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Modine Expanding
Modine Manufacturing is planning an expansion of its Rockbridge County plant at 360 Collierstown Road. Russ Orrison of Perkins & Orrison presented plans to the Rockbridge County Planning Commission July 12 for two new buildings that are to be located behind the existing plant.
The structures, which will be built in the next year or two, are to house testing facilities for the products Modine manufactures. Plans shared with the Commission show an associated parking lot, grading, utilities and storm water drainage.
The Commission recommended approval of the plans.
Pinky’s Rezoning Recommended
A portion of the property where Pinky’s convenience store and gas station is located is not properly zoned for business so the new owner is seeking to have it rezoned.
The property consists of .505 acre, of which .402 acre is zoned general residential (R-1). The request is to rezone this portion of the property to general business (B-1), which would make the zoning consistent with the rest of the parcel.
Barney Horrell of Brushy Mountain Engineering PLLC appeared before the Rockbridge County Planning Commission July 12 to request the rezoning on behalf of Bella Property 8 LLC, Pinky’s new owner. The rezoning is needed so that plans for an expansion can proceed to add more cooler space to the store.
The Commission recommended the rezoning.
Bridge Christian Academy Growing
The Bridge Christian Academy, a private school for grades K-12 that opened this past school year in the Natural Bridge Christian Fellowship church, has an enrollment of students that is growing faster than anticipated.
The school’s enrollment is approaching 50 students, which is the maximum number allowed under a condition attached to a special exception permit granted last year. Wesley Galford, pastor of the church and principal of the school, told the Rockbridge County Planning Commission July 12 that he had thought it would take five years for the school to reach 50 students.
Galford is seeking an amendment to the school’s special exception permit so that enrollment can increase up to 100 students. The school’s facilities, he said, could accommodate up to 300 students. A bus was recently purchased to help with transporting students to the school.
The Commission recommended approval of the amendment to the permit for the school, which is located at 21 Gilmores Mill Road, on the south side of the intersection of Gilmore Mills Road (Va. 708) and Wert Faulkner Highway (Va. 130).
Power Line To Be Replaced
Dominion Energy’s 115 Kw power transmission line that extends from the Balcony Falls substation just outside Glasgow to Amherst County is being replaced, along with the structures that support it.
The Rockbridge County Planning Commission on July 12 recommended approval of a special exception permit for the construction project. Four existing galvanized steel lattice towers are being replaced with five brown weathered steel monopoles.
All of the work is being done within Dominion’s existing rightof- way. Replacement of the power line and towers, expected to take place in 2024, is a continuation of a process to modernize the utility facilities. The substation, nearly 100 years old, underwent a major upgrade a couple of years ago.
Amendments Endorsed
Three zoning text amendments were recommended for approval July 12 by the Rockbridge County Planning Commission.
One would define train stations and train depots and add both to permitted uses in the general industrial (I-1) district. Another would allow special events venues with special exception permits in floodways as long as no new structures are built. A third would define and allow for accessory dwelling units, garage apartments and guest houses on existing lots as long as certain conditions are met.
