Rockbridge Zoning Change
A zoning text amendment was approved Oct. 14 by the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors that removes the prohibition against livestock confinement systems in the agricultural transitional (A-T) zoning district.
The Planning Commission earlier recommended the amendment. County Attorney John Dryden had advised staff that the prohibition was contrary to state law. The issue came up because of a county resident that is making plans for a livestock confinement system in an A-T district.
Dryden explained that the Right to Farm Act precludes localities from imposing restrictions on agricultural activities within agriculturally zoned district. Therefore, livestock confinement systems are a by-right use in the A-T district.
Rezoning
Requested
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 14 rezoned a 24.8-acre tract of land off of U.S. 60, west of Lexington, from residential general (R-1) to agricultural transitional (A-T).
Gobind M., Savraj E. and Amrit C.O Moore, who inherited the property two years ago, requested the rezoning because the land has been used for agricultural purposes for years and their plans are to continue this use. The land is leased to Susan Showalter, who grows and harvests hay on it.
The land, .265-of-a-mile west of Bell Road (Va. 666), to the north of West Midland Trail, was part of a larger 51.2-acre parcel that had split zoning – 26.41 acres in A-T and 24.8 acres in R-2. The 26.41-acre portion is being sold. The remaining acreage is the land that was rezoned.
Kennel OK’d
Joshua and Kassidy Beagan were granted a special exception permit by the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 14 so they can run a commercial kennel for a German Shepherd breeding operation at 345 Sandstone Lane. The location is west of U.S. 11, south of Lexington.
The breeding operation is to entail having up to five female German Shepherds and two males, excluding two litters of puppies that would be born each year. Puppies are to be sold at approximately 8 weeks of age.
Tower Approved
A 195-foot telecommunications tower with a 4-foot-high antennae is to be erected at a site to the south of Raphine, west of Interstate 81’s Exit 205 interchange.
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 14 approved a special exception permit for the tower, which is to go on a 3.12-acre tract on the west side of Oakland Circle (Va. 917), approximately .398-of-a-mile south of the intersection with Raphine Road (Va. 606).
Apex Towers of North Tazewell is the maker of the tower. The property is owned by C.W. Cash Inc. Dale Hill, speaking for the applicant, said the cell tower would provide service to the area around the truck stops and other business at the interchange as well as to Steeles Tavern.
Noise Ordinance
Amended
Rockbridge County’s noise ordinance was amended last Tuesday, Oct. 14, by the Board of Supervisors to extend the prohibition against plainly audible noise one hour earlier on weekday nights, Sundays through Thursday, from 11 to 10 p.m.
An exception to this one-hourearlier loud noise prohibition was made for nonprofit organizations, at the request of the Lime Kiln Theater, so that weekday night concerts could continue to go on until 11 p.m.
At a Sept. 24 public hearing on the proposed amendment to the noise ordinance, neighbors of the pole houses on Furrs Mill Road that are rented out to Washington and Lee University students complained about loud, latenight parties that have frequently occurred on weekday nights.
Similar complaints made previously were the impetus for the proposed ordinance amendment. The matter was postponed until the Oct. 14 meeting of the Board of Supervisors so County Attorney John Dryden could revise the draft to include an exception for the Lime Kiln concerts.
The supervisors voted 3-2 to approve the amendment, with Lesley Ayers, Dan Lyons and Bob Day casting the affirmative votes while David McDaniel and Jay Lewis dissented.
