[00:00:02]
[I. CALL TO ORDER]
AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE FRONT ROYAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO ORDER.UH, IT IS MAY THE 15TH, 2024, AND IT IS 7:00 PM UM, FIRST WE MUST DETERMINE IF WE HAVE A QUORUM.
UH, MS. POTTER, COULD YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? CHAIRMAN MARSH.
I DON'T THINK MY MIKE'S WORKING.
THE LIGHT IS ON, BUT THE MIC IS NOT TESTING.
HE DIDN'T, HE I TURNED IT OFF.
IS THIS ONE WORKING? HOW ABOUT THIS ONE? THAT ONE'S DEFINITELY WORKING.
UH, ARE THERE ANY DELETIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA BY ANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION? IF NOT, THEN OUR FIRST ORDER OF
[IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
BUSINESS IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 17TH MEETING.MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO APPROVE.
UH, MS. POTTER, MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? COMMISSIONER WOOD? YES.
OKAY, NOW WE OPEN THE FLOOR TO CITIZEN COMMENTS.
UH, NOW THIS IS THE TIME TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, THERE, IS THERE ANYBODY WHO DID NOT SIGN UP WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION? SEEING NOBODY, I WILL CLOSE THE CITIZEN COMMENT SECTION.
[VI. CONSENT AGENDA]
NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.NOW, THIS, UH, MEANS THAT THIS IS THE ITEMS WHICH WE ARE, UH, GIVING CONSENT TO, TO ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION YOU HAVE ON YOUR AGENDA THE ITEMS THAT LIST THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, IS THERE A, UH, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
UM, UH, IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND.
OKAY, MS. POTTER, MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? SORRY, WITH THE SECOND
[VII. PUBLIC HEARING]
AT THIS POINT, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, AND, UH, THIS IS THE, THE TOPIC HERE IN DISCUSSION IS THE, UH, UH, THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT 2 4 0 0 0 1 9 FOR THE ABODE OF LIBERATION AT 1 3 2 4 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE.NOW LET ME JUST, MR. MARSH, YES.
WOULD YOU LIKE STAFF TO DO A PRESENTATION, UH, BEFORE THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
PARDON ME FOR RACING AHEAD THERE.
DO YOU WANNA READ INTO THE RECORD? WELL, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS ON THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, 2 4 0 0 0 1 9 OF THE ABODE OF LIBERATION.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO READ THE GUIDELINES FOR SPEAKING.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS SETTING OUT TO DO.
OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, YET SHE'S GONNA HAVE STAFF DO THE PRESENTATION AND THEN READ IT.
APPLICATION 24 0 0 1 9 IS FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT AT 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE.
UH, TOWN COUNCIL APPROVED A REZONING FROM R ONE TO R THREE ON MARCH 25TH OF THIS YEAR.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPERTY.
UH, AND THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS FOR A LODGING HOUSE LOCATED AT 1324 OH WINCHESTER PIKE, IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP NUMBER 20 A 12 DASH FOUR DASH SIX.
THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
THE PROPOSED USE IS FOR A NON-PROFIT LODGING HOUSE OFFERING REFUGE FOR ADULTS
[00:05:01]
OF DIFFERENT ABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.THE HOME HAS SEVEN BEDROOMS. INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET IS THE STAFF REPORT, THE APPLICATION, AND A SURVEY OF THE PROPERTY.
TOWN CODE 1 75 30 REQUIRES A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO OPERATE A LODGING HOUSE IN THE R THREE DISTRICT.
UH, THAT'S A VIEW FROM THE STREET FROM OLD WINCHESTER PIKE.
THERE IS PARKING OFF, OFF STREET THERE IN THE FRONT.
ALSO A THREE BAY GARAGE IN THE BACK WITH A LARGE AREA FOR GRAVEL PARKING.
AND INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY, PLAT GIVES AN ADDITIONAL 10 PARKING SPACES ON THAT.
UH, A LODGING HOUSE IS DIFFERENTIATED IN TOWN CODE FROM A BED AND BREAKFAST.
UH, THAT'S THE PLAT OF THE PROPERTY OUTLINING 10 PARKING SPACES IN THE GRAVEL AREA, PLUS THREE IN THE GARAGE AND TWO OFFSITE ON THE STREET.
