Warren planners endorse B&B

By Linwood Outlaw III - loutlaw@nvdaily.com

FRONT ROYAL -- The Warren County Planning Commission has endorsed a woman's request to operate a bed and breakfast establishment.

The commission unanimously recommended at its Dec. 8 meeting that the Board of Supervisors approve Dawn Greer's request for a conditional-use permit to run a bed and breakfast on her 7-acre property at 1264 Freezeland Road in Linden. Greer wants to use her home for paid overnight lodging for up to eight guests, county planner Matt Wendling said.

In her statement of justification, Greer says she has five bedrooms, four of which would be used for the lodging business. Greer said she would not mind reducing the number of rooms to three, for a total of six guests, even though the home has been approved for a four-bedroom septic system based on comments from the Warren County Health Department, Wendling said.

Officials said the bed and breakfast would be open year-round, and primarily marketed for weekend getaway excursions for couples, although children would be allowed at the establishment. Greer would continue to reside on the property and manage the business.

While Greer said she would not be opposed to any inspections, the Planning Commission decided to exclude a condition from her permit requiring Greer's kitchen to be inspected and certified by the Warren County Health Department for the preparation and serving of food. Planning Commission Chairman Mark Bower said the condition seemed to be an uncommon one compared to other provisions approved for other bed and breakfast permits in the past.

Greer will be required to comply with all Virginia Department of Transportation and local health department laws, as well as other state and federal regulations.

Greer's establishment also must meet the requirements of the county's Building and Inspections Department, particularly when it comes to the installment and quantity of smoke detectors.

The county's zoning ordinance defines a bed and breakfast as "an establishment operated for the purpose of providing overnight accommodations for no more than 20 transient guests staying no more than 14 days." County officials frequently consider requests for such overnight lodging establishments.

The supervisors will hold another public hearing on Greer's request on Jan. 18 before deciding whether to grant final approval.

No one spoke against Greer's proposal during the Planning Commission's public hearing.