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Neighbors protest contractor yard permit; board approves Cut Rate Septic special-use permit with conditions
Summary
After extensive resident opposition citing groundwater and noise concerns, the Board approved a special-use permit allowing a contractor laydown yard for Cut Rate Septic at Candlers Mountain Road with conditions: limited site area, buffering, a maximum of five commercial trucks and health-department compliance for septic equipment.
The board heard a contested special-use permit (PL-26-108) to allow a contractor storage and laydown yard for Cut Rate Septic on a 7.32-acre property at 782 Candlers Mountain Road. Planning staff described the site and planning commission conditions (use limited to the area shown on the site plan, buffering required, no more than five commercial trucks, and adherence to Virginia Department of Health rules with trucks parked at least 100 feet from wells).
Tom DeWitt, representing the applicant, described a two-year lease and said trucks would be empty when parked overnight. "We agreed to that with the owner of the property and stuff... They'll be empty," DeWitt said. Stephanie Dowdy, who said she works for Cut Rate, added that trucks are inspected by the health department and cannot leak.
Multiple neighbors spoke in opposition, raising environmental, traffic and neighborhood-character concerns. Danielle Herndon told the board she did not support the permit and said she had observed trucks on the property before the application: "I do not support the special use permit to allow cut rate septic to park and store trucks and other equipment for septic tank service." Residents said they feared groundwater contamination, odor, increased heavy-vehicle traffic, noise and reduced property values. Several speakers also said they felt earlier complaints had been dismissed.
The board discussed enforcement, buffering, lease length and whether trucks had been on site prior to application. The motion to approve the SUP (including the planning commission's recommended conditions) passed 3'to'2 after several supervisors expressed concern about locating the operation near residences. The permit includes the planning commission conditions and explicit requirements that septic equipment comply with state health regulations and that trucks not be parked within 100 feet of any well.
