Campbell County Planning Commission January 27, 2025 Campbell County Planning Commission Minutes January 27, 2025 The regular meeting of the Campbell County Planning Commission was held on Monday, January 27, 2025, in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, Walter J. Haberer Building, Rustburg, Virginia. The following members were present: Dean Monroe John Thilking Michael S. Condrey Megan Witt Trish R. Hedges David Gough Robert J. Otero Charlie Watts, Board of Supervisors Representative Members Absent: None Staff Members present: Paul E. Harvey, Assistant County Administrator Austin R. Mitchell, Director of Community Development Crystal J. Machhi, Staff Secretary / Mr. Austin Mitchell called the meeting to order followed by Commissioner Monroe leading the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 p.m. / Election of Officers / Commissioner Condrey made the motion to appoint Mr. Dean B. Monroe as the 2025 Chairman of the Campbell County Planning Commission. The vote was: Aye: Monroe, Witt, Condrey, Hedges, Otero, Gough, Thilking Nay: None Absent: None /I Chairman Monroe made the motion to appoint Mr. John Thilking as the 2025 Vice-Chairman and Commissioner Michael Condrey as the 2025 Secretary of the Campbell County Planning Commission. The vote was: Aye: Monroe, Witt, Condrey, Hedges, Otero, Gough, Thilking Nay: None Absent: None I Chairman Monroe asked for corrections or comments on the minutes from the December 2, 2024 meeting and the December 12, 2024 meeting. With none, Chairman Monroe made the motion to approve the minutes from the December 2, 2024 meeting and the December 12, 2024 meeting. / OLD BUSINESS Campbell County Planning Commission. January: 27, 2025 /I PL-24-201 Rezoning-Formerly 3094 Swinging Bridge Road, Parcel 92A-1-6) / Mr. Austin Mitchell, Director ofCommunity Development, stated the applicant is seeking to rezone the parcel to Residential - Manufactured Housing to allow for the placement of a manufactured home. There was previously a single-family dwelling on the property that burned in 2020. The applicant is in the process of purchasing the property and is seeking to place a small doublewide in the location of the previous dwelling. The applicant states that he has spoken with several neighbors in the area who have no objection to the request. / Mr. Husain Haqg, 8032 Red House Road, stated he is looking to set up residency for his family. The other houses in the neighborhood are similar in size to a doublewide. He has talked to neighbors and none had any objections. / Chairman Monroe asked if this is a new doublewide. Mr. Haqq responded yes, it is. / Chairman Monroe made the motion to recommend approval of PL-24-201 for rezoning. Commissioner Thilking seconded the motion. II Chairman Monroe closed the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. This matter will go before the Board of Supervisors meeting on March 4, 2025. The vote was: Aye: Monroe, Witt, Condrey, Hedges, Otero, Gough, Thilking Nay: None Absent: None / PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR CONSIDERATION / PL-24-224 (Special Use Permit-197 Cricket Lane) // Chairman Monroe stated this is a request by Jim Nobilini for a special use permit to operate a tourist house on property zoned Agricultural. The property is located at 197 Cricket Lane in an area designated as medium to high density residential per the current Comprehensive Plan. I Mr. Austin Mitchell, Director of Community Development, stated the appliçant is the owner of the property and wishes to rent out the basement accessory dwelling unit for overnight guests using a platform such as Airbnb. The home was recently constructed for the father-in-law of the applicant to move into. The father-in-law plans to live on the main level ofthe home and thel basement would be rented as a short-term rental. The basement has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and al living area with a small kitchen. The applicant lives five (5) minutes from the property and plans to manage the short-term rental. I Chairman Monroe opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. I Mr. Jim Nobilini, 420 Mount Vista Drive, stated they are currently constructing the house for his wife's father to live in. He would live in the first story of the house and the basement would be a Campbell County Planning Commission. January 27, 2025 short term rental initially and then they would like to rent it out long term. This rental would be to help subsidize the cost of the building. /I Commissioner Gough asked how many bedrooms the rental would be. Mr. Nobilini stated it would be a two bedroom. / Commissioner Thilking asked if his father-in-law would look after the rental unit. Mr. Nobilini responded that he would since he would be living there. / Commissioner Otero asked what the square footage is of the rental. Mr. Nobilini responded that it is around 1,500 square feet. / Commissioner Condrey stated the way it is set up currently doesn't lend itself to a separate basement dwelling. There is no sidewalk or separate parking. Mr. Nobilini stated they plan to create a small parking area and have a walkway to the back patio with a separate entrance for the basement. / Chairman Monroe asked if they have an extended plan ifhis father-in-law were unable to take care of the