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Board approves sign‑code change to allow volunteer fire/rescue signs after applicant testimony; member discloses vendor tie and abstains
Summary
The board approved ZTA 2610, which exempts volunteer fire department and rescue squad signs from county sign‑code restrictions in residential zones; John Lions of Lake Montichello described a long‑standing sign need and one supervisor disclosed an employment relationship with a sign vendor and abstained.
Fluvanna supervisors voted April 15 to amend county code (22‑15‑2) to exempt signs for volunteer fire departments and rescue squads from sign‑code restrictions that apply in certain residential zoning districts.
Staff said a recent sign permit application from Lake Montichello Volunteer Fire Department revealed the department did not fit the existing public‑sign exemption because it is a volunteer organization. The proposed zoning text amendment would allow volunteer fire and rescue entities to be treated the same as public signs for the purposes of the county sign ordinance.
John Lions, president of Lake Montichello’s board of directors, said the department previously had a permitted wooden sign (circa 1982) that was removed after falling into disrepair and that the department seeks to replace it. A board member disclosed employment by a sign company that holds a contract with Lake Montichello and said they would abstain from the vote. The board approved the amendment; the clerk recorded the disclosure and the abstention. The vote was recorded in the meeting as passing with a 4‑0 tally and one abstention.
Staff will update the county code language and the department may proceed with a replacement sign under the amended provisions.
