[00:00:05]
I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2022.
[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]
GONNA START FIRST, UH, WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE.[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
GONNA HAVE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCILMAN GILL GPI PLEDGE PLEDGE TO THE FALL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.[3. ROLL CALL]
WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? MAYOR HOLLOWAY.[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NEXT UP IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.DO I HEAR A MOTION? THIS VICE MAYOR, I MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JULY 25TH, THE REGULAR MEETING, MINUTES OF JULY 25TH, THE WORK SESSION, MINUTES OF AUGUST THE EIGHTH AND SEPTEMBER THE 12TH.
AND SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES MEETING OF AUGUST THE 29TH AND SEPTEMBER THE 12TH, 2022 HAS PRESENTED.
WHAT WE HAVE IT FIRST AND SECOND.
MS. MS. PRESLEY, DO YOU WANNA DO A ROLL CALL? VICE MAYOR CORO? YES.
NEXT UP IS ANY ADDITION OR DELETIONS OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA? OKAY.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER SIX, WHICH
[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]
IS RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS.AND I BELIEVE UP FIRST IS THE REG RECOGNITION OF OFFICERS FROM THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF THE CHIEFS OF POLICE, CHIEF MICHAELIS.
GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR MEMBERS COUNCIL, UM, BROUGHT THESE TWO BEFORE YOU A FEW MONTHS BACK, UM, AND PRESENTED THEM WITH OUR DEPARTMENTAL LIFE SAVING AWARD MEDALS.
UM, AND THEN AFTER THAT WAS OVER WITH, I SUBMITTED THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT TO THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION CHIEFS OF POLICE FOR THEIR ANNUAL, UH, AWARDS.
AND, UM, THERE'S A SELECTION COMMITTEE THAT ACTUALLY GOES THROUGH INCIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THEY DETERMINE WHICH, WHICH ONES ARE ACTUALLY WORTHY OF, UM, THE STATE'S RECOGNITION.
UH, AND SERGEANT STU AS AN OFFICER MARTIN, UH, ARE GONNA BE THE RECIPIENTS.
THEY'RE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE, UH, VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE LIFESAVING AWARDS FOR 2022.
SO, WITHOUT THE, WITHOUT THESE TWO OFFICERS, UH, BRAVERY ENCOURAGE, UH, THERE WERE, THERE WERE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT, UH, TWO CITIZENS OF OURS THAT, THAT WOULDN'T BE WITH US THIS, THIS DAY.
SO, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE, AND IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO SERVE WITH THEM.
THANK HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE THE MEN AND WOMEN WORKING ON OUR FORCE.
NEXT UP ARE PROJECT UPDATES BY INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGER STEVE SCHULMAN.
UH, ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC WORKS, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THIS UPDATE.
UM, OUR CARBON GUTTER PROJECT THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS IS NEAR COMPLETION.
UH, THE INSTALLATION OF 9,000 FEET OF CG CG SIX CARBON GUTTER, UM, IN 10 APRONS.
[00:05:01]
THE PROJECT IS 95% COMPLETE.UH, WE ARE HOPING TO WRAP THAT UP BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.
UH, SIX 10 B AND SIX 12 WEST 11TH STREET STORM DRAINAGE UPGRADE PROJECT, UH, WE'RE GONNA PICK BACK UP ON THAT.
THIS WEEK, UH, WE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY WITH MATERIALS THAT HAVE NOW ARRIVED.
UH, SO WE'RE GONNA RESUME ON THAT AND WE WILL FINISH INSTALLING THE STORM PIPE, UH, BRAXTON ROAD AND MANASAS AVENUE WATER LINE UPGRADES.
THE BID WAS APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL ON AUGUST 29TH, AND THE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO BUSH HOG CONTRACT INCORPORATED TO SIGN OFF AND GET THE MATERIALS ON ORDER.
UM, JOHN MARSHALL HIGHWAY WATERLINE UPGRADE PROJECT TOWN HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF FIVE BIDS WITH BOWMAN GRIFFIN, GENERAL CONTRACTORS LS, LLC OUT OF HILLSVILLE, VIRGINIA BEING THE LOWEST BID OF $229,550.
AND THIS PROJECT IS ON THE CONSENT ORDER FOR THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVE TONIGHT.
ROBIN, ROBIN HOOD LANE, PRV VAULT REPLACEMENT.
UH, WE'RE STILL ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS OUT FOR DELIVERY DUE TO THE TRAFFIC BEARING HATCH THAT IS REQUIRED.
UH, THE VAULT WEIGHS 24,000 POUNDS, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A CRANE FOR THE INSTALLATION ON THAT.
THE BID OPENING WAS HELD ON AUGUST 31ST.
WE RECEIVED TWO BIDS FOR THE PROJECT.
SCHNEIDER ENVIRONMENTAL WAS THE LOWEST BID.
UM, ONCE THE BID DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, IT'LL BE BROUGHT THAT BACK TO COUNCIL IN OCTOBER.
UM, PAVING WILL RESUME ON OCTOBER 6TH.
THE KICKING ASPHALT WILL BE BACK IN TOWN.
UM, THEY WILL REMAIN UNTIL WEATHER SHUTS EM DOWN OR EVERYTHING IS COMPLETED.
AND THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT SCADA UPGRADE DNR CONTROLS IS FINISHING UP THE COMPLETING OF THE SCADA SYSTEM DESIGNS AND WAITING ON SYSTEM RADIOS AND ANTENNA.
AND ONCE THIS IS COMPLETING, TRAINING WITH STAFF WILL BEGIN ON THE NEW SYSTEM.
STEVE, IS THE CURB AND GUTTER, UH, THE NOW THOUSAND FEET THAT I'M ASSUMING THAT'S LIKE THE EDGE OF STONEWALL EASTERLY.
I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN DOING CURBING GEAR.
EASTERLY IS THE LAST ONE THEY'RE WORKING ON CURRENTLY.
UH, EASTERLY HORSESHOE AND VIS COAST IS WHERE THEY'RE WRAPPING UP.
UH, STONEWALL, UM, WAS PART OF THE SEWER LINE REPAIRS THAT THEY DID THERE, AND THEY HAVE TO COME BACK AND DO SOME TOUCH UP WORK IN THERE THAT THE CONTRACTOR THAT DID THE SEWER, THE ONES ON EASTER LEE, LOOK REALLY GOOD.
I JUST WANNA, I, I GREW UP THERE.
AND I GO BY THERE EVERY DAY TO DROP MY NIECES OFF.
AND I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE PROJECT AND JUST IS JUST A VERY NICE IMPROVED.
IT LOOKS DIFFERENT, BUT IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
STEVE, IS, UH, JUST ONE MORE QUESTION.
UM, IS THE, UH, BIDS THAT ARE COMING IN FOR THE REDUNDANT WATERLINE MM-HMM.
WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF GROUP EVALUATING.
NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[7A. Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rental at 107 Highfield Lane – William & Melissa Gordon - Lauren Kopish]
UM, AND SO THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 1 0 7 HIGHFIELD LANE, UH, WITH WILLIAM AND MELISSA GORDON.TINA, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY FOR US? COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL TO WILLIAM AND MELISSA GORDON AT THEIR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 0 7 HIGHFIELD LANE.
THE APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTING TO RENT THE ENTIRE HOUSE CONSISTING OF FIVE BEDROOMS TO KNOW MORE THAN 10 OCCUPANTS.
THERE IS PARKING ON SITE FOR FOUR VEHICLES IN THE DRIVEWAY.
STAFF HAS INSPECTED THE PROPERTY AND IT IS COMPLIANT WITH REGULATIONS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 24TH AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH NO CONDITIONS.
LIKE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MS. PRESLEY, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, WE HAVE THREE FIRST ONES WILL GO.
[00:10:02]
HEY, UH, GOOD EVENING.UM, I'M THE APPLICANT ON, ON THIS PROPERTY, UM, AND MY WIFE AND I, UM, LOVE THIS TOWN.
UM, WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING OUT TO THE COUNTY, UH, TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE LAND, BUT WE WANT TO SHARE THIS, THIS PROPERTY AND, AND THIS TOWN WITH TOURISTS.
UM, OUR KIND OF IDEAL MARKET IS, UH, FAMILIES, UM, THAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE STAYING HERE.
UH, WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES.
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, UH, A BOOK THERE OF, OF PLACES THAT WE RECOMMEND THEY GO.
UM, WE'RE GONNA BE VERY ACTIVE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, IT IS, IT IS THE HOUSE THAT WE LOVE, LIKE I SAID.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA, I GUESS, LET PARTIES GO ON OR, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, HAPPY TO, TO BRING THIS, UM, BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
AND, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS LATER, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM TOO.
I'M, I'M GONNA MISPRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME IF YOU HO HOVIS.
ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE TO GET IT RIGHT.
UM, I LIVE ON HIGHFIELD LANE, PROBABLY THE FIRST, FIRST HOUSE ON THE LEFT.
AS YOU PULL UP THE DRIVE THERE.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S VERY, UH, SMALL TWO CALL DEAC AT BOTH ENDS, SO THERE'S NO WAY TO GET IT OUT ONCE YOU GET IN.
UM, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE WITH A SHORT TERM RENTAL IN THE COMMUNITY IS I'VE GOT FOUR KIDS.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE THERE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S KIDS.
UM, I'VE GOT A LITTLE THREE YEAR OLD HEAP SOMETIMES GETS IN THE STREET.
AND, UH, THE CONCERN I HAVE IS OBVIOUSLY CARS COMING THROUGH THERE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, UM, WHICH HAPPENS, WE SAW IT DURING COVID, PEOPLE WOULD JUST COME BACK AND CHECK THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE GO PRETTY FASTER THERE.
SO, UM, I WOULD BE OPPOSED TO HAVING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL NEIGHBORHOOD JUST BASED ON PRETTY MUCH THAT FACT.
UM, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I GOT.
WE ALSO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE LIVE IN ONE OF THOSE COURTS.
WE KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT WHAT THE PLANS WERE FOR THAT HOUSE.
WE HAD SUSPECTED THAT THE OWNERS WILL MOVE OUT BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE EXTENSIVE RENOVATION TO THE OUTSIDE.
NOW WE HAVE HEARD FROM MR. GORDON THAT THAT IS THE PLAN, AND WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THAT.
UH, ACROSS FROM HIM IS A HOUSE, AND THEY HAVE FOUR CHILDREN ALSO.
WE HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT HAS ONE SMALL CHILD.
WE HAVE OUR GRANDCHILDREN AT OUR HOUSE QUITE OFTEN.
IT IS A VERY QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND AGAIN, AS WAS INDICATED THERE, REALLY, THERE ARE TWO DEAD ENDS, BASICALLY, OR TWO COURTS.
SO YOU HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH THAT, THE ONLY WAY TO GET IN AND OUT.
SO, AND IT IS A VERY QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE KNOW MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
I THINK IT WOULD HAVE FELT MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE WOULD'VE HEARD FROM MR. GORDON WHAT THE PLANS WERE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT UNTIL WE SAW THE SIGN OUTSIDE THEIR HOUSE.
SO I'M AFRAID WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT PLAN.
IS THAT ALL, THAT'S ALL THAT'S SIGNED UP? YES.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ANYBODY? OKAY.
UM, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.
I JUST HAD, UM, A COUPLE OF COMMENTS HERE.
SO IT'S, I THINK, SORRY, I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION IN THIS SECOND BEFORE WE DO THIS DISCUSSION.
MRS. VICE MAYOR, I MOVED THE COUNCIL APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL TO WIG AND MELISSA GORDON AT THEIR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 0 7 HIGHFIELD LANE SECOND.
SO I, UM, LOOK THROUGH THIS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
I DO UNDERSTAND CHILDREN AT PLAY.
I THINK THAT CONCERN COULD BE RESOLVED WITH SOME OF THOSE STANDS OR EVEN A SIGN SIGN THAT SAYS CHILDREN AT PLAY.
BECAUSE EVEN IF IT'S NOT IN AIRBNB, YOU STILL HAVE PEOPLE VISITING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT MIGHT BE FROM OTHER STATES, OTHER PLACES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY OR EVEN LIVE
[00:15:01]
THERE RIGHT.THAT COULD POTENTIALLY STILL SPEED OR DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE IT BUTTONED UP AS FAR AS PARKING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THIS AND I WILL VOTE YES.
WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? I WAS JUST CURIOUS, HAD A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT.
I KNOW SOME OF THE SHORT TERMINALS THAT WE'VE HEARD, UM, SINCE THE SHORT TERMINALS HAVE BECOME A THING IN THE TOWN LIMIT, SOME HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTS HAVE DISCUSSED, UM, MINIMUM LENGTH STAYS.
ARE YOU ANTICIPATING DOING THAT? OR IS IT LIKE A ONE NIGHT MINIMUM OR? UM, INITIALLY WE'RE THINKING PROBABLY A THREE NIGHT MINIMUM STAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE PROBABLY ONE NIGHT STAYS JUST BECAUSE THEN THE TURNOVER COSTS ARE GONNA BE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WOULDN'T MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE TO DO THAT.
