Hearing for a Conditional Use Permit Request Left Open at County Planning Commission Meeting

The summary of the request, dated February 3, 2025, reads as follows: “The applicant, Vesta Property Management is requesting a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental on behalf of the owner, W Properties LLC, who purchased the property in December of 2023 and are set to complete its construction soon. The applicants would like to make the property available for short-term lodging for visitors of the Warren County area. As a local property management company serving the Warren County area, the applicant will manage the property on behalf of the owner.” The property is located at 422 Timberline Ridge Road in Front Royal.

The Warren County Planning Commission sits down to a regular meeting on the evening of Wednesday, March 12. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

The property history reads as follows: “This property has not had any previous Conditional Use Permits issued for uses in the Residential-One (R-1) zoning district. The dwelling is currently under construction. Upon submission of the required foundation location survey as part of the construction permit process, Planning staff identified the dwelling foundation has been constructed within the required fifty-foot (50’) front yard setback. The owner has applied for a zoning variance to reduce the front yard setback requirement for the principal structure on subject property. The public hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals for the variance request is tentatively scheduled to be held on Friday, April 4, 2025. Planning staff recommends the Planning Commission table their decision for this conditional use permit request until after the Board of Zoning Appeals has rendered a decision on the variance application so that considerations of potential impacts on surrounding properties can be properly assessed based on where the dwelling to be used as a short-term tourist rental is situated on the property.”

Planner Kelly Wahl and Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz sit prepared for the evening’s business.

Planning Director Matt Wendling (L) sits next to Attorney Daniel Rose who substituted for County Attorney Jordan Bowman that evening.

With the assistance of Planning Director Matt Wendling, Attorney Daniel Rose, and Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz, the commissioners arrived at the conclusion that the best way to handle this case, in which the house has now been built and is currently awaiting a zoning permit and a certificate of occupancy, yet still requires a variance to address the problem of having been built in the wrong place, is to open the hearing but not close it, tabling any decision for a future meeting. The date at which this item will be addressed again is April 9 when the commission holds its next monthly meeting. The other two items were passed quickly, commission matters were addressed, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Click here to watch the Warren County Planning Commission Meeting of March 12, 2025.