Bedford zoning measure would allow temporary RV living under certain conditions

BEDFORD — Bedford County’s zoning ordinance may soon allow a provision that would let residents temporarily live in recreational vehicles under certain conditions.

The Bedford County Planning Commission voted Tuesday to approve the zoning change, which now heads to the county board of supervisors for action and a public hearing.

Jordan Mitchell, director of community development, said the idea behind the measure is to allow residents in the Agricultural/Rural Preserve (AP) zoning district who are building a house to have a place to stay during construction. He said for a permit to be issued for temporary living purposes the applicant must have a building permit active for construction of a single-family home; temporary power from the electrical service provider shall be available on site and no generator or other power source will be permitted; a public sewer service connection is approved by the Virginia Department of Health for waste disposal; and a RV shall meet minimum setback requirements of the AP district and be placed behind the home during construction.

“This would give them the option to have a camper and live in it for a short period of time while they are building their dream home in Bedford County,” Mitchell said. “It’s the first time we’ve ever done this.”

The temporary permit also would be valid for a year and only would be renewable at the discretion of the county’s zoning administrator, he said. Once the home is completed, the temporary use would be discontinued, according to Mitchell.

Also during the meeting, the commission voted 6-0 to recommend approval of a zoning ordinance text amendment that would permit agriculture as a use in commercial zoning districts C-1, C-2 — general office and general commercial — and Planned Commercial Development, or PCD, by a special use permit. The board of supervisors sought the change due to a rezoning request to permit an agricultural use on C-1 property in Forest.

“Given the similarities in agriculture and certain types of commercial industries, it is prudent to permit agriculture in certain areas that are currently zoned for commercial uses,” county staff reports.

Commissioners Nick Kessler and Jeff Burdett said they were “reluctantly” voting in support. Burdett said the measure could create issues if a pig farmer, for example, proposes an agricultural use in the center of Forest on C-1 or C-2 property that people may not want.

“I see it opening up a large can of worms,” Burdett said.