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Commission forwards large rural event-and-lodging SUP with VDOT conditions, asks applicant to notify county of large events
Summary
The Planning Commission moved SUP 25SUP355 (Sprouse and Dowd LLC) to the Board with a recommendation to accept, contingent on VDOT entrance guidance and a condition that the applicant notify the county before large events; proposal includes Airbnb, dry campsites and an event center with requested capacity up to 500.
The Buckingham County Planning Commission voted to forward special-use permit 25SUP355, filed by Sprouse and Dowd LLC, recommending approval with conditions reflecting Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) comments and a county-notification requirement for larger events.
Why it matters: The application seeks to expand business operations on a 59.357-acre parcel at 16680 West James Anderson Highway to include additional housing/Airbnb units, dry campsites/glamping, nature trails and an event center with a requested maximum attendance of up to 500. Commissioners focused on road access, ingress/egress and whether existing driveways and turn lanes could safely handle event traffic.
VDOT and access: Planning staff read VDOT’s findings into the record. The VDOT statement noted the eastern access (with a turn lane) should serve as the primary access for ranch events and any associated traffic; the western access is limited to serve only four residences/Airbnb sites and should be restored by removing vegetation and providing compacted stone at the gate for residential use. VDOT did not require additional geometric roadway improvements for the proposed residential access but advised the applicant to contact the Farmville residency office prior to final issuance.
Applicant response and operations: The applicant (Sprouse and Dowd LLC) said parts of the property already host horse shows and other equestrian activities, and that larger events typically spread arrivals and departures during the day; for single events such as weddings, arrivals would be concentrated in a narrower time window. The applicant said prior equestrian shows had produced a comparable level of traffic and that the property has been used to accommodate hundreds of vehicles during past events.
Commission direction and motion: Commissioners asked that the record reflect VDOT’s access determinations and asked the applicant to notify the county when they planned larger events so staff could coordinate traffic and public-safety preparations. A motion to forward the application to the Board with the VDOT conditions and the added county-notification requirement passed (vote recorded as passed; exact tally not specified in the transcript).
What’s next: The commission will forward SUP 25SUP355 and VDOT’s comments to the Board of Supervisors. Planning staff and the applicant will use VDOT guidance when finalizing site access and will incorporate a requirement that the applicant notify the county before large, scheduled events.
