Board tables revocation process for trucking special exception; gives operator 90 days to comply

The Amherst County Board of Supervisors opened a public hearing on Resolution 2024-11, a staff-initiated effort to revoke Special Exception 2020-380 that had authorized a trucking business on tax-map parcel 82-A-15A. Planning staff said the special exception, approved in 2020 with conditions, and its subsequent site-plan approvals required several condition items that remained incomplete.

Planning staff recounted the timeline: the 2020 special exception was approved with conditions and a site plan accepted later that year; in 2023 staff returned to the board and the planning commission recommended revocation and then, in June 2024, the board declined to revoke and granted the property owner additional time to comply. Staff said no meaningful on-site progress was made between June and September 2024, and the planning commission later recommended revocation. Remaining issues described by staff included outdoor storage of miscellaneous items, an unpermitted structure that the owner said he is moving, unfinished grading and gravel placement and a small number of trees that had been purchased but not yet planted because of winter ground conditions.

Owner Timothy Waldron said he acknowledged the outstanding work and asked the board for additional time, citing weather and difficulty obtaining machine work, and told supervisors he and his helpers were working as they could and believed they could complete the conditions with more time. Several local residents spoke in his favor, saying he deserved additional time and noting they had been assisting him.

Supervisor (district representative) said the site is in his district, recounted voting on the original exception when he joined the board, and said the property had not been developed as represented in the original site plan; during the discussion he said the property appeared to have become a junkyard or used-car lot rather than the approved trailer storage. He said he would recommend a 90-day tabling to allow the owner to bring the site into compliance and then moved to table for 90 days. The motion carried.

Board members asked whether VDOT concerns about the entrance had been resolved; staff said VDOT had provided an approval letter and that some conditions remained for grading, erosion control and cleanup.

The board tabled the revocation process for 90 days; staff will monitor compliance on remaining conditions and report back if progress is not made.