Planning board backs Quad Oaks rezoning after applicant and neighbors discuss watershed and tax concerns

The Rockingham County Planning Board voted to recommend approval of rezoning case 2025-17, a request from Quad Oaks LLC to remove a conditional RV-sales/service use and rezone a parcel to straight Highway Commercial.

Planning staff described the parcel (tax PIN 702000846111) as located on 227 Smith Road in Price Township within a G3/mixed-use corridor in the county land-use plan and recommended approval. Applicant Edward Mateer told the board he and his LLC have owned the property since 2007 and that an earlier planned RV park never completed closing.

Two nearby landowners, Joseph Lewis and Sue Piper Lewis, asked about parcel size (identified in the hearing as 59.64 acres), how rezoning could affect their properties and whether rezoning would increase taxes. Joseph Lewis asked, "How much will the taxes be increased for us?" Planning staff replied, "Typically, zoning does not have a bearing on the tax base." Concern about runoff and erosion prompted staff to note the parcel sits in the Dan River Protected Watershed and that the watershed rules limit the percentage of built-upon area, which would be reviewed during any technical site plan process.

After discussion, a board member moved to recommend approval "based on the consistency and reasonableness determination statements that are included in the agenda packet as may be amended during the rezoning process." The vote was recorded as unanimous.

The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners, which will hold a public meeting before making a final decision.