Planning Commission recommends permits for rodeo ring, fair expansion and expanded animal rescue after public hearing

At a joint public hearing on April 22, 2010 the Smyth County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors considered three Special Use Permit applications and the Commission voted to recommend approval of all three to the Board.

Clegg Williams, planning staff, summarized the applications and the notice process. The first applicant, Seth Heath, sought a permit to operate a commercial rodeo/riding arena on a 24.5‑acre parcel on Fox Valley Road. Heath told the hearing he planned to use the existing entrance, provide portable restrooms, hold events mainly on Saturdays starting mid‑evening, run about four to five events per year, and enforce a “no alcohol/drug policy.” A neighbor, Kathleen Nicholson, said she was concerned about traffic and noise from rodeos across the street and asked how the operation would affect nearby residents.

The Commission also considered an application from the Rich Valley Agricultural Fair Association to expand year‑round activities on the fairgrounds, which in recent years have included ATV races, a high‑school rodeo and occasional third‑party events. Randi Davis, representing the fair, said the nonprofit seeks to make the property available to the community for events and practice beyond the traditional fair week; she said liability insurance covers activities held outside fair week.

The third application, from Francis and Patricia Taylor for Promise Land Animal Rescue, proposed construction of a new facility to house small rescued animals separate from an existing horse barn. Francis Taylor described the long history of caring for strays at the farm; Susan Graf, program manager, said the Rescue operates as a “no kill” facility and provides humane education and animal rehabilitation programs. Danielle Graf said the proposed building would be under 4,000 square feet with kennels, a classroom and septic/drainage improvements; she offered a petition of about 300 signatures in support.

Opponents raised issues at the hearing. For the rodeo, a nearby resident said the sound tests performed at Heath’s home did not include livestock and full events and worried a permit would remove incentives for the operator to mitigate impacts. For the Rescue, two neighbors expressed concerns about noise, runoff and manure management; Rescue representatives replied that small‑animal waste would be routed to a septic system and horse manure would be stockpiled for local agricultural use, and said recent drought and winter conditions had temporarily worsened pasture appearance.

After discussion the Planning Commission voted to recommend Board approval of Seth Heath’s Special Use Permit (motion by Ms. Tuell, second by Mr. Davidson), the Rich Valley Agricultural Fair Association’s Special Use Permit (motion by Mr. Sparks, second by Ms. Tuell), and the Taylors’ Special Use Permit for the Rescue (motion by Mr. Davidson, second by Mr. Sparks); all three recommendations passed unanimously in the Commission.

The Board of Supervisors later considered these recommendations as part of its public process.