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Smyth County Board denies Old Prater Lane junkyard request, approves recreational‑vehicle park
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Summary
After a tied Planning Commission vote and public comment citing road, drainage and visibility concerns, the Board denied a special‑use permit for a proposed junkyard on Old Prater Lane and approved a separate application to establish an RV park at 1446 Buckeye Hollow Road.
Smyth County supervisors on April 9 denied a Special Use Permit to operate a junkyard on Old Prater Lane and approved a long‑pending request to formalize an existing recreational‑vehicle park at 1446 Buckeye Hollow Road.
The Planning Commission forwarded the junkyard request to the Board after tied votes; several commissioners and many citizens had raised concerns. Royal Oak District Supervisor Courtney Widener told the Board he had “received many comments from citizens raising concerns regarding the property” and noted state‑code requirements that junkyards not be visible from adjoining properties, which he said would be difficult to meet because of surrounding topography. Chilhowie District Supervisor Mike Sturgill said he opposed the permit because of the proposed location.
After discussion, the Board voted unanimously to deny the Special Use Permit for a junkyard on Old Prater Lane. Chair Charles Atkins asked that the Ordinance Committee review potential conflicts between State Code visibility requirements and county zoning rules.
During Citizen’s Time several nearby residents spoke against the junkyard, citing limited road width, bridge weight constraints, drainage issues and concerns about an online campaign tied to the property. Supporters said the site had received approvals or permits from the Department of Wildlife Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality; applicant Zane Kit told the Board he had obtained those approvals.
Separately, the Board approved a Planning Commission recommendation to allow an existing RV park at 1446 Buckeye Hollow Road to continue under a Special Use Permit. Clegg Williams, reading the commission’s recommendation, said the request had received unanimous approval from the Planning Commission.
The Board sent the junkyard matter to the Ordinance Committee for review and adopted the RV‑park permit. The county did not adopt changes to zoning code at the meeting; the Ordinance Committee will review the legal standards cited by supervisors.