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Back in 2006, the Sprouse family came before the Buckingham supervisors, asking for a special use permit. The result of that application was Sprouse’s Corner Ranch, a 59-acre operation located at 16680 W. James Anderson Highway. Now that the project has grown and developed, owner LaRue Sprouse will be returning to ask supervisors to allow an expansion during their meeting in April. The county planning commission gave their recommendation to approve after a hearing on Monday, March 24. 

Sprouse wants to expand what’s happening at the ranch, looking to add additional housing, an Air BnB, some dry campsites and an Event Center. Buckingham Planner Nicci Edmondston explained that a new permit was needed, because basically the ranch outgrew the original one. 

“Her original application did not include this level of growth for her business,” Edmondston explained to the commission in their February meeting. “She’s been very successful at Sprouse’s Corner Ranch. Now she’s seen the wonderful effects of success.” 

Part of what Sprouse wants to do is covered by right, as she lives in an Agricultural (A-1) District. For example, she wants to add a couple of single family homes, for the ranch staff to live in. She needs a permit however for the Air BnB plans, as that’s not an allowed use within the area without one. Also, a little further down the road, the event center would be able to host weddings and birthday parties, things of that nature. 

Initially, the idea was to add some housing, two single family homes for workers at the ranch. But now Sprouse is also looking at things like glamping (glamorous camping, where the campers get treated like you’re at a spa), nature trails, an opportunity to hold community meetings, offer special programs and maybe even festivals and farmers’ markets. 

More details for Sprouse’s Corner 

The planned Air Bnb would be a cabin, not a large facility, placed in the back of the property. The two single family homes, for the ranch staff, would be set up behind the current hay barn on the property, far enough in where they would have privacy from neighbors and vice versa. As for the plan itself, commission members had no issues, praising the growth and projects they’ve seen at Sprouse’s Corner Ranch.

But to move forward, they just want to see one small thing. Much like other applicants Monday night, the one question commission members had involved parking. VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) officials have no problem with the second driveway, heading over to the single family homes. But it can only be used for that purpose, for the families to use, not as an access road for larger events. 

“Brian Locker called me and we had a conversation about it,” Sprouse said. “Our agreement was that driveway would be for the residential (homes).” 

She added that in regards to event parking, people have previously parked in the fields with no problems. 

Commission members saw no problem with the expansion, as the ranch is already an operational business in Buckingham. They gave unanimous approval and it will move on to the board of supervisors for discussion in April.