Residents press board to ban unlicensed ATVs in Burkes Garden; board approves limited ATV route additions elsewhere

At the Oct. 7 meeting Fred Lawless presented a petition from Burkes Garden residents asking the Board of Supervisors to prohibit unlicensed recreational all‑terrain vehicles on public rights of way in Little Creek, Little Town and Burkes Garden, citing the area’s historical character, Amish travel by buggy, children walking to school, farm traffic and livestock crossings.

Lawless asked the board to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance to ban unlicensed ATVs on public roads in the named areas. Board members and staff reviewed legal limitations: county ordinances can prohibit ATVs on county public rights of way but state code allows crossings and certain uses, and private‑property activity is not subject to county restriction. Staff advised the board they can draft an ordinance defining geographic boundaries and public rights of way where ATVs would be prohibited and return it for public hearing.

Separately, the board considered a request from the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority (Spearhead) to add short sections of Franklin/Bozzavane and Laurel Creek Road to the county’s approved ATV route list to connect existing Spearhead trails toward Cabotts Creek Park. Staff noted VDOT review and signage needs; the board approved the resolution authorizing operation of off‑road vehicles on the specified routes (Laurel Creek segment described as 1.48 miles). Board members acknowledged the tension between tourism/economic development goals and safety concerns raised by Burkes Garden residents and asked staff to draft a Burkes Garden ordinance for further consideration.