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BZA approves Walker’s Chapel reuse as photography studio to fund cemetery upkeep
Summary
The Board approved a personal services use variance allowing Walker’s Chapel to be rented to a photography studio; the cemetery association plans to use rental income to maintain the adjacent Walker’s Chapel Cemetery. Planning staff had recommended denial but the Board found the outcome would preserve the historic structure and cemetery.
The Board granted a personal services use variance (VAR‑25‑41) to allow Walker’s Chapel, a contributing historic property, to be used by Sarah Moore Photography as a studio. Planning staff recommended denial, noting the comprehensive plan’s preference for low‑density residential uses in the rural area; staff also said existing routes such as a rezone or a historic adaptive‑reuse conditional use could be alternatives. The petitioner — Walker’s Chapel Cemetery Association — presented an alternative: renting the chapel for low‑impact, sporadic personal‑services use would provide revenue to preserve the chapel and maintain the adjacent cemetery rather than allow the structure to deteriorate.
Attorney Jim Borer told the Board the chapel predates the county zoning ordinance and that the proposed studio would generate rent to pay for repairs and cemetery maintenance. The petitioner emphasized limited traffic, light activity, and compatibility with the site’s historic character. After deliberation the Board voted 5–0 to approve the use variance, finding the proposal would keep the building in active, low‑impact use and generate funds for cemetery upkeep.
Approval makes the personal‑services use an allowed outcome for this property, subject to any site plan and building requirements that follow; the Board suggested the petitioners consider a historic adaptive‑reuse conditional‑use path as an alternate process but voted to grant the variance at this hearing.
