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Residents raise safety, noise and flood concerns over proposed Eden Ridge event venue in Madison County
Summary
Neighbors told the Planning Commission they fear increased traffic, unsafe and flood-prone access on Novum Church Road, noise and impacts to livestock from a proposed event venue limited to 200 people at 868 Novum Church Rd; the commission discussed draft permit conditions and scheduled a public hearing.
The Madison County Planning Commission heard extensive public opposition on Jan. 21 to a proposed event venue at 868 Novum Church Road, a 152.624-acre A-1 property owned by Leonard and Lori Peters.
Stephen Found, representing the applicants, described a two-phase plan that would initially use tents and later build a barn-style enclosed structure. He said events would be limited to 200 people, with parking estimated at about 75 cars, single-day events typical (for example one Saturday and one Sunday), and operations generally ending by 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. Found said the applicants plan buffering, landscaping, down-facing lighting and sound controls to minimize impacts.
Neighbors told the commission they were concerned about vehicle routing, road safety, flooding and noise. Donald Stolworthy told commissioners the proposal "is not compatible with adjacent land uses," citing dust that could affect livestock and bees, and asked for a traffic study. Other residents, including Steve Killpatrick and Mike Concino, described Novum Church Road as narrow with blind curves and deep ditches, and said sections are effectively single-lane. Denise Webb said her autistic son regularly rides horses in the area and that increased event traffic could endanger him. Several speakers urged the use of Hoover Road for site access rather than Novum Church Road and noted that GPS routing could send drivers down small neighborhood roads.
Staff member Allen Nicholls said he drafted draft permit conditions consistent with the county's ordinances and recommended a condition that vehicles exiting the venue be directed to turn left and proceed south toward Hoover Road to avoid an intersection with limited sight distance. Nicholls also noted VDOT will review access during site plan review and that preliminary thresholds do not predict high trip generation at the proposed scale.
Commissioners discussed the concerns but took no final action; the item remains on the schedule for a public hearing. The hearing record includes comments on traffic, floodplain crossings, noise, lighting, dust control and potential impacts on property values and rural character.
