The Warren County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 21 approved a zoning text amendment to add a definition for "building service establishment" and granted a conditional-use permit (CUP) to allow a building-service support facility at 3812 Guard Hill Road.

Staff told the board the text amendment adds a definition for building service establishments (businesses that service residential, commercial, institutional or light-industrial structures such as HVAC, plumbing, extermination and related equipment storage/staging) and makes that use permissible by CUP in the Agricultural zoning district with supplementary regulations. The amendment was requested by Ray Bramble of Bramble Enterprises LLC to enable a secondary support and storage facility for his local HVAC and plumbing operations.

Planning staff and the planning commission recommended permitting the use in the Agricultural district only by CUP with supplementary regulation to limit impacts on neighbors. The conditions the board attached to the CUP include:

- Compliance with VDOT, Building Inspections and Health Department requirements.
- Number of employees on site not to exceed the lesser of certificate-of-occupancy maximum or the on-site septic-system permit.
- On-site customer service and retail sales prohibited.
- Submission and staff approval of an illustrative development plan showing ingress/egress, parking, building locations, storage and setbacks prior to issuance of a certificate of zoning.
- Outdoor storage/staging areas must be fully screened from view and set back at least 25 feet from adjacent property lines.
- Hours of operation limited to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Planning staff noted the subject property is 2.75 acres, already holds an active CUP for commercial repair garage and enclosed storage, and is currently used for enclosed storage by the applicant. The board voted to approve the amendment and issued the CUP with the listed conditions.

Why this matters: The approval creates a permitting path for small building-service businesses to operate a rear-yard storage and staging facility in Agricultural zoning where conditions justify the use while preserving neighbors protections through screening, setbacks and operating hours.

Whats next: The applicant must submit the illustrative development plan and comply with VDOT, building and health requirements before receiving a certificate of zoning; staff will review the plan for compliance with the CUP conditions.