Planning commission recommends approval for Village Commons event center with caps on regular and monthly attendance

The Buckingham County Planning Commission voted to forward a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to approve special-use permit case 25SUP354, permitting a multi-use event center proposed by David Waters at two parcels on Woodland Church Road in the James River magisterial district. The commission recommended a limit of up to 100 attendees for regular events and up to 300 attendees for one larger monthly event.

Why it matters: The proposal would create a local gathering space for vendors’ markets, cultural events, seasonal festivals and other community activities on about one usable acre of an existing parcel. Neighbors and community members testified overwhelmingly in support, noting local need for a nearby event space and the benefits to youth and local vendors.

Public comment: Eight speakers signed up for the public hearing; multiple area residents and organizers spoke in support. Santoshia Young told the commission, “Community is so important,” and said having a nearby outdoor gathering space would benefit families and children. Alexandra May, identified in the packet as president of the VSA, said a dedicated community space encourages intergenerational connection and would improve quality of life in the area.

Site, scope and parking: The application covers two tax parcels (46-19 at 2.129 acres and 46-20.1 at 4.85 acres), with the primary activity area described in meeting materials as roughly an acre of usable open space on which vendors’ markets and small events would be held. Waters told the commission he had submitted parking maps showing 100 on- and near-site spaces and that additional parking would be available under written agreements with nearby properties (including the Ashram and a local credit union). Planning staff and Waters said the applicant had also consulted with the utility CVEC about temporary parking under power lines; Waters said CVEC indicated that temporary parking for markets and smaller events was acceptable.

Commission discussion focused on verifying parking capacity, ingress/egress and the intended scale of events. Waters said the original application requested 12 monthly events up to 300 people and ongoing smaller events up to 100; commissioners asked for clarity on how often larger events would occur and about staging and tent placement. Waters said all events would be alcohol-free; “All of the events will be alcohol free,” he said, noting that the Ashram community standards support that restriction.

Conditions and motion: Commissioners asked staff to ensure conditions reflected the agreed parking arrangements and event caps. Several commissioners signaled support for flexible scheduling of smaller events (up to 100 attendees, unlimited in number), given the site’s proximity to walking- and biking-heavy neighborhoods. The motion the commission approved recommended maximum monthly attendance of 300 for larger events and an ongoing maximum of 100 for smaller events; the commission moved the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors (motion seconded and approved by the commission; vote tally not specified in the transcript).

What’s next: The Planning Commission forwarded case 25SUP354 to the Board of Supervisors with the recommended attendance caps and conditions on parking and operations; staff told the applicant the commission would notify them when the first market is scheduled.