UM, SO INITIALLY WE'RE GONNA START OUT, UH, I THINK WITH THE THREE NIGHT MINIMUM, IF THE MARKET'S THERE MAYBE A TWO NIGHT.
BUT, UH, I, I DON'T EVER SEE GOING TO A ONE NIGHT.
ANYBODY ELSE? SO, MR. GORDON ONE, UH, I JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, UM, SO YOU, YOU, YOU CAN STAY THERE.
UM, SO YOU ALL ARE MOVING TO THE COUNTY.
SO THE PLAN IS YOU'RE GONNA BE IN THE COUNTY.
IT'S NOT, THIS IS NOT LIKE AN INVESTMENT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT YOU'RE GONNA LIKE LEASE.
NOW WE'RE, WE'RE NOT LEAVING THE AREA.
WE, WE'VE GOT KIDS IN SCHOOL HERE AND, UM, YEAH, WE'RE, WE'RE STICKING AROUND.
I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT YOU WILL LET, THAT YOU'LL BE IN THE AREA.
SOMETIMES IT MAKES ME NERVOUS WHEN SOMEBODY'S, YOU KNOW, LIVES FAR AWAY AND ISN'T CHECKING ON THE PROPERTY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S YOUR PLAN.
YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT PARTIES.
I, I BELIEVE PARTIES ARE IN OUR, OR THAT'S PART OF OUR ORDINANCE ANYWAY, ABOUT LARGE GATHERINGS AND STUFF AS I RECALL.
THAT, AND WE HAVE THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND RIGHT.
PARTIES WOULD NOT, IF THERE'S A PARTY THERE, I'M SURE THE COPS WOULD BE COOL.
SO YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT I WAS THINKING, YEAH, SO, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT PARTIES ARE EXCLUDED IN THE ORDINANCE.
UM, BUT IT IS, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PUT AS A RULE IN OUR APPLICATION.
SO, UM, I THINK BY APPROVING THE APPLICATION THAT WE WOULD BE HELD TO THAT, THAT STANDARD.
SO, I MEAN, WE WOULD NOT ALLOW PARTIES.
CHIEF, I WAS JUST GONNA CALL ON YOU FOR A SECOND.
WE'VE DONE THIS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER SHORT TERM RENTALS.
UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SPEEDING OR CRIME RATE NECESSARILY DUE TO TRAFFIC VOLUME IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
IS THIS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN CALLED TO FOR? IT'S, I CAN'T RECALL ANY, UH, ANY SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS.
I'M GONNA ASK, I'M NOT SURE IF, UM, IF MS. LEK WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT, UM, IT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT THOSE SIGNS, CHILDREN AT PLAY, WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT TOWN WOULD DO OR, I MEAN, I, I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT WAS SOMETHING, IS THAT, THAT'S NOT A VDOT THING.
IT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE ROADS, IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT IT BECAME A PROBLEM, WE COULD, OR IF IT IS A PROBLEM, WE COULD.
UM, WELL, GENERALLY WHAT I'VE SEEN, UM, AS FAR AS CHILDREN AT PLAY AND THOSE TYPES OF SIGNS HAVE BEEN PUT OUT BY PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, IN REGARDS TO SIGNAGE, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE TOWN, YOU KNOW, STREET SIGNS AND SO FORTH.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S SOMETHING THE TOWN MANAGER.
SO THE LITTLE ONES THAT I'VE SEEN WHERE IT, THE LITTLE ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE PERSON.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THAT WOULD BE A PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO IF, IF THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD COMPROMISE MAYBE.
AND THEN LAUREN, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE SIGNING SIGNAGE PART FROM A PLANNING AND ZONING PERSPECTIVE? I WAS JUST STARTING TO THINK AS TO WHETHER OR NOT I WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO DO A SIGN PERMIT.
IF THEY'RE GONNA POST A, YOU KNOW, A CHILD AT PLACE SIGN IN THE ALL, YOU CALL IT A TREE OR ON A, IF IT'S ON A POLE, IT'S A POLE SIGN.
SO THEY WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO COME THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT FIRST.
I THINK SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THOSE LITTLE THINGS THAT REALLY DON'T LOOK A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT THAN LIKE, WHEN YOU SEE LIKE WET PAINT OR LIKE WET FLOOR, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO BASICALLY SELF CONTAIN SIGNS.
THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY POSTED ON A TREE OR, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST LITTLE, THE ONES I'VE SEEN ANYWAY ARE LIKE LITTLE TURTLES OR LITTLE PEOPLE SAYING CHILD AT PLAY AND BE CAREFUL.
AND THEN JUST MY LAST, UM, PIECE TO THIS, UM, I KNOW THESE HAVE ALL GONE BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALREADY STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
UM, WERE THERE ANY CONCERNS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGARDING THIS? NOT THIS ONE, NO.
[00:20:01]
JUST AS ANY OF THESE, UH, SPECIAL USE PERMITS, IF THERE BECOMES ISSUES OR PROBLEMS OR COMPLAINTS, THEN AT ANY TIME IT CAN BE REVIEWED AGAIN BY STAFF.I JUST, THE STAFF RECEIVES A COMPLAINT FROM A NEIGHBOR OR SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS, THEN WE CAN GO IN AND DO AN INSPECTION AND GOTCHA.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I, UM, I JUST WANTED MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE CLARIFIED THAT.
I'M HONESTLY, I'M, IS IT OKAY IF I NORMALLY, ONCE THE, THE, THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS CLOSED, IT IS CLOSED.
WELL, IT WOULD BE COUNCIL'S PREROGATIVE, I GUESS, TO ASK.
I MEAN, WE'RE HAVING AN OPEN DISCUSSION.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR, SEE WHAT THE MAN, WHAT THE GENTLEMAN HAS TO SAY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, I'M SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING PART.
I'M THE HUSBAND OF THE LADY THAT JUST SPOKE.
UH, I WASN'T PLANNING ON TALKING, BUT MAYBE I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE COUPLE OF MINUTES TO ASK IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO POSTPONE A VOTE ON THIS THING.
UH, MR. GORDON SEEMS LIKE A VERY REASONABLE INDIVIDUAL.
HIS FIRST TIME I TALKED TO HIM WAS, WAS TONIGHT.
UM, IF I WAS A YOUNG PERSON WHEN MOVING TO THE COUNTY, BUT PROBABLY WANT TO PURSUE ALSO A, YOU KNOW, AIRBNB.
BUT BELIEVE ME, THERE'S, WE GET VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC UP THERE.
THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS THERE COULD BE MORE TRAFFIC COMING UP THERE, I THINK IS A CONCERN.
UH, IF WE DO HAVE AN INCIDENT, I MEAN, I WAS AN 18 YEAR OLD KID ONCE, IF THERE'S 10 COLLEGE KIDS COMING IN TO SPEND THE WEEKEND AND WE HAVE LOUD NOISES OR WHAT HAVE YOU, YOU KNOW, WHO DO WE CALL? WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO YOU HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT? HE, HE, MR. GORDON EXPLAINED TO ME JUST BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING STARTED THAT, UH, HE WAS GONNA HAVE, HE THOUGHT A THREE, THREE DAY MINIMUM, BUT IT COULD GO UP, HE SAID TO 30 DAYS.
UM, THIS IS A BIG TOURIST TOWN.
I CAN SEE PEOPLE POSSIBLY COMING IN FOR A CONCERN IN, YOU KNOW, A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND THERE'S NOW THERE'S MORE TRAFFIC COMING BACK AND FORTH.
UH, THERE IS A EXCEEDINGLY LIMITED PARKING.
HE SAYS HE CAN PARK, YOU KNOW, ONE CAR IN HIS DRIVEWAY, BUT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT VERY MUCH AN ADDITIONAL PARKING UP THERE.
I JUST HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I'D LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH HIM, ALONG WITH THE OTHER NEIGHBORS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SAY, HOW ARE WE GONNA HANDLE THIS? IF THIS COMES UP AND THAT COMES UP? AND TO DO THAT, WE NEED MORE TIME.
SO WHAT I'M UP HERE TO SAY IS, COULD YOU POSSIBLY POSTPONE A VOTE ON THIS UNTIL WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN ON THEM AND DISCUSS SO MANY THINGS? THANK YOU.
DID I READ SOMEWHERE THAT IT SAID FOUR PARKING SPACES? I THOUGHT SO.
I THOUGHT IT WAS CUZ IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGER, LARGER, UH, SPOTS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION AMONGST COUNCIL? MY ONLY DISCUSSION TO BE, TO ADD TO THE TRAFFIC IS I CAN UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY BEING IN A CUL-DE-SAC.
I LIVED AND GREW UP IN A CUL-DE-SAC IN FRONT ROYAL.
IT WAS A VERY TIGHT KNIT PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY, THE INCREASED TRAFFIC VOLUME.
I DO THINK THOUGH, BY LIMITING THE NUMBER OF TENANTS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BE IN THE HOUSE ALSO 18, I THINK, I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE OLDER THAN THAT TO, TO RENT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE LIKE RENTING A CAR AND IT WAS LIKE 20 COUPLE, BUT, UM, PERHAPS NOT.
I KNOW MOTEL, IT'S 21, I THINK.
SO MY ONLY COMMENT TOWARDS THE TRAFFIC AND THE CUL-DE-SAC WOULD BE THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
SO PERHAPS ONE TO TWO CARS PER RENTER PER PORTION OF THE TIME.
AND THE COMPLAINTS WOULD BE FILED WITH PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTLY.
UM, AND THEN ALSO WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I THINK PART OF OUR CODE SAYS WHEN WE ADOPTED THIS, THAT WE WOULD ALSO GO OFF OF A COMPLAINT BASIS TO CONSIDER REVOKING THESE PERMITS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, SO MORE COMPLAINTS WOULD MEAN MORE, I'M JUST SAYING IF THERE WERE MORE COMPLAINTS, WELL, I THINK AFTER ONE COMPLAINT AND INSPECTION AND REVIEW WOULD BE DONE, AND THEN AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, WE WOULD REVOKE THE PERMIT.
UM, SO, AND THE SAME WITH THE SPEED AND SAFETY KINDS OF THINGS.
BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT IF SOMEONE'S FILING A COMPLAINT, LAUREN, THAT IT HAS TO BE LIKE A SUBSTANTIAL COMPLAINT, NOT JUST SOMEBODY CALLING EVERY DAY.
BECAUSE THEY FIGURE IF THEY CALL EVERY DAY, YOU'LL REVOKE THE PRIVILEGE.
IT HAS TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF SUBSTANCE TO IT.
WHAT LAUREN, WHAT'S THE INVEST? LIKE, WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR THAT INVESTIGATION? FOR THE INSPECTION? IF WE RECEIVE A COMPLAINT, WE WOULD LOG IT INTO OUR SYSTEM.
UM, OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, MONICA MCCLURE, SHE WOULD GO AND, UM, SPEAK WITH A PROPERTY OWNER.
SHE WOULD DO IT ONSITE INSPECTION TO
[00:25:01]
MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS STILL COMPLIANT WITH THE CODE.AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD GO FROM THERE.
UM, I ROWELL VICE MAYOR CORO? YES.
[7B. Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rental at 124 Luray Avenue – Philip Vaught - Lauren Kopishke]
THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 1 24 LURAY AVENUE.AND IF YOU COULD READ THAT SUMMARY FOR US.
COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL TO PHILLIP VAULT VAULT REAL ESTATE LLC ON THEIR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 24 LURAY AVENUE.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED R THREE, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING UP TO 10 OCCUPANTS IN FIVE ROOMS. THERE IS PARKING ON SITE FOR SEVEN VEHICLES IN THE DRIVEWAY.
STAFF HAS INSPECTED THE PROPERTY AND IT IS COMPLIANT WITH REGULATIONS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 24TH AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.
I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS.
UM, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY, SINCE WE, I I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT.
I THINK THE ONLY, FIRST OF ALL, I'M BRUCE RAPAPORT, 300 WEST MAIN STREET FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.
THE ONLY COMMENT THAT I HAVE ABOUT THE SHORT TERM RENTALS THAT I NEVER HEAR BROUGHT UP IS THE TRANSIENT ASPECT OF THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
OBVIOUSLY THESE FAMILIES, UH, YOU DIDN'T SEE ME, I WAVED MY HAND EARLIER, BUT BEFORE YOU VOTED, BUT, UH, THESE, SORRY.
UH, THESE FAMILIES HAVE INVESTED THEIR, THEIR, THEIR MONEY, THEIR LIVELIHOODS TO THESE HOMES, AND THEY EXPECTED RESIDENTIAL LIVING.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS THE INDIVIDUALS, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, THEY STILL WANNA HOLD ONTO THE PROPERTIES AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY A FINANCIAL DECISION, BUT IF YOU DON'T WANNA LIVE THERE, Y'ALL TO SELL IT.
SO I CAN UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF THE GENTLEMAN WITH FOUR KIDS.
