The York County Board of Supervisors approved a special‑use permit for an existing Yorktown retailer to permit firearm sales and service at a three‑parcel site along George Washington Memorial Highway on Oct. 21, but the decision followed questions over why the business had opened before obtaining zoning approval.

Planner Jeannie (last name Carter) told the board the applicant already holds a federal firearms license (FFL) and that planning staff learned, during an ATF inspection earlier this year, that firearm sales were occurring on the premises without prior zoning approval. Carter said the business secured building permits for other work and that the special‑use permit application would bring the operation into zoning compliance. The staff report recommended approval subject to conditions including compliance with the Route 17 corridor overlay, opaque fencing for outdoor storage and other standard site conditions.

The applicant — a long‑time local business owner who said he had operated retail and surplus sales on the property for years — told the board he was unaware a separate special‑use permit was required for firearm sales and that he had obtained the ATF license. He said he planned a new sign and had not knowingly misled county staff.

Board members and county staff discussed fire‑safety and hazardous‑materials management. The county’s fire and life safety staff had asked for a hazardous‑materials management plan if the retailer handled explosive or black‑powder materials; the fire chief told the board that routine firearm and ammunition sales generally do not require a hazardous‑materials plan unless the business sold or manufactured propellants or reloaded ammunition.

Supervisor Walter Holroyd and Chair Sheila Knoll voted against the permit. The motion to approve, made by Supervisor Roan, passed 3‑2 (yes: Drury, Roan, Shepherd; no: Holroyd, Knoll). The board accepted staff’s recommendation to require compliance with applicable building and fire codes and with the conditions listed in proposed resolution R‑25‑149.

Provenance: Planning staff presentation, ATF inspection noted in staff report, applicant comments and board roll call recorded during the Oct. 21 meeting.