Diamond Hill Debate Continues: Council Votes on Zoning and Regulations

With a crowd that filled the Council room and visitors spilling out into the hall and with a possible record number of people signed up to address them, the Charlotte Court House Town Council met to discuss issues regarding Diamond Hill – a conference center, boutique and bed and breakfast.

The Charlotte Court House Town Council voted to enact an amended version of the recommendations from the Planning Commission regarding Diamond Hill.

Twenty-three citizens, including Virginia Senators Bill Stanley and Thomas Garrett, Jr., addressed the council regarding Diamond Hill. Nineteen spoke strongly in favor of the business and three spoke in opposition.

One change regarded allowing the Diamond Hill boutique to sell to the public. The revised amendment permits Diamond Hill to sell to guests but council declined to define guests. It is unclear if all customers are guests or if council intended to restrict customers.

Following the vote, which granted Diamond Hill a special use permit for a business in the R-1 residential zone, but denied the application to rezone the property and retroactively added conditions to the business license for Diamond Hill.

Neither those supporting Diamond Hill nor those supporting the recommendations of the Planning Commission seemed happy with the results of the vote.

For the full list of recommendations from the Planning Commission and the changes made by the Town Council, please visit: southsidemessenger.net/diamondhill.