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Planning commission backs bicycle‑shop zoning change and Conditional Use Permit for Downriver Adventure Company
Summary
The Warren County Planning Commission voted to forward a text amendment to add "bicycle shop" to the agricultural zoning code and recommended approval of a conditional use permit for Downriver Adventure Company to add bicycle sales, rentals and repairs at 884 Indian Hollow Road, with conditions including hours and safety requirements.
The Warren County Planning Commission on Feb. 12 voted to forward to the Board of Supervisors a zoning text amendment to add a definition and rules for "bicycle shop" in the Agricultural zoning district, and recommended approval of a concurrent conditional use permit (CUP) for Downriver Adventure Company LLC to offer bicycle sales, rentals and repairs at 884 Indian Hollow Road.
Planning staff said the proposed text amendment would add a definition — "a retail or services establishment where bicycles and related bicycling equipment are sold, rented or repaired" — and would create supplementary regulations including minimum acreage, parking, lighting and limits on outdoor storage. Staff also recommended that hours of operation be set by the CUP and proposed a 7 p.m. closing time in the draft text.
The applicant, Mark Harris, told the commission he acquired the Downriver Canoe Company business and plans to expand it into an outdoor‑recreation outfitter, including e‑bike rentals. "We do intend to rent e‑bikes out of there, and there's a specific class rating for e‑bikes. Class 2 basically is the limit that we'll be going at," Harris said. "The ones that we're renting are all pedal assist, so that means there's no throttle." Harris said the business sees e‑bikes as a way to introduce more people to outdoor recreation.
Commissioners discussed whether electric assist bicycles should be treated differently from motor vehicles and whether the ordinance should limit motorized vehicles. A planning staff speaker noted state classifications and said electric bicycles would fall under the bicycle category unless they met motorcycle licensing thresholds. Commissioners also debated setting hours in the text amendment versus leaving hours to the CUP. One commissioner proposed removing the sentence that would cap closing at 7 p.m. from the code and instead set hours in each CUP.
After discussion, the commission voted to forward the text amendment to the Board of Supervisors with two edits: removing the final sentence in the proposed supplementary regulation that would bar public access after 7 p.m., and removing another subitem in that section (item B as read in the meeting). The commission then considered the CUP for the Downriver site and recommended approval subject to staff conditions, with a modification to the hours of operation. Planning staff noted the applicant proposed seasonal hours used by the canoe company but was agreeable to a limit that better fit daylight and public safety concerns.
The recommended CUP conditions included compliance with VDOT, Warren County Health Department, building and fire code requirements; a maximum occupancy/employee limit as determined by applicable codes; rental patrons must be provided a free safety helmet and printed safety materials; and that parking and lighting requirements be met. Commissioners agreed to amend the proposed hours from a 7 a.m.–7 p.m. cap to a 7 a.m.–9 p.m. cap (as the commission’s amended condition for closing time).
The commission’s action was a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors; the Board will hold the final public hearing and vote. The planning commission noted the applicant intends to use existing parking and building infrastructure and that the property has a prior CUP history for canoe outfitter activities dating to 1977.
