Mathews County’s historic courthouse was packed on Tuesday night for a public hearing on a local couple’s request for an after-the-fact conditional use permit for an aquaculture operation on Williams Wharf Road.

Following a lengthy hearing, the planning commission briefly discussed the application and the issues surrounding it, but decided to table any action pending written comments from the health department and the Virginia Marine Resource Commission. 

The commission has 70 days to act, according to Mathews Planning and Zoning Director Thomas Jenkins, and once the board of supervisors receives the application, it will have 100 days to act.

William and Robin Hooper of Williams Wharf Road have been conducting their aquaculture business, Williams Wharf Oyster Company, at the mouth of Todds Creek since 2016. William Hooper told the board of supervisors and planning commission during Tuesday’s joint hearing that most of that time has been spent setting up the op...