Planning Commission recommends approvals on multiple special-use permits and rezones across 2014

Between January and December 2014 the Smyth County Planning Commission considered and recommended a range of land-use actions to the Board of Supervisors, including special-use permits, variances and map amendments. The items below summarize the Commission’s recommendations and the primary considerations recorded in the meeting minutes.

Key actions and recommendations

- Childcare facilities: In a Jan. 23 joint hearing Rebecca Michele Thomas sought and the Commission recommended approval of a Special Use Permit to formalize her home childcare at 733 Wet Springs Road in Chilhowie; staff reported she had operated the facility for about 15 years and was licensed for up to 12 children, with no public opposition. (SEG 007–011)

- Childcare capacity adjustment (Mar. 27): The Commission recommended approval of Tammy Miller’s Special Use Permit for a childcare facility at 208 Myers Street in Marion after votes to set operating conditions (initial tie resolved by limiting capacity to five children and hours to 6:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.). (SEG 014–016)

- Portable-toilet business (June 26): Larry and Debra Hall sought to expand a nonconforming portable-toilet storage yard at 776 and 792 Cleghorn Valley Road in Marion; multiple employees and neighbors spoke in favor, and the Commission recommended approval. (SEG 026–029)

- Mini-warehouse (Aug. 28): Edward and Bryan Stokes applied for a Special Use Permit to construct mini-warehouse units behind 130 Plum Creek Road in Chilhowie; the Commission recommended approval. (SEG 056–057)

- Manufactured-home park expansion (Sept. 25): William Stevenson requested a Special Use Permit to expand an existing manufactured-home park (adding approximately 15 sites) on property identified as Tax Map No. 49-A-18; the Commission recommended approval after staff confirmed county E&S and stormwater matters would apply and that DEQ was unlikely to be triggered for the proposed work in non-stream areas. (SEG 065–067)

- Rezoning and map amendments: The Commission recommended approval of several map amendments including Kelly Richardson’s small corner rezoning (Adwolfe/Thomas Bridge Rd.) and Charles Thweatt’s December request to rezone ~1.8 acres at 5735 Atkins Tank Road from Industrial to Commercial to facilitate a proposed hardware store. (SEG 036–039; SEG 088–092)

- Variances and denials: The Commission approved right-of-way variance requests tied to mining-related subsidence for John Clark (with Olin Corporation participation) and the Trivitt family (conditional on a maintenance agreement). The Commission denied a variance request for Dennis and Jean Brown related to Big Horn Estates; the Browns filed an appeal to the Board. (SEG 014–015; SEG 051–052)

Process notes and common considerations

Staff routinely noted advertisement, neighbor mailings and the presence or absence of written public comment. Commissioners frequently conditioned approvals on limits (for example, number of children in daycare or required maintenance agreements) and cited compliance with applicable county ordinances and state statutes. Several items were resolved with unanimous or near-unanimous votes; a small number produced split votes or appeals to the Board.

Next steps

All Planning Commission recommendations were forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final action where required. Some applicants were advised of county code requirements (e.g., manufactured-home-park standards, stormwater/erosion controls) and potential appeals rights when decisions were adverse.