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Off-site
faces limits
Rezoning adjacent parcel
preferred to using ag land
By SHARON KILPATRICK
« R*ppaha;.nock News Staff Writer
Should the county’s agricultural land be used for treating and disposing of the sewage from residential or commercial uses on neighboring properties?
When the Planning Commission took up Robert Metcalfe’s application for a special-use permit to renovate the old Flint Hill Packing Shed on U.S. 522 just north of Settle’s Garage for six to 12 apartments and 6,000 to 12,000 square feet of space for commercial, retail or office use, they learned that he proposed to put the drainfield on adjacent agriculturally zoned land owned by Bruce Vierling, who also owns the packing shed.
The planners decided it would be better to rezone the necessary land to Village Commercial rather than set the precedent of having agriculturally zoned land used for such purposes.
“The septic field is the key to the use of the property,” Board of Supervisors representative Mike Massie said. “Without the septic field, you couldn’t have that use. The septic field ought to have the same zoning.”
Mr. Metcalfe explained there was enough land on the parcel to put in a septic field, but it would require that the sewage be pumped uphill. By using the adjoining land, the septic field could operate by gravity flow.
“I like the idea,” Mr. Vierling said. “Everyone knows that the grass grows greener over the septic field.” He pointed out that two nearby residences also have drainfields on his land.
The planners made it clear that they like the idea of renovating the space for apartments but agreed to rezone land for the septic field first. County Administrator John McCarthy will advertise for rezoning from the packing shed to a creek on Mr. Vierling’s property, a distance of about 450 feet.
Then the planners can scale back the rezoning to just enough to allow for the septic field, if they wish to. The Board of Supervisors will not be able to consider the rezoning until its February meeting.
“I don’t ,want to hold you up,” Mr. Massie said. “I just want to make sure the zoning is right.”
Mr. Metcalfe plans to put six apartments in the upstairs portion of the right side of the building first. Then, depending on his success in renting out the remaining commercial space, he may decide to put six more apartSee
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