Botetourt supervisors approve special-exception permit to allow 911 complex at Reid Mountain site

The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a special-exception permit to allow government building functions at the Reid Mountain Fire Station site, paving the way for a 911 complex at 43 East Park Drive.

County staff presenter Miss Pendleton said the permit request seeks to “make it right” by bringing the site’s uses and approvals into conformance with current zoning. She told supervisors the planning commission recommended approval with Commissioner Foster absent and that no public comments were received before the commission or at Tuesday’s hearing.

The board’s action matters because it authorizes government functions at the site in the M-1 use district and clears a regulatory hurdle before construction and equipment testing can proceed. Pendleton said the project is being phased; the first phase requires a temporary certificate of occupancy so project personnel can test public-safety systems, and staff requested that phase occur by April to allow testing while site conditions are suitable.

Supervisors were told the county completed the first round of site-plan review and sent comments to the applicant the same day. Pendleton said there were no conflicts with the county’s comprehensive plan. The planning commission had reviewed and recommended the special-exception permit prior to the supervisors’ meeting.

The board opened the public hearing; no members of the public spoke. A supervisor moved to approve the special-exception permit “as recommended by the planning commission,” another supervisor seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. The vote was recorded as ayes from the board with no oppositions or abstentions noted.

In addition to approving the permit, the board asked staff for a follow-up: supervisors requested a recap of the presentation made at the VAPA conference by county personnel and asked to place that recap or short video snippets on next month’s agenda. Pendleton acknowledged the request and offered to provide the update.

Next steps identified in the meeting include the applicant addressing site-plan review comments and progressing the phased construction and testing schedule, including securing the temporary certificate of occupancy needed for phase 1 testing. No timetable beyond the request to complete phase 1 testing by April was specified at the meeting.

The public hearing and vote concluded the item; the board then adjourned.