Greene Supervisors to seek restrictions on farm wineries, farm breweries

The five members of the Greene County Board of Supervisors will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the county meeting room in the administration building in Stanardsville. They will meet in closed session first and the public session begins at 6:30 p.m. (meeting agenda)

After the usual starting items of the meeting, there will be a public hearing on revisions to the noise ordinance related to animal sounds. (staff report)

There are two presentations. The first is from David Blount of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission on the legislative program for the next General Assembly session. (report)

The second is on an operations plan for the county administration building. This information is not in the meeting packet. 

One item on the consent agenda is an appropriation of $750,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Greene County Community Park. 

“The funds are to be used by the Greene County Parks and Recreation Department for capital improvements to Greene County Community Park, including paving the parking lot, adding lighting to the parking lot, bringing the water line to the park, creating an overflow lot, winterizing the concession stand, and putting in an electronic entrance gate,” reads the resolution. 

Supervisors will also vote to authorize county staff to pursue grant state funding for the county’s Emergency Medical Services department. 

“Greene County Emergency Medical Services (GCEMS) began operation in October 2020 after the University of Virginia terminated their contractual service for 911 response,” reads the staff report. “Shortly thereafter, the volunteer rescue squad closed their operation as well.”

The county is seeking $196,612 from Virginia’s Rescue Squad Assistance Fund for six Lifepak monitor defibrillators, two infusion pumps, three LUCAS chest compression devices, and three ventilators. If funded, a fifty-percent match is needed from the county. 

There are three discussion items.

The first is related to proposed revisions of county code to provide additional tax relief to the elderly and disabled. (view the current code)

The second is over a potential revision to the county’s zoning ordinance related to farm wineries and farm breweries. Supervisors asked for this on August 27, 2024 after denying a request from a winery to have an event venue that exceeds 4,000 square feet. (staff report)

At least one Supervisor wants to take away perceived discretion that the zoning administrator has to permit “customary uses” for such places. This will likely set up a future legal challenge between the county zoning and a state law that makes farm wineries and farm breweries permitted uses by-right. 

The third is a resolution of intent to give the Board of Supervisors approval of subdivisions where over 20 lots would be created as well as approval of site plans for projects approved by special use permit. Fans of land use law may want to keep this one in the back of their minds as well. 

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the September 9, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.