Pittsylvania County Planning Commission elects Webb, recommends approval of multiple rezonings and permits including 197‑ft Verizon monopole

Fred Webb, Westover District, was elected chairman of the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission at the board's Nov. 6, 2025 meeting. The commission then reviewed a series of land‑use petitions, recommending approval on each item before it and forwarding several items to the Board of Supervisors or the Board of Zoning Appeals as required.

The commission recommended approval of six rezoning petitions to change parcels from R‑1 (residential suburban subdivision) to A‑1 (agricultural). The motions, made by commissioners during the public‑hearing phase and recorded in the minutes, all passed by a 5–0 vote. Petitioners and locations: James Murray (Case R‑25‑029) — 6.881 acres on State Road 672/Pittsville Road (Stanton River election district) to permit boarding of horses; Candace and Joshua Spiegel (Case R‑25‑030) — 49.25 acres on State Road 703/Irish Road (Tunstall election district) to allow hay harvesting and a barn; Linda Rogers (Case R‑25‑031) — 12.39 acres on State Road 845/Hill Creek Road (Tunstall) for agricultural uses; Jack and Virginia Thompson (Case R‑25‑032) — 7.22 acres on State Road 746/Golf Club Road (Chatham‑Blairs) for agricultural uses; Nicholas Maddalena (Case R‑25‑033) — 19.23 acres on State Road 686/Markham Road (Banister) to allow a manufactured home; and Beth Ann James (Case R‑25‑034) — 1.995 acres on State Road 88882/West Sunrise Drive (Tunstall) for use as a micro‑resort, retreat center and event space. Staff summaries for each petition were included in the meeting packet, and no speakers registered opposition during the hearings.

The commission also reviewed two special‑use permit requests to allow manufactured homes. SCA Investments, represented by William Alderson (Case S‑25‑023), requested a permit for a 0.5‑acre parcel on State Road 686/Elkhorn Road (Banister). Cindy Reynolds (Case S‑25‑024) requested a special‑use permit for a 1.64‑acre parcel on State Road 604/Glade Road (Stanton River). Both motions recommending approval were recorded and adopted 5–0.

A variance request (V‑25‑001) came from Tim Cassell, identified as fire chief of the Bachelor’s Hall Volunteer Fire Department, seeking relief from Section 35‑3‑88 (minimum yard dimensions) of the Pittsylvania County zoning ordinance to allow construction of an addition (pole barn) adjacent to the existing station on State Road 878/Duncan Drive. Cassell said the department had outgrown its building and owned the adjoining lot; commissioners voted 5–0 to recommend approval of the variance to the Board of Supervisors.

The commission reviewed a special‑use permit application (S‑25‑022) from the Marshall Kendall Trust, represented by Jonathan Yates, to place a 197‑foot monopole wireless communications facility on a 248.72‑acre parcel on State Road 640/Spring Garden Road in the Banister election district for Verizon Wireless; the facility was described as designed to accommodate three additional carriers in the future. Jonathan Yates said the site meets required setbacks (applicant stated front/rear/side distances) and that the installation had an FAA determination of no hazard and would not require illumination. He described an expected construction timeline of roughly 60 days after approvals and said the facility produces “no noise, odor, lights, vibration, fumes, or glare.” Commissioners recommended approval and voted 5–0 to forward the special‑use permit to the appropriate body.

The commission considered a proposed open‑space conservation easement for the Virginia Century Farm property (presented by Donna Booth). Commissioners discussed the applicable procedure for the easement and, after clarifying the correct motion wording, approved the easement in that meeting (the minutes indicate the board considered the action approved rather than merely recommended). Commissioners also offered condolences to the family of former supervisor Ronald Scarce, who the chair said had recently passed away.

Votes at a glance (recorded motions and outcomes):

• Election — Chairman: Fred Webb nominated and elected (vote recorded as unanimous 5–0). • R‑25‑029 (James Murray, rezoning to A‑1, 6.881 acres) — recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors; vote 5–0. • R‑25‑030 (Candace & Joshua Spiegel, rezoning to A‑1, 49.25 acres) — recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors; vote 5–0. • R‑25‑031 (Linda Rogers, rezoning to A‑1, 12.39 acres) — recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors; vote 5–0. • R‑25‑032 (Jack & Virginia Thompson, rezoning to A‑1, 7.22 acres) — recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors; vote 5–0. • R‑25‑033 (Nicholas Maddalena, rezoning to A‑1, 19.23 acres) — recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors; vote 5–0. • R‑25‑034 (Beth Ann James, rezoning to A‑1, 1.995 acres) — recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors; vote 5–0. • S‑25‑022 (Marshall Kendall Trust / Jonathan Yates, special‑use permit for 197‑ft monopole for Verizon) — recommended approval/forwarded; vote 5–0. • S‑25‑023 (SCA Investments / William Alderson, special‑use permit for manufactured home, 0.5 acres) — recommended approval/forwarded; vote 5–0. • S‑25‑024 (Cindy Reynolds, special‑use permit for manufactured home, 1.64 acres) — recommended approval/forwarded; vote 5–0. • V‑25‑001 (Bachelor’s Hall VFD / Tim Cassell, variance to minimum yard setback under Section 35‑3‑88) — recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors; vote 5–0. • Virginia Century Farm conservation easement — motion clarified and approved by the commission during the meeting (vote recorded as 5–0 in support or concurrence as indicated in the minutes).

The meeting minutes show little public opposition or extended debate on the land‑use items; several petitioners briefly described intended uses, and staff summaries were referenced. The more detailed presentation was for the wireless facility (S‑25‑022), where the applicant described the tower height, FAA findings and anticipated benefits for voice, broadband and emergency calls. No speakers registered formal opposition at the hearing for any case. The commission adjourned after brief closing remarks and an expression of condolences.