The Mathews Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of conditional use permits for an oyster packaging facility and an event venue, and unanimously voted against recommending a proposed text amendment at its July meeting on Tuesday night in the historic courthouse.

The first hearing was for a conditional use permit to allow an oyster packaging facility at 150 Enterprise Lane in Foster. John Vigliotta of Aquaculture Real Estate Corporation requested the CUP for the property which is 11.94 acres and is zoned Rural and Residential-1. According to staff documents, “The facility will include a building for packing and shipping oysters, a dock on the Mobjack Bay, and an access path between the building and dock.”

During public comment, many residents voiced their concerns about the presence of the facility. “We have understandable concerns about noise, additional traffic, possible smells and glare from lighting as this area is used to calm waterways, peace and quie...