Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission recommends special-use permit for Lawson event center in Saltville area
Summary
After a joint public hearing with the Board of Supervisors, the Smyth County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of William “Billy” Lawson’s special-use permit to operate an event center using two barns and a historic house on Valley Road; staff noted required reviews by VDOT and the Smyth County Health Department.
The Smyth County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a special-use permit from William “Billy” Lawson to operate an event center on several parcels near 1114 Valley Road in the Saltville area.
The recommendation followed a joint public hearing on Feb. 27, 2020, with the Smyth County Board of Supervisors. Clegg Williams, Smyth County zoning administrator, told the boards that Lawson’s application proposes using two barns and a roughly 180-year-old house on multiple tax parcels (41-2-3 through 41-2-7) as a wedding and event venue. Williams noted the application was circulated to adjoining property owners and that the Smyth County Health Department and the Virginia Department of Transportation had raised preliminary comments.
Why it matters: Special-use permits for event centers in the county’s Agricultural/Rural district are permitted only with conditions; Williams cited section 3-2.2(rr) of the county zoning ordinance and Article 6 (special-use permit provisions) as the controlling provisions. Adding an event center designation could allow commercial event activity on otherwise rural parcels and raises issues such as traffic access, septic capacity and overnight use that the county and state regulators may need to address.
During the hearing, Lawson said the historic house would be available to the wedding party. When Commissioner Kris Ratliff asked whether there would be overnight stays, Lawson replied that overnight lodging had not yet been discussed. No members of the public spoke for or against the request during the hearing.
After the public hearing closed, Commissioner David Spence moved to recommend approval of the special-use permit; Commissioner Tony Dean seconded. The motion carried with ayes from Commissioners Joel Pugh, David Spence, Hazel Wagoner, Paul Shepherd, Graham Davidson Jr., and Tony Dean. There were no votes against the recommendation and no abstentions; Commissioner Robert Campbell was absent.
Next steps: The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final action and any conditions or permit terms will be set through that board’s approval process and through required permits from VDOT and the Smyth County Health Department.
