Supervisors approve Tomlin commercial‑kennel permit with conditions on breeds, counts and waste

The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors approved a special‑exception permit on June 23 for Jake and Bridal Tomlin to develop and operate a commercial kennel at 115 Emerald Lane in the Buffalo magisterial district.

The planning commission had recommended approval with conditions including a limit on breeds, a cap on numbers and a prohibition on boarding and grooming operations. At the board meeting supervisors refined those conditions: they removed Belgian Malinois from the authorized breeds list, required outdoor runs or kennel attachments to be secured to prevent escape (allowing the applicant to choose a method), required solid waste to be removed and disposed of at a permitted landfill, and confirmed that puppies count toward the total dog count once they reach 16 weeks of age. Supervisors also discussed but did not finalize a time limit; the board approved an additional condition allowing expiration or change on transfer of ownership (transfer to immediate family excepted by board motion).

Applicant Jake Tomlin told the board he planned to “start with one dog, and use a stud to come in, to breed the female,” and described a 1,500‑square‑foot barn that he would use for indoor kennels and indoor‑attached outdoor runs. He said training for specialized uses (for example, law enforcement) would occur at a training facility in Augusta County rather than on his property.

Neighbors asked about noise, wastewater and waste handling. An adjoining owner, John Sorrells, told the board he was “concerned about how many dogs you’re gonna allow up there” and about the potential for waste to be washed downhill onto neighbouring land; Tomlin said he plans to scoop solid waste for disposal at the county landfill and to hose kennels as needed, and that the property’s spring and a 2,500‑gallon holding tank provide water capacity for cleaning.

Board members pressed for containment and oversight. Supervisors required that outdoor runs be secured to prevent dogs from escaping and that runs be covered where necessary to prevent climbing escape; they also required solid waste be disposed at a permitted landfill and that adult dog counts include puppies that reach 16 weeks old. Supervisors placed a 10‑year planning horizon on expansion discussions in debate but ultimately approved the application with the stated conditions and with language tying permit changes to transfer of ownership (with a carve‑out discussed for immediate family transfers). The motion passed with a majority vote.

Ending: The board recorded conditions and directed planning staff to produce the final permit language incorporating the breed restrictions, dog‑count rules, waste disposal requirement and containment measures.