Editor:

Regarding the Prince Edward Board of Supervisors approving a “special use permit” for an early learning center facility on Sunrise Lane, homeowners with a homeowner’s association and covenants beware.

The county may choose to disregard covenants over the objections of homeowners who maintain the private road to that neighborhood. The homeowners who objected were quoted as describing the road as “narrow.” This is a private road maintained by residents, not the county. Residents also cited deed and covenant restrictions, which should be a legal and binding contract enforced by the county, not broken by it. This is clearly misuse of power.

How is the county justified in doing this? The restrictive covenant states homeowners cannot conduct business, commerce or profession in their residence. It is a recorded covenant, a matter of record when the buyers purchase the home and they should have known from the title search and/or resale disclosure that there is such a covenant in the recorded declaration.

Supporters cited “great need for daycare and early learning in the Farmville area.” That may be, but take up that cause on county-owned property, or in conjunction with the public school system.

This is a rural area, not in the Town of Farmville. If the facility is such a need to allow it to operate in a neighborhood with covenants in place against it or any other business, the county should maintain the road for its use in the future. It is not their place to interfere with neighborhood covenants.

Carla Cupp

Rice