Jun 24, 2024 Town Council

NEXT WE'RE GOING TO, UH, MOVE TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

HOLD ON GUYS.

REMEMBER .

SO, AS YOU KNOW, DURING MY TERM, MS. MAYOR, I INVITE STUDENTS FROM THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO LEAD OUR COUNCIL IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

AND THIS MONTH WE WELCOME AALIYAH CORIN PORTER AALIYAH'S.

COMING FORWARD, AS AALIYAH IS COMING FORWARD, I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT AALIYAH IS THE DAUGHTER OF CASSANDRA PORTER AND THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF BETTY AND LEE JACKSON.

AALIYAH IS 16 YEARS OLD AND AN UPCOMING JUNIOR AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE SHE IS AN A BEYOND ROLL STUDENT.

SHE PLAYS VOLLEYBALL AND BASKETBALL.

SHE LOVES TO READ ROMANCE NOVELS.

AND HER FAVORITE FOOD IS CHICKEN ALFREDO.

SHE HAS THREE BROTHERS AND ONE SISTER, AND SHE IS THE OLDEST IN HER FAMILY.

AALIYAH'S DREAM IS TO BE A PSYCHOLOGIST, AND SHE CHOSE CNC FROZEN TREATS FOR HER GIFT CARD FROM ME.

SO, UM, AALIYAH'S ALSO RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE THANKING HER FOR PATRIOTISM AND PARTICIPATION.

AND SHE'S READY.

SO EVERYBODY PLEASE STAND.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HMM.

SEVEN O'CLOCK, RIGHT? DOES ANYBODY ELSE NOTICE? THERE'S LIKE A CRACKLING? I DON'T KNOW KNOW WHERE IS IT? YEAH, I THINK IT'S, IS IT COMING FROM, IT'S NOT COMING FROM MY MIC.

MS. PRESSLEY, WE'RE READY FOR OUR ROLL CALL.

ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT,

[3. ROLL CALL]

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? HERE.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? HERE.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? HERE.

COUNCILMAN D DEPA.

HERE.

COUNCILMAN WOOD HERE.

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

OKAY, NEXT UP IS OUR, UH, APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT.

COUNCIL, APPROVE THE 2024 COUNCIL MEETING, MINUTES OF MAY 28TH, REGULAR MEETING.

JUNE 3RD, WORK SESSION AND JUNE 10TH WORK SESSION AS PRESENTED.

ANY DISCUSSION? MS. PRESLEY? CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR ? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES.

BARRING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO, UM, SECTION SIX, WHICH IS OUR RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATION.

NEXT, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS, UH, TO THE AGENDA? OKAY,

[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]

SO OUR FIRST, UM, ITEM IS A PROCLAMATION FOR MARLOW MOTOR COMPANY.

MS. EMILY, UH, MARLOW BECK IS HERE IF YOU WANNA COME FORWARD.

I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA READ THIS.

SO THIS IS A PROCLAMATION FOR MARLOWE MOTORS FRONT ROYAL, CELEBRATING 77 YEARS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

SO WHEREAS THE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING WAS TO A NEAR HALT IN THE MID 1940S, AS FACTORIES WERE CONVERTED TO THE WAR EFFORT.

AND WHEREAS WHEN THE PRODUCTION RESUMED AT THE WAR'S END, THE DEMAND FOR AUTOMOBILES FAR EXCEEDED THE SUPPLY, CREATING THE WEIGHT.

AND WHEREAS TIRED OF WAITING, ENTREPRENEUR AND FOUNDER GUY MARLOW OPENED MARLOWE MOTOR COMPANY, A KAISER FRAZIER DEALERSHIP IN 1947.

AND WHEREAS THE MARLOW MOTOR COMPANY ADDED THE JEEP LINE IN 1964, PURCHASED GW MOTORS

[00:05:01]

IN 1983, WHICH IS KNOWN AS MARLOW'S TATE NISSAN.

THEY ADDED DODGE, CHRYSLER AND PLYMOUTH IN 1990 AND ALSO OPENED MARLOW FORD IN LERAY, VIRGINIA IN 2000.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT MARLOW MOTORS FRONT ROYAL CELEBRATES 77 YEARS OF BUSINESS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

SO WE'RE GONNA COME DOWN THERE.

UM, ACTUALLY THERE'S NOT, THE NEXT TWO ARE, UH, PROCLAMATIONS, BUT NO ONE IN PARTICULAR IS COMING TO THAT.

SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN.

WE'VE, UM, STARTED, UH, WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZING BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, AND LIKE I SAID, 77 YEARS IS RIGHT ON UP THERE.

I'M TRYING TO THINK.

WFTR WAS HOW MANY? 75.

75.

SO MARLOW MOTORS IS LEADING RIGHT NOW, 77 YEARS, AND WE HOPE YOU'RE HERE FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME.

MY, I DID NOT MOVE YOUR CHAIR , I PROMISE.

THAT'S GOOD.

SO NEXT STEP IS A PROCLAMATION FOR DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER PROFESSIONALS DAY, WHICH IS JUNE 30TH, 2024.

WHEREAS CONSCIENTIOUS REGULATION AND OPERATION OF DRINKING WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS HELPS PREVENT CONTAMINATION AND OTHER AVOIDABLE INCIDENTS THAT THREATEN THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

AND WHEREAS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TREATS AN AVERAGE OF 4.2 MILLION GALLONS OF WASTEWATER EACH DAY, AND THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT TREATS AN AVERAGE OF 2 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER EACH DAY.

AND WHEREAS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER PROFESSIONALS ARE DEDICATED TO KEEPING DRINKING WATER AND TREATED WASTEWATER CLEAN AND FREE OF SUBSTANCES HARMFUL TO BOTH HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 30TH, 2024 AS DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER PROFESSIONALS DAY IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

AND I JUST, IF ANYBODY, UH, ANYBODY WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING, FEEL FREE.

I JUST COUNCILWOMAN DE DOMINICAN PAIN.

I ALWAYS TELL THIS STORY BRIEFLY, WHICH IS WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND MY GRANDMOTHER LIVED IN TOWN IN A, IN PROBABLY ONE OF THE NICER AREAS OF TOWN AT THAT TIME, UM, I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER HAVING GLASSES OF WATER WITH THINGS FLOATING IN THEM.

AND FOR YEARS I WOULD NOT DRINK THE WATER IN FRONT ROYAL.

BUT I TOOK A TOUR LAST YEAR WITH THE TOWN MANAGER TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

AND I WILL SAY THAT I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THEIR ENTIRE PROCESS AND FEEL TOTALLY CONFIDENT THAT THE WATER THAT WE HAVE TODAY IS THE BEST IT CAN BE.

AND SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP FRONT ROYAL AND, AND TO MAKE OUR WATER GOOD FOR US.

