Planning board approves Skelton lumber‑shop CUP and four minor subdivisions

The Washington County Planning Board approved a conditional use permit to legalize an existing small‑scale lumber shop and approved four minor subdivisions on June 4, 2026.

Planning staff said the Skelton property houses an 80‑by‑50‑foot shop with electrical service only; the owner’s residence provides restroom facilities and the owner is the sole employee. Applicant representative Connor Threep of Odyssey Engineering told the board the structure has been in place since 2021 and that no new construction is proposed. Applicant Richard Skelton said he does not process treated lumber on‑site and primarily buys and resells material. After board members questioned whether treated lumber would be stored or processed at the site, the board voted to approve the conditional use permit with the stated staff conditions.

The board also approved four minor subdivisions: Barber (split of a 5‑acre parent tract into two 2.5‑acre lots with access via McAdams Road), DeVault (5.92 acres into two 2.96‑acre lots; surveyor Tim West of Atlas Professional Land Surveying represented the application and confirmed access and septic feasibility), J & C Landworks (split of a 2.12‑acre tract into two 1.06‑acre lots; applicant was not present and the board proceeded while noting follow‑up utility signoffs would be required), and Cedar Bluff Estates (subdivision of a 16.53‑acre tract into four lots sized 3.81, 6.87, 2.22 and 3.63 acres; property owner Chris Bakunas described plans to repair existing structures and market lots for sale). Each item passed on voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Votes at a glance:
- Skelton conditional use permit — approved (motion and second recorded; voice vote)
- Barber Minor Subdivision — approved (voice vote)
- DeVault Minor Subdivision — approved (subject to staff conditions; voice vote)
- J & C Landworks Minor Subdivision — approved (board proceeded without applicant; voice vote)
- Cedar Bluff Estates Minor Subdivision — approved (voice vote)

Next steps: approved permits and plats will proceed to standard county permitting and final plat paperwork as required by planning staff.