YOU GOT LIKE THREE PEOPLE COMING IN, LIVING LIKE THREE FOR THREE DAYS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN VET THESE PEOPLE TILL THE COWS COME HOME, BUT YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW THEM.
SO IF THAT HAPPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK REGARDING THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AT 1 24 LURAY AVENUE? OKAY, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL VICE MAYOR CORO.
I MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL TO FILL VAULT VAULT REAL ESTATE LLC ON THEIR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 24 LURAY AVENUE TAX MAP.
20 A SEVEN DASH FOUR DASH SEVEN FOUR SECOND.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION FOR COUNCIL.
SO I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT PHILIP VAULT IS ALSO GONNA BE ON THE PROPERTY THAT'S GONNA, HE'S GONNA MAINTAIN THAT AS HIS RESIDENCE, SO HE'LL BE MANAGING AND IN THERE AT THE SAME TIME, UM, AS A CONSERVATIVE KIND OF PERSON, I DON'T BELIEVE IN TELLING OTHER PEOPLE WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR PROPERTIES OR WITH THEIR BUSINESSES PER SE.
UM, AND THEN, UM, WE DID DISCUSS, UH, TRANSIENT OCCUPANCIES AND WE DISCUSSED, UM, THE RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT REPORTS THAT HAVE COME OUT THAT SHOW THAT AIR AIRBNBS DO NOT INCREASE ANY SORT OF VIOLENCE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD, I FORGOT WHERE IT WAS.
AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT DIFFERENT AIRBNBS COMING AND THIS KIND OF THING.
IT'S IN BRUCE'S NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ONE YOU'RE REFERENCING.
OH, THAT IS BRUCE'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THEY DIDN'T WANT THE ADDRESS.
THAT WAS THE END OF VIRGINIA AVENUE.
SO, OH YEAH, THAT, THAT'S, YEAH.
SO THE PERSON ABOUT THAT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, RIGHT.
SO THE PERSON CAME IN AND SAID THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHILDREN.
AND I SAID, WELL, DID YOU KNOW THAT WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF YOUR HOME THERE ARE SEVERAL SEX OFFENDERS, UM, AGAINST
[00:30:01]
MINORS, NOT ADULTS.AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THAT.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN.
YOU HAVE TO ALSO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY THERE.
AND A LOT OF TIMES YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT LIST YOU GO ON LIKE WATCH DOG.COM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND SEARCH YOUR ADDRESS AND SEE HOW MANY RED DOTS POP UP.
IS IT WATCHDOG? I DON'T KNOW WHAT OF THAT.
AND SEE HOW MANY RED DOTS POP UP.
SO THAT WASN'T REALLY A CONCERN FOR ME.
AND AIRBNB TENDS TO GET A DIFFERENT KIND OF POPULATION, UM, THAT COMES OUT IN THREE NIGHTS.
MINIMUM IS EXCELLENT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SWITCHING IN AND OUT EVERY DAY.
I DO PREFER TO SEE A LONGER, UM, TENURE FOR THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
HOWEVER, ALSO AS A CONSERVATIVE, I DON'T BELIEVE IN TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY AS A LANDLORD OF A RENTAL PROPERTY AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT IT'S MY RIGHT TO MAKE MONEY HOW I SEE FIT.
I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE A SHORT TERM RENTAL FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S GONNA LIVE AND HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE SHOPPING IN THE SAME STORES, GOING TO THE SAME CHURCHES.
UM, THEY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'LL JUST SAY I LIVE IN A VERY WELL RESPECTED, WELL KNOWN, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEIGHBORS SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT SPOKE TONIGHT.
AND, UM, I GREW UP THERE, SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE IN THAT AREA, UH, NEAR LATASHA.
AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, A 30 YEAR LONG RESIDENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BRUTALLY ATTACKED, VICIOUSLY ATTACKED SOMEBODY UNPROVOKED.
UM, AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO TELL THAT THAT WAS COMING.
AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I DOUBT MY FAMILY WHO COMES TO VISIT FOR A WEDDING AND STAYS IN AN AIRBNB WOULD DO.
SO YOU JUST, YOU, UNTIL THERE'S CRIME STATISTICS, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO ACCUSE THESE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAY SOMEWHERE NICER THAN THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN TOWN.
UM, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE MOTELS THAT WE HAVE AND THE TOWN LIMITS OF FRONT ROYAL.
I WOULD NEVER PUT MY FAMILY IN THEM AND I WOULD NEVER STAY IN THEM MYSELF.
UM, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE IS SCARY AND IT'S DIFFERENT AND IT'S NEW.
UM, AND I HAVE CHILDREN THAT RIDE THEIR BIKES IN THE ROAD DESPITE ME TELLING THEM NOT TO.
UM, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S SOMEBODY THAT'S A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND REMAINS INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT, UM, REASSURING.
JUST TO MAKE A POINT, UM, HERE, AND YOU KNOW, I, I LIVE IN TOWN, UM, RIGHT, RIGHT.
AND, UM, ON MY STREET, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME RENTALS AND YOU KNOW, I'VE LONG TERM RENTALS AND, UM, I I'VE SEEN A SH MY SHARE OF, YOU KNOW, LOUD PARTIES AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AT NIGHT.
AND, UM, NUMEROUS POLICE TRIPS UP TO, TO, TO SOME OF THESE HOUSES.
AND TO SAY THAT, UM, SOMEBODY WHO'S ON VACATION IS GONNA COME IN OR SOMEBODY WHO'S DOING BUSINESS AROUND OUR AREA, UM, IS GOING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS IN A, IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, LIKE, LIKE THE POINT THAT WAS JUST MADE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
YOU KNOW, NOT SAYING THAT EVERYONE, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE SOME TROUBLES THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THERE ARE, UM, SAFEGUARDS BECAUSE WE, WE FORESEEING SOME OF THIS COMING, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST I DID PERSONALLY.
UM, THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS AROUND, YOU KNOW, IF, IF IT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM OR HAS A, A CONTINUED, UM, YOU KNOW, PROBLEM, THEN WE WILL REVOKE THE LICENSE.
AND, AND THAT'S ALL IT IS TO IT, YOU KNOW? UM, AND, AND THAT IS A SAFEGUARD RIGHT THERE.
AND, AND I'M SURE THAT A LOT OF, LOT OF PEOPLE WHO, WHO WANNA DO THESE AIRBNBS ARE GONNA TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THEY ARE RENTING TO SOMEONE AND, UM, GONNA GIVE THEM A THOROUGH BACKGROUND, YOU KNOW, OF, OF WHO THEY'RE RENTING TO.
UM, SO IT'S MY, AGAIN, EVERYBODY KNOWS, YOU KNOW, I'M CONSERVATIVE, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ME TRYING TO TELL SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY CAN DO TO THEIR PROPERTY, UM, GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING IN MY CORE BEING.
THANK YOU MRS. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR HAD ONE.
WE LIVE IN A, IN A LOCALITY THAT HAS A 55 PLUS PERCENT
[00:35:01]
RENTAL, UM, RATING.SO MEANING 55% PLUS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE RENTERS, NOT HOMEOWNERS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE COUNTY OF WARREN HAS ALLOWED SHORT TERM RENTALS AND AIRBNBS FOR YEARS.
UM, AND DURING THE CURRENT HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE ARE FACING, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, WE'RE IN THE TOP THREE STATES IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW THAT ARE FACING THE LARGEST HOUSING CRISIS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT ARE LIVING IN SHORT TERM RENTALS, UM, IN THE COUNTY OF WARREN.
AND THEY'RE PAYING A NIGHTLY AIRBNB RATE.
SO THEY'RE PAYING OVER $3,000 A MONTH TO LIVE IN A RENTAL AIRBNB WHILE THEY FIND HOUSING.
SO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING THERE TO STAY ARE ACTUALLY LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR LONG TERM HOUSING AS WELL.
AND THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY OF WARREN FOR TWO YEARS AT LEAST THAT I KNOW OF.
AND THEN LASTLY, ON AIRBNB'S WEBSITE, I JUST RECENTLY TRAVELED AND USED AN AIRBNB, NOT ONLY CAN YOU RATE THE PERSON THAT YOU RENTED FROM, BUT THEY RATE YOU AND THAT'S VISIBLE FOR EVERYBODY THAT YOU RENT TO GOING FORWARD.
SO PROPERTY OWNERS DON'T WANT THEIR PROPERTY DESTROYED, ESPECIALLY A HOUSE OF THAT MAGNITUDE.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA RENT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE OF QUESTIONABLE ACCEPTANCE.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD, UM, JUST BECAUSE I'VE ALSO USED AIRBNB AS WE RANKED AT LIKE A SIX BEDROOM HOUSE OR SOMETHING ON THE PRIVATE SIDE OF LAKE ANNA AND THE OWNERS PUT EVERYTHING INTO A BINDER.
WE, UM, THEY TOLD US ON EACH SIDE OF US, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE THAT LIVE THERE.
WE WERE NOT TO MAKE NOISE AFTER CERTAIN TIME.
THEY HAD RING CAMERAS IN THEIR BACKYARDS TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T HAVING ANY SORT OF WILD PARTIES.
THE NEIGHBORS HAD THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE OWNER.
SO IF THEY HAD SOME ISSUE TOO, THEY COULD CALL THE OWNER.
AND I THINK IF WE'RE PUTTING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS IN PLACE, WE KNOW TO CALL OUR POLICE IF IT'S LOUD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, OR ANY SITUATION THAT'S OUTTA THE ORDINARY.
UM, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE PAYING A PRETTY PENNY.
I THINK LIKE THE LAKE HOUSE WAS LIKE 3,500 FOR THE WEEK, SO THEY DON'T WANNA GET KICKED OUT EITHER, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S SOME, THEY GET SKIN IN THE GAME THERE.
UM, AND I JUST SAY THAT TO TRY TO, I DON'T KNOW, MAKE YOU I GUESS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE MAYBE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DO, ARE COMING ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO UPSET THE BALANCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PER SE.
LAUREN, UH, THIS PARTICULAR SHORT TERM RENTAL APPLICATION STAFF RE RECOMMENDED IT, PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED IT.
THERE WAS NOTHING, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS ONE.
AND THE OWNER ACTUALLY LIVES IN THE HOUSE WHERE THERE'LL BE, HE LIVES IN IT AND HE'S GONNA, UM, HE WILL BE ACTING AS THE CARETAKER.
UM, BUT ALSO WE, WHEN THESE APPLICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED, STAFF HAS THEM SUBMIT A MANAGEMENT PLAN.
SO THAT MANAGEMENT PLAN HAS THE NUMBER FOR, UM, THE, THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE FOR THE POLICE STATION FOR ENERGY SERVICES.
IF THERE'S A POWER ISSUE, IT HAS A MAP OF THE STRUCTURE AND HOW TO GET OUT IN CASE OF A FIRE OR SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY.
IT, UM, LISTS THE LOCAL AMENITIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THEY PUT TOGETHER AND SUBMIT THAT PLAN.
MOST OF 'EM SUBMIT IT IN A BINDER AND IT HAS TO BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
UM, SO ALL OF THAT INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THERE AND STAFF DOES REVIEW IT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO ADD? OKAY.
WELL THEN, UH, MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU DO A ROLE CALL VICE MAYOR CORO? YES.
[7C. Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rental at 12 Chester Street – Lea Justice - Lauren Kopishke]
UH, NEXT UP IS A, UM, THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 12 CHESTER STREET.MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY PLEASE? COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A RENTAL TO LEAD JUSTICE ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 12 CHESTER STREET.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONE C DASH TWO.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO RENT AN UPSTAIRS APARTMENT CONSISTING OF ONE BEDROOM, A BATHROOM, A LIVING AREA, AND KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM TO KNOW MORE THAN FOUR OCCUPANTS.
THERE IS SLEEPING FOR TWO PEOPLE IN THE BEDROOM AND TWO ON A PULLOUT COUCH.
THE PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE ONSITE PARKING COUNCIL DISCUSSED AT THEIR SEPTEMBER 12TH WORK SESSION THAT THE PULLOUT COUCH SHALL BE USED AS A SEPARATE SLEEPING AREA AND CONSENSUS WAS TO ALLOW IT.
COUNCIL ALSO DISCUSSED AT THEIR SEPTEMBER 12TH WORK SESSION, THE ISSUE OF NO ONSITE PARKING AND DIRECTED STAFF TO ADVISE THE APPLICANT TO APPLY FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION PLANNING COMMISSION.
HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 24TH AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH NO CONDITIONS.
I'M GOING TO, OH, I THINK YEAH, OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MS. PRESLEY, ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS? WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY.
[00:40:01]
I MADE SURE I WAS LOOKING ALL OVER THIS TIME.YEAH, SORRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS THE APPLICANT THAT I SHOULD ALSO PUT MY NAME THERE TO, TO SUBMIT COMMENTS.
BUT, UM, MY NAME IS LEAH JUSTICE AND TOGETHER WITH MY HUSBAND, I'M ONE OF THE OWNERS OF 12 CHESTER STREET AND WOULD BE THE PROPERTY MANAGER.
