The Accomack County Board of Zoning Appeals on an October meeting approved a special‑use permit allowing 12 travel trailers for habitation on tax parcel at 26282 Savannah Road in Hallwood (SUSE 109‑2025), with conditions intended to address flood‑plain, safety and permitting concerns.

Staff and several board members said the request was an after‑the‑fact application and noted conflicts with the county comprehensive plan and flood‑plain regulations. Cindy Jones, Code Enforcement Officer for Zoning, presented the staff report, saying the roughly 2‑acre parcel is zoned agricultural, contains a sliver of resource protection area (RPA) and that the proposed density (12 units on 2 acres) exceeds the comprehensive plan’s target density for the area.

The nut of the staff recommendation was denial, but staff also provided a set of conditions that would be required if the BZA approved the permit. Those conditions address building permits, site plans, a two‑year expiration, prohibition on short‑term rental, compliance with the county’s flood‑plain regulations, permitting of unpermitted accessory structures and county inspection rights. The board added a 12th condition making clear the site must comply with relevant fire code regulations.

Applicant Donald K. Pearson and co‑applicant Philip Meng addressed the board in public comment. Pearson described the property as a hunting club used primarily by veterans and seasonal visitors and said the trailers are not all occupied simultaneously. Philip Meng said the applicants had begun steps to meet code requirements: “We purchased the flood vents for the buildings that require them to be installed,” and described plans to obtain elevation certificates and a survey. Both said they would work with the Buxton Fire Department and with county staff on site improvements.

Deputy County Administrator for Community and Economic Development Lee Pam advised caution, saying staff has seen an increasing number of similar applications and that approving this application could create downstream enforcement challenges. Pam told the board the county is seeing a proliferation of permitted and unpermitted travel trailers and urged the BZA to consider broader effects on county zoning and enforcement resources.

After discussion and an amendment adding the fire‑code condition, a motion to approve SUSE 109‑2025 with the 12 staff‑recommended conditions (as amended) passed. The board recorded the motion and the unanimous voice vote: “All in favor, aye.” The approval carries the conditions that, among other requirements, the permit expire two years from issuance, be limited to members of the hunting club and immediate family, prohibit short‑term rentals, require scaled site plans and allow county inspections while the permit is active.

The board and staff noted that additional permitting (building permits, scaled site plan and required flood‑plain work) remained outstanding before full compliance could be verified.

The BZA scheduled follow‑up oversight implicitly through the permit conditions and county inspection authority; staff and the applicants said they would continue working on the site plan and required permits.