bor,” he said. Another contractor was working on the

bor,” he said. Another contractor was working on the job.

Mr. McCarthy said Mr. Dixon testified that he needed the pond to water his livestock. He has 120 head of cattle and 45 jackasses, he said. With droughts in recent years some springs have gone dry. He said he could not move the pond location because of a rock outcropping.

Mr. Parrish testified in opposition to granting the variance, as did other neighbors William Keim and Arthur Zimmerli, Mr. McCarthy said. They said the board members should uphold the ordinance requirements.

Member Alex Sharp’s motion to deny the variance passed 3 to 1. Jennifer Matthews, representing Wakefield District, voted "no,” because she said she could make the finding that denying the variance would constitute a sufficient “hardship,” Mr. McCarthy said.

This Monday Mr. Parrish sent a letter to the Dixons giving permission to disturb the ground in order to construct the dam with the more gentle slope.

The letter makes reference to a previous right-of-way dispute between the Dixons and the Parrishes that was not a part of the testimony at the BZA hearing.

The Dixons denied the Parrishes the use of a right-of-way that the Parrishes said had provided access to the property for many years. When that happened the Reims and Zimmerlis offered entry through their lands.

“This letter of permission provides me another opportunity to suggest that you consider the value of living in harmony with your neighbors and the good people of the community,” Mr. Parrish wrote. “The quality of life in Rappahannock County cannot be measured in worldly possessions or acreage; but rather in the surrounding natural beauty and the pervasive good neighbor policy.”

At Wednesday’s meeting the BZA also voted to revoke the special use permit granted to Carol Frances to operate a bed and breakfast in a house near Castleton. The permit had been granted to Mrs. Frances as a renter. She is apparently no longer living in the house.