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Back in 2006, the Sprouse family came before the Buckingham planning commission, 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 returned to the commission Monday night, asking for an additional permit. 

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 told the commission. “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. 

“This started as a shorter term plan,” Sprouse told the planning commission Monday night. “The initial idea was to add some housing, some single family homes. Our first idea was to put two single family homes but I wanted to open this up to where we had potential for growth.” 

That growth could include 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 from Sprouse’s Corner Ranch

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 Sprouse family couldn’t get the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to look at their roads and what would be needed to change because of Old Man Winter. Ice and snow over the last few weeks delayed a visit by VDOT officials. 

That concerned members of the planning commission, as some members pointed out in the past, applications have been rejected for not having all the materials together, including a VDOT report. In this case, the majority agreed that people shouldn’t be penalized for acts of nature, so the public hearing was set, with the caveat that Sprouse needs to turn in a VDOT traffic impact report, either beforehand or at the hearing. 

The public hearing is set for Monday, March 24, beginning at 6 p.m.