Supervisors approve special-exception for farm labor housing after neighbor objections

After a lengthy public hearing with multiple neighbors objecting, the Amelia County Board of Supervisors approved a special-exception permit allowing a single double‑wide mobile home for farm labor on property owned by Robert Watkins.

Planning staff outlined the request and noted the planning commission recommended approval subject to staff conditions: the unit must be a double‑wide mobile home, located in the general proximity shown on the applicant’s sketch, be used only for farm laborers and meet agricultural setbacks (increasing the normal 100‑foot home setback to 150 feet for this use). Several residents who live near the proposed placement spoke in opposition. Rhonda Dunlow said the placement would "make our property go down" and expressed concern about multiple units being placed in the future. Other neighbors raised worries about traffic, dust from farm vehicles, nighttime noise and children’s safety near the proposed driveway.

Supporters and agricultural‑area supervisors described on‑site housing as a common and legitimate need for farm operations; one board member noted other farms maintain similar housing. The board debated whether neighbors and applicant had had adequate opportunity to reach a compromise and whether conditions in the permit sufficiently limited future expansion.

Supervisor Easton moved to approve the special‑exception permit with staff‑recommended conditions; the motion was adopted by voice vote. Planning staff clarified that the approval applied only to a single unit and that any future mobile homes would require separate approvals.

The county will include the written support email received by staff in the meeting minutes, and planning staff will monitor compliance with the conditions in the permit.