Planning commission backs Wildlife Rescue League special-exception request, adds condition on carcass disposal

The Caroline County Planning Commission voted Thursday to forward SPEX082024, a special-exception request from Wildlife Rescue League, to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of approval and added conditions requiring cremation or disposal of deceased animals outside Caroline County.

The request covers an existing structure on Edge Hill Academy Road that would be used and modestly expanded as a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Planning staff told commissioners the existing building is 1,568 square feet and may be expanded up to 432 square feet; a recorded conservation easement on the parcel allows a structure up to 2,000 square feet. Staff said the applicant updated the general development plan to show potential outdoor caging areas that meet rural-preservation setbacks and noted three recorded roadway flood events near the property between 2020 and 2025.

The commission’s discussion focused on animal disposal, flood risk, staffing and traffic. Craig Pennington, planning staff, summarized the project’s changes and constraints, including the conservation easement limit and the updated GDP showing outdoor caging that meets required setbacks. Pennington also noted VDOT’s record of three flooding incidents on Edge Hill Academy Road and that public-utilities review remains for building-permit and site-plan stages.

Ms. Axelrod, representing the applicant, said the organization intends to use cremation services or contract with veterinary offices for euthanized or deceased animals and is amenable to disposing of carcasses outside Caroline County because the county landfill will not accept most carcasses. “We had talked about hiring cremation services, looking at individual veterinary offices that might also use cremation services and paying them,” Ms. Axelrod said.

Commissioners also asked about expected traffic and caseload. Pennington reported the applicant estimated between 5 and 10 trips per day to the facility; the applicant stated an approximate annual rehabilitative caseload and told commissioners it would attempt to release animals as soon as medically feasible. The applicant’s narrative in the record states an anticipated rehabilitation figure and describes an intent to minimize on-site wintering of animals and to provide secure housing for exhibit animals that remain outdoors during cold months.

After discussion, Dr. Carol Horton moved to forward SPEX082024 to the Board of Supervisors with the staff conditions as amended: strike condition 6, add a new condition requiring that the bodies of deceased wildlife be cremated or disposed of outside Caroline County, and add condition 17 (as referenced in the motion). The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote; the commissioners recorded “the ayes have it.” The commission’s action is a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors; the Board will make the final decision.

The commission also requested follow-up information be added to the file, including clarification of carcass-disposal options used by other regional wildlife rehabilitation centers and any necessary permit conditions tied to on-site staffing or commercial building upgrades if staff do not reside at the property. The commission’s recommendation notes that if the structure is used as a commercial facility and no employee resides on site, appropriate building-permit upgrades will be required prior to occupancy or operation.

The referral to the Board of Supervisors will appear on a future supervisors’ agenda; the staff report and the applicant’s revised GDP and narrative remain part of the planning file.