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A special events venue is being proposed for a farm near Fairfield.
Scott and Jessica Andrew of 66 Wind View Lane are seeking to utilize an existing barn on their 57.99-acre farm east of the intersection of Borden Grant Trail (Va. 706) and Jonestown Road (Va. 707) to hold weddings, receptions, reunions and other special events.
Several neighboring property owners spoke at a public hearing before the Rockbridge County Planning Commission last Wednesday, Dec. 13, to express concerns about traffic and noise that would be associated with special events. At the neighbors’ request, the Commission opted to continue the public hearing until its Jan. 10 meeting in order to gather more information and give additional time for other neighbors to offer input.
Scott Andrew, a retired contractor, and Jessica Andrew, a former school teacher, said they are seeking to start a family business that may include the involvement of their two adult children. They have lived here about three years and have cattle and other farm animals on the property. They’ve planted about 80 fast-growing trees on the edge of their farm to buffer the proposed venue from adjoining properties.
Weddings would be held from March to October so no more than 36 weekends per year, they said. A commercial driveway has been developed and the property can be accessed from both Borden Grant Trail and Jonestown Road. Amplified music would be limited to inside a barn, which is an enclosed structure. Events would end by 10 p.m. on weekend nights. They anticipate limiting the number of guests to 150 and parking to about 60 or 70 vehicles.
Liz Murtagh, who lives on Borden Grant Trail, said she has concerns about the noise and questioned whether the barn is enclosed. She suggested music would be heard a mile away. “Lighting is a concern and I’m really concerned about traffic,” she said. There are four other special events venues within an 8-mile radius, she said, questioning why another one is needed. She characterized this as a “quality of life” issue.
Mike Kisha of Jonestown Road said his biggest concern is traffic. “Jonestown Road is very winding, with blind turns. … It’s extremely dangerous.” Ross Haine questioned why a farm should be used “for something besides agriculture.”
Dave Moore of Jonestown Road said he has worries about drinking and littering at these gatherings. “Keep it agriculture – it’s farmland,” he told the Commission. Another neighbor, Eric Walter, said he goes to bed at 8:30 p.m. and rises at 4 a.m. weekdays and doesn’t want to be bothered having to “listen to other people’s music” on weekends.
Commission chair Melissa Hennis said she wished the applicants had talked to neighbors beforehand. A motion by David Whitmore to continue the public hearing until Jan. 10 passed 3-0. (Hennis, Whitmore and Robert Kramer were present. The other two members, Robert Lucas and Shan Watkins, were absent.)
