Zoning board approves two home applications

Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals granted permission Thursday night for two home occupations -- a day care center and an embroidery and print shop.

Both were granted as so-called "special exceptions," as provided for under the county's zoning document. The embroidery and print shop was also granted a variance to post a larger sign than normally allowed in its zone.

Sheila Gray was given a special exception to operate a day care at 255 Dunnaway Road, in the A-1 (agriculture) zone. Zoning Enforcer Kay Demonbren said the day care has its proper approvals to operate and has a fenced-in play area. There's been no comment or objection from surrounding property owners.

Marsha Howard was granted a special exception to operate an embroidery and screen printing shop at 995 Longview Road, also in the A-1 zone. The shop is 200 yards away from its two nearest neighbors. No objection or comment was noted from any neighbor.

Howard also asked for, and received, permission to put up a sign of up to 12 square feet in size, as opposed to the 4-square-foot sign normally allowed for home occupations in the A-1 zone.

Board Chairman Whit Lee said such permission is sometimes granted in sparsely-populated areas; the sign regulations, said board members, are more intended to protect residential neighbors from having a large and unsightly sign next door to their homes.

Following the last agenda item, the board adjourned its business meeting but remained behind to advise the Pierce family from Hawthorne Hill Road about the legalities of placing a second home, in the form of a double-wide trailer, on its property due to family illness. There are provisions for this type of situation in the zoning document, but some of them have setback and road access requirements to make sure the property can be properly subdivided and sold in the future.

Because of the property's narrow shape, it wasn't clear Thursday night whether the relief could be granted under a hardship clause or whether the family would have to get the lot legally subdivided.