Board approves special-use permit for Route 460 office/storage development despite traffic concerns

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 14 approved an amended special‑use permit (SU20‑0003) allowing Native Enterprises, Inc. to develop a multi‑building general office and indoor storage complex along Route 460, despite concerns from a supervisor about traffic and parking.

Abigail Currington, planner with the county’s planning division, told the board the subject parcel (RPC 90512‑475) totals 18.52 acres at 2565 East Lynchburg‑Salem Turnpike and is zoned AP and AR with a corridor overlay. The applicant’s concept plan shows four 6,000‑square‑foot buildings; about 3,000 square feet of each building is designated office space and the remaining 3,000 square feet is indoor storage. Currington said the development would be served by on‑site wells and septic and that the planning commission recommended approval, 7‑0, subject to staff conditions and an additional condition added by the commission.

Planning staff recommended conditions including general conformance with the concept plan, conformity with ordinance development standards, nullification of prior site plan SP21‑0009 upon approval, prohibition on outside storage of materials or equipment associated with the general office use, and downward‑directed, limited lighting for safety and security.

Supervisor questions focused on parking and the meaning of the “no outside storage” condition. Currington said the intent was to accommodate small contractors (painters, roofing, plumbing) who would use the indoor storage for materials; trucks could be parked in designated parking spaces. The applicant’s representative said the plan meets the zoning ordinance’s calculated parking requirements and that additional parking could be added if necessary, subject to ordinance limits.

Applicant representative explained the development is aimed at small contractors who would typically leave vehicles at job sites and not congregate at the office during the day. The presenter also said VDOT reviewed the access arrangement and considered the expected trip counts “relatively low.”

Supervisor Parker moved to approve Resolution R101425‑03; Supervisor Johnson seconded. The roll call vote was: Ms. Parker, yes; Ms. Davis, no; Ms. Johnson, yes; Mr. Tuck, yes; Mrs. Bainsley, yes; Mr. Sharp, yes; Chair, yes. The motion carried.

Conditions adopted with the approval include the planning staff conditions and the Planning Commission’s additional condition (highlighted in staff materials). The approved permit requires site plan approval and states that any layout changes producing increased impacts to adjoining properties will require an amended special‑use permit.

Minutes of the hearing indicate no citizens spoke during the planning commission public hearing. The board’s action finalized the amended special‑use permit but preserved site‑plan review and the county’s ordinance requirements as implementation steps.