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Board approves campground, farmers market and restaurant under conditional zoning; neighbor raises trespass concerns
Summary
The board approved a conditional rezoning to allow a campground with a farmers market and restaurant on about 5.76 acres. A nearby resident, Connie Hughes, and her brother raised concerns about trespass, monitoring and property values; applicant Brandon Robertson said the project includes screening, cameras and on-site family presence.
The Stokes County Board of Commissioners approved a conditional rezoning to permit a campground with a farmers market and restaurant after hearing public comment and a presentation from the applicants.
Planning staff introduced plan case 24-865 and recommended approval, saying the project aligns with the Stokes County 2035 comprehensive plan and supports agritourism and potential tax-base increases. The planning board had unanimously recommended approval.
Brandon Robertson, speaking for applicants Maurice Smith and B.R. Robinson, described a phased campground plan that would include a bath house, roughly ten gravel campsites, a classroom for teaching trades, a farmers market selling local goods and a restaurant using local produce. "We're about helping people, helping the community," Robertson said, describing plans to teach welding, timber framing and leather work to provide skills for younger residents.
During public comment, Connie Hughes of Lawsonville read a letter from her brother, Daryl awson, expressing concern that the development could invite trespass, and asked what assurances there would be for monitoring and cleanup if the business failed. "What assurances do I have that people will not trespass on the land? Will it be monitored daily 24/7?" Hughes asked.
Robertson responded that the portion of the project nearest Little Mountain is on a different part of the farm and that the applicants have taken steps to remove blighted properties and drug houses on parcels they own. "We've tore down three drug houses ... we've got cameras up ... we've cleaned that property of all that problem," he said, adding that family members will live on-site and that the applicants plan to install screening trees.
A commissioner moved to approve rezoning request 24-865 to rezone about 5.76 acres from RA to RACZ for a campground with a farmers market and restaurant; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
The transcript does not include a roll-call vote tally. The board's approval allows applicants to proceed to permitting and to comply with any conditions placed on the RACZ zoning.
