Supervisors Approve Two Family Subdivision Related Requests, Get Glowing Shen. Farms/County Update and DSS ‘Shutdown’ Acknowledgment

The Warren County Board of Supervisors faced just two existing business action items at its meeting of Tuesday evening, November 18. Those were public hearings on a Private Use Camping permitting request at 1020 Misty Meadow Lane in the Massanutten View subdivision in the South River District; and a submitted Subdivision Text Amendments to Chapter 155 of the Warren County Code (Subdivision Ordinance) to amend the definition of subdivision to add a provision to relax specific criteria of substantial injustice or hardship for family subdivision variances.

After hearing from the applicants on both matters, John W. Ellis (Misty Meadow Lane), and Roland Barr (subdivision amendment) explaining their particular circumstances regarding family member proximity and/or shared usage of a non-commercial family subdivision, the supervisors minus Chairman “Jay” Butler, again out of town, passed both matters by 4-0 votes. South River District Supervisor Cheryl Cullers made the first motion to approve, seconded by Fork District’s Hugh Henry. Henry and Cullers then switched rolls, Henry making the motion to approve the second matter on the Subdivision Text Amendments request, seconded by Cullers, again as noted above, passing without opposition.

The WC Board of Supervisors was again at four members present on Nov. 18, with Chairman Butler out of town. Vice-Chair Stanmeyer, second from the left, and his three colleagues were on the same page, action-wise, for a change. Below, applicant property owner John W. Ellis addressed the board favorably regarding the staff-requested Private-use Camping ordinance amendment that would benefit his property. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

In approval of the first matter, the board followed the County Planning Commission’s unanimous 5-0 vote, with no absent members, to recommend approval.

Of the second public hearing on the ordinance amendment request, the staff summary noted: “These amendments are being requested by Planning staff; however, there is a subdivision variance and family subdivision plat currently on hold that cannot be approved without these amendments.

“These amendments follow the adoption of a full set of amendments to Chapter 155 of the subdivision ordinance earlier this year, necessitated by recent changes to the Code of Virginia eliminating Planning Commissions and Boards of Supervisors as approving authorities for subdivision plats (including subdivision variances).”

Family Subdivision Ordinance amendment supporter and impacted property owner Roland Barr summarized his desire to allow family members, particularly parents, to establish close-by residences available to assist them in times of need.

Other Business

The county’s elected officials also approved an 8-item Consent Agenda on coming business matters without pulling any of those eight items for additional discussion. Those Consent Agenda items were:

1. Approval of Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District Advisory Committee Mission Statement (see below);
2. Citizen Appointment – Community Policy Management Team (Parent Representative) – staff Genel Clark;

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The Warren County CPMT Board is requesting the appointment of Darlene Kelly to the CPMT as the Parent Representative. The previous representative, Mike McGuire, was appointed in June 2024 and resigned from his position on September 8, 2025. Ms. Kelly will complete his term through June 2026.

3. 2026 Parks and Recreation Fee Schedule – staff Tiffany Walker, Director
4. Award of Contract for FY-24 Cash Reconciliation Services (with BerryDunn)
5. Authorization to Advertise – CUP2025-10-01 – Short-term Tourist Rental – 565 Ridgeway Road – A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 565 Ridgeway Road and is identified on tax map 27 as lot 10B. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the Fork Magisterial District. – Kelly Wahl, Planner
6. Authorization to Advertise – CUP2025-10-02 – Short-term Tourist Rental – 262 Woodcliff Lane – A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 262 Woodcliff Lane and is identified on tax map 36 as lot 13A. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the South River Magisterial District. – Kelly Wahl, Planner
7. Authorization to Advertise – CUP2025-10-03 – Accessory Dwelling Unit – 150 High Bluff Road – A request for a conditional use permit for an accessory dwelling unit (detached). The property is located at 150 High Bluff Road and is identified on tax map 11E as lot 21. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the North River Magisterial District. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator
8. Authorization to Advertise – CUP2025-09-03 – Short-Term Tourist Rental – 138 Wooded Lane – A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 138 Wooded Lane and is identified on tax map 22J, section 2, block 2, as lot G. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the Morgan’s Ridge Subdivision in the Happy Creek Magisterial District. – Kelly Wahl, Planner

And while the Consent Agenda was approved as presented without additional board discussion, earlier in the meeting, after adoption of the Agenda, as Item C, the board heard a highly positive Year-End Report from the Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District Advisory Committee Chairman Rex Christensen (1:49 video mark).

Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District Advisory Committee Chairman Rex Christensen gave the group’s Year-End Report, calling the current Farms/County relationship “Probably the best we’ve ever had”.

Christensen presented details of Public Works activity, shared costs and savings achieved on road and other Maintenance and Capital Improvement projects, and the assignment of a Warren County Sheriff’s Office deputy to the district, the latter, as he understood, having been done in every Sanitary District.

“And what a great thing. I think we met our deputy here last week at one of our general board meetings. And we see nothing but good coming from that. And so, a thank you to our Sheriff’s Department for what they’re doing there … It seemed just like a perfect marriage of law enforcement and community in what I think we want as neighborhoods in our county.”

In concluding his Annual Report, Christensen called the Farms Sanitary District/County relationship “Probably the best we’ve ever had” (12:38 video mark).

A federal shutdown shout-out to WCDSS

In his report, New County Administrator Bradley Gotshall cited work done by the County Department of Social Services (WCDSS) to aid county citizens negatively impacted by the record-setting 43-day federal government shutdown. He asked and received permission to read a message he had sent to the WCDSS director and staff into the meeting record. As Gotshall noted, it is unusual to ask to read a lengthy message like his personal and professional thank you to WCDSS, but he felt it was important to publicly acknowledge the life-supporting work the Department of Social Services engaged in during the unprecedentedly lengthy federal shutdown. (introduced 52:07 video mark)

And agreeing with County Administrator Gotshall’s analysis of the importance of acknowledging such life-supporting work, we will close with the bulk of his message to Department of Social Services Director Jon Martz and his staff:

Thank you, DSS

“It is with great pleasure that I write you today in recognition of your tireless and beautiful work during the period ending November 12, commonly referred to as the federal government shutdown. This 43-day period commencing October 1st, during which there was a lapse in federal appropriations, created a great deal of uncertainty and some real economic hardship.

County Administrator Bradley Gotshall, left at the staff table with County Attorney Jason Ham, read his detailed message commending the WCDSS for its additional time and effort in response to the 43-day federal government shutdown, which impacted SNAP recipients and others in need at various levels in Warren County. Gotshall estimated the loss of federal SNAP funding impacted 5,000 county residents alone.

“During its entirety, however, you all kept the mission of your mission, working to assist our community in their time of need. As you know, close to 5,000 of our Warren County neighbors receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits totaling nearly $720,000 in monthly distributions.

“Above and beyond the countless other financial assistance programs which pass through your building and the hands of you and your colleagues. You see these recipients every day, and your hearts and minds are fully invested in providing the temporary assistance they rely on to provide for their families.

“While these programs have been affected to some degree over the last 43 days, I received regular reports from Director Martz on what the department was doing to continue providing support by marshalling private sector and individual donations and providing constant communications with your recipients. As local government employees, we all have some hand in helping the public at large. Staff at the Warren County Department of Social Services, however, you all are engaged every day in a much higher interpretation of that word, helping.

“The services you deploy aid in putting food on tables, clothing on backs, those with special needs in touch with sustaining services, and vulnerable individuals under protection. Your diligence and dedicated work during this especially trying and now-concluded period were noteworthy and well respected.

“I personally thank you for your dedicated efforts and wish you all a very warm, continued, rewarding career with Warren County.”

In closing, Gotshall noted that other county departments were affected to varying degrees, but that WCDSS was by far the most impacted.

See these reports, actions, and other business in the linked County video.