ANYBODY ELSE WANNA OFFER ANYTHING? I'D JUST LIKE TO OFFER A SINCERE THANKS TO OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER PROFESSIONALS FROM THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, UM, SEVERAL FOR DECADES.

UM, AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY OF THE TOWN, OF FRONT ROYAL AND TO, UM, THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AS A TOWN ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, AND I THINK IT SHOULDN'T BE LOST ON US IN A YEAR FOLLOWING OUR FIRST EVER DROUGHT IN THE HISTORY OF FRONT ROYAL TO APPRECIATE THE CLEAN DRINKING WATER THAT WE HAVE HERE IN FRONT ROYAL AND TO PRESERVE THAT THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

UM, AND IF YOU HAVE NOT EVER BEEN TO ANY OF THOSE PLACES, YOU CAN PROBABLY GET A TOUR IF YOU TALK WITH THE TOWN STAFF, UM, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT ANY CITIZEN DO THAT.

ANYBODY ELSE? I I WILL SAY A LITTLE FUNNY STORY.

UM, A CITIZEN REACHED OUT TO ME OVER THE LAST WEEK AND JUST VERY

[00:10:01]

BRIEF, IT WAS A QUESTION, IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH FRONT ROW WATER? AND I WAS, I ANSWER BACK, NOT THAT I KNOW OF, I'M DRINKING IT RIGHT NOW.

I WAS LIKE, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I DO IS DRINK FROM THE TAP.

SO, UM, DON'T, DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT YOU HEAR, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO ANYWAY, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF 24 7.

SO I'LL, I'LL JUST ADD THERE THAT, UH, UH, I HAVE NEIGHBORS FROM NEW ENGLAND AND, UH, THEY TAKE THEIR WATER SERIOUSLY UP THERE AND THEY LOVE OUR WATER, SO WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

THERE YOU GO.

SO, UH, THANK YOU KU, THOSE.

SO THE NEXT ITEM IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT REALLY KIND OF, UM, ENCOMPASSES ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND SO JULY 7TH THROUGH THE 14TH IS OUR EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION WEEK.

SO, UM, THIS IS THE PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS EMPLOYEES AND PROFESSIONALS WHO PROVIDE QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF FRONT RURAL RESIDENTS, CUSTOMERS, AND VISITORS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER, SOMETIMES WORKING OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL JOB DUTIES TO ASSIST DURING AN EMERGENCY AND OR DURING UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND WHEREAS DURING THOSE TIME OF WORKING AFTER HOURS, EMPLOYEES ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, WHICH IS A REFLECTION OF THEIR DEDICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY IN TIMES OF SAFETY AND INCONVENIENCES.

AND WHEREAS TOWN EMPLOYEES ASSIST TURNING CHAOS INTO ORDER, CONFUSION INTO CLARITY, AND BRINGING PEACE FOR TODAY TO CREATE A VISION FOR TOMORROW WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

WHEREAS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL HAS 173 FULL AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, ENERGY SERVICES, FINANCE, PURCHASING, FLEET MANAGEMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PLANNING AND ZONING, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS TO INCLUDE BUILDING AND GROUNDS HORTICULTURE, SOLID WASTE, STREET MAINTENANCE, WATER SEWER MAINTENANCE, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, WATER TREATMENT PLANT, THE TOWN ATTORNEY, THE TOWN CLERK OF COUNCIL, AND THE TOWN MANAGER.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA HEREBY EXPRESS DEEP AND SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL FOR THEIR ULTIMATE SACRIFICES AND VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL OUR CITIZENS.

AND THAT JULY 7TH THROUGH THE 14TH, 2024, BEAVER ACCLAIMED AS EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION WEEK FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

AND I JUST WANNA GIVE EVERYBODY A HAND FOR THAT.

I, I SAY OFTEN WE COULD NOT, WE COULD, COULD NOT, UH, HANDLE THE BUSINESS AND, UH, OF, OF THE TOWN WITHOUT ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR DEDICATION.

AND LATER ON WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE OPEN HOUSE, HOPEFULLY YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT.

SO, NEXT UP ARE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, UM, AND THE FIRST ONE.

SO I'M GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.

BEFORE WE START, WE COME TO THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNSEL TO LEARN OF INFORMATION OF WHICH THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY AWARE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, THEN COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND INDICATE IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

IF THE COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, YOU MAY SIMPLY STATE THAT YOU AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.

THERE IS A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR SPEAKERS.

AFTER THREE MINUTES, THE MICROPHONE WILL CUT OFF.

PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND TO REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT INCLUDING OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY.

[7.A. Special Use Permit for a Lodging House at 1324 Old Winchester Pike for Abode of Liberation]

SO I'M GONNA START OFF WITH OUR FIRST, UM, PUBLIC HEARING, AND THAT IS THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A LODGING HOUSE AT 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE FOR ABODE OF LIBERATION.

UM, MS. PRESLEY, I'M GONNA LET YOU READ THE SUMMARY.

FIRST.

COUNSEL'S RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM ABODE OF LIBERATION OWNER JANELLE EMBRY FOR A LODGING HOUSE AT 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE TAX MAC TWO OH A ONE TWO DASH FOUR DASH SIX AND ZONED R DASH THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.

THE PROPOSED USE IS FOR A NONPROFIT LODGING HOUSE OFFERING REFUGE FOR ADULTS OF DIFFERENT ABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

THE HOME HAS SEVEN BEDROOMS, TWO CAREGIVERS WILL BE PRESENT DURING DAYTIME HOURS.

THERE IS ONE PARKING SPACE PER ROOM AND

[00:15:01]

AN ADDITIONAL TWO PARKING SPACES FOR EMPLOYEES.

THE SURVEY PLA SHOWS 10 PARKING SPACES AND THE PARKING AREA OFFERS ADDITIONAL PARKING.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH NO CONDITIONS.

THANK YOU MS. PRESLEY.

WE'RE GONNA START OFF FIRST.

STAFF, I BELIEVE HAS A PRESENTATION FOR US.

GOOD EVENING, UH, SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

24 0 0 1 9 IS FOR THE LODGING HOUSE AT 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE.

UH, YOU MAY RECALL THIS PROPERTY, UH, TOWN COUNCIL REZONED THIS, UH, PARCEL TO R THREE TO ALLOW A LODGING HOUSE.

UH, WE TOOK SOME PHOTOGRAPHS, THAT'S THE VIEW OF THE HOUSE.

THERE'S PARKING THERE IN THE FRONT, UH, SITE DOWN THE STREET THERE, OTHER PART OF THE STREET AND AMPLE PARKING IN THE GRAVEL AREA THERE.

AND THEY DO HAVE A THREE BAY GARAGE THERE.

UH, SO PREVIOUSLY THIS WAS OPERATED AS A BED AND BREAKFAST AS YOU RECALL.

UH, THE OWNER, UH, NOW HAS DETERMINED THEY'D LIKE TO DO A LODGING HOUSE.

