Mecklenburg planning commission approves permits, adopts comprehensive plan and sends solar ordinance to public hearing

The Mecklenburg County Planning Commission on an evening meeting approved a string of permits and land‑use actions, adopted the county's updated comprehensive plan and referred revisions to the county's solar ordinance to public hearing.

The actions included approval of a special‑exception permit for two recreational‑vehicle (RV) hookups on property owned by Willie Price, adoption of a construction traffic management plan, approval of a 250‑foot telecommunications tower proposed by TowerComm (for T‑Mobile and up to three additional carriers), several rezonings and a special‑exception for a second dwelling, approval of a large sign, and final adoption of the county's comprehensive plan as amended.

The meeting opened with nominations for commission officers and closed with routine housekeeping. Public comment was brief on most items; neighbor Joe Vitanza spoke in opposition to possible future expansion of the RV site but said he had no objection to the current two‑pad request, and applicant Willie Price described existing hookups and his intent to maintain the site.

On the RV site, the commission approved a motion that included written conditions: the permit is limited to two RV hookups; the site may not be used as a permanent residence; electrical, water and sewer hookups must meet county and health‑department approvals; campfires must be confined to a ring and supervised; burning trash or household items is prohibited; the owner must enforce quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; and the owner must screen the site from public view if visible from public roadways or adjoining property within 100 feet. The motion stated failure to comply could result in revocation of the special‑exemption permit.

On the construction traffic management plan, the commission voted to accept the county plan that requires developers to file traffic plans for heavy construction that use secondary roads and to repair damage to those roads. Cliff Shire, senior developer at Long Road Energy, said his company supports the plan and has added a second construction entrance to the 7 Bridges solar project to reduce impacts to Scott's Crossroads.

The commission approved the adoption of the county's comprehensive plan (referred to in discussion as the “2044 comprehensive plan”) as amended after a prior public‑hearing advertisement technicality.

Other land‑use approvals included a special‑exception permit review and approval for a 250‑foot self‑support telecommunications tower on Old Cox Road proposed by TowerComm (the applicant noted FAA lighting requirements may apply for towers of that height), approval of a second‑home special exception on Busy Bee Road, rezoning from M1 (industrial) to B1 (business) to permit truck pooling and demolition derby uses on John Beale Road, and a rezoning from agricultural to industrial M1 to allow a small batch concrete plant on Airport Road with standard stormwater/erosion control and DEQ/EPA requirements noted.

The planning commission also approved a sign permit for a new self‑storage business (size exceeding 4x8 feet), adopted the commission meeting schedule for 2025 and approved minutes from prior meetings.

Votes at a glance - Kyle Crump: elected chair (nomination closed and carried; vote recorded as voice vote; tally not specified). - Mark Warren: elected vice chair (nomination carried; tally not specified). - Willie Price — special exception for two RV hookups: approved; conditions set by the motion (see text above). - Construction traffic management plan (countywide): approved; plan will be reviewed by zoning staff and VDOT as applicable; developers responsible for repair of secondary roads damaged by construction. - Mecklenburg County Comprehensive Plan ("2044"): approved as amended. - TowerComm 250‑ft telecommunication tower (Old Cox Road): approved; application described as for T‑Mobile plus up to three additional carriers; FAA lighting referenced. - James & Deborah Thompson — second home special exception: approved; site meets county zoning requirement of two acres or more for a second home. - Paul Jackson & Barry Ure — rezoning M1 to B1 for truck pools/demolition derbies: approved with commercial entrance requirements. - Jerry Williams & Frank Sarkins — rezoning agricultural to industrial M1 for a small batch concrete plant: approved; developer must file erosion and sediment control and stormwater plans and meet DEQ/EPA standards. - AMH Self Storage — sign permit larger than 4x8: approved. - Article 20 (solar ordinance) revisions: motion carried to send the revised ordinance (removing "large scale" and defining small/medium scales) to public hearing and to grandfather the 7 Bridges and Finney Wood projects. - Meeting schedule for 2025: approved.

The commission recorded approvals by voice votes in each case; the transcript records '22All those in favor, say aye'22 and '22Motion carries,'22 but does not provide roll‑call tallies. Several approvals included explicit conditions or required subsequent agency approvals (health department, VDOT, DEQ/EPA) before construction or use. The planning commission chairman opened each public hearing, allowed three minutes per registered speaker and then closed the hearings before deliberation.

The commission directed that items requiring additional regulatory review—such as tower lighting (FAA), road impacts (VDOT) and environmental permits (DEQ/EPA/stormwater)—proceed through the usual permitting channels before on‑the‑ground work begins.