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Supervisors approve tourist‑home special exception at 3729 Sprayville Pike with strict conditions
Summary
The board approved a special exception allowing a one‑bedroom tourist home (barn conversion) at 3729 Sprayville Pike with a long list of conditions: occupancy limits (2 adults, 2 children), no pets, no events, two‑vehicle limit, quiet hours, annual water testing and $500,000 landlord liability insurance; the applicant agreed to coordinate with a nearby church on added Sunday quiet hours.
The Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors approved Special Exception 26‑03‑01, allowing the conversion of an existing family apartment in a barn at 3729 Sprayville Pike (tax map 38A‑1‑28) into a tourist home subject to strict operational conditions.
Planning staff explained the property is zoned village residential and measures about 0.359 acres. The planning commission recommended approval 7–0 and proposed conditions the board read into the record: a maximum of one bedroom; occupancy limited to two adults and two children under 16; no food service; a minimum two‑night stay; no more than four bookings per calendar month and a maximum of 175 booked nights per year; no pets; guest vehicle limit of two with all parking off‑street; quiet hours from 8 PM to 8 AM and a prohibition on amplified outdoor music; annual water testing; landlord liability insurance of $500,000; no events; no commercial signage; and a local on‑call agent within a 15‑minute drive.
During public comment, Christine Smith (Piedmont District) asked the board to add a Sunday quiet period from 11 AM–1 PM to allow uninterrupted church services at a nearby historic church and requested clearer parking signage. Applicant Daniel Snead told the board he and his family intend a low‑intensity, family‑oriented use and said he would open a line of communication with the church and address parking surfacing and signage. "I'm more than happy to speak to the church and also comply with the condition that was suggested about quiet hours during Sunday," the applicant said.
A board member moved to approve the special exception with the planning commission’s conditions plus the added Sunday quiet hours and clarified parking markings; another member seconded. The board voted in favor and approved the special exception.
The board discussed enforceability concerns raised by members and public commenters—particularly how occupancy distinctions between adults and children would be monitored—and staff noted that neighbors’ support often functions as practical oversight. Permitting and public‑safety considerations (including confirming the property’s separate 911 address for emergency response) will be checked before the applicant proceeds.
