Zoning amendment on auto sales withdrawn by applicants
The owners of the former “Cooter’s Place” property on Route 211 west of Sperryville have withdrawn their request for a zoning amendment to allow auto sales “by right” in the Highway Commercial district, following community opposition to the proposal.
Rappahannock County Administrator John McCarthy said Thursday that Willie and Cathern Smith of Culpeper, who own the property in the Highway Commercial district west of Sperryville, have withdrawn their request. The county Board of Supervisors, therefore, will not consider the amendment at their next meeting Monday June 4, as they had planned.
However, the Smiths are not abandoning their idea of selling classic cars or other used cars from the Route 211 site. McCarthy said they intend to reapply with an amendment that would allow such auto sales if the county grants a Special Use permit. Their original proposal would have made auto sales a “by right” use of any property in the Highway Commercial zone. Their amended proposal would permit such a use only if the county, after holding public hearings and considering possible conditions and limitations on the use, grants a Special Use permit.
The Smith’s decision to withdraw their original request came after considerable community opposition surfaced, and after Piedmont District Supervisor Eddie Wayland declared that he would seek to table their proposed amendment and send the matter back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration. McCarthy said the Planning Commission will consider the Smith’s revised request, involving the Special Use permit, at its next meeting on June 20.
For additional background, see our May 30 article below.
-- James P. Gannon
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