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Board OKs homestay exception for Blue Fox Farm; supervisors question LLC rule
Summary
Albemarle County approved a special exception to allow a homestay at Blue Fox Farm (4975 Blue Fox Farm) with owners serving as resident managers. Supervisors used the item to question whether county practice should treat sole‑owner LLCs differently.
The Board approved SE 2024‑17, permitting a homestay at Blue Fox Farm and allowing property owners to serve as resident managers when the property is held in an LLC. Lisa Green, manager of code compliance, told the board the parcel meets zoning and tax compliance requirements and that staff concluded the homestay use would pose no adverse impacts to the surrounding neighborhood.
Several supervisors asked why LLC ownership triggers a special exception and whether the county could consider a streamlined process for sole‑beneficiary LLCs. Supervisor Mike Pruitt suggested staff look for ways to “cut through” administrative work where the LLC is effectively owner‑occupied; Interim County Attorney Andy Herrick said staff could research legal angles but any rule must be grounded in land‑use impact criteria, not ownership structure alone. “The criteria for granting homestay should be based on land use criteria, the impacts that they have,” Herrick said.
Supervisor Anne Malek moved adoption of the staff resolution recommending approval; the motion passed on a roll call with all supervisors voting yes. Staff noted the homestay zoning clearance and required inspections would follow the Board’s approval before the homestay could operate.
