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Board approves special exception for dog grooming, vacates right‑of‑way and authorizes parcel acquisition
Summary
The Hanover County Board approved a special exception for a home‑based dog/cat grooming business, voted to vacate an unimproved 60‑foot right‑of‑way at The Reserve at Bell Creek, and authorized the county administrator to acquire Parcel 7822‑00‑3988 for a Montpelier fire station; consent agenda and closed‑session additions were also approved earlier in the meeting.
The Hanover County Board of Supervisors approved several formal items during the meeting, including a special exception for a home‑based pet grooming business, an ordinance to vacate an unimproved right‑of‑way, and authorization for the county to acquire a parcel for a Montpelier fire station.
The board voted unanimously to approve SE2025‑14 for Gary and Patricia Lawson, a special exception to allow a dog and cat grooming facility in the Cold Harbor District on a nonconforming A‑1 lot along Peppertown Road. Deputy director of planning Andrew Pompey outlined staff’s nine recommended conditions, including limits to pet counts (no more than 10 dogs at any one time), hours of operation (7 a.m.–9 p.m.), one nonresident employee, no overnight boarding, a fenced and maintained rear parking area with three marked spaces, and a 90‑day post‑approval inspection. The applicant said she has run a grooming business since 1992, met with adjacent neighbors and structured the site to minimize impacts; neighbors who were contacted supported the application. The chair moved to approve SE2025‑14; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
The board also approved an ordinance to vacate an unimproved 60‑foot right‑of‑way recorded with The Bluffs at Bell Creek subdivisions and requested by The Reserve at Bell Creek Homeowners Association. Staff explained the right‑of‑way was retained from a 1998 thoroughfare plan that the 2023 comprehensive plan no longer shows; staff recommended a recording condition attaching the vacated land to adjacent HOA open space. There were no speakers in opposition and the board approved the vacation by voice vote.
In closed‑session business later in the meeting, Supervisor Dibble moved and the board approved authorization for the county administrator to proceed with acquiring Parcel 7822‑00‑3988 for a Montpelier fire station. The board also earlier voted to add a closed‑session item (Blagman v. Hanover County) under the attorney‑client consultation authority and approved the consent agenda by voice vote.
The approvals were made by roll/voice votes recorded in the meeting transcript as "Aye"; the record shows motions, seconds and unanimous voice approval for the listed items. No appeals or votes against the motions were recorded in the public minutes.
