Planning commission recommends denial of Stroudsburg Road storage/staging CUP after neighborhood outcry

The Warren County Planning Commission on an apparent voice vote recommended denial of a conditional use permit for a building service establishment at a Stroudsburg Road property, citing neighborhood concerns about use in a residential area and questions about on-site compliance.

Residents from the nearby Cedar Ridge Estates told the commission they witnessed nighttime activity at the barn and adjacent travel trailer, observed vehicles and equipment left on the parcel, and raised fears about groundwater contamination and personal safety. ‘‘This is not what we expected in this rural and scenic community,’’ said Frank Welsh of Cedar Crossing Lane, who identified police activity on the site on Oct. 1, 2025 and said he had noted changes to the barn he did not expect. Elizabeth Fox, who said she has lived in the subdivision since 2005, told commissioners, ‘‘They're living in the barn,’’ and described unpermitted trailers and lack of septic or electricity for those units.

Applicant Elson Rivera acknowledged neighbors’ concerns and asked the commission for help in obtaining ‘‘a temporary facility for me to keep some storage area,’’ saying he and others have been ‘‘very peaceful’’ on the property.

Staff had described the request as use of the site by the president of MultiTech, LLC as a materials and equipment storage and staging area and recommended a set of conditions if the permit were to be approved: compliance with VDOT permitting, Warren County Building Inspections, Warren County Fire and Rescue, and Warren County Health Department rules; installation of screening and a solid fence; submission of an illustrative development plan showing ingress/egress, parking, storage areas and setbacks; prohibition of on-site retail/customer service; and restricted hours of operation.

Commission discussion focused on whether the proposed use fits an agricultural-zoned parcel surrounded by residential lots, limits to county enforcement of private homeowners association covenants, the adequacy of proposed screening and setbacks, and whether existing violations on the property had been addressed. After deliberation a commissioner moved to forward CUP-2025-1203 to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation to deny; the motion carried and the recommendation will be transmitted to the Board for final action.

Next steps: The Board of Supervisors will receive the planning commission’s recommendation and take up the CUP at a future meeting.