rental. Mr. Nobilini stated him and his wife will manage the property along with him and would continue to do so. They would sell the house when his father-in-law passes. / Ms. Victoria Hicks, 216 Cricket Lane, stated this is a short dead-end road with a lot of families and believes it would have negative impacts on their small community. She stated short term tourist housing introduces a transient population that would disturb the neighborhood character. She is concerned about increased traffic, parking issues, noise, and property values. She stated it is a safety hazard for the children that play in the neighborhood. She is also concerned that there is a documented pattern of the intentions of the property not being disclosed from their prior Special Use Permit application. The basement of their home was intended to be for his father in law but became listed as an Airbnb. / Mr. Dylan Chittum, 154 Cricket Lane, stated he wants the neighborhood to stay safe for the children. He doesn't have confidence that the Airbnb will be maintained by the father in law. / Mr. Maxey Wilkerson, 1451 Poor House Road, stated he was told the house would be for Mr. Nobolini's father in law. He is concerned about the proximity of the house to his property, people walking onto his property, privacy, and safety. / Mr. Nicolas Martin, 4538 Goode Road, stated he is concerned that Airbnb's do not do background checks and is concerned for the safety ofhis family. II Mr. Merritt Reagan, 235 Solitude Lane, stated one thing you cannot control with an Airbnb is the speed the renters drive as they don't know the area. He doesn't believe it is a good idea for Mr. Nobolini to live 5 miles away and to have a 78 year old man watching the property. / Mr. Ray Roakes, 1518 Poor House Road, stated Mr. Nobilini built another house down the road and is questioning ifthat will be an Airbnb as well. / Mr. Jim Nobilini, 420 Mount Vista Drive, stated they bought the property at an auction and had the option to subdivide the lots down to one and a half acres but they didn't want to do that because it wasn'ti right for the area. They built the house at the back of the property because of the lay of the land. He withdrew the application. /I Chairman Monroe closed the public hearing at 7:45 p.m. Campbell County Planning Commission January 27, 2025 / PL-24-231 (Special Use Permit-16021 Leesville Road) / Chairman Monroe stated this is a request by Greg Buscher, agent for Liberis LLC, for a special use permit to operate an automobile sales, painting, and body work establishment on property zoned Agricultural. / Mr. Austin Mitchell, Director of Community Development, stated the applicant is leasing the property to primarily operate an automobile repair shop as Lucky's Garage. There has been an automobile: repair shop on the property since 1989 and that use is allowed to continue. The applicant is requesting to expand allowable uses to include automobile sales, painting, and body work. An automobile sales lot was previously approved on the property in 1991, but more than two years has passed since that use. last operated on the property. According to the applicant the automobile sales, painting, and body work would be low volume. The special use permit would allow the applicant the flexibility to sell çars or perform body and paint work when needed. I Commissioner Gough asked what size the lot is. Mr. Austin Mitchell stated it is 21.88 acres. / Chairman Monroe opened the public hearing at 7:48 p.m. and made the motion to recommend approval of PL-24-231 for a Special Use Permit. Commissioner Hedges seconded the motion. I Mr. Greg Buscher, 300 Dixie Airport Road, stated Lucky's Garage is a restoration service and they build custom cars and restore old cars. It takes a while to build the cars SO it wouldn't be a high volume. They watch the market for the car the client wants and will get it for them. There will not be a lot of cars sitting for sale in the lot. / Commissioner Hedges asked that if someone wants a specific car then they will go on the hunt for it. Mr. Buscher confirmed that is correct and this will allow them to go to the auctions to do that. / Mr. Thomas Vaughan, 14891 Leesville Road, spoke in favor of this proposal. He would like to see nice old cars on the lot. / Chairman Monroe closed the public hearing at 7:51 p.m. This matter will go before the Board of Supervisors meeting on March 4, 2025. / Commissioner Condrey stated he went to the property and this is a good use for the property. / Commissioner Thilking stated this is a good business model. The vote was: Aye: Monroe, Witt, Condrey, Hedges, Otero, Gough, Thilking Nay: None Absent: None / PL-24-223 (Rezoning-Ewing Drive- 43-A-79) Campbell County Planning Commission. January: 27, 2025 /I Chairman Monroe stated this is a request by Nina Rezai, agent for Campbell County, to rezone propertyl located on Ewing Drive and further identified as tax map: parcel 43-A-79 from Agricultural to Industrial - Heavy to allow for expansion of the existing industrial park / Mr. Austin Mitchell, Director of Community Development, stated this request is to expand the existing Seneca Commerce Park. The subject parcel is located at the end of Ewing Drive. Over the last 25 years, the County has developed road, water, internet, and sewer infrastructure in the