Smyth County planning commission backs zoning change and recommends private grass airstrip permit

The Smyth County Planning Commission recommended that the Board of Supervisors amend the county zoning ordinance to add a definition for “airport” and permit airports by special-use permit in multiple zoning districts, and it recommended approval of a private grass airstrip at 592 South Fork Road with a VFR-only condition.

Chair Joel Pugh presided over a Dec. 30, 2021 joint public hearing with the Board of Supervisors where applicant Robert de Camara presented FAA materials and letters of support, including one from Curtis Pennington, chairman of the Smyth‑Wythe Airport Commission. De Camara described the proposal as a private grass airstrip that would not be commercial; “with the airstrip being private, anyone wanting to land would have to get approval from me as the owner,” he told the hearing.

Neighbors raised multiple objections. Veda Odle told the board she feared flight patterns could cross her home, that takeoffs and landings would disrupt her activities and livestock, and that the airstrip could reduce property values and privacy. Several speakers also asked about fuel and equipment storage and whether environmental standards would be reviewed. Curtis Pennington responded that, in his experience operating Catron Field since 1985, nearby grass airstrips had not generated noise complaints or livestock disturbance and that federal rules allow aircraft to land with the owner’s permission.

The commission’s deliberations noted that the county’s 2013 Comprehensive Plan identifies the site as Rural Residential and that Section 3‑2.2 and Article 6 of the zoning ordinance govern special‑use permits. Commissioners discussed the proposal’s limits: de Camara characterized the field as a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) strip, meaning daytime and fair‑weather use only, and said typical landing/takeoff distance is about 500 feet.

After discussion, the Planning Commission voted 5–0 (one abstention, one absent) to recommend the Board of Supervisors approve de Camara’s special‑use permit with the explicit condition that the airstrip operate as a VFR grass strip only. Commissioner David Campbell recorded an abstention. The commission’s recommendation follows earlier action in October to propose an ordinance change that would formally add an airport definition and allow airports by special‑use permit in Agricultural/Rural, Residential, Commercial and Industrial districts.

The Board of Supervisors will consider the ordinance amendment and the special‑use permit recommendation at a later meeting. The Planning Commission record shows public support from some pilots and nearby property owners and strong concerns from others; the proposed VFR limitation was the condition adopted by the commission to restrict operations.