YOUR CODE DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN THE TWO, BETWEEN A BED AND BREAKFAST AND A LODGING HOUSE.

UH, SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE PROPERTY IN FULL COMPLIANCE AND IN HARMONY WITH YOUR CODE.

SO THAT'S THE REASON, UH, THEY CAME WITH THE APPLICATION.

UH, THERE'S THE PARKING THERE AGAIN FOR THE GRAVEL AND THE SURVEY PLAID THAT SHOWED THE, UH, PARKING.

SO THEY HAVE AMPLE PARKING.

UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID PLACE NO CONDITIONS ON THIS, UH, PROJECT WHEN THEY DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? THANK YOU, SIR.

NO, MS. EMBRY AT THIS TIME, IF YOU'D LIKE TO AS THE APPLICANT, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH TO SAY? IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT NES IT'S COMPLETELY UP TO YOU.

, I'M JANELLE EMBRY, UH, THE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY.

AND, UM, THESE THREE FOLKS ARE ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE NONPROFIT.

WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A BOARDING HOUSE THAT WELCOMES FOLKS THAT ARE AT RISK, INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED, WHO HAVE FAILED IN GROUP HOMES AND NEED AN ALTERNATIVE LIVING SITUATION.

AND, UM, IF APPROVED TONIGHT, THEN WE PLAN ON GOING DOWN TO MR. WARE'S OFFICE AND GETTING OUR BUSINESS LICENSE AND WILL BE FULLY LEGIT.

AND AT THAT POINT WE HAVE SOME, SOME THINGS IN MIND THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO TO MAYBE HELP OTHERS.

AND IN THAT, I'VE SENT EACH ONE OF YOU A PERSONAL EMAIL DESCRIBING HOW IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU COULD OFFER ANY SUPPORT BACK TO US.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR THESE THREE FOLKS THAT LIVE THERE, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.

ERIN.

DO YOU ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. EMBRY? JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PROVIDING A MUCH NEEDED SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

ANYBODY ELSE? I'LL SAY, UH, DITTO TO, UH, COUNCILMAN'S, UH, WOODS STATEMENT THERE.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TOO.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING AS WELL.

ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS APPLICATION? OKAY, WITH, SINCE THERE ARE NONE, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND USUALLY AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD GIVE THE APPLICANT A CHANCE TO SPEAK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO ADD, BUT I, I DOUBT ANYTHING'S CHANGED IN THE LAST 60 SECONDS, RIGHT, .

UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE COUNCIL.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THE COUNCIL GRANT A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A LODGING HOUSE TO A VOTE OF LIBERATION AT 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE TAX MAP.

20 A 12 DASH FOUR DASH SIX AS PRESENTED.

AND THIS IS GIVING INDIVIDUALS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO, UH, IMPROVE THEIR LIFE.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME OF DISCUSSION? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE PEOPLE TRYING TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TOWN CODE, SO THANK YOU FOR GETTING AHEAD OF THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING FRONT ROYAL FOR YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS.

I KNOW IT'S A NON-PROFIT, BUT, UM, IT'S A MUCH NEEDED SERVICE AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, MADAM MAYOR, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, I KNOW, I KNOW THAT, UH, THE STRUGGLES OF, UH, INDIVIDUALS,

[00:20:01]

AND, UH, UH, I, I, UH, I HAVE SOMEONE PERSONAL THAT I KNOW THAT IS, UM, IS IN A, IN A GROUP HOME, AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A LODGING HOUSE, UH, IS A SENSE OF A GROUP HOME.

AND, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THIS UPON YOURSELF TO BRING THIS TO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I WISH YOU WELL.

ANYBODY ELSE? UH, MADAM MAYOR.

I'D JUST LIKE TO, UH, UH, SAY THIS AS MY PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBER, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID, UH, THANKING THE APPLICANT FOR, FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, PUTTING FAITH IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR PROVIDING A FACILITY OF THIS NATURE.

UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY A NICHE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS WOULDN'T THINK ABOUT IS NEED.

YOU KNOW, IT COULD, IT'S YOU FOR, FOR A COMMUNITY.

AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD AND I WISH YOU WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

SO ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU MS. EMBRY.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL THEN.

VICE MAYOR .

COUNCILMAN DE DEMON PAYNE? YES.

ALRIGHT, ITEM, UH, SEVEN B UM, IS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO CONVERT A MOTEL INTO A 39 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING AND 10 COMMERCE AVENUE FOR CCC ENTERPRISES OF VIRGINIA.

MR. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, RIGHT? OR MAYBE THIS WEEK.

[7.B. Special Use Permit to Convert a Motel into a 39-Unit Apartment Building at 10 Commerce Avenue for CCC Enterprises of VA]

AND SO, UM, MS. PRESLEY, IF YOU'LL READ THE SUMMARY, FIRST COUNSEL'S RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM CCC ENTERPRISES, LLC OF VIRGINIA FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO CONVERT A THREE STORY MOTEL INTO A THREE STORY 39 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING LOCATED AT 10 SOUTH COMMERCE AVENUE TAC TWO OH A EIGHT DASH 22 DASH SIX IN ZONED C DASH ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL EIGHT, APRIL 17TH, 2024, AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITION.

NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE OFF STREET PARKING PER TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 48 DASH EIGHT 70, PARKING AND LOADING AREAS.

THANK YOU, MS. PRESLEY.

SO STAFF, I UNDERSTAND YOU'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION AS WELL.

SO, APPLICATION 24 0 0 2 0 7, SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR 10 SOUTH COMMERCE AVENUE.

UH, THE PROPERTY IS LOADED, LOCATED THERE AT, UH, THE INTERSECTION OF COMMERCE AVENUE AND EAST STONEWALL DRIVE, UH, SINCE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THEIR WORK SESSION.

AND THIS COUNCIL HAD TWO WORK SESSIONS.

STAFF NOW HAS COMPILED A PRESENTATION, UH, TO KIND OF EXPAND ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY HAD.

SINCE THIS IS THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE TOWN COUNCIL.

UH, THERE'S SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BAYMONT, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA, THE FRONT THERE AND THE SIDE, UH, PHOTOGRAPH IN ONE OF THE REAR.

UH, SO THAT'S A THREE STORY, UH, APART, UH, MOTEL AT THIS TIME.

UH, SO WITH OUR THING, IT'S A SPECIAL USE TO CONVERT THE THREE STORY MOTEL INTO A 39 UNIT RESIDENTIAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 10 SOUTH COMMERCE AVENUE.

UH, AGAIN, ZONE C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT, UH, CODE 1 75 39 B RESIDENTIAL.

THE FOLLOWING USES ARE PERMITTED IN THE C ONE, BUT ONLY BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

THAT'S THE REASON OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE HERE.

THE CODE REQUIRES FOR APARTMENTS OR DWELLING UNITS WITH FOUR MORE UNITS OR WHERE LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

AND THEY'RE SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS 1 75, 1 13.

