AMHERST COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — A local wedding venue owner is fighting to keep her business alive as neighbors push to get her special use permit revoked.
She just got the permit last year.
Alexis Fisher owns Three Oaks Manor, a micro wedding venue in Amherst County.
She’s taken to social media to share her story, claiming her neighbors are pushing for her to shut down her business.
Fisher says they even fire their guns during events.
“The only time the guns are shot is when cars are on my driveway. That’s the only time you hear this type of shooting, and it is relentless, it goes on and on and on and it is loud,” Fisher said in a social media video.
A micro wedding venue typically hosts 50 people. Fisher can host up to 100 if needed, but her neighbors would prefer she host none at all.
“We are continually bombarded with loud booming music throughout the year, disrupting our quiet evenings we have known for years,” one neighbor said during a Board of Supervisors meeting.
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Neighbors want the county to step in and revoke Fisher’s special permit for the property.
“It’s kind of a Hatfield and McCoy situation,” said Supervisor Drew Wade.
He said there are some concerns.
“The applicant promised during the approval process there wouldn’t be DJs or a microphone in use; that’s not the case, it’s happened several times now,” Wade said.
Fisher said she follows the rules from the county.
After conversations with neighbors, she’s worried she’s fighting a losing battle.
“I was told by this man it doesn’t matter what I do, what conditions I try to put in place, he will not accept it, his neighbors will not accept it, and he will fight me to the very end to make sure I’m not here,” Fisher said.
Wade said he is hopeful Fisher and the neighbors can find a path forward soon.
“It’s a lose-lose situation from a supervisor’s standpoint, but I’m hoping we can find a win-win for the neighbors and the wedding venue,” Wade said.
Fisher said she is unsure how to move forward.
Wade said the Board of Supervisors is working with lawyers to determine if the permit should be revoked or not.
There is no deadline for that decision, but he hopes it’s sooner rather than later.
