Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Short Term Rentals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission holds first workshop on proposed multiple short‑term rentals on 15‑acre Madison County parcel
Summary
Planning staff and the applicant outlined a proposal to add two glamping units on a 15‑acre A‑1 parcel; staff said VDOT and the health department have outstanding items and the commission will revisit the application in August.
The Madison County Planning Commission on Wednesday held a first workshop on case SUDash07Dash25Dash01, a special‑use application to authorize multiple short‑term rentals on a 15‑acre parcel identified as Madison County tax map 30‑5‑C.
The application, filed under Madison County zoning ordinance Article 4‑2‑1 and 3‑1‑22, would add two platform “glamping” units — described by the applicant and engineer as dome‑style overnight structures — to an existing short‑term rental property in the Banco area. Staff and the applicant said additional agency approvals remain outstanding.
County staff member Alan Nichols summarized the proposal and outstanding requirements, saying the parcel already contains an occupied house used as a short‑term rental and that the applicant has permits underway for observation decks. Nichols told commissioners that “we've asked VDOT for comments” and that the health department had not yet returned final comments; he noted the decks have building permits but not final inspections.
Applicant representative Justin Schimp, principal engineer with Schimpf Engineering, described the proposed structures as a “very simple small project, couple platforms with some glamping sites” and said the developer expects the two domes to be served by a new septic system sized for the units. “There would just be one septic serving both of these,” Schimp said, adding that that drain field should be a “stand‑alone drain field” smaller than a typical single‑family system.
Commissioners asked about septic siting, the status of the existing partially completed house on the parcel and easement language affecting a neighboring property. Nichols said a deed showing the easement was included in the packet and that he did not see prohibitive language, but he did not know whether the applicant had contacted the neighbor. Schimp said a surveyor was preparing an entrance profile for VDOT’s review and that a soil/septic report had been submitted to the health department.
The applicant identified herself to the commission as Ida (Ida/Ada) (applicant name appearing in the record) and clarified that she currently operates one short‑term rental on the parcel and is seeking permission for two additional units, bringing the total to three short‑term rentals under the proposed permit. She said she plans to keep the unfinished house locked and not open to guests for the time being.
No vote was taken. Commissioners scheduled continued consideration: the case will return for a second workshop on the third Wednesday in August so staff can collect VDOT and health‑department comments and the commission can review a revised packet.
The commission also reviewed routine procedural business before the workshop and approved the meeting agenda and minutes earlier in the session.