UH, WE LIVE IN THE COUNTY AT 6 0 15 PANHANDLE ROAD AND WE DO INTEND TO BE ON SITE MOST DAYS, IF NOT EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE'LL CONTINUE TO RUN A BUSINESS DOWNSTAIRS.
UM, WE FEEL THAT THIS PROPERTY IS AN EXCELLENT CONTENDER TO BE A SHORT TERM RENTAL, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION.
UH, IT'S BEEN A RENTAL HISTORICALLY FOR A LONG TIME AS WELL AS A BUSINESS DOWNSTAIRS, SO WE'RE NOT REALLY LOOKING TO CHANGE A WHOLE LOT.
UM, BUT THE NATURE OF SHORT TERM VERSUS LONG TERM, UM, AND WHERE IT'S LOCATED, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HISTORIC TOURISM AND BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
AND, UH, FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, WE AIM TO FULFILL THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS BEING WHERE WE ARE TO OFFER HOSPITALITY, RUN A BUSINESS.
AND, UH, WE'VE ARE ALMOST DONE WITH A VERY LONG EVENINGS AND WEEKEND, UH, RENOVATION PROCESS.
SO WE'VE KEPT HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS OUR, OUR PRIORITY THERE.
DUNNO IF ANY OF YOU HAVE NOTICED THE KIND OF BEFORE AND AFTER, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN SLOW PROGRESS.
THE BUSINESS WAS CRUMBLING INTO THE SIDEWALK WHEN WE BOUGHT IT.
THE BUILDING WAS, UH, BUILT IN 1806.
SO OF COURSE THE NATURE OF, UM, BEING SO OLD AND BEING WHERE CHESTER STREET AND MAIN STREET CONVERGE, IT GETS VERY CROWDED IN THERE.
UH, THERE'S NEVER BEEN PARKING, UH, FOR THIS BUILDING DESIGNATED PARKING SEPARATE THAN STREET AND THE PUBLIC PARKING THAT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC OR CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE USE OF THE WAY THE BUILDING HAS BEEN USED, BUT, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVE IT AND EXTEND ITS LEASE ON LIFE.
BRUCE RAPAPORT, 300 WEST MAIN STREET, FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.
UH, I'M VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT MS. JUSTICE IS, UH, UH, GOING TO OFFER THIS AS A, UH, UH, YOU WANNA CALL IT AIRBNB SHORT TERM RENTAL BECAUSE IT'S IN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT IN, AND IT BELONGS IN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT FOR TOURISM PURPOSES.
UH, DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL IS A DESTINATION AND, UH, MY ISSUE IS ONLY WITH RESIDENTIAL.
UH, I, I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT SHE'S INVESTED ALL THIS MONEY INTO THIS, UM, NICE BUILDING, I BELIEVE.
UH, I'M NOT SURE, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE TROUT BUILDING.
SO, UH, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M GONNA OPEN UP TO COUNCIL, WHICH IS GONNA BE ME.
UH, I HAVE THE REVISED MOTION MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE ANS U FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT 12 CHESTERS.
THREE FOR FOUR OCCUPANTS TO BE SLEEPING IN ONE BEDROOM AND A PULL OUT SOFA.
THE APPROVAL IS CONTINGENT ON TOWN COUNCIL APPROVING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM 1 48 DASH EIGHT 70 PARKING REQUIREMENTS SECOND.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR A DISCUSSION FOR COUNCIL.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR LEAH.
LEAH, UM, DIDN'T THE BUILDING HAVE A PLAQUE ON IT THAT DESIGNATED IT AS THE TROUT BUILDING? IS THAT IT DID AND WE WOULD LIKE TO EITHER HAVE A NEW ONE MADE OR, OR RESTORE THAT ONE.
UM, WE HAD THE STUCCO REDONE AROUND THE BUILDING AND HAD TO REMOVE THE SIGN.
AND WHEN WE DID, IT JUST BASICALLY FELL APART.
IT WAS PARTICLE BOARD, SO, YEAH.
AND DO YOU KNOW WHO MADE THAT ORIGINAL SIGN? IS THAT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S? OH, I WOULD HAVE NO CLUE.
RIGHT NOW IT'S THE MAN INSIDE WHERE WE SEE PEOPLE ON THE WALKING TOUR IN TOWN.
WE PUT OUR HEADS OUT THE DOOR AND SAY, YES, IT'S US.
YEAH, I WOULD THINK THE WARREN HERE.
YEAH, WARREN INHERIT SOCIETY WOULD BE, UM, I BELIEVE TONY CARTER IS THEIR NEW ARCHIVIST.
YOU COULD PROBABLY STOP BY THERE AND MAYBE HE COULD RESEARCH IT FOR YOU.
ANYWAY, UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SO I, I HAVE COMMENT.
UM, SO, UH, THIS PARTICULAR U I KNOW WE DISCUSSED AT THE WORK SESSION ABOUT PARKING.
[00:45:01]
IS MORE OF A DISCUSSION EVEN WITH COUNCIL THAT AFTER WATCHING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK, UH, PARKING CAME UP AGAIN ABOUT OUR ORDINANCE.AND I WOULD JUST WOULD LOVE FOR COUNCIL TO GIVE A DIRECTIVE TO STAFF FOR US TO LOOK AT 1 75 DASH 1 51, WHICH IS THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.
AND WE JUST, I THINK WE NEED TO FIRM UP WHAT WE'RE SAYING ABOUT PARKING BECAUSE I CAN SEE, I, I CAN SEE HOW IT WOULD BE CONFUSING.
UM, AND SO I, I WOULD JUST, UM, I I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
PARKING KEEPS COMING UP EVEN IN APPLICATIONS AND WE'RE SAYING ONE THING AND SOMETIMES IT'S, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT TRYING TO JUST CLARIFY OUR, THE PARKING PARTS REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR SHIRT TO WEAR SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE CLARIFIED.
I ALSO THINK THAT, UM, SORRY, I'M GONNA CALL YOU LEAH CAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YOUR LAST NAME WAS.
JUSTICE MIS JUSTICE, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME PARKING EXERCISE BECAUSE THERE'S STREET PARKING, THERE'S THE PEYTON, AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET IS THE GAZEBO PARKING.
SO THERE'S PLENTY OF FREE PARKING THAT'S WITHIN A WALKING DISTANCE THAT THEY CAN'T GET RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DOOR, THAT BUILDING.
UM, SO THAT'S MY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS, UH, THAT BUILDING HAS NEVER HAD, UM, DESIGNATED PARKING.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A, UM, WE CAN'T REQUIRE 'EM TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
WE CAN'T REQUIRE IT ANYWAY, SO, THANK YOU AMBER.
I WAS LOOKING FOR THE WORDS FOR THAT, SO I WAS GONNA DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S THE PERFECT SHORT TERM RENTAL, AND I HAVE NOTICED THE PROGRESS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE MADE WITH THAT BUILDING.
UM, MY GREAT AUNT REBECCA POE WAS AN ARCHIVIST AND CONTRIBUTED GREATLY DOWN THERE TO THE WARREN HERITAGE SOCIETY.
SHE WAS A LOCAL HISTORIAN WHO CONTRIBUTED A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL FIND DOWN THERE WHEN YOU VISIT.
UM, BUT THE BUILDING LOOKS GREAT, SO KUDOS ON THAT.
I, I THINK LATASHA SAID MOST OF THE THINGS I WAS GONNA SAY, THERE'S AMPLE PARKING, THERE'S NEVER BEEN DESIGNATED PARKING.
UM, AND I THINK THE LANGUAGE IN THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE, I THINK WE KNEW, AT LEAST I DID, EXPECTED COMING INTO THIS, IT WAS KIND OF HAVE TO KIND OF BE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BECAUSE I MEAN, EVEN WHERE I RECENTLY MOVED FROM IN THE LAST YEAR, THERE WAS NO DESIGNATED PARKING.
IT WAS ONLY STREET PARKING DESPITE IT BEING A VERY LARGE RESIDENTIAL HOME IN THE TOWN LIMITS.
SO I JUST THINK IT'S GONNA VARY CASE BY CASE.
UM, I KNOW PARKING HAS BEEN A QUESTION FOR COUNCIL FOR OTHER THINGS IN THE PAST, BUT I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING ONE VEHICLE HERE AND IT WAS ALREADY BEING RENTED WITHOUT THE DISCUSSION OF PARKING.
I, UM, AND I KNOW WHEN WE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE, WE KNEW THEN THAT THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE SOME THINGS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU START DOING IT.
UM, AND SO THAT, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR, IS JUST TO, THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND, AND MAYBE WE ARE, MAYBE THE DECISION IS TO REMOVE THE PARKING REQUIREMENT OR TO CLARIFY IT, OR TO JUST SAY IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
WELL, WE, OH WELL WE'RE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS CLOSED? YEAH.
BUT IF COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS CLOSED, BUT WE'VE STARTED, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO HELP.
I I I, IN THE THEATER, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT AND PARKING DIDN'T APPLY IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
JUST THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE THOUGH IS DIFFERENT.
SO, AND, AND ANYWAY, SO ALL RIGHT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.
MAYBE IT REALLY NEEDS TO START AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION ABOUT MAYBE REVIEWING THE PARKING PAR PIECE TO THE ORDINANCE, ESPECIALLY BEFORE OUR COMP PLAN, UH, GETS FIRMED UP.
SO IF WE NEED TO CHANGE THINGS, SO, OR SHOULD IT BE SPECIFIC? LIKE IF IT'S IN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT LIKE DOWNTOWN, THEN THEY CAN USE THE PUBLIC PARKING BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE BUILDINGS HAVE APARTMENTS ABOVE THOUGHT IT WAS WITHIN SO MANY FEET.
ALL OF THOSE BUILDINGS HAVE APARTMENTS WITHIN THEM AND NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE A DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE ON THE STREET TO CARRY THEIR GROCERIES IN THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.
RIGHT NOW, STATES PARKING FOR THE USE SHALL BE LOCATED IN DRIVEWAYS OR OTHER DESIGNATED AND APPROVED PARKING AREAS.
SO WHAT YOU CAN DIRECT US TO LOOK AT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE AS A WHOLE, YOU COULD LOOK, ASK US TO JUST SHORE UP THE PARKING PIECES.
WELL, SINCE THERE IS NO DESIGNATED PARKING AND THERE'S NO OFF STREET PARKING, THE ONLY THING APPLICABLE IN THE TOWN CODE FOR THAT SHORT TERM RENTAL IS APPROVED PARKING, WHICH WOULD BE DOWNTOWN PARKING OR STREET PARKING.
CAN WE SAY PUBLIC PARKING IS THE DESIGNATED PARKING FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY? IT'S, IT'S DESIGNATED
[00:50:01]
OR APPROVED PARKING APPROVED.AND THE TOWNHOUSE APPROVED PARKING.
KEEP IT THE SAME WAY THEN, AND THEN JUST KNOW THAT FOR THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THEY'RE GONNA BE USING PUBLIC PARKING.
IF IT'S NOT DESIGNATED THEN THAT IT FALLS UNDER THE OR.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR IT.
GO BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND, AND, AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND THEN YOU CAN BRING FORWARD YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
UM, LIKE I SAID, SOME OF THIS IS, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE, YOU KNOW, SOME OBSTACLES AND HURDLES AND, AND WE'RE ALREADY FINDING THEM.
SO IT HAS, HAS, HAS LEAH, UM, APPLIED FOR THE, UH, SPECIAL EXEMPTION? YES.
SHE, SHE APPLIED ON SEPTEMBER 20TH AND PAID THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
CAN WE, CAN WE REFUND HER MONEY? WELL, WELL THIS TONIGHT, THIS TONIGHT IS JUST ABOUT APPROVING THE SHORT TERM RENTAL.
WE'RE NOT, IF WE'RE NOT GONNA, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS IF WE'RE NOT GONNA REQUIRE IT, THEN WE, UH, I, FOR ME, THE LANGUAGE IS CLEAR AND THE USE OF THE TERM OR RIGHT.
DE IT'S OFF STREET PARKING, DESIGNATED PARKING, OR APPROVED PARKING.
AND IT'S NOT ILLEGAL TO PARK ON THE STREET OR IN THE TOWN PARKING THERE.
SO TO ME, I, I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT AN EXCEPTION.
IT'S, IT FALLS WITHIN THE CODE OF OR APPROVED PARKING.
WELL SEE GEORGE, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER HOW WE EXPLAIN THE FOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
WE CAN'T HAVE THE USE WITHOUT HAVING SOME TYPE OF PARKING REQUIREMENT.
EVERY USE HAS TO HAVE PARKING.
UM, IN THIS INSTANCE, THE DOWNTOWN PARKING EXEMPTION THAT KIND OF COVERS THE REST OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT WAS NOT EXTENDED TO CHESTER STREET.
SO FOR HER PROPERTY AND THE TWO ADJOINING PROPERTIES, WE HAVE AN INSTANCE WHERE THERE IS NO ONSITE PARKING.
