A family wanting to continue renting a Toddsbury Lane home on Vrbo must wait another month to learn whether it receives Richmond Board of Zoning Approval permission after the board’s 2-2 vote Sept. 10.
The Rothwell Family Trust requested a special exception that permits short-term rentals at the 3190 Toddsbury Lane house. Family members from out of state occupy the house between six and 10 weeks a year, said Michael Rothwell during the BZA’s meeting, and would like to rent it the remaining weeks.
Neighbors, though, oppose the exception after problems with previous Vrbo renters.
Miriam Vories, who lives next door, shared two examples of verbal altercations. One involved noisy dogs that caused her to leave her home in order to sleep.
“As much as we like the Rothwell family and love what they’re trying to do, we no longer want to live next door to a property where we don’t know our neighbors and we don’t feel safe living next to something that is constantly being rented by people we do not know,” Vories said to board members.
Rothwell said the family made an exception and allowed coon dogs that were kenneled in the garage. Renters found and vetted through Vrbo will no longer be permitted to bring pets to the residence.
“We tried to be nice to people, and we got burned for it,” Rothwell said.
Renters find the Toddsbury location through Vrbo’s website and sign a contract. If they break house rules, they can be immediately evicted.
Six other neighbors opposed the special exception in written communications with city planning staff.
BZA members Sayward Salazar and Nathan Sheets supported the motion to approve the special exception, but Jeff Cook and Rob Tidrow voted negatively. The board then unanimously tabled the Rothwell request until its October meeting, when five members are expected to be present. That meeting was later moved from its typical second Wednesday of the month to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 15.
Kawasaki sign
The Kawasaki sign atop Kelly’s Kawasaki will soon be replaced by a larger sign that reflects Kawasaki’s current branding.
The BZA unanimously approved a variance of development standards for business owner Kelly Karnes, who has been pressured by Kawasaki to update the 45-year old sign on the roof of 901 Chester Blvd. That sign was grandfathered when zoning regulations changed to ban roof signs. Karnes had already purchased the new sign when he learned it would not be permitted without the variance.
A 75-square-foot, illuminated sign will replace the current 45-square-foot sign. Karnes said it needs to be on the roof because other locations on the building would restrict visibility. A 200-square-foot sign would be permitted if it was mounted on a wall.
A version of this article appeared in the September 17 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.