The Surry County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday was a wide ranging affair lasting nearly six hours in total. Among items the board considered was a rezoning request to allow for the opening of an event center and venue.
The board heard a request from Gersson Rodriguez to have 2.412 acres of a 3.41 acre parcel at 1304 U.S. Highway 52 South rezoned from Residential Agriculture to Community Business — Conditional for a venue for weddings, baby showers, and birthday parties.
Surry County Planning Director Marty Needham said the Planning Board approved the rezoning request at its last meeting for Rodriguez to subdivide the land to create a business for his wife to operate. The board of commissioners concurred and passed the request in a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Eddie Harris opposed.
Needham explained approval from the Planning Board came with contingencies that all events be held inside, be concluded by 11 p.m., and there would be no events on Sunday or Wednesday, given the proximity to area churches.
“My wife is not able to work, she is taking care of our daughter 24/7,” Rodriguez explained. Their young daughter has autism and needs attention, but his wife still wanted to be productive and contribute as able. He told the board, “I told my wife let’s try this and turn it into a venue, that way you can take care of the business and you’re going to feel like you’re contributing to the family.”
“This was not something I was planning from the beginning; it is something that just changed in my mind between me and my family.”
Commissioner Larry Johnson expressed his concern as to how events would be contained inside. “It might be your intent, but with pig pickins, parties with activities for kids, it’s going to be hard even if that’s your intent... If you’re going to limit it to just inside things, I’m not sure this is going to be used a lot.”
“Part of the contract will be if you want to rent the buidling, everything has to be inside. If you want to do activities for children, you can do those inside — the building is a pretty good size,” Rodriguez countered.
Harris asked if liquor may be served at the venue and was told by Needham that the Planning Board determined that was not a condition they could stipulate, but that Rodriguez said he would not be serving alcohol. That would not preclude someone renting the venue from bringing alcohol on site though.
Rodriguez addressed concerns about causing disruptions to the neighborhood by saying his goal was to have a member of law enforcement on site to provide security for events.
Ruth Allred shares a border with the proposed venue and shared a concern about noise. “He said it’s going to be a venue and parties can get loud. It’s a big place that could probably entertain 1,000 people. So, if you have a party just invite me.”
At the Planning Board meeting Sheila Cecil said she heard the venue capacity was going to be 80 which concerns her because there have been noise complaints from the property in question already. “We’ve had issues in the past with that property and music making it down our way. We’re a quiet neighborhood, we keep to ourselves. I am not in support.”
Margaret Marshall said the venue would not be a good fit in the area. “There’s a church across the street and another church just a little ways up the road. I just don’t think this is a good idea for the neighborhood because we’re all quiet people and a big party is going make noise regardless”
Along those lines, Commissioner Bill Goins asked for clarification on how the venue would be addressed should there be violations of the hours of operation or other conditions of the rezoning. Needham said the process is established and a code enforcement officer would visit the site to issue a citation and then fines would be levied.
The board felt the conditions set by the Planning Board were sufficient and the onus to abide by those conditions would fall on Rodriguez, who said he was ready to accept the responsibility.
In other board news this week,
- Mount Airy City Schools were approved to submit a reimbursement request to the state for the Needs Based Public School Capital Fund Grant for over $1.659 million. The district was awarded the grant for renovation work to the Career Technical Education building at Mount Airy High School.
- Surry County Department of Social Services Director Kimberly Irvine sought and gained approval to make personnel moves in her department. The department will reclassify an Income Maintenance Supervisor III position to Income Maintenance Administrator I to better fit the duties of the job. Irvine was also approved to reclassify a vacant role of Community Social Services Assistant to Office Support Services Occupational Group IV.
- Eddie Radford rose during the open forum and spoke to the commissioners about the sticker system at the county landfill and convenience centers. He asked if the current method of distribution of stickers was equitable and suggested the county consider giving the stickers out based on the number of private vehicles a home has.
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