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Board approves special-exception permit for Walker Street storage project with 12‑month build window
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Summary
The board adopted a resolution supporting a special-exception permit for Renovating Rockbridge LLC to build a storage business at 195 Walker Street, approving planning commission conditions and a 12-month implementation deadline because site constraints and VDOT timing make a six-month build window impractical.
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on April 27 approved a resolution supporting a special-exception permit for Renovating Rockbridge LLC to develop a storage business at 195 Walker Street (Tax Map 61-A-2-2-A-6) in the B-1 zoning district.
Planning staff said the planning commission recommended approval with conditions, including substantial compliance with the Perkins & Orson schematic plan and contingent approvals from the county building department, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the tourism corridor overlay board. The code includes a default requirement that special exceptions be implemented within six months unless otherwise specified; staff and the applicant asked the board to allow a 12‑month implementation window to account for site constraints and external permit timing.
Engineer Russ Orson described the parcel’s limitations — wide rights-of-way for Route 11 and Route 39, an overhead electric transmission line and uncontrolled fill — and said those factors make a storage facility a practical use. “It’s kind of a dump site…so putting a significant structure on that would be quite a project for structural engineering. I think it’s an excellent use for the property with all of its issues,” Orson said.
The board discussed the draft condition and agreed that while the commission’s standard is six months, a 12‑month timeline is reasonable given VDOT and other external review timelines. The board adopted the resolution supporting the special-exception permit and the 12‑month implementation condition by unanimous vote.
Next steps: The applicant must pursue required building-department approvals, obtain any necessary VDOT permits and secure tourism-corridor consistency before the special exception takes effect. If the permit is not implemented within 12 months the special exception may lapse or require further action by the board.