UH, TOWN CO DOES REQUIRE ONE PARKING SPACE PER ROOM AND ADDITIONAL, UH, TWO SPACES FOR EMPLOYEES.
SO THEY HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PARKING, ADEQUATE PARKING FOR THIS USE.
UH, THERE'S A DEFINITION OF LODGING HOUSE, UH, THAT'S A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING OTHER THAN A HOTEL MOTEL OR BED AND BREAKFAST.
UH, THAT'S WHERE LODGING IS PROVIDED.
IT IS NOT FOR OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, THE TOTAL NUMBER, UH, NO CASE SHALL THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LODGING ROOMS EXCEED 10.
SO THEY HAVE SEVEN, UH, ROOMS THERE.
SO WE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN A BED AND BREAKFAST AND A LODGING HOUSE.
UH, I KNOW THAT QUESTION BEEN BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST.
IT FORMALLY WAS USED AS A BED AND BREAKFAST.
SO THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER IS CHANGING THE USE.
WE'D LIKE TO CHANGE THE USE FROM THE PREVIOUS BED AND BREAKFAST HOME TO A LODGING HOUSE.
SO OUR TOWN CODE DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN A LODGING HOUSE AND A BED AND BREAKFAST.
UH, THERE'S THE DEFINITION OF BED, BED AND BREAKFAST.
UH, THAT'S FOR SINGLE FAMILY OWNER OCCUPIED DWELLING, UM, FOR A BED AND BREAKFAST OR A TOURIST HOME.
SO TOWN CODE DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN THE TWO.
FORMALLY OPERATED AS A BED AND BREAKFAST, BUT NOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE USE TO A LODGING HOUSE.
UH, THEY DO HAVE ADEQUATE PARKING ON SITE.
UH, IT HAS BEEN REZONED FOR THIS USE, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE R THREE DISTRICT.
UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF MR. WARE? I HAD ONE QUESTION AND THAT'S CONCERNING OUR LODGING TAX IS BECAUSE IT'S A LODGING HOUSE, IT'S NOT A MOTEL, IT'S NOT A HOTEL, AND IT'S NOT A B AND B.
UM, SO ARE THEY SUBJECT TO PAYING, UM, A LODGING TAX? THAT I'M, I'M NOT SURE ON THAT.
I JUST THINK IT'S GONNA BE A QUESTION.
I'M TRYING TO GET CLARITY ON IT.
SINCE THEY'RE NOT TRANSIENT GUESTS AND THEY'RE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, IT'S NOT PROBABLY A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION IN THE USUAL SENSE OF THE ROAD OF THE WORD I SHOULD SAY.
HOWEVER, GOOD QUESTION TO RAISE.
AND DO WE HAVE, UH, LEGAL ADVICE HERE THAT MIGHT WISH TO WEIGH IN? SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA QUALIFY FOR LODGING TEXTS.
IS IT NOT? I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA QUALIFY FOR LODGING TAX, BUT BASED UPON, AGAIN, THE WAY THE TOWN CODE'S WRITTEN, AND I THINK YOUR ASSESSMENT'S CORRECT, IT'S NOT, THAT'S MORE FOR THE TRANSIENT TEMPORARY THAT YOU'RE GONNA PULL THE TAX FROM.
I DON'T BELIEVE UNDER THE CODE.
OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE NO OTHER NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
NOW, AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE STAFF REPORT AND THE QUESTIONS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE APPLICANT IS ENCOURAGED OR ALLOWED TO SPEAK, IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT? MM-HMM.
AFTER, UH, THE APPLICANT IS NOT HERE, THEN WE CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, THE RULES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ARE THAT, UH, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP AND WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES OR LESS.
AND WHEN YOU STEP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL COMMENTS ARE RELEVANT TO THE TOPIC AT HAND.
HI, I'M JANELLE REE, THE OWNER OF A VOTE OF LIBERATION.
UM, HE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB PRESENTING.
I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE THE APPLICANT.
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THAT I, UM, I HAVE SOME FOLKS LIVING WITH ME.THEY HAVE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND I DECIDED TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE TO MAKE SURE I'M IN COMPLIANCE WITH EVERYTHING AND MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.
I APPLIED FOR NONPROFIT STATUS.
