Rockbridge
Ronald A. and Janet K. Perkins of 1080 Maury River Road are seeking to place 43.432 acres of land they own in a conservation easement that would be held by the Shenandoah Valley Conservancy.
An initial step in this process would be a rezoning of the land, which fronts on Va. 39 (Maury River Road) and is approximately 75 percent pasture and 25 percent woods, from general residential (R-1) to agricultural transitional (A-T). The Perkins on Dec. 11 brought this rezoning request to the Rockbridge County Planning Commission, which unanimously recommended approval.
The objective of the rezoning and proposal to put the land in a conservation easement, the Perkins wrote in a letter to the Planning Commission, is to “preserve and protect majestic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains as seen from [Va.] 39, a designated Virginia byway. Visitors, and even some passing motorists, comment on the pastoral beauty and setting of the property. … ” Under the proposed conservation easement, they wrote, “no additional structures would be allowed … Land would continue to be used as pasture for the production of hay or the grazing of livestock.”
The Board of Supervisors will consider the recommended rezoning at a meeting in January.
Ag/Forest District Proposed
Chris Slayton, Rockbridge County’s director of community development, reported to the Planning Commission Dec. 11 that a group of landowners in the Irish Creek area have made an application to establish an agricultural-forestal district.
The application is to be considered by an advisory committee before it goes to the Planning Commission for its consideration.
Kennel Permit Sought
.A special exception permit for John Kuder and Cynthia Hunter to continue to operate a small commercial kennel for the breeding of Poodles at their residence at 189 Sulphur Springs Road, Natural Bridge, was recommended for approval Dec. 11 by the Rockbridge County Planning Commission.
The breeding operation is confined to the residence. They have just two female Poodles and plan to have one to three litters per year. “We are a preferred breeder on the Good Dog site and we ethically breed and raise our puppies in our home for 8-12 weeks, until they are ready for their forever homes,” wrote Kuder in a letter to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. “All dogs are genetically tested through Embark as well as health tested by a local veterinarian.”
The residence is on an 8.67-acre tract in the agricultural and general uses (A-2) district. A kennel is a use by special exception in the A-2 district.
Lexington
Special Election For Sheriff Requested
Lexington City Council Dec. 19 approved a resolution authorizing the city attorney to petition the Rockbridge County Circuit Court to hold a special election for the office of sheriff on Nov. 4, 2025.
The election will be held to fill the position of sheriff following the resignation of Steve Funkhouser from the role effective Jan. 1. Deputy Chief Tony McFadden will step into the role of sheriff in the new year.
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors approved a similar resolution at its meeting on Dec. 9.
Courthouse Square Project Endorsed
Lexington City Council unanimously Dec. 19 voted to endorse the proposed renovations to Courthouse Square on Main Street, as well as authorizing two $60,000 grants for the project over the next two years.
The first grant is in the budget for the 2025 fiscal year, and the second will be in fiscal year 2026.
Council member David Sigler made a three-pronged motion, which included the endorsement of the plan and grants, as well as authorizing Main Street Lexington to act as the city’s agent for the project, and to direct the city manager to hold listening sessions in early 2025 with Main Street Lexington and neighboring merchants regarding the two street parking spaces that are proposed to be removed as part of the project.
Firm Hired For Reassessment
Lexington City Council approved a resolution to hire Wampler Eanes Appraisal Group LTD, a Dalevillebased real estate appraiser, to perform the city’s quadrennial property assessment. Wampler Eanes has done the appraisals for Lexington for the past two cycles.
The assessment will occur in the 2026 fiscal year and the new assessments will go into effect at the start of the 2027 fiscal year on July 1, 2026.