existing park, but they do not extend the full length of Ewing Drive. As the county pursues funding to complete the infrastructure, a vision for added industrial development may be shaped with the added acreage. Without the presence of significant recreational development of the property Economic Development proposes to add to the industrial site inventory. There are grant opportunities that require a minimum of 50 contiguous acres ofland zoned industrial to be eligible for funding. The remaining undeveloped acreage in Seneca Commerce Park does not meet this requirement. A rezoning of this parcel to Industrial Heavy would allow the County to apply for those additional funding opportunities and provide a larger marketable site for economic development purposes. /I Chairman Monroe asked if the entire parcel was zoned Industrial-Heavy if the recreation department could stilll built the park. Mr. Austin Mitchell stated a park requires a Special Use Permit in Industrial-Heavy zoning but it would be an allowable use. / Chairman Monroe opened the public hearing at 7:55 p.m. and made the motion to recommend approval of PL-24-223 for rezoning. Commissioner Condrey seconded the motion. / Ms. Nina Rezai, 85 Carden Lane, stated shei ist the Director of] Economic Development for Campbell County. She stated the rezoning is an extension of the zoning of the front 170 acres. Infrastructure has been established in the park for the road, water and sewer. Industrial development has been a little faster than on the recreational side. Ifthe rezoning request is approved then they will begin the planning process. The Board ofSupervisors will also review the transaction in conjunction with her department for vetting business prospects. / Commissioner Condrey asked if the reason for the rezoning request is because there is interest in the property or ifthey were just trying to get ahead ofit. Ms. Rezai stated they are: not able to apply for a lot of funds available for industrial development because they do not have 50 contiguous acres. All but seven existing parcels on the industrial zoned property have been sold sO they need to be ready for future prospects. There is not anyone currently seeking the 136 acres that is being asked to be rezoned. II Comissioner Thilking asked if there are plans for further recreational development. Ms. Rezai stated she is not the best person qualified to answer that. II Chairman Monroe asked if the county owns any lots in industrial parks that meets the 50 acre criteria and ifthe 50 acres is the number that allows them to get grants. Ms. Rezai stated the county owns one industrial property behind Lynchburg Airport but it is not accessible or developable and 50 acres is the number that allows them to get grants. // Commissioner Condrey asked if grants would be restricted to Seneca Park. Ms. Rezai responded that it would be restricted to the property applied for. / Mr. Dennis Rosser, 109 Pearson Drive, stated he is the Vice Chairman of the Industrial Development Authority (IDA). The purpose of the IDA is to stimulate economic growth for the projects of the county. They also apply for grants and loans and serve as a conduit for bonds. The IDA is a self-sufficient entity and reinvests their profits back into the park. The infrastructure is Campbell County Planning Commission. January 27, 2025 there to extend the water and sewer lines, electricity, and internet. Campbell County is behind in the growth of industrial parks. They need land to grow, / Chairman Monroe asked if the Economic Development and Recreation Department have talked regarding this matter. Ms. Rezai stated she did. / Mr. Vance Driskill, stated he is the Chairman of the IDA, and they have not yet reached out to the Recreation Board but they have spoken to members of the Board of Supervisors. They do realize the needs ofi recreation. He stated industrial development is needed and is prospering and growing. The IDA will make money for the county. The recreation park has not been developed as there haven't been funds to develop it. / Chairman Monroe encouraged them to sit down with the Recreation Board to discuss this and come up with something better than we need this land. / Commissioner Condrey stated in his job he works with multiple localities and sees the benefit to the IDA working with the Recreation Departments. Mr. Driskill stated they are working in that direction. I Mr. Thomas Vaughn, 14891 Leesville Road, stated he is a member oft the IDA. He stated there is a decline in the number of students in schools and a declining birth rate. He encourages the board to invest money in parks that are being used more such as Timbrook Park. Ifthey had this land it would bring jobs and people and grow the area. / Mr. James Coates, 147 Branderwood Drive, stated he is not against the IDA but thinks Parks and Recreation should be a bigger partner with Economic Development and the IDA. Hei is on the Parks and Recreation committee and stated there's very little money for Parks and Recreation and is always the first in line to be cut from the budget. Parks and Recreation was only given a week's notice about the rezoning request. When the property was purchased, the Board of Supervisors designated approximately 75 acres for the development of a commerce park. The park is intended for