BZA approves Chester Gap tourist home

Sale must take place within 90 days

The Rappahannock County Board of Zoning Appeals last Wednesday (Aug. 26) approved an application from Pete Pazmino and Sheila Lamb for a tourist home in Chester Gap, contingent on Pazmino and Lamb getting a signed sales contract from the current owners.

Testifying before the board, Pazmino explained that the 500-square-foot home had been built by Ray and Sherrie Holland to house visiting friends and family. The Hollands, formerly of Chester Gap, now reside in South Carolina. They had planned to spend summers in the house, but changed their minds. Pazmino told the board that the Hollands had committed to sell the property to him and Lamb, his fiancé, to turn into a tourist home.

According to the specialuse permit application filed in July, the house would cater to couples or singles looking for “a not-too-remote getaway that offers reliable broadband internet and foot access to the Appalachian Trail, as well as easy access to the rest of Rappahannock County, Front Royal and the broader Shenandoah area.” Pazmino and Lamb would offer no food services or B&B services.

Pazmino explained to the BZA members that the plan-

ning commission (at their Aug. 20 meeting) had approved the permit contingent on having a signed sales contract with the Hollands. However, given only a week’s time between the two meetings, the parties were not able to execute a sales agreement. Instead, Pazmino presented a signed and notarized statement of intent to sell from the Hollands and said that they had already been discussing sales price and other contract issues.

After asking questions about the size, location and condition of the property, signage, comments from neighbors and plans to market the tourist house, the BZA approved the permit unanimously, contingent on the sale being executed within 90 days.