SO I JUST, I JUST WANNA GET EVERYTHING LEGITIMATE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE, MAYBE EVEN TAKE IN SOME MORE FOLKS.
THAT IS, UH, YOU HAVE A QUESTION, MR. WOOD MA, WITH RESPECT TO YOUR NONPROFIT STATUS, DO YOU HAVE THE 5 0 1 C3? YES.
DID I DID GET AWARDED 5 0 1 C3.
AND I, UH, INCORPORATED WITH THE STATE AS WELL.
SO IT'S JUST THE LOCAL IS LEFT TO TRY TO GET THAT WAY, ALLEVIATE THE TAX SITUATION.
SO, AM I CORRECT? THAT MIGHT HAVE TO DO WITH IT, YES.
SO WE GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THIS, AND YES, SIR, THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY OUR APPLICANT COMING IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE.
SO IT'S SO NICE THAT WE'RE NOT OUT CATCHING SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING WRONG.
THEY VOLUNTARILY CAME IN, THEY BLIND UP STAFF HAS WORKED WITH THEM, MADE THE PRESENTATIONS, AND WE'RE JUST ONE STEP AWAY.
SO MUCH BETTER THIS WAY, ONE STEP AWAY.
SO WE, WE COMMEND YOU FOR BEING SO CONSCIENTIOUS THAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING THROUGH ALL THE, ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS.
OKAY, SO THAT WAS THE APPLICANT.
SO IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC? HEARING? NONE.
THEREFORE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND WE ARE ABLE TO PROCEED TO, UH, DO I HEAR ANY ACTION ITEM? DO I HEAR ANY INTEREST IN PROCEEDING ON THIS AND PUTTING THIS MATTER TO, DOES ANYBODY WISH TO MAKE A MOTION TO MADAM CHAIRWOMAN? I MOVE THAT WE MOVE TO A, TO APPROVE THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR ITEM 2 4 0 0 0 1 9, A VOTE OF LIBERATION AS REQUEST FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A LODGING HOUSE LOCATED AT 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A 12 DASH FOUR DASH SIX.
UH, MS. PARLER, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? OH.
NOT SEEING ANY VOICES OF DISCUSSION.
MS. POTTER, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? CHAIRMAN NER? YES.
COMMISSIONER WOOD? ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S WHAT I CALL ENTHUSIASTIC
AND OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS A REQUEST, UH, ITEM NUMBER 2 4 0 0 1 9 3, UH, BY KAREN RENOSO.
A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
NO, THAT'S, THAT'S CHAIRMAN MARSHALL.
SO NOW WE ARE ON TO, THAT'S THE NEXT ONE, RIGHT? MY TYPING HERE IS NO, WE JUST DID A MODE OF LIBERATION.
DO WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING? NO, THOSE ARE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WHAT ABOUT THE 1400 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE? THAT IS ON MY, UH, AGENDA.
SO I HAVE, SO THAT'S IN INCORRECT INFORMATION.
BY APOLOGIES TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL FOR HAVING INCORRECT INFORMATION ON MY AGENDA.
IN THAT CASE, UM, COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS,
[IX. COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS ]
PLEASE, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, I NEED TO ADDRESS A MATTER THAT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION.IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY CARING INDIVIDUALS THAT I USED AN INAPPROPRIATE WORD AT A PREVIOUS MEETING.
AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE VIDEO OF THAT MEETING, I'M EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT THAT I DID INDEED USE AN INAPPROPRIATE WORD WHEN RESPONDING TO A SPECIFIC MATTER AT HAND.
I ACCEPT 100% RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT COMMENT.
I CERTAINLY NEVER INTENDED FOR ANY COMMENT THAT I MAKE TO HURT ANOTHER PERSON.
NEVERTHELESS, I SHOULD CERTAINLY BE MORE CAUTIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE AS AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION AND RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I LOVE TO BE MORE RESPECTFUL, PROFESSIONAL, AND MATURE WITH HOW I SHARE MY THOUGHTS.
I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO YOU, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TOWN COUNCIL IN MY COMMUNITY, I'M INDEED AN IMPERFECT SOUL.
AND NEVERTHELESS, I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ACTIONS TO INCLUDE WHAT COMES OUT OF MY MOUTH.
AND I SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR THE GRACE AND KINDNESS IN WHICH YOU BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION.
