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Planners recommend Red Hill Ranch rural events center with noise and attendance limits
Summary
The Planning Commission voted to recommend a special‑use permit to allow Red Hill Ranch to operate a rural events center on about 136.49 acres at 25943 Prince Edward Highway, with conditions limiting attendance and amplified sound.
The Prince Edward County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a special‑use permit for Red Hill Ranch to operate a rural events center on approximately 136.49 acres at 25943 Prince Edward Highway in Rice, Prince Edward County.
Michael Love, county planning staff, said the parcel is in the A‑1 agricultural district and that Virginia Department of Transportation and the health department reviewed the site. "There is a limitation on this site ... a maximum of 125 attendees with 5 employees," Love said, noting the limit reflected health and VDOT input based on well and septic capacity and existing driveway entrances. Staff presented that figure as a starting point for conditions in the packet.
Applicants Helen and Robert (Red Hill Ranch) described the site as a 40‑by‑80 event building on a larger farm, with a front parking area of about 3.7 acres. They said lighting will use six 30‑foot, solar‑powered poles with low‑level illumination and that the primary building will be enclosed to assist in sound mitigation. The applicants told the commission the nearest residence is roughly three‑quarters of a mile away and that events would be by reservation or invitation; they said the site is not intended for motorized or overnight events.
Neighbors raised questions about hours, noise, parking and potential impacts to waterways, including Sailor's Creek. Beverly Hines, a nearby resident, asked for specifics on hours and activities; another neighbor, Donald Sura, said he supported permitting but requested a condition that amplified music end by 10 p.m.: "I would like a caveat that maybe we stop at 10:00 at night," Sura said.
Commissioners edited the draft conditions during deliberations. The commission replaced the initial 125‑plus‑5 limit with a single cap of 130 total attendees (visitors plus staff), added an events window and aligned quiet hours so amplified sound must end at 10 p.m. and quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The commission also included a condition that final occupancy be determined by the Prince Edward County building official under the applicable building code.
Commissioners voted to forward the permit with those amendments to the County Board of Supervisors; Fuller, Gilliam, Hart, Hogan, Page and Pringaman voted yes. The Board will consider the application at its public hearing on June 10.
