Board approves zoning sign changes, accessory dwelling CUP and rezoning with proffers for private-road subdivision

The Goochland County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 21 approved three land-use items: a countywide zoning ordinance amendment to clarify signage for shopping centers and office/industrial parks; a conditional use permit (CUP) allowing a detached accessory family housing unit on a parcel that straddles Goochland and Fluvanna counties; and a rezoning with proffers that will permit a four‑lot subdivision served by a private road (Terry Lane) with waivers of public-road and turn-lane construction requirements.

Signage amendment (countywide) County planning staff presented a countywide zoning text amendment to the sign and definition sections of the zoning ordinance to clarify entrance signs for shopping centers, industrial and office parks and to add an “office park” definition. The amendment clarifies that one entrance sign is permitted per entrance and allows individual lots within an office or industrial park to have freestanding signs while capping cumulative sign area. The amendment also specifies that entrance signs be ground-mounted with a brick or stone base; staff showed photo examples of the proposed standard.

Planning staff said the changes respond to business-community concerns that some economic development areas effectively had only one allowable entrance sign and to inconsistencies within the existing ordinance tables. No public comment was offered at the hearing. The board approved the zoning ordinance amendment; the transcript records a roll-call vote with affirmative votes from members named during the roll call.

Accessory family housing unit (CU‑2024‑0021) Lester and Kimberly Robbins requested a conditional use permit to allow a detached accessory family housing unit on approximately 20 acres at 35344 Duval Road; part of the parent parcel lies in Fluvanna County. Planning reported that the parcel contains open fields, woods, an existing single-family dwelling and agricultural structures; it is mapped as Rural Enhancement Area in the comprehensive plan. A community meeting in September included one neighboring citizen; the planning commission recommended approval (5–0). Staff recommended a set of conditions that include family-only occupancy (no separate rental), required carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, maintained emergency vehicle access, a 10‑year expiration on the CUP and a requirement that the owner notify successors of the CUP conditions on transfer. The board approved the CUP; the vote was recorded by roll call.

Rezoning with proffers and waivers for Terry Lane (RZ‑2024‑00010) Dennis Leroy Holmes requested rezoning to allow a four‑lot subdivision of a parent tract and proffered conditions that, if accepted, waive requirements in the access management code that would otherwise require a public road and left/right turn lanes for the proposed development. Terry Lane is a private gravel road built largely outside the recorded easement; staff noted the terrain is hilly and a creek appears on the parcel. The applicant proffered a conceptual plan showing an approximately 400‑foot extension of Terry Lane and a required fire‑apparatus turnaround; staff and VDOT review and permits will be required before any subdivision plat is approved. The applicant also proffered to maintain Terry Lane and to provide a minimum 10,000‑gallon cistern for fire protection as required when the 11th lot is created. A community meeting in September drew 17 citizens; the planning commission recommended approval 5–0, and the board approved the rezoning with proffers by roll-call vote.

Votes at a glance - Zoning ordinance amendment (signage for office/industrial parks): motion to approve; roll-call approval recorded in transcript; outcome: approved. - CU‑2024‑0021 (Robbins) — accessory family housing unit at 35344 Duval Road: motion to approve; roll-call approval recorded in transcript; outcome: approved. - RZ‑2024‑00010 (Holmes) — rezoning with proffers to allow a private‑road four‑lot subdivision on Terry Lane (waivers requested for public‑road and turn‑lane requirements): motion to approve proffers and rezoning; roll-call approval recorded; outcome: approved.

Staff noted that future subdivisions along Terry Lane would either need similar waivers or must construct a public road and necessary turn lanes; VDOT and county engineering and health-department reviews were identified as subsequent requirements. The board recorded no public opposition at the hearings and moved the items to approval following staff presentations and planning-commission recommendations.