Staff introduced a zoning map amendment request by Central Virginia Christian School to rezone two parcels (tax map 138‑15‑B, ~9.079 acres, and an adjacent smaller parcel) from M‑1 Light Industrial to VC‑1 Village Center. The requested rezoning would match a separate parcel the county conveyed earlier this year and would allow the school to operate and expand as a by‑right use rather than under a special‑use permit.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about setbacks between the proposed VC‑1 parcels and surrounding parcels, how VC‑1 setbacks differ from M‑1 or neighborhood‑commercial (N C‑1) setbacks, and whether operations at adjacent businesses (notably the James River Equipment/John Deere parcel) could be constrained or made nonconforming by a rezoning. Staff explained general setback rules (tentatively 10 feet between VC‑1 parcels, larger setbacks where VC‑1 abuts neighborhood commercial or state roads) and said existing businesses would be able to continue to operate under their vested rights, but complex effects would depend on specific development proposals and are best addressed at the public hearing.

Several commissioners expressed a desire to have a representative of the Christian School present to answer questions about planned acquisitions and the school’s build‑out plans. Staff said the applicant (mister Beasley) had a scheduling conflict for the meeting but would be contacted and asked to provide clarifying information for the record prior to the public hearing. The commission voted to forward the zoning map amendment to public hearing and asked staff to collect and circulate clarifying documentation in advance of the hearing.