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Planning commission sets public hearing for special-use permit to allow small auto workshop in Dillwyn area
Summary
Mary and Charles Houchins requested a special-use permit to operate a small commercial garage on their property in the Dillwyn area; the planning commission moved the request to public hearing with draft conditions limiting vehicles and requiring a privacy fence and fluid containment.
The Buckingham County Planning Commission agreed to hold a public hearing on a request by Mary and Charles Houchins for a special-use permit to operate a small auto repair operation at 515 Cattail Creek Road in Dillwyn. Planning staff said the property is about 3 acres in a rural (A-1) zone; the applicant seeks permission to repair vehicles for family, friends and occasional customers.
At the introduction, Mrs. Houchins said the intent is modest: "Basically, what we wanna do is be able to work on our vehicles and our friends' vehicles. We're not looking to open a major garage, small time," and later added they hope a slightly larger garage would provide space and protection from weather. Planning staff summarized an enforcement complaint that prompted the application: the property currently contains numerous vehicles, of which staff estimated about 12 were titled and insured and seven could be classified as inoperable.
Planning staff proposed standard conditions for a special-use permit with several additions discussed at the meeting. Commissioners and staff discussed limits on vehicles tied to the business activity and whether a privacy fence or a pole-barn structure would reduce visibility and neighbor concerns. After back-and-forth on numbers, the commission agreed to draft the condition as a limit on the business-related parked vehicles (separate from owners— personal, licensed vehicles). Commissioners suggested setting a maximum of 10 parked vehicles associated with the business for a precedent set by a recent case (Applegate); planning staff noted the commission could adopt a different number.
Other conditions discussed and included in the draft were: installation of a privacy fence across the front of the property if vegetation is removed; provision of a holding tank and catch basin for fluids and recycling of used fluids; and a driveway/VDOT permit (staff said a VDOT email from Brian Locker confirming driveway review had been received). Houchins said they were willing to install a building or fence to reduce visibility and that they were gradually removing vehicles as parts were used or vehicles were scrapped.
Commissioners moved the Houchins application to a public hearing set for May 27. Planning staff said the public hearing will test neighborhood response to the proposed conditions and the commission can refine conditions then.
