Praise for Food Pantry, but building site ‘problematic’

Supporters hope to overcome Planners’ objections

The Rappahannock County Planning Commission has voted to turn down a request that would allow the Food Pantry to move forward on plans to use one of the building lots near the elementary school for a new, centrally located building.

At issue on the particular lot was storm water management. In 2002 a large property on Route 211/522 where the Atlantic Union Bank now stands was rezoned from agricultural to general commercial use. At the time, a proffer created a 100-foot resource protection area along the two drainage channels running north-south on the subject property. The rezoning also created several commercial building lots for future development.

The current proposal from Pleasant View of Rappahannock, the owner of the property the Food Pantry desires, would reduce the boundaries for the resource conservation area. Otherwise, the Food Pantry’s projected building would intrude into that area.

Many county residents spoke in support of the Food Pantry, but against the proposal, expressing concern for flooding and other water management problems if the proffer amendment goes through.

Similarly, all the planners complimented the Food Pantry.

Christine Smith, the Board of Supervisors’ representative to the Planning Commission, called the organization’s work “commendable.” And newly appointed Piedmont planner Mary Katherine Ishee described it as “one of the finest assets in the county.”

After the vote Chair Gary Light said, “We’re not writing off every eventuality for the Food Pantry,” but he and others found the current plan “problematic.”

Ishee, Light, Smith, and Hampton planner Al Henry voted in favor of denial. Jackson district planner Rick Kohler abstained. Wakefield planner Holly Meade was absent.

“I’m disappointed [by the vote],” said Food Pantry Manager Mimi Forbes.

However, a source close to the Food Pantry’s fundraising efforts assured the Rappahannock News in a phone call Tuesday that the group still desired the location behind the bank and was working on a plan that would address the run-off issue, perhaps even choosing one of the other building lots.

The lease on the existing Food Pantry location in Sperryville expires in August, but Forbes said the lease has been extended until August 2020.

SKYLINE INN APPLICATION TABLED

The planners voted four to zero to table a special exception permit application to increase the rentable rooms at the Skyline Vineyard Inn from three to five. Ishee abstained.

The facility on Clark Lane of Highway 211 near Washington has long been a bone of contention among the other residents on the one-lane, private, gravel road who complain about increased traffic and other nuisances created by the Inn’s guests and visitors.

Lately the neighbors have drawn attention to even more traffic caused by for-profit events held at the Inn. The original B&B permit issued in 2012 allowed two room rentals and prohibited for-profit events; an amended permit in 2013 increased the rooms to three.

Since that time, owners Carl and Donna Henrickson have leased two floors of the Inn to be used for winery events. The Henricksons also own the Little Washington Winery on an adjacent property along Christmas Tree Lane and are creating a separate winery at the Inn. The Inn’s website appeared to indicate that five rooms were available for overnight guests.

The Henricksons claim that in 2016 then-Zoning Administrator David Dameron told them they had satisfied certain Virginia Department of Transportation requirements that allowed them to expand to five rooms.

In March of this year, Zoning Administrator Michelle Somers ordered the Inn to cease and desist renting more than three rooms and holding for-profit events. And last month, the Rappahannock County Board of Zoning Appeals began a hearing to revoke the facility’s B&B permit altogether. The hearing was recessed to the BZA’s August 28 meeting, so that the board members could learn more about state winery licensing and inspect the Inn’s reservation records.

The planners at their meeting were reluctant to move forward on the Henrickson’s current permit application and some appeared to be caught off guard by the BZA’s actions.

“It’s a little odd to me,” said Light, “that at the same time [the BZA] is considering revoking the permit, we are considering expanding the