Text amendment denied for recovery treatment center in Troutville due to A-1 zoning

A request for a text amendment that would allow recovery treatment centers to be built by right in the Agriculture (A1) District was unanimously turned down when the Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. The Board met at the Botetourt County Administration Center at Greenfield in Amsterdam.

The text amendment would have allowed for overnight recovery treatment centers in A1 districts without a need for a special exception permit. County staff recommended that the Board deny the request to send the proposed text amendment forward to the Planning Commission for continued review and processing.

The request came from Judah Land, LLC, which operates the Cave Creek Assisted Living Facility near Greenwood Restaurant outside of Troutville. Owner Sandra Cephas said in a letter included in the Board packet that she intends to merge the Cave Creek facility with its sister facility in Roanoke City and sell the property to Cox Property Management, LLC.

The request for a recovery treatment facility change would have meant that such facilities would house individuals with moderate or severe substance use or addictive disorders and provide the programs required by the Virginia State Code. Such uses are not currently covered under the county’s zoning ordinance and therefore not allowed by right. Such a use would require a special exception permit. That would have to go through the Planning Commission and then before the Board of Supervisors after public hearings.

There was no word on what the applicant would do after the proposal was rejected by the Board.

                                                                           Anita Firebaugh, Special to The Botetourt Bee