Bland County adopts height-exception changes and approves hotel conditional-use permit

Bland County supervisors voted unanimously Jan. 25 to amend a local zoning ordinance and to grant a conditional-use permit for hotel development in the county.

The board adopted an amendment to Section 62-287 (Height exceptions and limitations) after the Planning Commission recommended the change. The revision lists exemptions for structures including fully sprinkled hotels and motels and their accessory signage on the same or adjoining lots, church spires, belfries, monuments, water towers, chimneys, flues, flag poles, and quarry and mining operations. The amendment also specifies that accessory structures generally must not exceed the principal structure's height except for garages or farm buildings constructed after a residence.

Joel Cagle, Planning Commission Secretary, presented the commission's recommendation on the proposed amendment and later briefed the board on a separate conditional-use permit application. The board opened a public hearing on the zoning amendment and on the conditional-use permit; no members of the public spoke at either hearing.

On the conditional-use permit, the Planning Commission recommended that the development on Tax Map Numbers 49A-A-2 and 49A-A-3 be a business-class hotel or higher. The board approved the permit on a motion by Supervisor Adam Kidd, seconded by Keith Costello; the vote was unanimous.

The actions clear the way for a hotel development at the referenced tax parcels subject to the conditions in the county's permitting process and any other applicable approvals.

The board conducted both land-use votes without public objection and did not modify the Planning Commission's recommendation; the ordinances and permits were adopted by roll call vote. The next regular meeting was announced for Feb. 22, 2022.