NASH COUNTY, N.C. — After a public hearing and staff presentation, the Nash County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 6 approved a conditional zoning (A1-CZ) for the Nashville Dairy RV Park, a proposed five-site private campground on a 1.7-acre lot at 3611 Valverde Road.

Adam Tyson, Nash County planning director, described the property as a 1.7-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Valverde Road and Beckton Road between the towns of Nashville and Castalia. The applicant asked to establish a conditional zoning district to permit a private RV park; the unified development ordinance allows private campgrounds in the A1 district but requires a conditional zoning review.

The site plan prepared by Stocks Engineering shows five campsites with a one-way 16-foot gravel access drive entering from Valverde and exiting onto Beckton. Each campsite would exceed the ordinance minimum area (each about 2,660 square feet), have a parking space adjacent to the site, and the applicant proposed electrical and water hookups and connections to the existing onsite septic system and well pending environmental health approval.

Tyson reviewed 12 recommended development conditions included with the staff report. Key conditions the board attached to the approval include:
- No campsite shall be used as a permanent dwelling; continuous occupancy beyond three months in any 12-month period would be presumed permanent occupancy and subject to enforcement. The applicant agreed to maintain occupancy records for stays of one month or longer and make them available for inspection.
- No permanent additions attached to recreational vehicles and no storage buildings on campsites.
- Planting and maintenance of a 50-foot buffer and vegetative screening along western and southern property lines, with the park operator responsible to supplement screening if adjacent property owners later remove vegetation.
- Paving of the paved entrance/exit area for at least 10 feet beyond public right-of-way per UDO and NCDOT requirements; signage for entrance-only at Valverde Road and exit-only at Beckton Road as required by NCDOT.
- A recreational common area equaling 28.8% of the site (exceeding the 8% minimum) and erosion control measures for unpaved surfaces.

At the public hearing, Kevin Varnell of Stocks Engineering and owner-operator Mary Strickland addressed technical and operational questions. Varnell answered site-technical questions; Mary Strickland said the park is intended to serve short-term visitors such as travel nurses and families attending local events, not permanent low-income housing.

Commissioner Arrington moved to approve the conditional rezoning and adopt a statement of plan consistency and reasonableness; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Ending: The conditional rezoning will be invalid unless the petitioners execute and record written consent to the development conditions. Environmental health approvals for septic and any required permits must be obtained before occupancy.