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Neighbors urge caution as board approves 15‑lot Aarons subdivision amid water and traffic concerns
Summary
After several residents raised water‑table and sight‑distance worries, the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors approved David Aarons’ 15‑lot final subdivision plat; health and VDOT approvals were cited and board members characterized the vote as a ministerial action under county regulation.
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on July 27 approved a final plat for a 15‑lot subdivision proposed by David Aarons at the intersection of Wesley Chapel and Poplar Hill Roads, after an extended public hearing in which multiple neighbors raised concerns about well capacity, water quality, and traffic safety.
Residents including Chris Niseley, Christina Young and Vince West described past well failures, sulfur in local water, and limited sight distances on the curvy roads that serve the neighborhood. “Our well ran dry in 2002,” Chris Niseley said, adding that adding many new wells “could potentially be a disaster for the water table in our community.” Staff and the applicant noted that the Lexington‑Rockbridge County Health Department had approved perc tests and engineered drainfields for the proposed lots and that the Virginia Department of Transportation had signaled approval for shared entrances; planning staff described the board’s role on final plats as ministerial and cautioned that turning down a compliant plat could violate state law.
The board approved the final plat after noting VDOT had approved reduced numbers of access points and the health department had signed off on drain fields; several supervisors urged the applicant to consider fewer lots to reduce pressure on local wells. The final plat records shared‑driveway easements and remains subject to the permitting and recording conditions noted by staff.
