Board approves home-occupation ordinance, short-term rental at 201 Williams Road; makes several appointments

The Amherst County Board of Supervisors adopted ordinance 2025-7 Dec. 16 to revise home-occupation regulations, including language removing any allowance for on-site signs advertising home occupations. Staff said the change was developed with the county attorney and presented at a prior meeting; no members of the public spoke in favor or opposition during this hearing.

The board also approved special exception 2025-2582 to allow a short-term rental at 201 Williams Road (Shane and Jackie Phillips). Planning staff said the parcel is zoned R2 and that septic permitting sets the number of rentable bedrooms; the Phillipses said they intend to rent a single bedroom via Airbnb. The planning commission recommended approval with four standard conditions; the board voted to approve with those conditions and a requirement that the owner obtain a zoning permit and business license.

Separately, the board appointed Wayne Patton to the Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) board to fill a vacancy through 06/30/2026; Patton described 25 years in higher education and work with online-program development. The board reappointed Robert "Bobby" Shiflett to a three-year term on the Horizon Behavioral Health Board through 12/31/2028. The board also appointed Trevor Gillespie to the Amherst County Service Authority to fill a citizen-member seat.

No roll-call vote totals are recorded in the meeting transcript for these actions; all were approved by voice vote as recorded in the minutes.