SO THAT, UH, PART OF THAT 1 75, 39 B KICKS THAT OVER TO 1 75, 1 13 IN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.

UH, ALSO THIS GOES FROM A MOTEL HOTEL INTO RESIDENTIAL.

SO THIS IS A CHANGE OF USE AS DEFINED BY YOUR CODE.

THAT'S ANY CHANGE FROM ONE BUSINESS ACTIVITY TO ANOTHER.

SO WE HAVE A CHANGE OF USE.

AND WITH THAT 1 75, 1 0 4 OFF STREET

[00:25:01]

PARKING IS REQUIRED.

THESE ARE FOR NEW USES OR CHANGE OF USE.

SO THEY HAVE TO MEET THE NEW, UH, PROVISIONS BASED ON THE CHANGE OF USE.

AND UNDER 1 48, 8 70 A TWO, PARKING AND LOADING TELLS US THAT THE MOTELS REQUIRE ONE PARKING SPACE PER ROOM AND ONE ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES FOR EVERY 10 ROOMS. UH, THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY HAS 102 PARKING SPACES.

SO IF WE GO FROM THE CHANGE OF USE FROM THE MOTEL HOTEL TO RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS IS TWO PARKING SPACES PER DWELLING UNIT.

SO THE PROPOSED USE IS FOR 39 RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS, THUS REQUIRING 78 PARKING SPACES.

UH, OFF STREET PARKING IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARKING LOT ON THE PROPERTY, AND WE CAN DISCUSS THAT A LITTLE BIT, UH, LATER, BUT THEY DO HAVE PARKING AVAILABLE.

UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS, IS THIS USE APPROPRIATE FOR THE LOCATION WITHIN THE C ONE DISTRICT? AND IS THE DECISION BASED UPON SOUND ZONING PRINCIPLES, STANDARDS, AND GUIDELINES? AS PER THE APPLICATION, THE INTENDED USE IS TO PROVIDE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OR WORKFORCE HOUSING.

IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS DEFINED.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS DEFINED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

SO THEY, UH, GIVE US A DEFINITION WHAT WE USE, UH, DETERMINE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UH, SECTION EIGHT HOUSING IS WHICH RENT? RENT IS SUB IS A SUBSIDIZED PROGRAM FUNDED BY HUD, UH, TO ENABLE LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO RENT PRIVATELY OWNED, DECENT, SAFE, AND SANITARY HOUSING AS PER VIRGINIA CODE 24.

SO THIS IS NOT FOR THIS APPLICATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN THE SPRING WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT BLIGHTED PROPERTIES, BLIGHTED PROPERTIES HAVE A DEFINITION PER STATE CODE.

SO BLIGHTED PROPERTIES, IF DECLARED, UH, BY THE MUNICIPALITY TO BE BLIGHTED, THE INTENDED CODE BY THE STATE OF VIRGINIA IS FOR THOSE TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO DEVELOP INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNDER THE HUD CODE.

SO IF YOU REMEMBER, THAT WAS, SO IT'S KIND OF A MISUSE OF THE TERM.

WE TALKED BLIGHTED AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHEN WE USE THAT TERM, THAT ONLY WILL APPLY TO THE HUD HOUSING PROGRAM EVEN THOUGH WE USE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT MAY BE, IF YOU WANNA USE SAY IT A, A MISUSE OF THE TERM.

SO THAT'S WHY THE APPLICANT HAS STATED IT IS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, NOT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO AFTER COVID, UH, WE CAME UP WITH THIS TERM FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

UH, WHAT IS WORKFORCE HOUSING? WELL, GENERALLY ACCEPTED DEFINITION OF WORKFORCE HOUSING IS HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE EARNING BETWEEN 80 AND A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE A MI HOUSEHOLDS AND WORKFORCE HOUSING TYPICALLY EARN TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR THE HUD PROGRAM.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE ALSO UNABLE TO AFFORD MOST QUALITY MARKET RATE DEPARTMENTS.

MANY SUCH HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDE THOSE EMPLOYED IN THE CENTRAL SECTORS THAT HAVE STAGNANT WAGES.

SO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST, UH, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND STAFF, UH, LAST WEEK ATTENDED, UH, TRAINING AND CLASSES AT VCU AND THEY EXPANDED ON THIS.

UH, THIS IS NOT JUST HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.

THIS HOUSING SHORTAGE THAT WE'RE FACING IS HERE THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

UH, SO WORKFORCE HOUSING, YOU WOULD THINK OF TEACHERS, FIREMEN, POLICE OFFICERS, HOSPITAL SUPPORT STAFF, NURSES, MEDICAL PERSONNEL, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THE LIKE EMPLOYEES IN THESE SECTORS MAY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING ADEQUATE HOUSING, DOING THIS TO THE SOARING NET GROWTH OF MANY MARKETS.

AND WHAT WE FOUND OUT LAST WEEK, THE AVERAGE PRICE OF AN EXISTING HOME NATIONWIDE IS OVER $419,000.

AND WE ALSO LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT IF YOU BOUGHT A HOME FIVE YEARS AGO, THE MORTGAGE RATE, UH, AVERAGE WAS AROUND $1,300.

BUT THAT SAME HOUSE TODAY IS $2,600 A MONTH.

SO THE MORTGAGE RATES HAVE DOUBLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, UH, FOR THE PAYMENT.

SO WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IN THIS, THERE'S A WIDE GAP, UH, BEFORE WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING, BUT THEIR, THEIR WAGES ARE STAGNANT, BUT THE COST OF HOUSING CONTINUES TO RISE AND THERE'S A VOID NEEDED TO FILL THIS.

SO WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION? UH, THE SIZE OF THE DWELLING UNITS, 1 75 3.

SO WE'RE DOING A CONVERSION

[00:30:01]

FROM MOTEL HOTEL INTO DWELLING UNITS.

SO YOUR CODE DEFINES THAT, NOT LESS THAN 600 SQUARE FOOT, A RESIDENTIAL FLOOR AREA.

AND THOSE UNITS NEED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BUILDING CODE.

ALSO, THE NUMBER OF DWELLING UNITS PER THE CODE 1 75 13 A DEFINES THE AREA.

SO THEY HAVE 1.9546 ACRES, MULTIPLY THAT BY 43.

6 5 60 SQUARE FOOT IN THE ACRE, GIVES US A TOTAL OF 85 1 42.

WE MINUS 10,000 SQUARE FOOT OFF THE FIRST FOR THREE UNITS, DIVIDE REMAINDER BY TWO, WHICH GIVES YOU 37 57, ADD THE THREE PREVIOUS.

SO THE MAXIMUM NUMBER PER YOUR CODE ALLOWED FOR THIS STRUCTURE IS 40.

THEY CANNOT GO ABOVE 40 PER YOUR CODE.

