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Echelon Vote Pushed Back
Lexington city planner Arne Glaser informed the Planning Commission at its meeting on Jan. 26 that City Council’s vote on the conditional use permit for the proposed development on Spotswood Drive, which was previously deferred to Council’s Feb. 2 meeting, has been further deferred to Council’s first meeting in March.
Glaser and Council members Marilyn Alexander and Leslie Straughan have been meeting with representatives from Echelon Resources Inc. to discuss changes to the design of the building, and will continue to do so going forward.
Green Report Goes To Council
Commissioners John Driscoll and Patrick Bradley presented the final versions of the Green Infrastructure Working Group’s report and summary document to the Planning Commission for approval last week, noting a few minor changes since the Jan. 12 meeting.
Commission member Matt Tuchler moved to approve the final versions of the documents and to present them to City Council, either at a joint work session or as a presentation during a City Council meeting. Driscoll seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Rockbridge
Kennel Permit Granted
A commercial kennel dog breeding operation at 382 Padgetts Hill Road was brought into compliance with Rockbridge County zoning on Jan. 23 when the Board of Supervisors granted a special exception permit to Tara and Patrick Werner.
A condition attached to the permit limits the number of dogs allowed on the property for breeding purposes to 15 females and five males, which shall include any visiting stud dogs. Breeds are restricted to Poodles (small and standard), Golden Retrievers, Goldendoodles, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bernadoodles, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Cavapoos, Old English Sheepdogs, Sheepadoodles and Double Doodles.
The 35-acre property is located in an agricultural and general uses (A-2) district. Boarding and grooming operations are not being allowed at the kennel.
The only citizen who spoke at a public hearing was Anne Russek, who expressed concerns about the breeding operations going on for several years without a business license and proper zoning. Supervisor Leslie Ayers said the county’s commissioner of revenue would work with the Werners to ensure that any outstanding fees or taxes are paid. She noted that the property has ample space for the dogs, which are kept inside at night and have not caused a disturbance for neighbors.
Tax Extended Five Years
Approval of a five-year extension of Rockbridge County’s extra 1-cent transient occupancy tax funding capital projects at the Virginia Horse Center was approved Jan. 23 by the Board of Supervisors.
The tax, in place since 2014, is to be extended an additional five years, from 2024 to 2029, provided Lexington City Council also approves the extension. The county’s Economic Development Authority has approved the extension.
This tax is on top of a 2 percent transient occupancy tax in the county and Lexington that funds the VHC’s debt payments on a United States Department of Agriculture loan that consolidated all of the debt related to the horse center’s capital projects.
