Plan Commission recommends approval for short-term rental at 940 Nellie’s Cave Road

The Montgomery County Plan Commission on March 19 voted to recommend approval of a special‑use permit for a short‑term tourist rental at 940 Nellie’s Cave Road.

Planning staff presented the request to allow a short‑term tourist rental within an existing 520‑square‑foot, two‑bedroom single‑family dwelling. Miss Wright, zoning staff, told the commission the property had been operating as a short‑term rental for about three years and that the owner promptly contacted staff after receiving a notice of violation. Wright said the property is served by public water and private septic, is not in a FEMA flood hazard area, and that the health department this week issued an operations permit for two bedrooms.

Staff recommended approval with conditions, including a maximum occupancy of four people, registration with the Commissioner of Revenue for meals and occupancy taxes, and obtaining any required building permits and county short‑term rental code requirements prior to issuance of a zoning permit. Wright said VDOT had “no safety concerns” about access and that the town of Blacksburg raised no objections.

The applicant, identified in the meeting as Mr. Cummings, addressed the commission and said the rental had operated before the county’s supplemental regulations were adopted and that he had come into compliance after receiving the violation notice. No members of the public addressed the commission during the designated public‑comment period.

Commissioners discussed the supplemental regulations and concluded the application met the county’s standards. A motion to recommend approval passed on a roll call vote: Mister Kroll — yes; Mister Miller — yes; Sharp Robinson — yes; Simpkins — yes; Mister Lankes — yes; Vice Chair Foster — yes; Chair Rice — yes.

The recommendation is to the Board of Supervisors; staff will require the conditions be met before a zoning permit is issued.