ALSO, THE OPEN SPACE IS DEFINED THAT REQUIRES ONE FOURTH OF THE GROSS RESIDENTIAL FLOOR AREA TO BE SET ASIDE FOR PARKS OR PLAY AREAS ALREADY DETERMINED BY THE CODE.

SO THEY, UH, GAVE US SOME RENDERINGS OF THE, UH, CONVERSION.

UH, THESE ARE THE TYPICAL APARTMENTS THAT THEY'VE SHOWN.

UH, THEY DO HAVE A COMMON SPACE THERE.

UH, THE STRUCTURE DOES, IF YOU REMEMBER, HAS A RESTAURANT THERE.

THE RESTAURANT WILL STAY, UH, THEY HAVE A BANQUET HALL THAT WILL STAY.

UH, THEY HAVE AREAS FOR, UH, A COMMON AREA PLUS A WORKOUT GYM AREA THAT WOULD BE, UH, APPLICABLE TO THE RESIDENTS THERE.

AND THE OPEN SPACE WITH THE SWIMMING POOL WOULD BE FOR THE RESIDENTS.

UH, THAT'S THE CONCEPTUAL DRAWING OF THE REVISED GROUNDS AREA AT THE SWIMMING POOL WHERE THEY WOULD ADD OPEN SPACE REQUIRED BY YOUR CODE.

SO, AND, UH, THEY HAVE, UH, DEVELOPED A COUPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

UH, OPTION ONE, UH, THEY COULD DO, UH, 24 1 BEDROOM UNITS, UH, THREE UNITS, ONE BEDROOM WITH, UH, DENS AND TWO BEDROOM, UH, 12 TWO BEDROOM UNITS GIVEN A TOTAL OF 39.

UH, THEY DO HAVE ANOTHER OPTION WHERE THEY COULD DO, UH, 15 BEDROOMS, SINGLE, UH, AND 12 BEDROOMS WITH A DEN AND A TWO BEDROOM, UH, 12 TWO BEDROOM UNITS, AGAIN WITH THE 39 WITH THESE THREE FLOORS.

UH, THE OTHER OPTION THEY'RE CONSIDERING IS ONLY DOING 36 UNITS, UH, 15, ONE BEDROOM, THREE, ONE BEDROOMS WITH A DEN AND TWO, TWO BEDROOMS, 18 WITH TWO BEDROOMS. THEY HAVE THOSE THREE OPTIONS.

WITH THAT, UH, THERE'S THE LAYOUT OF THE, UH, PARKING AREA.

SO WHAT WE HAVE IS LIKE ANY STRUCTURES THAT COME BEFORE THIS, THIS IS CONSIDERED A RENOVATION PER YOUR CODE.

SO, UH, 1 75 3 DEFINES WHAT A STRUCTURAL ALTERATION IS.

SO WHAT IS GOING FOR ANY PROJECT LIKE THIS, WHETHER IT REQUIRES A SPECIAL USE PERMIT OR NOT, UH, FOR EXISTING PROPERTIES LIKE THIS, THOSE FOR THE NUMBER OF DWELLING UNITS AND THE OPEN SPACE AND THE PARKING WOULD NOT COME BACK BEFORE YOU TO VOTE ON.

THOSE ARE ALREADY COVERED UNDER THE CODE.

THE CODE ALREADY DEFINES THAT BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE AREA, DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF DWELLING UNITS THEY HAVE TO MEET THE MINIMUM OF THE, UH, DWELLING UNIT PER RESIDENTIAL FLOOR AREA, WHICH THEY HAVE.

AND THEY HAVE TO MEET THE PARKING.

SO THOSE WOULD NOT COME BACK BEFORE THIS BODY TO VOTE ON THE CODE ALREADY DEFINES WHAT THE LIMITATIONS AND THE MAXIMUM CAN BE FOR THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

SO WHEN, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, ANYONE THAT WOULD SUBMIT FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT, THEY WOULD DO INTERIOR RENOVATIONS THAT REQUIRES A ZONING PERMIT FROM THE ZONING DEPARTMENT.

WE WOULD CHECK THE SIZE OF THE DWELLING UNITS, PARKING, AND THE OPEN SPACE.

THEN THOSE PLANS, ARCHITECTURAL AND STRUCTURAL PLANS WILL BE FORWARD TO THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY WOULD REVIEW ALL THE BUILDING CODE, FIRE CODE, A DA, THOSE WOULD NOT COME BACK BEFORE THIS BODY.

THOSE AGENCY WOULD REVIEW THE PLANS FOR THIS RENOVATION.

ALL THESE RENOVATIONS HAD TO BE BROUGHT UP TO THE APPLICABLE CODE PRESENT FOR THE RENOVATION.

SO THOSE WOULD NOT COME BACK, UH, TO THIS BODY OR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

UH, THIS STRUCTURE IS NOT LOCATED IN THE ENTRANCE CORRIDOR NOR WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

SO THE EXTERIOR UPGRADES WOULD NOT COME BEFORE THOSE BOARDS.

UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, IS THIS USE APPROPRIATE FOR THE

[00:35:01]

LOCATION WITHIN THE C ONE AND IS THE DECISION BASED UPON SOUND ZONING PRINCIPLES, STANDARDS, AND GUIDELINES? SO WE DISCUSSED THE STANDARDS AND THE GUIDELINES PREVIOUSLY.

SO NOW, UH, PART IS A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE AS PART OF YOUR APPROVE, UH, OF YOUR APPROVED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

IF YOU REMEMBER, AND I KNOW NOT ALL MEMBERS THAT SERVE ON THE COUNCIL WAS HERE WHEN, UH, THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVED THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO I WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME AREAS THAT ARE PART OF YOUR VISION GOALS AND STRATEGIES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

UH, ONE OF YOUR GOALS AND VISION WAS TO OFFER A MIX OF AVAILABLE HOUSING TYPES IN TOWN TO ENSURE THAT THE STOCK REMAINS VARIED AND DIVERSE FOR DIFFERENT HOUSING NEEDS.

THAT WAS ONE OF YOUR GOALS.

ANOTHER GOAL WAS IMPLEMENT METHODS FOR INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING RIGHT OUTTA THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

AND A, A GOAL WAS TO INCREASE THE DENSITY IN AREAS THAT ARE EASY, WALK OR BIKE TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND TO ENCOURAGE THE RETROFITTING AND REDEVELOPMENT OF OLDER HOTEL MOTELS.

SO WITH THAT, WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROVIDES AN INFUSION OF MUCH NEEDED HOUSING IN ONE LOCATION WITH A REDEVELOPMENT OF AN EXISTING STRUCTURE.

THE EXTENSION OF UTILITIES IS NOT NEEDED.

WATER, SEWER AND ELECTRICITY WILL NOT NEED TO BE EXTENDED.

THEY'RE PRESENTLY ON SITE TRAFFIC IMPACT.

IT WILL REDUCE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA.

