Amherst board denies rezoning for proposed towing business [Video]

On a 3-1 vote, the Amherst County Board of Supervisors denied approval of a rezoning to allow a towing business and storage lot on U.S. 29 just north of the town of Amherst.

The applicant, Silas McDaniel, asked to rezone the roughly 2.5-acre site near the U.S. 29-Virginia 151 intersection from General Residential, R-2, to General Commercial, B-2. Tyler Creasy, director of community development, said the surrounding area is a “Hodgepodge” of different zoning districts and uses. Properties adjoining to the north and south are zoned R-2 with single-family homes.

An auto storage lot to serve the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police was a listed use in the zoning application from the business.

Supervisor Tom Martin said he couldn’t support the R-2 zoning and a conditional use permit to allow the towing operation, calling it “too much” for that area. Vice Chair Claudia Tucker voted against denial, …