Donovan v. Board of Zoning Appeals

In this appeal we consider whether the trial court properly upheld a decision by the board of zoning appeals affirming the zoning administrator’s interpretation and application of a zoning ordinance.

Rockingham County enacted its first zoning ordinance in 1969. At that time, property currently owned by appellants, Edward, Jean, Brownie, and David Donovan, Jr., (collectively, the Donovans) and used by them as an automobile graveyard, was zoned A-l, agricultural. Automobile graveyards were not a per*273mitted use in an A-l district; however, the 1969 ordinance allowed the continuation of…