commercial and light to medium industrial uses, not heavy industry. The comprehensive plan says to continue development of public park facilities in each oft the high school attendance zones and in the Yellow Branch area. / Mr. Maurice Peerman, 3602 Long Island Road, stated he is the Chairman of the Recreation Advisory Council. He stated the plan was for this to be a joint venture with a commerce park in the front and central park in the back. IDA was supposed to fund the park. He stated the seven existing lots could be combined to create the 50 continuous acres SO the grants could be applied for. He believes this would be a perfect location for travel sports. / Mr. Nelson Tharpe, 250 Phillips Lane, stated he is not against development or creating jobs. He believes we need parks and a place for everyone to play. / Mr. Jon Hardie, 601 Calohan Road, stated we need a centralized park and it is part of the comprehensive plan. There are several hundred multifamily units that will be developed within a couple mile radius of the proposed centralized park. Schools are not able to be used during the day and families need something accessible to them. History shows that the purpose of this investment was for recreation. Two county departments should not be competing for this space but rather find a way to do all things. Sports and recreation is a very lucrative business and could bring a lot of people and money in. The master park plan from 2004 shows the upper part to be industrial and the bottom part to be trails and have a sports complex. / Chairman Monroe closed the public hearing at 8:45 p.m. This matter will go before the Board of Supervisors meeting on March 4, 2025. Campbell County Planning commission January 27, 2025 / Commissioner Gough asked if the Planning Commission's goal is to see whether the rezoning of this land is appropriate. Mr. Austin Mitchell stated the purview of the Planning Commission is if Industrial-Heavy zoning is an appropriate land use for this parcel ofl land. / Commissioner Thinking stated he thinks the IDA having the availability of the acreage for development is a good way to go but does not want this move to short change the recreation department either. Conversations should be had between the departments and it shouldn't be one or the other. He stated it is unacceptable funds have not been committed for the development ofthe park. / Chairman Monroe stated people need recreation and thinks there is a solution that doesn't have to be one or the other. The recreation department shouldn'tbe penalized because they have not been given the funds for the park. / Commissioner Gough asked if this could still be used as recreation if this was approved. Commissioner Thinking stated it would require a Special Use Permit. Chairman Monroe stated it is by right as it is today. / Chairman Monroe stated he is opposed to taking 138 acres away from the recreation department when only 50 acres is needed and there are no potential buyers. / Commissioner Condrey stated he worked on the masterplan and is aware of what the intent of the land was. He doesn't know why the entirety of the parcel is being asked to be rezoning when only 50 acres is needed. He doesn' 't think it meets the comprehensive plan. / Commissioner Hedges asked if they are asking for that amount because that is what the parcel amount is now. Commissioner Condrey stated they can rezone part ofit. The vote was: Aye: Gough, Thilking, Hedges Nay: Monroe, Witt, Condrey, Otero Absent: None /I SUBDIVSION MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION / Proposed is a 7-lot subdivision on Tardy Mountain Road in the Altavista Election District. The parcel is zoned Agricultural and is owned by Dominion Land LLC. The vote was: Aye: Monroe, Witt, Condrey, Hedges, Otero, Gough, Thilking Nay: None Absent: None / MATTERS FROM THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR None / MATTERS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Campbell County Planning Commission. January 27, 2025 None / MATTERS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION II Mr. Jon Hardie spoke in regards to the Planning Commission meeting from December 2, 2024, concerning PL-24-196. He stated it was a very big night and he appreciates what the Commissioners do, the recommendations that they make, and the willingness to listen to the citizens. He apologized to the former Chairman Kirk for speaking out during the meeting. He stated the three minute speaking time for citizens often doesn't do it justice and it has been really respectful for allowing them to go over. / Chairman Monroe requested a change to the bylaws that the motion for public hearings be made by the Commissioner oft the district that the request is in after the public hearing is held. /I Commissioner Otero made a motion to have the Commissioner of the district make a motion on the public hearing. / After discussion there was a change to the motion to state that the Commissioner of the district have the first option to make a motion for approval or denial ofthe request after the public hearing is closed. There was consensus for staff to draft a change to the bylaws to be voted on at the next meeting. / Next scheduled meeting is February 24, 2025, I Chairman Monroe adjourned the meeting at 9:08 p.m. DeanB-Monroe, Chairman