UH, IT WOULD AS MOTEL, IT WOULD OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY, 102 ROOMS. THE MOTEL, UH, WITH THE CONVERSION, IT WOULD GO DOWN TO 39 DWELLING UNITS AT FULL CAPACITY.

SO IT'LL BE A REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA.

UH, WITH HIS PROXIMITY TO EAST MAIN STREET, HE ADDS TO THE REVITALIZATION OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

AND ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR ALL'S GO, UH, THE TOWN COUNCIL GOLD IS WALKABILITY.

SIDEWALKS AND ACCESSIBILITY TIE INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS LAID OUT AND, UH, APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL SHOWS THE GOALS, VISIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR THIS, FOR THIS AREA.

AND THIS APPLIES TO THIS PROPERTY.

UH, WE UNDERSTAND ALSO, UH, THE BAYMONT FOR ITS CENTRAL LOCATION THERE AT, UH, COMMERCE AVENUE AND EAST STONEWALL DRIVE.

IT'S A WITHIN A QUARTER MILE WALKING DISTANCE OF THE GAZEBO AREA.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT ALSO, IT'S A HALF A MILE WALK FROM ALL BUSINESSES, ALL SHOPS, ALL RESTAURANTS ON MAIN STREET.

IN ACTUALITY, UH, IF I CAN GET THE POINTER TO WORK, UH, TOP OF THE BUBBLE THERE IS, UH, WHERE WE'RE AT THIS EVENING, SO IT'S IN WITH A HALF A MILE WALKING OF THIS SOUTH OF THAT IS RURAL KING SHOPPING CENTER.

SO, SO IT IS WITHIN THAT HALF A MILE WALKING AREA FROM THE BAYMONT, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE EAST MAIN STREET AREA FOR ALL SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, AND, UH, BUSINESSES LOCATED IN THAT AREA.

SO AGAIN, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT ON APRIL 17TH WITH THE ONE CONDITION THE APPLICANT MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE OFF STREET PARKING PER 1 48, 8 70 OF THE PARKING AND LOADING AREAS.

I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.

UH, YOU HAD TWO WORK SESSIONS WITH THIS.

UM, SO I'M HOPING WE KIND OF CONDENSE THE APPLICATION TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY, UH, TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THAT DID NOT ATTEND THE WORK SESSIONS.

UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR TOWN STAFF AT THIS TIME? CAN UH, ANY WHAT? YEAH, CAN YOU REPEAT THE, UH, THE CODE, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, THE MINIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE, UH, WAS 600.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

SO 6 32 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? YEAH, SIX.

SO NOT LESS THAN 600 SQUARE FOOT OF RESIDENTIAL FLOOR AREA.

SO THEY, UH, THEY CAN MEET THAT FOR ALL THE ROOMS AT THE 39.

UH, WE RE UH, REVIEWED THAT ALREADY, UH, WITH THE ONE OPTION, UH, REDUCING THAT TO 36 OBVIOUSLY WOULD ADD SQUARE FOOTAGE TO THOSE ROOMS SO THEY MEET THE MINIMUM, EACH OF THE ROOMS MEETS THE MINIMUM, UH, STANDARD FOR RESIDENTIAL FLOOR AREA IN THAT.

IT APPEARS ON THESE NEW PLANS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? UM, MR. WARE? SO I KNOW EARLY ON IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GONNA BE 5 32 OR 5 82 AS ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS, BUT

[00:40:01]

THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS WELL OVER 600 IN ALL THE UM, CASES.

IS THAT, AM I READING THIS CORRECTLY? YES.

SO, BUT THIS WOULD, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS PROJECT WOULD COME IF APPROVED, IT WOULD COME BACK TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.

WHEN THEY, UH, SUBMIT THE ARCHITECTURAL AND STRUCTURAL PLANS.

WE WOULD REVIEW THAT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THOSE MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.

THE MAXIMUM NUMBER IS 40 BASED ON THE AREA AREA, BUT OF THE LAND DICTATES THE NUMBER OF DWELLING UNITS.

BUT WE HAVE TO, WE WOULD REVIEW TO MAKE SURE EACH RESIDENTIAL FLOOR AREA FOR EACH UNIT WOULD MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT THAT WOULD NOT COME BACK BEFORE THIS BODY TO VOTE ON THAT'S ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED.

AND IS PLANNING AND ZONING AWARE THAT ONE OF THESE TYPE OF CONVERSIONS, UH, WAS COMPLETED IN ROOKE, VIRGINIA LAST YEAR OF A DAYS IN? YES.

YEAH, WE WAS AWARE OF THAT AND ACTUALLY, UH, TOWN STAFF SPOKE TO THE HABITAT OF HUMANITY THAT ENGINEERED, UH, THAT PROJECT IN ROANOKE, UH, LAST WEEK ABOUT HOW THEY WENT ABOUT DOING THAT.

WELL IT WENT FROM A CRACK HOUSE TO A BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT WORKING PROFESSIONALS ARE LIVING IN TODAY.

THEY WAS WELL SATISFIED WITH THAT.

AND THAT THIS WAS THE DESCRIPTION WHEN I VISITED THE PROPERTY, THE GENTLEMAN MANAGING IT, I, I DIDN'T MAKE UP THE CRACK HOUSE.

MARK .

POLICE DEPARTMENT, ECSTATIC TO HAVE THE PROBLEM.

MATTER OF FACT, THEY HAVE OFFICERS LIVING THERE AS WELL AS NURSES AND EMT, BUT YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.

SO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPARE IT TO WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS.

YEAH, WE SPOKE TO, UH, THEM LAST WEEK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE WAS AT UH, VCU.

WE BROUGHT THAT UP.

BRUCE ALSO SHARED IT WITH COUNSEL AFTER THE FIRST WORK SESSION.

I HAVE A QUESTION COUNCILWOMAN, UM, REFRESH MY MEMORY AND I APOLOGIZE IF WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE, BUT THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, IF THEY, IF WE ISSUE THIS FOR THEM FOR THE WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR NOW, UM, THAT EXTENDS FOR THE LIFE THAT THEY HAVE THIS PROPERTY OR HOW, WHEN, WHEN CAN THAT SPECIAL USE PERMIT CHANGE? THE, THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, UH, ATTORNEY SON MAY, UH, WEIGH ON THIS, BUT SPECIAL USE PERMIT RUNS WITH THE PROPERTY REGARDLESS WHO, WHO THE OWNER IS.

SO ANYBODY COMING IN, EVEN IF THEY SOLD THE PROPERTY AT THAT WOULD, THEY WOULD STILL BE COMMITTED TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.

