Planning commission recommends 10-year conditional-use permit for Donaldsons' accessory family housing

The Goochland County Planning Commission voted 5-0 on Sept. 19 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a conditional-use permit allowing an accessory family housing unit at 2570 Brittland Drive with a 10-year expiration instead of the five years recommended by staff.

Ben Ellis, a county planner, told commissioners the property is about 4.05 acres in District 4 and is zoned rural residential. He said the applicants are converting an existing pool house and adding a stove, which makes the structure meet the county’s definition of a dwelling and therefore requires a CUP. Staff’s proposed conditions would allow only members of the applicant’s family to live in the structure, prohibit separate rentals, require carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and maintain emergency access. Staff proposed a five-year expiration.

Todd Donaldson, the applicant, told the commission the building is roughly 1,250 square feet, with just under 900 square feet of living area. "We're very happy to abide by no rentals," Donaldson said, and asked the commission to consider a 10-year expiration so he would not need to reapply in five years for the stove addition.

After brief questions about square footage, a commissioner moved to recommend approval as amended to a 10-year CUP; the motion was seconded and passed on a 5-0 roll-call vote. Ben Ellis said the case will be scheduled for a public hearing before the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 6, 2024 with the commission's recommendation of approval as amended.

The planning commission record lists the application as CU202418 for Todd and Carol Donaldson. Staff noted the property is part of the Britland subdivision (created in 1990) and that three citizens attended the applicant-hosted community meeting on July 25 and expressed support. The commission's recommendation to the Board of Supervisors does not itself grant the permit; the board will make the final decision.