THE ONLY PARKING THEY HAVE IS THE, UM, THE PUBLIC PARKING.
AND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IS THAT PORTION OF CHESTER STREET DOESN'T FALL IN THE SAME HISTORIC THAT MR. NOVAK WAS TALKING ABOUT ON MAIN STREET.
AT WHAT POINT DO WE OPERATE WITH JUST COMMON SENSE, LIKE REGARDLESS OF ALL THE LEGAL LEASE, JUST COMMON SENSE, THERE IS NO PARKING THERE EXCEPT FOR THIS STREET AND THE TWO PUBLIC PARKING SPACES AND WE, AND THE TWO PUBLIC LOTS AND WE ALL GO ON WITH OUR BUSINESS AND SHE GETS HER $250 BACK AND THE PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE TO PARK.
LIKE, I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS JUST TOO CONVOLUTED AT THIS POINT.
WHAT'S NOT REALLY EMOTION, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY, WE CAN CERTAINLY AMEND THE MOST.
I THINK, UM, STAFF HEARS YOU LOUD AND CLEAR IN THAT WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THE LANGUAGE AND THE PARKING AND SO FORTH.
AND WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANTS ON THE COMP PLAN AND THE ZONING CODE UPGRADE TO ADDRESS THIS.
SO TONIGHT, AT THIS POINT TONIGHT WE'RE VOTING ON THE SHORT TERM RENTAL.
THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION WILL BE AT A DIFFERENT EVENING.
AND THEN AT THAT, THE DIFFERENT EVENING, AT THAT TIME, ALL OF THE INPUT THAT'S BEEN SHARED HERE COULD BE SHARED AGAIN.
SO IF WE VOTE ON THIS SHORT TERM RENTAL, BUT IT'S CONTINGENT ON EXCEPTION THAT WE'RE NOT GIVING TONIGHT, THIS APPLICANT CAN'T USE THEIR SHORT TERM RENTAL.
CORRECT? NOT UNTIL THE PARKING IS RESOLVED.
AND SO SHE APPLIED FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION THAT WILL PROVIDE HER RELIEF FROM THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS OF 1 48 80.
BUT THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR PARKING WON'T COME BEFORE COUNCIL UNTIL, UNTIL ABOUT, NO, I THINK THE EARLIEST I'D BE ABLE TO GET IT TO YOU WOULD BE NOVEMBER.
SO THAT'S TWO MONTHS OF INCOME IF SHE HAS APPROVAL.
NOW, IS IS SHE GOOD? LIKE SHE'S NOT GONNA GET, SHE CAN'T RENT IT.
SHE'S GOT THE APPROVAL FOR THE USE.
NOW WE HAVE TO RECONCILE THE PARKING.
SO ONCE SHE GETS THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR PARKING, THEN SHE CAN START USING DOWN.
CAN WE CREATE A MOTION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS TONIGHT? I DON'T, IT SEEMS VERY BUREAUCRATIC TO ME.
LIKE HONESTLY, I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS TONIGHT.
GEORGE, ADAM VICE MAY OR MAY I CHIME IN? ABSOLUTELY.
THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE AS WELL AS PRACTICALLY EVERY USE IN TOWN REQUIRES OFF STREET PARKING.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR A APPLICATION AND APPLICANT.
IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION, UNIQUE SET OF FACTS.
UM, AS A SIDE NOTE, THE PARKING REQUIREMENT CAN BE MET ON THE PREMISES OR WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE PREMISES, BUT IT WOULDN'T
[00:55:01]
INCLUDE PUBLIC PARKING.THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS THE WAY TO HANDLE THIS UNIQUE SITUATION.
SO WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS DEFAULT? SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
WHAT IS, SO IT WOULD BE A WAIVER OF THE PARKING REQUIREMENT THAT WELL, CAN WE DO THAT NOW REGARDING WE CAN'T DO THAT NOW.
I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE CODE THOUGH.
UNDER 1 75 DASH 1 51 IT SAYS, OR APPROVED PARKING.
HOW IS PUBLIC PARKING NOT CONSIDERED APPROVED? IT'S NOT UNAPPROVED AND IT'S WITHIN 300 FEET.
THE, THE REFERENCE TO PARKING, YOU HAVE TO IMPLY THAT IT'S REFERRING TO OFF STREET PARKING.
OTHERWISE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE IT A CONDITION.
BUT THE ORDINANCE, I BELIEVE 1 75 DASH 51 SAYS OFF STREET DESIGNATED OR APPROVED.
THAT'S WHAT I KEPT SAYING EARLIER.
THE LANGUAGE, IT DOESN'T SAY AND IT SAYS, OR, AND GEORGE, AS YOU STATED, THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION.
SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT IN A UNIQUE FASHION AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THIS EVENING.
MISS, SHE SHOULD NOT CHARGE HER FOR THIS.
I I WOULD INTERPRET THAT TO BE YOU'RE JUST GONNA WAVE THE PARKING REQUIREMENT.
I ADVISED TO GO THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION ROUTE, BUT YOU'RE DELAYING HER ANOTHER LIKE MONTH OR SO.
IS THERE ANOTHER RESOLUTION? IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE THIS NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER? I MEAN, EVEN IF IT CAN'T HAPPEN TONIGHT, COULD IT COME UP BEFORE THE BOOK AT THE WORK SESSION AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING, UH, HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING AT THE END OF THE WORK.
HAS TO GO TO PLANNING COMMISSION FIRST.
SO WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION SCHEDULE.
AND WHEN DO THEY MEET AGAIN? THEY, THEIR NEXT WORK SESSION IS, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S OCTOBER 3RD.
COULD, COULD WE HAVE A JOINT? IT'S OCTOBER 5TH, SO, OKAY.
COULD WE HAVE A JOINT MEETING? WELL, THEY MEET ON OCTOBER 5TH AND WE HAVE A WORK SESSION ON OCTOBER 11TH.
I WOULD PERMISSION HAS A CONSENT AGENDA.
SO I PUT IT ON THEIR CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE OCTOBER MEETING.
THEY WON'T ACTUALLY DISCUSS THIS SPECIAL EXCEPTION UNTIL THE NOVEMBER 3RD MEETING.
THEN IT GOES TO THE PUBLIC HEARING IN NOVEMBER.
SO THAT WOULD BE, I THINK NOVEMBER 15TH IS WHEN IT'LL GO TO PUBLIC HEARING.
THEN IT CAN COME TO COUNCIL AND WE CAN RUN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS CONCURRENTLY WHERE IT'LL COME TO PLANNING COMMISSION THE 15TH AND THEN WHATEVER THE DATE OF YOUR NEXT MEETING IS IN NOVEMBER, WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY.
I, I WANT THAT TO RESPECTFULLY, LAUREN, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION SINCE NOBODY ELSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ON THE STAFF.
WHAT WAS THE IMPLICATION OR WHAT WAS INTENDED WHEN WE ADOPTED THIS CODE THAT SAYS OFF STREET PARKING, DESIGNATED PARKING, OR APPROVED PARKING.
WHO DECIDED AND DICTATED WHAT'S APPROVED SINCE CLEARLY COUNCIL CAN'T, NO, IT'S WE, THE APPROVED IS WHEN WE APPROVE IT BY A SPECIAL EXCEPTION, BUT I DON'T THINK WE JUST GOT CONFUSED BECAUSE GEORGE SAID THAT PUBLIC PARKING IS NOT, IS NOT APPROVED.
AND THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO US.
AND IT MIGHT JUST BE A LEGAL THING.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT ANYBODY ELSE IS EXACTLY WRONG.
AS AN APPLICANT, I WOULD'VE INTERPRETED THIS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE, WE'VE BROUGHT MIS JUSTICE IN TO DANGLE A CARROT, BUT WAIT TWO MONTHS CUZ YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY USE IT.
SO, AND A TOURIST STATEMENT, CUZ NOVEMBER, WHEN WE WERE WORKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE INITIAL, UM, THAT LINE E INITIALLY READ, WE REQUIRE ONSITE PARKING IN DRIVEWAYS, PERIOD.
COUNCIL DECIDED TO CHANGE THE, BECAUSE HE YEAH.
EVEN SOME OF OUR HOUSES DIDN'T HAVE OFF STREET PARKING.
AND THIS IS THE LANGUAGE THAT CAME BACK AND WAS SUPPOSED TO OFFER FLEXIBILITY.
IT HAS SO APPROVED, MEANT APPROVED WITH EXCEPTION.
SO THAT LANGUAGE ISN'T CLEAR THEN IF THAT'S SAY THAT GOING BY WHAT VICE MAYOR IS SAYING, IT'S APPROVED BY EXCEPTION APPROVED PARKING TO ME WOULD BE SOMEWHERE WHERE IT'S LEGALLY ALLOWABLE FOR ME TO PARK MY CAR.
I'M NOT GONNA GET TICKETED OR TOWED.
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THIS ORDINANCE WITH I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT HERE TONIGHT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS.
THIS IS VERY BUREAUCRATIC WE'RE, IT'S CONVOLUTED AS THE LEAST EXPLAINED EXPLANATION AT THIS POINT.
AND I GUESS IT WASN'T CLEAR AT OUR WORK SESSION LAST TIME, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT ASKING I GUESS MORE THOROUGH QUESTIONS OF WHAT APPROVED PARKING MEANS.
YOU NEED TO ASK THAT QUESTION.
WHAT WAS THE INTENT? CAN LEGAL OR TOWN STAFF TELL ME THE INTENT BEHIND APPROVED PARKING? IS THAT APPROVED BY EXCEPTION ONLY?
[01:00:01]
I BELIEVE WHAT IT MEANS IS IF YOU FIND, UH, ADEQUATE PARKING WITHIN THE 300 FOOT, BUT THERE IS ADEQUATE APPROVED PARKING WITHIN 300 FEET.SO IT'S MY OPINION THAT, UH, PUBLIC PARKING DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE LANGUAGE.
BECAUSE IF IT DID, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE CONDITION TO HAVE PARKING.
YOU WOULDN'T NEED TO ADDRESS IT.
BUT EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AS AN OPINION FULL TIME AND OWN THEIR HOMES ON MAIN STREET ABOVE BUILDINGS.
AND THEY'RE ALL PARKED IN PUBLIC.
UM, IF I MAY, LAUREN YOU CAN CONFIRM THIS, BUT A RESIDENCE, ANY RESIDENCE HAS, IF YOU WERE TO BUILD A HOUSE, IT HAS A PARKING REQUIREMENT OF TWO OFF STREET.
WHEN DID THAT BECOME A THING? THE MAJORITY OF HOUSES IN THE TOWN OR FRONT ROYAL MINE AS AN EXAMPLE, DO NOT HAVE OFF STREET PARKING.
WE HAVE A FIVE BEDROOM AND WE HAVE SPACE FOR MAYBE ONE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND ONE IN THE GARAGE.
BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE TWO ON THE STREET.
SO THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE, SO THAT IS 1 48.
BUT THIS ISN'T A SUBDIVISION EITHER.
AND SO THIS LAYS OUT THE PARKING AND LOADING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENTIRE TOWN.
AND SO FOR RESIDENTIAL, TWO PARKING SPACES PER DWELLING UNIT, THAT'S IT.
AND FOR COMMERCIAL, WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS, WHAT DOES IT SAY? WELL, SO THEN WE GO TO MOTELS, HOTELS OR WE GO TO LODGING BOARDING BED AND BREAKFAST.
IT'S, MY DETERMINATION IS TO WHICH ONE'S CLOSEST.
UM, WE WOULD REQUIRE ONE PARKING SPACE PER ROOM AND AN ADDITIONAL TWO PARKING SPACES FOR EMPLOYEES.
THAT IS THE LODGING BOARDING BED AND BREAKFAST.
THAT'S THE CLOSEST DEFINITION THAT WE HAVE.
WE DON'T HAVE AIRBNB OR, OR SHORT TERM RENTAL OUTLINED IN OUR SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE AS TO WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE.
SO THEY COULD GIVE A LONG TERM LEASE TO SOMEBODY AND THEN HAVE THEM VOID IT IN TWO MONTHS.
CUZ THEY'RE GONNA MISS OUT ON A LOT OF MONEY FOR NO GOOD REASON.
HOW'S A LONG TERM RENTER? THERE'D ONLY BE TWO PARKING SPACES REQUIRED.
SO ARE WE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW? ARE WE ENFORCING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING ABOVE THE BUILDINGS ON MAIN STREET OR THE, I'M SORRY, MAIN STREET'S, HISTORIC CHESTER STREET'S, NOT WHICH THE BUILDING'S BUILT IN 1806 AND HAS A PLAQUE.
SO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON CHESTER STREET CURRENTLY WITH A LEASE, NOT A SHORT TERM RENTER, SIX TO 12 MONTH RENTER, ARE WE REQUIRING THOSE THEM TO HAVE TWO DESIGNATED PARKING SPACES? NO.