AND EVEN IF THE BUSINESS MODEL DID NOT SAY THE BUSINESS MODEL DIDN'T WORK OUT AND THEY WANTED TO CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT SORT OF RENTAL UNIT, ARE THEY ALLOWED TO DO THAT OR THEY'D HAVE TO COME BACK AND DO ANOTHER DIFFERENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT? I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND, I, WHAT I WANNA DO IS JUST UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE ARE VOTING ON THIS, YOU KNOW, DOES IT PRETTY, PRETTY MUCH LOCK IT IN FOR A LONG TIME? WELL, THEY WOULD HAVE, THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO DO THE CONVERSION TO RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

I I'M, I'M ASSUMING IT COULD REMAIN A MOTEL HOTEL COULD REMAIN FOR THAT, BUT THEIR APPLICATION IS TO DO THE CONVERSION WITH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

BUT COULD THEY CHANGE THE WORKFORCE? THE WORKFORCE IS WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE WOR I WANT IT TO STAY WORKFORCE HOUSING.

SO HOW DOES THAT WORK? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE.

AM I CORRECT? RIGHT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

SO THE WORKFORCE HOUSING, THAT IS A GENERAL TERM THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAME UP WITH BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE WERE MISUSING THE WORD AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS DEFINED.

SO THAT IS NOT WITHIN OUR CODE, THAT IS JUST A GENERAL STATEMENT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THIS HOUSING SHORTAGE IN OUR AREA, THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE UNITED STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO THAT'S A GENERAL TERM, UH, THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS COME UP WITH.

I ALWAYS SAY HOUSING THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD .

UH, UH, MAYBE MORE APPROPRIATELY THAN THEY COULD BUDGET.

YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

COUNCILWOMAN.

UH, IF THEY WERE TO TRY TO CHANGE THEIR BUSINESS MODEL, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK IN FOR A CHANGE OF USE.

SO EVEN IF YOU GRANT THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT AND HE WANTS TO SWITCH TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, HE'S STILL GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK IN AND REAPPLY.

SO DETERMINING ON WHAT THAT, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT USE IS, HE MAY HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU UNLESS HE DID SOMETHING BY RIGHT, THEN IT WOULD STAY ADMINISTRATIVE WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.

BUT A RENTAL IS A RENTAL.

SO, UM, I KNOW THIS MIGHT BE GETTING TOO MUCH IN THE WEED, BUT YOU KNOW, UM, IF HE, IF HE IS APPLYING FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO CONVERT IT TO RENTAL PROPERTIES MM-HMM.

AND HE IS STILL GONNA HAVE RENTAL PROPERTIES, BUT SAY CHANGES FROM THE WORKFORCE HOUSING PIECE OF IT.

THEN WILL HE HAVE TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT AT THAT TIME? NO.

NO.

I THINK, UM, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, I THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, BUT IF NOT, I WANTED TO KNOW IT ANYWAY.

[00:45:01]

SO, UM, SO THE SLIDE WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE INTENDED USE, WHICH THE INTENDED USE WAS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING AND I, AND I GOT ALL THE, LIKE THE DEFINITIONS AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT IT MIGHT BE SUBJECTIVE TO SOME.

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, UM, IT'S KIND OF ALONG THOSE SAME LINES AS COUNCILWOMAN DE DOMINICAN PAYNE, BUT UM, IF THAT'S THE INTENDED USE, CAN IT SWITCH TO SECTION EIGHT HOUSING WITHOUT IT COMING BACK BEFORE COUNCIL? THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

'CAUSE THE APPLICA, THE APPLICANT SAYS THE INTENDED USE AND THEN IT SAYS THE INTENDED USE IS NOT FOR, SO MY QUESTION IS DOES THIS BODY HAVE, UM, AND THIS AND, AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING, DO THEY HAVE ANY, UM, UH, INPUT OR, OR I DON'T WANNA SAY CONTROL, BUT THAT, THAT, THAT THOSE, THE INTENDED USE WOULDN'T SWITCH ONCE, YOU KNOW, ONE YEAR FROM NOW, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, 20 YEARS FROM NOW? I, I'M, THAT'S A, I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

'CAUSE THAT'S, IS THAT KIND OF WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO ASK? I WASN'T ASKING THAT, BUT THAT'S ALONG THE LINES OF IT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, IT SWITCH LOWER OR HIGHER.

IT'S WHAT I'M, YOU KNOW, HE COULD, HE COULD WANT TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, MILLION, YOU KNOW, HOUSING FOR MILLIONAIRE, YOU KNOW, AT, AT THE BAY OF IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SO EITHER, EITHER DIRECTION, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THE TOWN ATTORNEY GAVE US DIRECTION ON THIS AT OUR WORK SESSION, UM, WITH THE IMPLICATION OF INTENDED USE.

THERE IS NO CONTROL OVER COUNSEL TO DICTATE THE USE MR. SAUNA.

IS THAT ACCURATE? I AGREE WITH THAT.

UM, AS FAR AS SECTION EIGHT, THAT ALSO IS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY A MARKETING ISSUE.

I MAYBE, I'M, MAYBE I'M MISSTATING THAT SLIGHTLY, BUT IT, IT'S NOT A ZONING ORDINANCE ISSUE.

SO TYPICALLY STAFF IS NOT DICTATING WHO THE APPLICANT IS RUNNING TO WE WHEN THEY HAVE PERMISSION FOR A USE.

SO WE WOULD POTENTIALLY BE GOING FROM A COMMERCIAL USE TO A RESIDENTIAL USE ONCE WE HAVE THAT.

WE DON'T TELL THEM WHO THEY RENT TO, HOW MUCH THEY CHARGE.

WE DON'T DICTATE THEIR BUSINESS PLAN.

IT IS WHETHER OR NOT THIS USE IS APPROPRIATE AT THAT LOCATION.

I UNDERSTAND.

I JUST, BECAUSE THAT WAS PART OF THE PRESENTATION AND I DON'T RECALL, UM, I DON'T RECALL PUTTING IT THAT SPECIFIC DURING THE WORK SESSION.

SO I WAS THINKING MAYBE, 'CAUSE YOU SAID YOU HAD ADDRESSED SOME OF THE COUNCIL'S CONCERNS IN, IN THE PRESENTATION AND I, I DO BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS IF THE, THE USE WERE TO CHANGE OR, UM, SO, OKAY.

WHEN THEY APPROVE AND INSPECT AND DO FINAL INSPECTIONS AND CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCIES AS WELL.

OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONS? I HAVE ANOTHER ONE FOR STAFF AND I GUESS IT, UH, SURROUNDS ADDING ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS.

AND I THINK ABOUT THIS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, WE HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS ABOUT OUR AFTERNOON, THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.

UM, I, I THINK I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THIS, THIS IS THE, WAS AT ONE TIME THE CROWN JEWEL OF DOWNTOWN AND WHERE PEOPLE STAYED.

AND I BELIEVE WHAT THE OWNER'S TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THE PROPERTY RELEVANT AGAIN, FILL A NEED.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT CONDITIONS ON IT IF APPROVED, THAT A PLAN WOULD HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED JUST SO WE DON'T HAVE, AGAIN, AN ONGOING PROJECT LIKE IT IS WITH THE AFTERNOON.

