The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors approved SUP 2502 on Wednesday to allow primitive riverfront campsites on a 6-acre section of an 80-acre island parcel on the James River, and added a condition limiting the authorized number of campsites to three as originally advertised.

Planning staff presented the request from an applicant identified as Mr. Spencer to operate up to three primitive campsites; the application was later revised to propose two sites. Staff confirmed that Buckingham County emergency services would receive 911 calls made from the parcel's access point and that the parcel is subject to a Department of Forestry conservation easement.

"If we do [portable toilets], we're not planning on using Port-a-Johns regularly. If we do, we would remove them for flood events," the applicant said during questioning about flood risk and portable facilities. Planning staff explained that movable sanitation units would require coordination with the Department of Forestry and, if more permanent facilities were added, with the Virginia Department of Health.

Buckingham County responders and the Aronia Volunteer Fire Department were consulted; Buckingham suggested the applicant post signage at the campsite with an address to be used for 911 calls and place a sign at the entrance to assist emergency responders.

Supervisors discussed whether to restrict the number of sites in the SUP. The application and public advertisement described three campsites on 6 acres; the board added a condition limiting the permit to three campsites (the applicant had proposed two), so any expansion beyond the advertised scope would require returning to the board and any applicable health-department approvals.

The motion to approve SUP 2502 with conditions, including the new condition limiting the number of campsites to three and requiring signage and compliance with the conservation easement and cultural resource protections, passed 5-0. Planning staff will inspect for compliance and may revoke the SUP for substantial breaches of conditions.