise a public hearing on the proposed amendment. (NOTE: Public Hearing to be held on May 24th at 7:30pm.) BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' LIAISON REPORT - Mr. Bruguiere noted that the final subdivision plat consideration and public hearing for Crabapple Estates in Piney River had been postponed for one month as the altered plat was not received in the Planning & Zoning office at least 30 days prior to the public hearing. Mr. Boger said that the County Attorney has clarified that, according to the ordinance, the plat must be filed with Planning & Zoning at least 30 days prior to the Planning Commission's and Board of Supervisors' public hearings in order for the public to have time to review the proposal. He noted that any changes made to the plat after the Planning Commission's final review and vote and before the Board of Supervisors' public hearing will require that the Supervisors' public hearing be postponed to allow for advertisement of the revised proposal and a 30-day public review time. Meeting adjourned. Copyright 2000-2006 by Rural Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. 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