Amherst County approves Monacan Nation special exception limited to powwow, restrooms and educational use

The Amherst County Board of Supervisors on April 15 approved a special-exception zoning permit for the Monacan Indian Nation to host the annual powwow and limited educational events on property at 225 Laurel Cliff Road, and allowed two small restroom structures and regular agricultural uses on the parcel.

County planning staff said the application seeks permission for “fairs and festivals and other similar uses” devoted to promotion and education of Monacan history and asked the board to attach conditions addressing parking, entrances and public-safety coordination. “All rules and regulations of section 7-1 public entertainment for public events over a 150 people shall be met,” planning staff said, and noted parks-and-recreation permits are required for large events so county public-safety agencies can respond.

The action matters to neighbors because the parcel sits amid narrow country roads and nearby residents voiced concerns about traffic, unclear limits on event types and the size and purpose of the proposed restroom building. “We have traffic from Elon 130 that comes through there going to Amherst,” said Helen Fernieh, who lives on Seated Gate. “I am opposed to fairs. Powwow is okay.”

Tyler Creasy, with county planning staff, outlined the site and recommended conditions developed by the planning commission: a parking attendant for events with more than 75 attendees; written permission required for any off-site parking; any new or modified entrances must be permitted by the Virginia Department of Transportation; and the map’s existing High Peak Road entrance would be restricted to emergency use only. “Staff believes the surrounding community may experience an impact from traffic during larger events such as the powwow,” Creasy said, while noting the parcel is zoned A-1 and contains existing dwellings, agricultural land and a lake.

Representatives of the Monacan Nation and volunteers described current operations and limits. “We understand that we only have our powwow one weekend a year,” said Chief Shields, identified as a Monacan representative. Shields said the proposed restrooms are small — two stalls on the women’s side and one stall plus one urinal on the men’s side — and that porta-potties would still be used during the powwow. Monica, who identified herself as the volunteer in charge of parking for the tribe’s events, said the group has managed parking successfully at prior venues and that the High Peak drive has not been used for event ingress or egress.

Several neighbors urged the board to narrow allowed uses. “We don’t want to be having all this public entertainment,” Brenda Burton, a High Peak Road resident, said. Anita Unruh said she supported Monacan cultural uses but opposed opening the site to unrelated fairs and carnivals and asked for clarification on the restroom facility’s scope.

After discussion, a motion to approve the special exception with limits — allowing the powwow, restroom structures, agricultural uses and educational events for schoolchildren while excluding broader fairs and carnivals and confirming the High Peak entrance is emergency-only — was made by Supervisor Wade and approved; board members signified their support by voice vote.

The board’s approval includes the planning commission conditions and requires the county’s standard parks-and-recreation permitting for any public event above the attendance threshold so sheriff’s, fire and other agencies are notified and, if necessary, engaged.

Planning staff said if the Monacan Nation sought to host an event beyond the approved scope, the tribe would need to return to the county for additional approval.