Planning Commission backs short‑term rental at 6266 Richmond Road despite comp‑plan mismatch

The James City County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of Special Use Permit SUP‑26‑0018 for a two‑bedroom short‑term rental at 6266 Richmond Road on July 1.

Staff told the commission the property is zoned R‑2 and designated low‑density residential, and that the application does not meet the comprehensive‑plan categories that typically support short‑term rentals. "Of those three criteria, this application does not meet the first one, which is that it is not designated the appropriate land use designation," staff said, noting the site is outside a platted subdivision but sits on a major roadway. County legal guidance also led staff not to evaluate whether the owner lives on the property.

Dr. Brandy Tinna, the applicant and property owner, told commissioners the renovated two‑bedroom home will be professionally managed and limited to two bedrooms and four occupants, that no high‑impact events will be permitted and that required business licenses and certificates of occupancy will be obtained. "The proposed use of the property located at 6266 Richmond Road is a short‑term tourist home intended to provide temporary lodging accommodations for the visitors of the Williamsburg James City County area," she said.

Commissioners asked questions about conditions and neighbor outreach; staff said no adjoining property owners had contacted the office. Several commissioners said the site’s location on Richmond Road and recent property improvements made them comfortable recommending approval. The commission approved the permit by roll call vote; the commission recorded unanimous affirmative votes in favor of the recommendation.

The commission recommended approval subject to the standard short‑term rental conditions outlined in the staff report, including limiting rentals to two bedrooms and a maximum of four occupants, requiring a business license and certificate of occupancy, prohibiting on‑site signage related to the rental, and ensuring on‑site parking. The recommendation will go to the Board of Supervisors for final action.

If the Board of Supervisors chooses to consider the SUP, it will decide whether to adopt the staff conditions as written or the commission’s recommended conditions. The county attorney’s guidance about not using owner‑occupancy as an approval criterion was discussed during the hearing and cited as the basis for staff’s limited scope of review.