The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors deferred a contentious rezoning request for Goodson’s Auto Repair on Dec. 17 after hours of testimony from neighbors and supporters.

The applicant sought to rezone 5.809 acres from R‑3 (residential planned community) to B‑1 (business general) to build a 9,000‑square‑foot, 12‑bay automotive service facility with proffered limits on uses and a cap on vehicles. Justin Schimp of Schimp Engineering presented proffers that would bar collision and painting work, require vegetative screening, prohibit chain‑link fencing and cap on‑site vehicles at 100. The applicant also tied the preferred site entrance to Route 53 if VDOT does not require a left‑turn lane; otherwise the entrance would be on Garden Lane, the applicant said.

Residents who live nearby spoke overwhelmingly against the rezoning during the public hearing. Speakers from the Villages at Nahor emphasized the community’s average age above 70, walking residents and limited sightlines at Garden Lane and Route 53. Objections centered on increased traffic and safety for older pedestrians, potential noise and light pollution, the visual impact of vehicle storage in view of Route 53 (a scenic corridor), stormwater and water pressure concerns, and perceived erosion of the area’s village character. Several speakers urged denial; others who described years of business from the Goodsons urged approval and pointed to local jobs and services.

Board members questioned enforceability and permanence of the proffers: would landscaping provide sufficient long‑term screening; would the proffer language bar towing/impound operations; and could the county rely on VDOT to permit an entrance on Route 53 without expensive turn‑lane work. The applicant acknowledged the cost risk if VDOT requires turn lanes and said he preferred the Route 53 entrance but could be forced to use Garden Lane if warranted.

Supervisor Mike Sheridan moved to defer the rezoning to allow the applicant time to refine proffers and for staff to await VDOT’s review. The board voted unanimously to defer, setting a no‑later‑than date of Oct. 31, 2026. The applicant agreed to return with clarified, enforceable proffer language and to work with county staff on any VDOT findings.

The deferral leaves the current R‑3 zoning in place for the parcel. Neighbors asked the county to require stronger, enforceable screening and lighting controls and to explicitly prohibit any impound/towing yard uses; the applicant signaled willingness to tighten language. The board asked staff to flag outstanding technical items—stormwater, water pressure and VDOT access—and return with those details as the application returns to the public record.

Next procedural step: the applicant will refine and refile proffers for a future public hearing and the board will consider VDOT’s access determination before acting.