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Planning commission recommends approval for Firefly Point event facility; places conditions on operation
Summary
The Cumberland County Planning Commission recommended approval of Conditional Use Permit CUP‑26‑02 for Firefly Point, a 14.053‑acre property with a renovated barn, citing consistency with the comprehensive plan while imposing conditions on buffers, hours, refuse and renewals; the recommendation now goes to the Board of Supervisors.
The Cumberland County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of Conditional Use Permit CUP‑26‑02 for the Firefly Point event facility after a staff presentation and a public hearing with the applicant.
Staff presented the request for a 14.053‑acre parcel off Columbia Road that includes a renovated barn on a peninsula of the Cobbs/Cott's Creek reservoir and said the proposal is consistent with Comprehensive Plan objective 5.1 to preserve the county’s scenic, agricultural and natural resources while allowing a small business use. "Therefore, staff recommends approval of this conditional use permit with the following conditions," staff said, listing requirements for compliance with the submitted site plan, vegetative buffers and adherence to the reservoir watershed protection ordinance.
Applicant Andrew Fredon told the commission he and his wife purchased the property from Henrico County and have hosted family events while renovating the barn. "I'm a TV meteorologist. I work at the NBC affiliate in Richmond," Fredon said, describing why the site appeals as an event venue. He said past small gatherings used rented porta‑potties and that he intends to work with county departments and vendors to avoid impacts to the reservoir.
Commission discussion focused on enforcement language and public‑safety concerns. Staff explained applicants must provide documentation from referring agencies at renewal (for example, evidence from the health department, a sheriff's office email about calls for service, and VDOT confirmation about driveway adequacy) and that the final site plan will be reviewed by fire/EMS, the fire marshal and other agencies before any work proceeds. Staff also read operational limits into the record: "Hours of operation shall be limited to 8AM to 11PM daily," and staff described noise and lighting restrictions and refuse‑disposal requirements in the conditions.
Commissioners raised specific questions about emergency access, parking layouts, driveway width and containment for portable toilets. The applicant said parking would be placed to minimize visibility from the road and that they would coordinate with emergency responders; he also described the site’s existing well and power connections and said he would not pursue exterior development inside the watershed protection area without returning to the county.
After closing the public hearing the commission moved to recommend Board of Supervisors approval of CUP‑26‑02 (tax map parcel noted in the motion). The motion was seconded and carried with the commissioners voting to recommend approval; the recommendation advances to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
What happens next: the Board of Supervisors will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation at a future meeting. If approved by the Board, the permit holder must comply with the site plan and the enumerated conditions (buffers, agency confirmations, refuse protocol, hours/noise limits) and will be subject to periodic renewal and enforcement provisions described by staff.
