Board approves use of Reliance Road parcels for homesteader farm‑stand hub, conditions VDOT review and agreement

The Warren County Board of Supervisors approved use of county parcels on Reliance Road as a farm‑stand hub for homesteaders, with the motion specifying parcels "12 A 113‑1 through 12 A‑113‑14" and making the use subject to execution of a release and use agreement to be drafted by the county attorney.

The vote recorded on the motion was 4‑1; Supervisor Cheryl Cullors voted no. Supervisors Cook, Jamieson, Stanmeyer and the chairman voted to approve the use during the meeting's consent‑agenda business.

During discussion several supervisors said they supported the idea but wanted more stakeholder input. One supervisor asked for a workshop to bring together homesteaders, small farmers and other interested parties; another cautioned against drafting a contract before gathering broader input and before confirming VDOT access and other site constraints. Planning and county representatives said the use approval is "subject to a use agreement to be drafted" and stressed that any permits would not be issued until VDOT issues were resolved.

Volunteer and stakeholder coordination was a recurring theme: a supervisor suggested Rotana's (a local venue) as a host for a workshop and noted local homesteading leaders and educators who could contribute. County representative Matt Wendling told the board he had spoken with Stacy Sager of the Virginia Department of Transportation, who inspected the site and said the existing graveled entrance does not meet VDOT sight‑distance standards; VDOT's rough standard was cited as about "225 feet," and Sager said an entrance should be as far west as possible and that a platted easement on the map might offer an alternative access location. Wendling said VDOT would discuss the matter with superiors and provide follow‑up details.

Board members agreed to aim for a near‑term workshop and to hold permitting until the VDOT entrance question is resolved; one supervisor suggested mid‑July as a reasonable target for the stakeholder meeting given growing season schedules. The approved motion explicitly left final terms to a use agreement drafted by county counsel and required no immediate permit issuance until access issues were cleared.

The board cautioned that issuance of any site permits or execution of an operational agreement would depend on the county attorney's release and use document and VDOT's written guidance on entrance location and sight distance.

The action means the county will move forward with the concept but with several conditions: a drafted release/use agreement, VDOT clearance on the entrance point and sight distance, and a planned workshop to gather homesteader input.