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Bedford resident says planning commission denied ability to build, cites road-frontage rule
Summary
At a Board of Supervisors meeting, resident Ruth Ann Sexton said the county planning commission told her she could not build on her property because it lacks required road frontage; board members said they could not resolve the matter at the meeting and offered to follow up.
Ruth Ann Sexton told the Bedford County Board of Supervisors she was blocked from building a smaller house on land she has owned and paid taxes on for more than 20 years because the Planning Commission said the parcel lacks required road frontage.
Sexton told supervisors she is 74 and cannot maintain her current home and driveway, and that repairing a washed-out driveway or dam would cost about $2,000. “I would like to build a smaller house on my property because I cannot afford to maintain everything,” she said. She said a perc test showed the land will support a septic system and that she already paid $1,175 for that test.
The matter arose during the meeting’s citizen comment period. Sexton said Planning Commission staff told her she could only build if she transferred part of the property to another family member and later had it transferred back, a process she said would require legal help and leave her exposed to risk. “They said that I do not have road frontage, even though I’ve been there for over 20 years paying taxes on the property,” she said.
Board members said they could not resolve land‑use or subdivision rulings during citizen comment. One supervisor told Sexton, “I appreciate you talking but I don’t think we can settle that issue here tonight. You’re not allowed to respond.” The supervisor suggested she follow Planning Department recommendations. Another member asked Sexton to provide her name, address and telephone number to staff member Luckett so the board could look into the issue after the meeting: “If you would just write your name and address and telephone number and just hand it to Miss Luckett here, and I’ll look into it for you.”
The transcript does not show Planning Commission staff or county planners explaining the road‑frontage requirement at the meeting, nor does it record any formal action by the Board of Supervisors on Sexton’s case.
Sexton’s comments were made during the meeting’s citizen comment period; the board did not take formal action and directed staff to follow up privately.
