Conference, event center floated for Sperryville is tabled
‘This is a significant new use of the property’
Planning Commission member Al Henry: “When asking for 300 people and 25 events, it’s necessary to give us more of a business plan” and a site plan indicating a parking area to hold 150 cars, among other factors
The company SBHD Siblings LLC has applied for a special exception permit to create a conference and event center on a 217-acre property on Sperryville Pike near the intersection with Route 231, known as Revel Farm.
The permit application states the owners would like to hold 25 events (weddings) per year attracting up to 300 attendees for each.
In discussion with applicant Jaqueline Bogle, who owns and resides on Revel Farm, Rappahannock County Planning Commission member Al Henry observed that the application was for “a large use and a large request.”
He referred to an application submitted by Bill Fletcher in April 2017 for a permit allowing the right to stage up to 31 events on Fletcher’s Thornton Hill Farm property along Route 522 that could draw as many as 8,000 people.
“When asking for 300 people and 25 events,” Henry said at the commission’s Oct. 16 meeting, “it’s necessary to give us more of a business plan” and a site plan indicating a parking area to hold 150 cars, screening of the parking and other parts of the property, the proposed dimensions for event tents, and the location of portable privies.
BZA representative Chris Bird agreed, saying “this is a significant new use of the property.”
Planner Rick Kohler and Chair Gary Light asked about emergency access. “This will add significant pressure to emergency services,” Kohler noted.
A letter from Joseph Webb, Assistant Research Engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation in Warrenton, submitted as part of the application suggestions that the county “should consider placing a time limit on the special exception, so that traffic impacts can be assessed and any needed improvements can be implemented… .”
The planners voted unanimously to table the application until Bogle could supply additional information.
In addition, four tourist home special use permits were recommended for BZA consideration, including one from Sperryville applicant Cliff Miller, who wishes to build two 2,000-square foot structures to be used as tourist homes on his 790-acre property, which is in conservation easement. Miller said in the future he plans to divide off the parcels with the two proposed tourist homes, which if approved would be built near the Route 211 portion of his property.
In addition, Sara Loveland wishes to create a tourist home at her property on Piedmont Avenue in
Washington, adjacent to Fulmine Farm that Loveland also owns.
Max Schmitz applied on behalf of Andrew Peter George Memorial Charitable Trust Inc. for a two-bedroom tourist home located on Little Long Mountain Road in Huntly.
The commission also voted unanimously to recommend that a special exception permit application for a condo conversion go to the Board of Supervisors. In 2013 the Virginia Chutney Company (Turners Foods LLC) opened for business at the old Aileen Road plant. The company now wishes to purchase the portion of the building where they do business.
The planners, meanwhile, had hoped to continue a discussion with
Community Wireless Structures (CWS), the developer of proposed cell towers on Scrabble Road and Eldon Farm. However, CWS did not send a representative to the meeting.
“It’s disheartening that the applicant is not here,” said Christine Smith, the Piedmont supervisor who sits on the Planning Commission. But the planners did continue to discuss the towers, especially whether or not they are needed.
Light wondered why the existing towers at Sperryville and Boston were not being used. No vendor, such as T-Mobile or Sprint, has leased space on either tower yet.
Smith felt the county had been misled about previous towers. “We were sold Sperryville as a standalone tower,” she said.
In a previous meeting, CWS Vice President Hope McCreary requested a 60-day extension of the application deadline, in order to answer some of the questions raised by the planners about the Eldon Farm tower. The Board of Supervisors is expected to hold a public hearing early in the new year.
Finally, in a seven-to-zero vote, the planners recommended sending Amissville resident John Cappiali’s special exception permit application forward to the BZA. Light said that since the last Planning Commission meeting, Cappiali has updated his site plan, and resolved zoning violations on his property.