CAUSE WITH THEIR LEASES, TWO 13 CHESTER STREET IS SPLIT INTO THREE APARTMENTS PLUS ONE THAT'S BEEN CONVERTED IN THE GARAGE AREA.
AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY PARKING ON THE STREET.
WE DO NOT PERMIT GROUND FLOOR APARTMENTS ON MAIN STREET FIRST, BUT I'M NOT TOO ABOUT THE GROUND FLOOR.
WE ALSO HAVE, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, A STIPULATION.
SO NUMBER 17 OF THAT SAME CODE STATES OFF STREET PARKING SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED ON ANY LOT FRONTING.
THAT PORTION OF MAIN STREET, WHICH EXTENDS FROM ROYAL AVENUE TO HAPPY CREEK OR UPON THAT PORTION OF JACKSON STREET, WHICH EXTENDS BETWEEN SOUTH ROYAL AND CHURCH STREET.
CHESTER STREET, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WAS EXCLUDED FROM THIS PARKING.
I GUESS IT WAS MEANT TO BE A HORSE TRAIL.
SO THE SHORT TERM RENTALS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE YOU, THAT HAVE BEEN ON, YOU KNOW, MAIN STREET, WE DIDN'T HAVE A PARKING REQUIREMENT.
UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, I'M, I'M BAFFLED THEY'LL FIND YOU A SHORT TERM RUNNER THAT I STAY THERE FOR LIKE TWO MONTHS OR SOMETHING AND THEN YOU SHOULD BE OKAY.
LIKE I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.
THE ORDINANCE DOES SAY AND OR AND THE UM, IT SAYS DESIGNATED AND APPROVED PARKING SPACES.
SO IT HAS TO BE DESIGNATED AND WAIT, WHICH ORDINANCE? BECAUSE THE SHORT TERM RENTAL 1 51 THAT SAYS, OR YOU SAID WHEN YOU READ IT EARLIER, IT SAYS OFF STREET PARKING, DESIGNATED PARKING OR APPROVED PARKING.
I SAID LOCATED IN DRIVEWAYS OR OTHER DESIGNATED AND APPROVED PARKING AREAS.
OR DO YOU WANNA GIVE OUR PARKING SPACE AND PAYTON AND PUT A PLAQUE ON IT THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN PARK THERE? I THINK WE RENT THOSE FOR 25 A YEAR OR SOMETHING.
AND HONEST TO GOD, I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE STAFF'S JOB HARD HERE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT EMBARRASSING FOR ALL OF US THAT NOBODY KNOWS IT'S, WELL I THINK WHAT'S MORE EMBARRASSING OR NOT EMBARRASSING BUT IS THAT, THAT WE WROTE THE SUBORDINATES AND WE DIDN'T FORESEE THIS, WE DIDN'T FORESEE THIS, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD HAVE NOT KNOWN THAT A BUILDING BUILT IN 1806 IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED HISTORIC.
AND WE HAD NO WAY TO KNOW THAT A PROOF PARKING WAS NOT WHERE YOU JUST WOULDN'T GET TOWED.
LIKE DON'T PARK BEHIND THE DAILY GRIND CUZ YOU'RE DEFINITELY GETTING TOWED.
BUT IF YOU PARK OVER BY IN PAYTON, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET TOWED LIKE I WOULD THINK THAT'S A PROOF PARKING.
I WOULD'VE HAD NO REASON TO DIG INTO THAT.
AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MOVE THIS ALONG.
[01:05:01]
WE WANNA DO.RECOMMENDATION IS THAT SHE GETS THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION SO THAT WE'RE NOT WRITING ORDINANCES AND WRITING CODE AND THEN WE CAN BYPASS THE PLANNING COMMISSION, CAN'T WE? CUZ WE CAN OVERRIDE THEM NO MATTER WHAT THEIR DECISION IS ANYWAY.
THEY HAVE TO STILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
IT STILL HAS TO GO TO PLANNING COMMISSION UNLESS WE CHANGE AND AMENDED THE MOTION TONIGHT.
YOU HAVE THE FINAL AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION.
SO WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TONIGHT, GEORGE, AND GET THIS RESOLVED ALTOGETHER AT ONCE.
YOU CAN, BUT THAT'S AGAINST MY ADVICE.
YOU WOULD BE WAVING THE PARKING REQUIREMENT.
WE WOULD BE ACCEPTING THE LANGUAGES AND THE BETTER APPROACH IS TO TAKE UP THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR PARKING.
THE BETTER APPROACH WOULD TO HAVE BEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER WOULD LIKE MIS JUSTICE WAS GONNA SPEAK.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY, UM, YES, THANK YOU.
THIS IS REGARDING, YOU KNOW, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF APPROVING THE SPECIAL USE EXEMPT OR PARKING EXEMPTION THAT WE'VE APPLIED FOR AND THE ORDER OF EVENTS.
UM, JUST TO ASK FOR SOME CLARIFICATION BECAUSE IT WAS THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO ORIGINALLY PUT THAT CONDITION ON US, UM, THAT IF THEY WOULD APPROVE IT OR RECOMMENDED ITS APPROVAL AS LONG AS WE, UM, GOT AN EXEMPTION, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS BELIEVED TO NEED TO COME FROM THE PLANNING DIRECTOR.
AND SO WE PROCEEDED WITH THAT PROCESS AND THEN IT WAS DECIDED UPON IN CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND THE TOWN ATTORNEY, THAT SHE COULD NOT GRANT US THAT EXEMPTION.
SO PLANNING COMMISSION TOLD US TO GET THE EXEMPTION FROM OUR, OR APPLY FOR IT FROM HER WAS DECIDED THAT WAS NOT THE APPROPRIATE ROUTE THAT YOU COULD GRANT THE EXCEPTION, WHICH WE APPLIED FOR TO RECEIVE YEAH.
AND SO I AM CONFUSED AT WHY NOW IT NEEDS TO GET KICKED BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH WOULD THEN MAKE US COMPLETELY MISS LEAF PAPER SEASON.
WERE YOU AWARE THEY ALREADY RECOMMENDED IT TO US.
WERE YOU AWARE WHEN YOU CAME HERE FOR YOUR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS PRESENTED, THAT YOU WOULD BE APPROVED OF YOUR SHORT TERM RENTAL BUT YOU COULDN'T UTILIZE IT? NO.
AND IN FACT I BELIEVED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO MAKE HASTE LAST WEEK TO, UM, SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FOR A, UM, SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PARKING IN ORDER TO HAVE IT READY IN TIME FOR THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
SO IT DOES FEEL A LITTLE, UM, LIKE GETTING BLINDSIDED TO FIND OUT THAT ACTUALLY THAT CAN'T BE ADDRESSED TONIGHT.
UM, IT NEEDS TO GO BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
WHY GEORGE? WHAT IS THE REASONING THAT, UH, LAUREN COULDN'T PROVIDE? THE EXCEPTION IS, UM, MS. JUSTICE WAS TOLD THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THAT SHE COULD GO TO THE PLANNING DIRECTOR GET THIS APPROVED, EVERYTHING WOULD BE DONE TONIGHT.
WHY WASN'T THAT ALLOWED? THE PLANNING DIRECTOR ONLY HAS DISCRETION WHEN THE, UH, USE IS EXPANDED TO ADDRESS A PARKING AND THAT DIDN'T, THOSE AREN'T THE FACTS HERE.
COULD YOU GIMME AN EXAMPLE OF YOUTH EXPANDED IF SHE WERE TO CONVERT IT? RIGHT NOW IT'S BEING RENTED AS LIKE AN APARTMENT.
UM, IF SHE, AND SHE'S GOT A BUSINESS ON THE GROUND FLOOR, IF SHE WERE TO EXPAND THAT, LIKE UNTIL YOU HAVE SMALL, LIKE HOTEL MM-HMM.
AND SHE WOULD NEED TO THEN BRING THE BUILDING INTO COMPLIANCE AND PROVIDE PARKING.
WELL DOES THAT MEAN MEAN THAT YOU COULD APPROVE EVEN YOU YOURSELF APPROVE A SMALL HOTEL, BUT YOU COULD APPROVE THE SMALL HOTEL BUT NOT THE PARKING IF IT'S A BY RIGHT USE.
SO, SO IN THIS CASE, UM, WE DO HAVE A SECTION OF THE ZONING CODE THAT ALLOWS ME TO GRANT, UM, A PARKING EXEMPTION.
BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE 1 75 TO 1 77.
BUT IN THIS CASE, SHE DIDN'T MEET ALL OF THE CRITERIA SO I COULDN'T DO IT.
UM, THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED TALKING THAT SHE MAY NEED THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND THAT WILL BE THE ONLY WAY.
WHAT PORTION IN THAT DOES SHE NOT MEET? UM, LEMME GO HERE.
AGAIN, THE OTHER WAY IS TO FIND PARKING WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE PROPERTY.
BUT THE GEORGE, CAN WE MAKE A VERY SPECIFIC WITHIN 300 FEET? YES.
CAN WE MAKE OFF STREET PARKING? YEAH.
THERE'S A APPROVED OFF STREET PUBLIC PARKING WITHIN 300 FEET.
CAN WE MAKE A VERY SPECIFIC MOTION TO THIS SPECIFIC PROPERTY TO WA THAT FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROPERTY FOR TONIGHT SPECIFICALLY STATING THAT ADDRESS TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT SHE'S ESSENTIALLY GOTTEN THE RUN AROUND.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO MAKE ANYBODY WAIT FOR TWO MONTHS
[01:10:01]
AND BE LIKE, YOU CAN COME AND GET YOUR RENTAL APPROVED.YEAH, I THOUGHT SHE KNEW THAT SHE COULDN'T USE IT.
I WAS BAFFLED TO LEARN THAT WE'RE GIVING IT TO HER BUT NOT LETTING ARRANGE IT.
I WANT TO KNOW IF WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE A VERY SPECIFIC MOTION ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROPERTY TO MOVE THAT'S FORWARD.
I CAN WE MAKE US COUNCIL GO FORWARD.
CAN COUNCIL GO FORWARD? SPECIFIC PROPERTY COUNCIL CAN GO FORWARD.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEEDED.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED THIS WHOLE TIME WAS TO DO THAT AGAINST MY ADVICE.
I KNOW EVERYBODY WAS ASKING, BUT IT, IT DOES SAY IN THE SUMMARY, WHICH WAS THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, WHICH WAS SENT TO THE PRESS COUNCIL ALSO DISCUSSED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 12TH WORK SESSION THE ISSUE OF NO ONE SITE PARKING AND DIRECTED STAFF TO ADVISE THE APPLICANT TO APPLY FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
UM, AND I I I DO BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SEPTEMBER 12TH WORK SESSION.
NOWHERE IN THAT WE DID NOT WANNA, WE SAID WE DID NOT WANT, WE SAID THERE WAS PLENTY OF PUBLIC PARKING.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IF IT SAYS YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, YOU'D HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
HOWEVER, WE WEREN'T AWARE THAT CONSENT AGENDA WOULD BE OCTOBER 5TH A HEARING THE FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN NOT COME BACK TO COUNCIL UNTIL NEARLY THANKSGIVING.
I WASN'T UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT AN EXCEPTION WOULDN'T COME WITH THIS MOTION AS IT STATES AND BEING APPROVED.
IF THIS WERE ME SITTING IN THE CROWD WITH MY PUBLIC HEARING AND I READ APPLYING FOR AND BEING PRO APPROVED FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR PARKING, I WOULD'VE LEFT HERE TONIGHT AND RENTED THAT THINKING I WAS APPROVED.
UM, LAUREN, LAST QUESTION FOR ME.
IS THERE ANY, IS THERE ANY POSSIBLE WAY FORWARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN SOONER THAN NOVEMBER? THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE ALL, I KNOW WE'RE ALL DISCUSSING THIS UP HERE.
I I'M HESITANT WHEN I'M HESITANT WHEN LEGAL ADVICE IS SAYING NOT TO.
I'M JUST GONNA YEAH, I, I HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING.
I DO BELIEVE, TO BE FAIR AND IN THE NAME OF TRANSPARENCY FOR THE GOVERNMENT, THERE'S FEAR TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF THREATS FROM OTHER BUSINESSES WHO DIDN'T GET GRANTED WHAT THEY WISHED FOR YEARS AGO.
THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL SAID IN THE WORK SESSION.
I DIDN'T SAY THAT WE WERE AFRAID TO GIVE THIS EXCEPTION AND DO THIS IN THIS ORDER BECAUSE OF PAST COUNCIL DECISIONS PREDATING MY TIME ON COUNCIL.
BUT I, I I I I'M IS THERE ANYTHING, IS THERE ANY OTHER FAST TRACK FOR LACK OF A BETTER LANGUAGE, A SPECIAL EXCEPTION? I CAN'T YOU, THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND GOING TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IN THEORY, HE COULD NOT HAVE US PUT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE COULD JUST TAKE IT TO WORK SESSION, UM, NEXT ON THE FIFTH.
