Washington County approves Moonlight Drive-In as multipurpose venue with amended hours

The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted 6–0 on Nov. 12 to approve a special-exception permit that will allow the Moonlight Drive-In (Moonlite) on Lee Highway to operate as a drive-in movie theater and a multipurpose event venue.

Renee Blevins, who identified herself as the owner of the Moonlight, told the board the project is “more than a business venture for us. It’s a labor of love” and said she and her family have invested more than $1 million with an additional $300,000–$500,000 needed to finish renovations including an expanded concession stand and restroom upgrades. Blevins said the venue would comply with county ordinances and work with VDOT and emergency services on traffic and safety plans.

The Planning Commission had recommended approval, with eight conditions that include preparing a site plan, obtaining a VDOT commercial entrance permit, providing a sheriff’s-office security review letter, securing a health-department permit for the concession stand once constructed and prohibiting commercial ingress or egress through the Melvin Hills subdivision. Mr. Richardson, the planning/zoning presenter, said those conditions were not “overly difficult or onerous” for the applicants.

At the public hearing, supporters including event planner Jonathan McLaughlin and a visiting drive-in operator, Rex Willis, said multiuse programming — concerts, car shows and community events — is essential to make drive-ins financially sustainable. Blevins said the lot has 464 parking spaces and that an August concert allowed them to estimate a practical maximum capacity “around 3,000 people” for occasional large gatherings; she said the plan is to host such large events only once or twice a year.

Board discussion focused on neighborhood impacts, VDOT traffic requirements and the county noise ordinance. Staff told supervisors that radio-based in-car audio will be used for film showings so there would be no amplified outdoor audio, and that the county noise ordinance gives the sheriff’s office enforcement authority after 10 p.m. Supervisors also clarified that accessory events can be allowed under a special exception if the board places appropriate conditions, but large concerts may still require additional event permits or conditions tied to VDOT requirements.

Supervisor Duane Ball moved to approve the special-exception permit with two changes to the staff-recommended conditions: revise the hours to 8 a.m.–1 a.m., and change the approved days from Wednesday–Sunday to Tuesday–Sunday (keeping Monday as the one closed day). The motion was seconded and approved unanimously, 6–0.

The board’s approval authorizes the use subject to the planning commission conditions and the amendments the board adopted; applicants must still secure required permits from VDOT and the health department and comply with any additional conditions in the final site plan and permitting process.

The board closed the public hearing and moved on to other business after the vote.