The Fauquier County Planning Commission convened on July 17, 2025, to discuss a significant request from the Bridge Community Church for a category 6 special exception to expand its facilities. The meeting focused on the church's proposal to enhance its major place of worship, which is located just south of Warrenton on a 33.78-acre site that is split-zoned for agriculture and rural residential use.

The church's expansion plan includes a new multipurpose building and an increase in capacity for its main sanctuary and children's ministry areas. The proposed sanctuary would accommodate 499 attendees, while the children's area would serve 160. The church plans to hold three Sunday services, potentially bringing in nearly 2,000 attendees weekly. However, concerns were raised regarding the wastewater management and the accuracy of the church's capacity claims, as discrepancies were noted between the church's application and the wastewater characterization report.

During the meeting, staff presented revised conditions based on previous discussions and input from the Commission. These included a new 900-foot acceleration lane for traffic management and a stormwater design that would replace an existing pond with a bio-retention facility. The church also requested flexibility in managing attendance and space usage, citing the need to adapt to fluctuating group sizes.

Public comments revealed a mix of support and opposition. Some residents expressed concerns about the scale of the expansion, citing potential impacts on the rural character of the area, increased traffic, and water usage. One resident highlighted that the proposed changes could lead to a significant increase in building footprint and parking, which they argued would not align with the county's comprehensive plan.

The Planning Commission is tasked with considering these concerns as they prepare to make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The meeting concluded with a call for further evaluation of the proposed conditions and the potential environmental impacts of the church's expansion. The Commission will continue to deliberate on this matter in upcoming sessions, with the next steps focused on addressing the community's concerns and ensuring compliance with county regulations.