WE COULD TAKE IT ON THE FIFTH, BUT I WOULD, THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO THAT IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, PERHAPS WE COULD HAVE A MEETING SOONER, LIKE A SPECIAL MEETING THE DAY AFTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WELL, WE'D BE ABLE TO, IF THEY PUT IT ON THEIR THING TO DISCUSS ON THE FIFTH, THEN IT WOULD COME TO OUR WORK SESSION ON THE 11TH AND THEN WE COULD VOTE ON IT RIGHT AT OUR FIRST MEETING.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT SO IT WASN'T GONNA WAIT UNTIL THE 11TH, LIKE, TO TRY TO MAKE, WE, WE STILL HAVE TO ADVERTISE PUBLIC HEARING, SO I DON'T THAT'S TWO WEEKS.
IS THAT TINA? HAVE WE 10 OR WE PASS THAT DOWN, RIGHT? OR IS IT THREE WEEKS? NO, WE CAN STILL ADVERTISE FOR THE 24TH.
I JUST NEED RECOMMENDATION FROM PLANNING COMMISSION OR, OR APPROVAL FROM COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.
I HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 4TH TO GET TO ON OCTOBER 24TH PUBLIC HEARING.
I, I, I'D BE AMENABLE TO THAT IF EVERYBODY ELSE SAYS I CAN TALK TO, TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIR TOMORROW AND FIND OUT IF HE'S AMENABLE TO THIS.
AND WE COULD TOO, AND SO COULD, WILL AND CAUSE THERE ALL PARTIES UPDATED, INCLUDING MS. JUSTICE ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE AND HOW IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SO, SO THAT I UNDERSTAND IT WOULD POTENTIALLY GO ON, WE HAVE AN OCTOBER 4TH DEADLINE TO ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO BRING IT BACK BEFORE COUNCIL OCTOBER 24TH.
SO THEN THIS JUSTICE WOULD BE APPROVED BUT NOT ALLOWED TO EARN REVENUES FOR HER PROPERTY AND SHORT TERM RENTAL THAT'S APPROVED CONTINGENT UPON THIS FOR FOUR WEEKS VERSUS EIGHT.
SO THE ONLY OBSTACLE IS GETTING THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO TAKE IT OFF THE
[01:15:01]
CONSENT AND PUT IT UP FOR DISCUSSION FOR THE FIFTH.THAT'S THE ONLY OBSTACLE I SEE THAT MEANS TO BE BEFORE.
AND I FEEL CONFIDENT, I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD DO THAT.
I FEEL CONFIDENT I'M, I'M, I WISH I COULD SAY I FELT CONFIDENT ANYTHING REGARDING THIS TONIGHT, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
I'M FEELING WHY I ALWAYS ASK MYSELF, WHY WOULDN'T YOU, SO WHY WOULDN'T THAT WOULD SEEM LIKE IT WOULD MAKE THE MAKE MAKE THE MOST SENSE.
ESPECIALLY SINCE IT APPEARS THOUGH.
ALL RIGHT, MS. PRESLEY, ARE WE READY? DID YOU WANT ME TO, OH, I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING.
I'M SORRY FOR ALL OF YOU GUYS WHO CAME AND SPOKE, UM, YOU GUYS HERE, BRUCE RAPPAPORT.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAME AND SAID.
I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO FEEL LIKE I WAS BEING DISMISSIVE.
I LIVE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WITH AMBER AND OUR BOYS GO OUT AND THEY ROAM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY CHILD WOULD RIDE HIS BIKE DOWN THE HILL WITH HIS FEET ON HANDLE BARS.
UM, SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.
AND ON JAMESTOWN, BECAUSE IT IS A WIDER ROAD, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEEDERS UP AND DOWN THERE TOO.
AND I'M ALWAYS LIKE, MAKE SURE YOU WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
AND I WON'T LET HIM PLAY DURING RUSH HOUR.
RIGHT? LIKE FOR WE HAVE NO SIDEWALKS.
I'M LIKE, NO, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY SIDEWALKS AND, BUT OUR BOYS GO WALKING AROUND AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO I DIDN'T WANNA APPEAR INSENSITIVE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO YOUR YOUR CONCERNS CUZ I TOO HAVE A YOUNG KID AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SORRY, THAT WAS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS ONE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SAID IT BEFORE ANY OF YOU GUYS LEFT TONIGHT.
WE'VE BEEN PRETTY FLEXIBLE TONIGHT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THAT, IT'S NOT THAT COUNCIL LISTENS TO PEOPLE AT PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEN DOES WHAT THEY WANT ANYWAYS.
AS I'VE BEEN TOLD, IF WE HAVE NO LEGAL REASONING TO DENY A PERMIT BECAUSE IT FITS WITHIN THE TOWN CODE THAT WE FORMALLY ADOPTED, WE CAN'T DENY IT LEGALLY.
AND, UM, MS. JUSTICE, EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RENT THAT, UH, AIRBNB UNTIL OCTOBER GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR USING, UM, THAT LOCATION TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT MAKES FRONT ROYAL BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE PLACE AND TO BRING IN PEOPLE TO SEE, SEE THAT BEAUTY AND THAT UNIQUENESS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I'M REAL SORRY WE COULDN'T GET IT.
I MEAN, WE TRIED
ALL RIGHT, MISS, UM, PRESLEY, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.
COULD WE PLEASE READ THE MOTION ONE MORE TIME? ABSOLUTELY.
I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA SUGGEST THAT THIS IS THE FIRST THING.
I MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE DIFFERENT MOTION.
OH YES, I MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVED U FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT 12 CHESTER STREET FOR FOUR OCCUPANTS TO BE SLEEPING IN ONE BEDROOM AND ONE AND A PULL OUT SOFA.
THE APPROVAL IS CONTINGENT ON TOWN COUNCIL APPROVING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM 1 48 DASH EIGHT 70 PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
NOW ROLL CALL VICE MAYOR CORO.
OKAY, GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND.
[7D. Proposed Ordinance Amendments to Town Code Chapter 4 – Administration of Government – T Presley ]
NEXT UH, PUBLIC HEARING IS ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO TOWN COACH CHAPTER FOUR, ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT AND MS. PRESLEY, COULD YOU READ THAT? SHORT SUMMARY? COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER FOUR, ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT AS PRESENTED AND EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AMENDMENTS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO TIME OF MEETINGS, REMOTE PARTICIPATION BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AND RESIDENCY OF TOWN EMPLOYEES OTHER AMENDMENTS NOTED WERE APPLICABLE.
OKAY, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.
ANYBODY WANNA SPEAK? I'M THINKING NOT ALL.
I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN THAT UP TO COUNCIL AND I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TOWN.
GO CHAPTER FOUR, ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT HAS PRESENTED AND EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE.
SECOND, HAVING A MOTION IN SECOND ROLL CALL.
MY DISCUSSION IS, BOY, WE DISCUSSED THIS A LOT ALREADY IN MULTIPLE WORK SESSIONS.
UM, BUT IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ADD MORE TO IT, EVERYBODY GOOD? I, I THINK THE ONLY DISCUSSION I WOULD ADD, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE CONSTITUENTS COME UP BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED AND ASKED WHAT THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ABOUT.
IT'S HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS, UM, AS ITS STATES THAT OUR AMENDMENTS TO THE THINGS OF, UM, THE TIMES OF THE MEETING AND PARTICIPATION IN THE MEETING AND HOW THE MEETING IS RAN.
UM, AND THAT'S ALL I'LL ADD TO THAT.
[01:20:01]
EMPLOYEES.[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS ]
NEXT PART ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.MS. PRESLEY, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? WE HAVE ONE.
HOW DID I GUESS THAT SINCE YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON LEFT THAT'S NOT A TOWN BOY, I THOUGHT BJ WANTED TO COME UP AND SPEAK
UM, I'M HERE FOR A COUPLE REASONS.
UH, ONE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GOT YOUR INVITE TO TOMORROW'S REVITALIZE OR DIE, UH, SEMINAR AT THE THEATER.
I KNOW A LOT OF YOU PROBABLY CAN'T ATTEND IT, BUT I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP US KIND OF MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, INTO THE FUTURE.
AND, UM, THIS GUY HAS A REALLY GREAT REPUTATION AND I HOPE IT'S ALL THAT.
UH, SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE POSITIVE.
UH, I GAVE, UH, THE ACTING TOWN MANAGER SOME TICKETS.
UH, SO IF, AND IF YOU DON'T GET ONE FROM HER, COME THAT I STILL HAVE MORE.
UM, SHOW UP, WE'LL GET YOU IN.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS, UM, WE HAVE THIS OTHER LITTLE TOWN BOARD, UH, THE FRONT ROW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THAT SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED.
UM, WE'VE MISSED TWO OF OUR REGULAR MEETINGS.
AND, UH, SO I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD SOME THINGS THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH AND I'M JUST HERE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I GUESS ASK
I HOPE WE CAN GET ON YOUR AGENDA SOON.
WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME REALLY COOL STUFF AND, BUT, UM, IF TOWN STAFF DOESN'T GET DIRECTION FROM YOU, THEN I MEAN, WE, WE, WE WE DON'T MEET, RIGHT? YEAH.
MAY I IS KATHLEEN, I, UH, ARE WE, WE LET, LET'S MAKE SURE MR. NO, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND SO, SO ARE YOU, YOU'RE GOOD.
THAT'S THE END OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND NOW IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS, GO AHEAD.
ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SPEAK? NOT EVERYBODY AT WANTS
UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THIS COMING UP AT THE OCTOBER 11TH, UH, WORK SESSION FOR A DISCUSSION.
AND YOU'LL BE, YOU KNOW, THAT'LL BE PART OF THE PACKET AND THAT WILL BE YOUR DISCUSSION AS YOU REQUESTED BACK IN AUGUST.
AND I THINK RICK, THE DELAY AS ACTING TOWN MANAGER, KATHLEEN HAD, UM, SOME PERSONAL THINGS GOING ON.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR, FOR HER TO BE IN ATTENDANCE.
COUNCIL WISHED FOR HER TO BE THERE.
UM, AND SHE COULDN'T ON THE DATES OF YOUR LAST MEETINGS.
SO WE DIDN'T JUST POSTPONE THEM.
UH, WE WANTED KATHLEEN PRESENT AND SHE WASN'T ABLE TO BE PRESENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS? UH, IT MAY NOT EVEN, I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS TOWN MANAGER WANTED TO DO IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU MAY WANT, OH, THERE'S DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAD AND THEN I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S, SO IT'S NOT, THIS ISN'T DIRECT AT KATHY, IT'S DIRECTED AT YOU, BUT SHE HAS DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL.
SHE COULDN'T BE AT THOSE MEETINGS DUE TO PERSONAL MATTERS.
UM, SHE WAS OFF OF WORK FOR THE LAST TWO DATES OUT OF THE STATE.
SO COUNCIL, SHE KNOWS COUNCIL DIRECTED HER.
WE WANTED TO HAVE A SIT DOWN MEETING WITH FRIDA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WELL, I'M FULL, I'M FULLY AWARE OF THAT.
AND, AND THAT'S AGAIN, NOT AT THE ACTING TOWN MANAGER, BUT WE WORK FOR YOU GUYS AND WE ARE AT A CRUCIAL POINT IN SOME THINGS.
AND WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TOGETHER IN TWO MONTHS.
THAT BE TOO, BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS AREN'T ACTUALLY MOVING, WEREN'T ACTUALLY EVER MOVING.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ALLOWED TO MEET, SO, OKAY.
I, I WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT THE REVIT, THE REVITAL.
IT SOUNDED AMAZING AND I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN FOLLOWING IT, READING THIS STUFF.
AND SOMEBODY MENTIONED INVITING US LIKE SEVERAL, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WHEN I KNEW THEY WERE COMING.
UM, I'M JUST SAD THAT IT IS DURING A WORKDAY.
LIKE I GET FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PLANNING IT, IT'S THEIR WORKDAY.
UM, BUT I ALWAYS, I PERSONALLY ALWAYS FIND IT VERY CHALLENGING AS A SCHOOL TEACHER TO, UM, TO BE ABLE TO, TO COME TO SOMETHING DURING THE DAY.
SO I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE ATTENDED.
UH, BUT I UNDER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THEY MAKE SURE WE GET THE INFORMATION.
SO OFF THE CUFF, IS THERE ANY CHANCE IT'S GONNA BE RECORDED?
[01:25:01]
IS THERE ANY CHANCE IT COULD BE RECORDED? LIKE MAYBE ROYAL EXAMINER COULD COME AND RECORD IT AND THEN SHARE WITH US OR? YEAH, I, I THINK, I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE RECORDED.YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THERE IS GONNA BE, I'M IMAGINING THAT HE'S A FACILITATOR OF SORTS MM-HMM.
AND SO THEY'RE GONNA BE SOME ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS AND SO IT'LL BE MORE IMPACTFUL IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ATTEND RIGHT.
THAN WATCHING IT LATER ON, ON VIDEO.
BETTER THAN NOT BEING THERE AT ALL.
