A Word Not Spoken Is A Word Not Heard

The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in Warren County dedicate a significant portion of their meetings to reviewing applications and hearing public comments on the approval or denial of short-term tourist rental requests.

I oppose short-term tourist rentals and have voiced my concerns at Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors Meetings.

1 . These properties are presently zoned  R1. Upon approval of an application, the property is now being used for business without any modification to the existing zoning designation.

2. The presence of STRs within small community subdivisions may contribute to a decline in local character and cultural identity.

3. The quality of life for neighboring residents is negatively affected due to a constant flow of unfamiliar individuals in the vicinity.

4. Should you intend to sell property located adjacent to a short-term tourist rental, you may anticipate a decrease in its market value.

5. The approval of STRs decreases the availability of homes for families seeking to relocate to Warren County.

6. With limited housing available rental cost increase.

7. The STR industry competes with local hotels, leading to a reduction in revenue for the hotel sector.

8. The Treasures Office has no formal procedure to confirm earnings from STRs, which affect tax revenue.

9. County approval does not consider adherence to federal accessibility guidelines for individuals with disabilities.

10. Compromising County codes should not be considered when reviewing an application.

11. There is no research indicating how many short-term tourist rentals should be permitted in Warren County or what the long-term effects are on existing businesses.

12. Weekend visitors who are unfamiliar with rural gravel roads and local traffic conditions may impact the safety and well-being of area residents.

13. Impact on natural resources with excessive use of water and power.

At last night’s Planning Commission meeting (12-10-2025), a statement was made that the Virginia legislature does not consider short-term tourist rentals a business.

However, Warren County requires the applicant to obtain a business license upon approval of the application.

It was also noted that, if the adjoining neighbor has no issues with the 100-foot setback requirement, the Planning Commission would proceed to approve the application and forward it to BOS.

Adherence to the established Warren County Code should not be determined by the preferences of any individual who is willing to accept deviation from the established code.

Government boards are expected to comply with established code requirements and, when necessary, undertake official procedures to amend these regulations.

When government officials fail to adhere to established codes, it raises the question of why citizens should be expected to do so.

Code section 180 -56.4Short-term tourist rentals:  Item O minimum of 100 feet from all neighboring residents.

Code section 180 -62 Variances: Public hearings are required if land use deviates from the proposed use. A variance request should be addressed at a public hearing and approved before the CUP hearing.

Code 180 -6.3  Conditional use: Compliance with Compatibility or proposed use

The ongoing approval of short-term rentals (STR) continues to erode the friendly, safe, and rural character of Warren County. Efforts by governments to increase revenue through STRs are not a solution to budget shortfalls; instead, raising awareness about responsible spending would be more effective.

John Jenkins
South River
Warren County, VA

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