The Orange County Planning Commission is supporting a plan to build a museum and library behind the Germanna Memorial Foundation’s existing visitors center on State Route 3.
The commissioners voted 4–0 Thursday to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a special-use permit to allow the building on agriculturally zoned land. Commissioner Jason Capelle was not present.
According to the application documents, the proposed two-story building, measuring 40 feet by 85 feet, will be located to the rear of the visitors center and to its left, as viewed from Route 3. The facility will be open to the public.
Present at Thursday’s public hearing on the permit were Foundation Chief Operating Officer Steven Hein and several members of the foundation’s board of trustees, including board President Marc Wheat.
Hein told commissioners the building was planned to provide interpretation, display and education of the public and visitors to that part of Orange County. He said he felt the requested use supported the county’s comprehensive plan by promoting preservation of “this significant historical property,” as well as by promoting tourism.
Foundation board member Cathi Clore Frost of St. Helens, Ore., was the only speaker at the public hearing.
“We are really excited about this project,” she said, before thanking the commissioners for considering the proposal.
BY DAN McFARLAND / THE FREE LANCE–STAR
Travel to Germany with the Germanna Foundation