UM, AND SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD TO SEE WHAT THE DISCUSSIONS WERE BECAUSE IT, UM, THERE'S GONNA BE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION, SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT, WHAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SAYING TOO.
IF THERE'S ANY WAY YOU COULD GET THIS THING RECORDED, CUZ I, I REALLY WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE THERE, BUT I WILL BE THERE.
I DON'T HAVE THE STORAGE FOR THAT, BUT I'LL REPORT BACK.
BUT, BUT HONESTLY, ROYAL EXAMINER MIGHT BE THERE TO RECORD IT.
THEY, THEY RECORD A LOT OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS.
ANYBODY ELSE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT? TOM? I APOLOGIZE.
I SAID THAT RICK WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ROOM THAT WAS NOT A TOWN EMPLOYEE.
[9A. Report of Town Manager]
THAT.SO NEXT UP IS THE REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER.
SO KATHLEEN, OUR INTERIM TOWN MANAGER, IF YOU'D LIKE TO JUST ONE THING, UM, ENCOURAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR COMMENTS ON THE COMP PLAN TO LEARN.
CUZ WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO WRAP THAT UP THIS WEEK.
COUNCILMAN GLASSBY IS STILL WAITING ON THE, OKAY.
UH, REPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO REPORT ON ANYTHING? UM, THIS VICE MAYOR, I JUST, UM, I, I WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I, UM, I I WILL NOT BE SEEKING REELECTION THIS FALL, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UM, OUR TOWN CITIZENS.
UM, IT'S A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE AND, UM, I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY, UM, WILL STEP UP AND SERVE AT, AT SOME POINT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
UM, I I'M NOT RUNNING, I GOT A SON, UM, WHO'S A SENIOR THIS YEAR.
AND, UM, THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, UM, HE'S TALKING ABOUT AIR FORCE AND WANTING TO BE A PILOT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, HE STILL HASN'T OWED COLLEGE OUT THE DOOR YET.
SO I THINK MY TIME IS GONNA BE BETTER, UM, TAKING CARE OF MY FAMILY, GOING FORWARD, UM, IN HELPING HIM AND HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
AND, UM, SO I, I WANNA SAY, UM, WE, WE GOT A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS DONE IN OUR TOWN.
UM, I WANNA THANK, UM, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, PAST AND PRESENT.
UM, WE DID A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.
UM, GOT A BRAND NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE PROUD OF.
I MEAN, ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, UM, WE HAVE SPENT MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, IN IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAN, THAN WE HAVE IN THE LAST 25, YOU KNOW, OR 20.
UM, OUR, OUR STREETS ARE FINALLY GETTING PAVED.
UM, GETTING A HANDLE ON I AND I, YOU KNOW, I, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN I HAD COME TO COUNCIL.
YOU KNOW, I NEVER COULD UNDERSTAND WHY WE BUILT A BRAND NEW TREATMENT FACILITY AND DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER THE STREETS.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE ALTOGETHER.
UM, CREER ROAD BRIDGE, YOU KNOW, UM, THE CREER TRAIL, YOU KNOW, UM, WE, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS.
UM, IN MY TENURE HERE ON, ON COUNCIL ACTUALLY, WE KINDA LURE THEM A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AND, UM, I'M JUST SUPER EXCITED IN, IN HUMBLED.
AND I JUST WANT SAY TO ALL TOWN STAFF, I, I, I'VE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE WORKING WITH Y'ALL.
I, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, FROM THE HEART, I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE THE GREATEST.
I I'VE TOLD, YOU KNOW, NUMEROUS COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS WILL DO ANYTHING.
AND, UM, YOU, YOU GUYS WILL BEND OVER BACKWARDS, UM, THAT TO SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS GET DONE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT IT.
I, I MEAN I'VE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS, UM, MEET SOME ENEMIES,
UM, I'VE HAD A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE AND I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR CITIZENS FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
[01:30:01]
THAT'S ALL.MS. MAYOR, THANK YOU MRPI, AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANNA OFFER TONIGHT THAT THEY WANNA REPORT ON? YEAH, SO I SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS EARLIER WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S, UM, I LIVE OVER THERE BY VISCO AND I USED TO ACTUALLY LIVE ON VISCO.
AND I CAN SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER THE NIGHT OF THE SUPER BOWL LAST YEAR WHERE THAT ALLEYWAY THAT IS NOW GUTTER, UM, WAS JUST A FROZEN, UM, SOLID PATCH OF ICE.
AND I GOT OUTTA MY CAR AND SUFFERED A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FAULT.
SO I'M JUST HAPPY TO SEE THAT THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF NOW AND THAT, UH, YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB.
IT LOOKS AMAZING, SO THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE? I JUST WANTED TO THANK, UM, ALL OF YOU GUYS AND INCLUDING STAFF FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT LIVELY DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD TRYING TO GET THAT RESOLVED.
I MEAN, I REALLY DO BECAUSE I MEAN, WITHOUT THE CONVERSATIONS WE DON'T GET ANYWHERE, BUT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.
AND I THINK THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD BACK AND FORTH.
NOBODY GOT DISRESPECTFUL, I DON'T THINK.
SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY, UM, BEING INVOLVED IN PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.
UM, BJ IS ALWAYS WILLING TO ANSWER A TEXT OR AN EMAIL, WHETHER IT BE WITHIN THE TOWN'S BUSINESS HOURS REGARDING FINANCE QUESTIONS.
LAUREN'S MUCH THE SAME IN PLANNING AND ZONING.
UM, KATHLEEN'S BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE AS WELL AS GEORGE AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS AMAZING.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY SHORT STAFFED IN A LOT OF PARTS OF THAT.
UM, I HAVE SEEN EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS THE MEN DRIVE IN THE TRASH TRUCKS, GETTING OUT, DUMPING THE TRASH CAN, GETTING BACK IN, DRIVING TO THE NEXT HOUSE, DUMPING THE TRASH CAN.
SO YOU HAVE ONE MAN DOING TWO AND THREE JOBS AND THEN THEY'RE COMING BACK THE SECOND HALF OF THE DAY.
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS AFTER EIGHT HOURS TO DO THE RECYCLING.
SO, UM, THAT'S NOT, NOT GONE UNNOTICED.
AND THEN MY KIDS, YOU KNOW, ATTEND A SCHOOL RIGHT OFF OF EASTERLY AND UM, THAT WORKS COMING ALONG GREAT AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND THEY'RE WORKING FROM, YOU KNOW, SUN UP TO SUNDOWN REALLY AT THIS POINT ON THAT.
UM, SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TOWN STAFF, UM, AND THEN TINA, WHO FACILITATES ALL THE CORRESPONDENCE HAS BEEN GREAT AND I APPRECIATE THE TOWN STAFF.
ANYONE ELSE? I WILL SAY CIVIL DISCOURSE.
IT'S NICE, IT'S NICE, IT'S NICE.
[9C. Report of the Mayor ]
NEXT UP WOULD BE THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR.AND SINCE HE'S NOT HERE, I WOULD SAY WE CAN MOVE ON
[10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
TO NUMBER 10.UM, THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, UH,
VICE S MAYOR CORO, I MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
I, I DON'T, IS THERE A DISCUSSION FOR ANYTHING? OKAY, FOR ME, UM, ITEM K IS PROCLAMATION FOR PUBLIC POWER LEAK.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT PROCLAMATION IN RED AND SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR OUR PUBLIC, UH, POWER DEPARTMENT WHILE ABSOLUTELY DEPARTMENT.
TINA, COULD YOU READ THAT? TALK ABOUT PROCLAMATION FROM I DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE.
TINA, DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT? IT DOESN'T MATTER.
UM, I, I I FEEL LIKE I READ IT LAST YEAR.
THAT'S WHY I'M LIKE, UM, SO RECOGNIZING PUBLIC POWER WEEK OCTOBER 2ND THROUGH THE EIGHTH, 2022, A WEEK LONG CELEBRATION OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROLLS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES, YEAR ROUND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROLLS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES PLACES HIGH VALUE ON THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL CONTROL OF UTILITY SERVICES AND THEREFORE OPERATES A COMMUNITY OWNED NOT FOR PROFIT, ELECTRIC UTILITY.
WHEREAS BECAUSE WE ARE CUSTOMERS AND OWNERS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROLLS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES, WE HAVE A DIRECT SAY IN UTILITY OPERATIONS AND POLICIES.
WHEREAS TOWN AND FRONT ROWS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES PROVIDES OUR HOMES, BUSINESSES, FARMS, SOCIAL SERVICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WITH RELIABLE, EFFICIENT, AND COST EFFECTIVE ELECTRICITY.
EMPLOYING SOUND BUSINESS PRACTICES DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE AT NOTFOR PROFIT RATES.
WHEREAS TOWN OF FRONT ROWS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES IS A VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSET THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE WELLBEING OF LOCAL CITIZENS THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CUSTOMER SERVICE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SAFETY AWARENESS.
WHEREAS TOWN OF FRONT ROWS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES IS A DEPENDABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY INSTITUTION WHOSE LOCAL OPERATION PROVIDES MANY CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AND CONTINUES TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK AND CONTRIBUTES TO A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS, DEPARTMENT OF OF ENERGY SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO BRING SAFE, RELIABLE ELECTRICITY
[01:35:01]
TO COMMUNITY HOMES AND BUSINESSES JUST AS IT HAS SINCE 1894, THE YEAR WHEN THE UTILITY WAS CREATED TO SERVE ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT OIL AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 2ND THROUGH EIGHT BE DESIGNATE A PUBLIC POWER WEEK TO RECOGNIZE TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES, SPORTS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO EDUCATE CUSTOMER OWNERS, POLICY MAKERS AND EMPLOYEES ON THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC POWER.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT OUR COMMUNITY JOINS HANDS WITH MORE THAN 2000 OTHER PUBLIC POWER SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES IN THIS CELEBRATION OF PUBLIC POWER, WHICH IS BEST FOR CON CONSUMERS BUSINESS, THE COMMUNITY AND THE NATION.
AND THAT WOULD, UM, WITH THE, UH, APPROVAL TONIGHT, IT WOULD BE SENT BY MYSELF.
AND THAT'S OCTOBER 2ND THROUGH THE EIGHTH.
SO THAT WILL BE NEXT WEEK, RIGHT? YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR PULLING THAT OFF.
I MEAN, GIVING US THE CHANCE TO READ THAT.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO, IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO PRAISE OUR, UH, OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES IS A BIG PART OF THAT.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAD A MOTION, WE HAD A SECOND.
WELL, WITH THE DISCUSSION OF THAT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM MOVES PRETTY QUICKLY AND WE'RE ALL EAGER TO HAVE THAT DONE AFTER TONIGHT'S MEETING.
BUT I WILL SAY IT'S A HEFTY CONSENT AGENDA TO ITEMS A THROUGH N AND THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD WORK WHEN I SAY I COMMEND THE TOWN STAFF AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE CIVIL DISCOURSE WITH THE FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE.
I MEAN, IF YOU GUYS LOOK THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE ON THERE TONIGHT, THEY'RE LARGE THINGS ALLOCATION TO DISCOVER FRONT ROYAL, THE PROCLAMATION FOR PUBLIC POWER WEEK, THERE ARE WATERLINE UPGRADES, WATER AND SEWAGE.
UM, THERE'S A CUSTODIAN POSITION IN THERE.
UH, WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF THAT REALLY NICE BATHROOM DOWN THERE ON MAIN STREET THAT WE HAVE SET UP.
SO, UM, THIS IS ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN BEING DONE, NOT JUST AT TONIGHT'S MEETING FOR THE CIVIL DISCOURSE THAT PEOPLE PRESENTED, BUT OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
ARE YOU READY FOR A VOTE? VICE MAYOR CORO? YES.
NUMBER 11 IS BUSINESS ITEMS. AND SINCE THERE ARE NONE, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO,
[12. CLOSED MEETING]
UM, NUMBER 12, WHICH IS OUR CLOSED MEETING.UM, DO I HEAR A MOTION VICE MAYOR? I MOVE THAT TOWN COUNCIL, CONVENE AND GO INTO CLOSED MEETING FOR THE ONE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, DEMOTION, SALARIES, DISCIPLINING OR RESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICERS, APPOINTEES OR EMPLOYEES OF ANY PUBLIC BODY, SPECIFICALLY TOWN MANAGER, TOWN ATTORNEY, CLERK OF COUNCIL AND COUNCIL VACANCY PURSUANT TO 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A, ONE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.
AND TWO, CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY A PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIF LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL, SPECIFICALLY THE FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY AGREEMENT WITH DISCOVER FRONT ROYAL AS REQUIRED BY VIRGINIA CODE 24.2 DASH 2 26 PURSUANT TO 2.2 DASH 37 11 88 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.
FOLLOWING THE CLOSED MEETING COUNCIL MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION AND OPEN SESSION.
OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
WE'LL BE MOVING INTO CLOSED SESSION.
CAUSE WE'RE GONNA COME OUT AND CLOSE THOSE.