Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 1 · column 1 of 8 · from the scan, no model involved
By DAPHNE HUTCHINSON
Rappahannock M.-w*. Staff Writrr
The Rappahannock planning commissioners have lined up an agenda full of fireworks for next month’s meeting.
Public hearings on two amendments to the county’s zoning ordinance are set for October 20th. The first, proposal from the owners of Blue Ridge Guns to allow rifle ranges by special use permit in agricultural zones, has stirred considerable opposition in the Amissville area.
The second, a request from Promised Land Baptist Church to add churches to the list of uses allowed by right in an agricultural zone, provoked concern from the planners at last Wednesday’s session.
“Gentlemen, tjiis is not a simple issue," said Newbill Miller, referring to the proposed church amendment. ‘‘Right now, the definition of a church is almost in the eys of the beholder...Some churches are just a tax dodge.”
According to zoning administrator David Konick, representatives from Promised Land Baptist requested a building permit to enlarge their little church in Gid Brown Hollow. But the church, located on agriculturally zoned land, is a non-conforming use since (1) it existed before the zoning ordinance was adopted and '2) the ordinance makes no provision for churches in that district. Therefore, said Konick, he can’t issue a building permit because the county’s land use laws specify that if a non-conforming use is extended, enlarged or relocated, it must conform to the zoning ordinance.
"There’s no way you could have given them a permit for that?” asked commissioner Charles Estes, noting that churches on agriculturally zoned land in Amissville and Scrabble have been recently enlarged.
Formerly Granted
Former zoning administrator Evan McNear
85.4%