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MR. WILLIAMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS.I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS.
I THINK IT'S VERY BIG OF A PERSON WHEN THEY CAN ADMIT THAT THEY MAKE A MISTAKE, BECAUSE CERTAINLY NONE OF US ARE PERFECT INDIVIDUALS IN THIS WORLD.
AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN, UH, TONIGHT'S MY LAST MEETING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, WHAT A PLEASURE IT HAS BEEN TO SERVE WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND FORMER, UM, CHAIRMAN WELLS, WHO'S NOW AN EMPLOYEE OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
UM, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BY BEING INVOLVED WHEN CITIZENS COME FORTH AND, UH, THEY THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE USE OR, UM, OF, OF A PROPERTY, OR THEY'RE TRYING TO GET INFORMATION, UM, IT IT, IT IS A, UH, PLEASURE TO SIT HERE AND TO LEARN THIS AND TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, UM, THE COMMISSION SINCE, UM, WELL, EVEN BEFORE CHAIRMAN MARNER, I THINK WE HAD A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREEMENT ON ALL OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UM, TO COUNCIL AFTER, UM, UH, OUR CHAIR, UH, UH, MR. MERCHANT LEFT.
SO IT, IT, IT SAYS WE DO OUR HOMEWORK.
WE, WE VISIT THE AREAS, WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND AS CITIZENS, UH, WE COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
AND THAT'S SIMPLY ALL IT IS A RECOMMENDATION AS AN APPOINTED BOARD OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND I LOOK FORWARD ON THE OTHER END OF GETTING YOUR FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
IT HAS BEEN, UH, THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN A GREAT, GREATLY BENEFITED BY YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR, UH, YOUR MANNER OF STATESMANSHIP.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
ANY OTHER COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS?
[X. PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT]
IS THERE A REPORT FROM THE PLANNING DIRECTOR? YES.TONIGHT IS OUR APRIL MONTHLY REPORT.
SO FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, WE HAD 227 WALK-INS.
UM, TO DATE THIS YEAR, WE HAVE HAD 954 CITIZENS COME INTO OUR OFFICE.
SO THAT IS NOT INCLUDING THE PHONE CALLS THAT WE RECEIVE.
UM, IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, WE ISSUED 19 ZONING PERMITS.
UM, WE HAD SIX NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTIONS AND SIX RE-INSPECTIONS.
AND WE HAD NINE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, OR, SORRY, UH, NINE, UM, RE-INSPECTIONS.
AND THEN WE HAD, UH, SIX NEW SIGN PERMITS AND 14 NEW BUSINESS LICENSES.
UM, I ALSO HAVE A, JUST A SLIGHT UPDATE ON THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
SO AFTER OUR JOINT MEETING, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TOWN COUNCIL JOINT MEETING, UM, I SPOKE WITH OUR CONSULTANT STAFF WILL BE WRITING THE VAPE SHOP ORDINANCE AND THE MAKING THE EDITS TO THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
UM, THE CONSULTANT WILL NOT BE DOING THAT PORTION.
MY THOUGHT IS, IS I WILL GET WITH THE TOWN MANAGER, UM, AND START DRAFTING THESE DOCUMENTS AND THEN BRING THEM TO A WORK SESSION IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS.
UM, AND I HAVE AN UPDATE MEETING WITH OUR CONSULTANT TOMORROW TO GO OVER THE PROGRESS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
AND I'M HOPING TO HAVE A DRAFT, A TOTAL DRAFT ORDINANCE TO THIS BODY, UM, BY THE END OF JUNE.
THAT WILL BE OUR BEGINNING, OUR FIRST CHANCE TO WORK ON IT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT QUESTIONS.
AND SINCE OUR TOWN ATTORNEYS AREN'T HERE TONIGHT, I WILL INTRODUCE, THIS IS AMANDA WISELY.
SHE IS OUR ASSISTANT TOWN ATTORNEY AND SHE'S FILLING IN FOR GEORGE TONIGHT.
DO WE NEED A VOTE ON THAT? YOU CAN DO A VOICE VOTE.
NOW, MR. MATTHEW, AM I CORRECT THAT THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE YOUR LAST MEETING ALSO NEXT ONE.
WE WILL, WE'LL GET TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOU NEXT TIME.