SO IS THAT POSSIBLE? THAT'S POSSIBLE.

YOU COULD PUT A TIME LIMIT ON THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

YOU COULD ASK THAT THEY REAPPLY WITHIN OR YOU COULD PUT LIKE A YEAR TIMELINE ON IT.

UM, YOU CAN TYPICALLY DICTATE HOW LONG, BUT OKAY, THANK YOU.

IF I MAY, I'LL ADD TO THAT.

SO, UM, I THINK THE CONDITION WOULD RELATE TO APPROVAL OF PLANS AND PERMITS WITHIN A CERTAIN LENGTH OF TIME.

THE CONSTRUCTION PART OF THAT, I THINK, UM, WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO, UM, WOULD BE DIFFICULT HONESTLY FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER TO DEAL WITH.

UM, THERE COULD BE CONSTRUCTION DELAYS.

I MEAN, ANY NUMBER OF OF ISSUES COULD COME UP AS FAR AS A COMPLETION DATE, BUT I THINK APPROVAL OF PLANS AND ISSUANCE OF PERMITS COULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A CONDITION.

FURTHERMORE, I BELIEVE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD IS DICTATED BY THE BUILDING CODE OFFICIALS OFFICE

[00:50:01]

IF THERE'S ANY FINANCING INVOLVED IN THIS, THEY WON'T APPROVE DRAWS FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THINGS.

AND FORTUNATELY, UNLIKE THE A AFTERNOON WHO HAVE VERY DEDICATED, LOYAL OWNERS TO PRESERVATION, THIS ISN'T PART OF THE EDA SCANDAL THAT WE FORMALLY FACED, WHICH THE A IS.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO, UM, KINDA ADD TO WHAT COUNCILMAN, UH, WOOD WAS WAS ASKING IN A WAY, UH, SHOULD, YOU KNOW, SHOULD THERE BE A CONDITION PUT ON THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR, UH, FOR CONSTRUCTION, BUT LET'S JUST SAY IF THIS DOES GET PASSED, COULD, COULD WE DO LIST, LIKE LAUREN JUST SAID, MAYBE ASK AFTER A YEAR, REAPPLY AFTER A YEAR, OR MAKE, MAKE HAVE A, HAVE A YEAR ON THIS, ON THE, ON THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND THEN HAVE 'EM REAPPLY NEXT YEAR OR, OR WHAT, TWO YEARS OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WOULD THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S POSSIBLE AS WELL.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IF, IF WE WERE TO ADD THAT CONDITION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, I MEAN, I THINK TRYING TO GET WITH THE CONSTRUCTION, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATION, I THINK IT'S GOING A BIT IN THE WEEDS.

I MEAN, AS, AS YOU SAID, JOHN, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT HAS TO BE APPROVED PER, PER CODE ANYWAYS.

SO, AND WE DON'T LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY'S GONNA DECIDE AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA DECIDE WITHOUT US NOT, I MEAN WE'RE, WE'RE HERE FOR THE USE OF IT, RIGHT? SO, UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE, IF COUNSEL WOULD, WOULD CONSIDER DISCUSSING IT IF, IF MAYBE IF THIS DOES GET APPROVED, MAYBE IF IT'S, IF IT'S FEASIBLE TO PUT A, PUT IT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MAKE IT APPLICABLE FOR A YEAR.

AND, AND I'M SAYING THIS BECAUSE, AND, AND I'M, I'M GOING WITH WHAT PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE INTENDED USE.

I MEAN, I, I I THINK THAT IT'S, IT'S FAIR TO GIVE, GIVEN THE HISTORY.

I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW, I MEAN, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS THAT THAT HOTEL, I MEAN, I WOULDN'T SAY ANYBODY IN THE ROOM, BUT I, I'VE, I'VE, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A HIGH, HIGH, UM, LET'S JUST SAY THERE'S, THERE ARE A LOT OF POLICE CALLS THAT, THAT ARE AT THAT LOCATION.

AND HISTORICALLY, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITH THE CURRENT IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE THAT, THAT, THAT WERE MADE, YOU KNOW, UM, I I I JUST, I I I KNOW THAT THERE'S A HIGH VOLUME OF, OF, OF CALLS THERE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THE, UH, APPLICANT'S, YOU KNOW, LOOKING TO IMPROVE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IMPROVE HIS, HIS, UH, CLIENTELE, IF YOU WILL.

UM, BUT ALSO, LIKE I SAID, IT'S, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I'D I'D LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHO DOES END UP THERE, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T HAVE MAYBE A YEAR IF WE'LL KNOW, YOU KNOW, I, I'M JUST, I'M KIND OF THROWING A NUMBER OUT THERE, BUT I'M JUST, I'M JUST THROWING AT THERE FOR DISCUSSION.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR THE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.

UM, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE WERE MEMBERS SITTING ON THIS DAIS OF THIS COUNCIL THAT PROPOSED WHEN THE TRELLIS CAME BEFORE US, UM, THAT ITS SPECIAL USE PERMIT, HAVE A TIMEFRAME ON IT BEFORE IT HAVE TO BE RENEWED ANNUALLY.

UM, SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

THIS IS NOT THE ONLY APPLICANT IN WHICH THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED.

I'D LIKE TO ADD THOUGH, I THINK PROBABLY A YEAR IS NOT ENOUGH.

I'M NOT ONE TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD TOO MUCH, BUT YOU FIGURE IF YOU'RE TALKING PERMITS, CONSTRUCTION AND ALL OF THAT, THEY WON'T KNOW WHO THEIR, THEIR PEOPLE AND HOW THAT BUSINESS MODEL IS GOING.

I WOULD SAY AT LEAST THREE IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

UM, BUT IF OR WHOEVER WANTS TO MAKE THE MOTION, I WOULD JUST SAY NOT, NOT A YEAR.

IT NEEDS TO BE LONGER GIVEN OUR PROCESS.

SO COUNSEL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I BELIEVE THAT, UM, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT BUT ABOUT THIS, AND I'M, THAT MR. SONIC CAN, UH, CONFIRM OR NOT, BUT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE MOTION, I BELIEVE.

IT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD, THAT WE WOULD HAVE COUNT, UH, HAVE STAFF DO LATER.

SO, MR. WARE, THANK YOU.

AND AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA, IF THE APPLICANT WISHES TO SPEAK, DO, WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO SPEAK? ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S A GREAT LOCATION DOWNTOWN.

YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME.

HELLO AGAIN.

I'M KYLE HOPKINS.

I'M WITH FOURSQUARE ARCHITECTS OUT OF WINCHESTER.

I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS BRIEF.

UM, BUT SO BASICALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT LOCAL OWNERS.

AGAIN, THESE AREN'T DC DEVELOPERS, THESE AREN'T DEVELOPERS FROM RICHMOND.

UH, TRY AND TAKE AN OLD BUILDING ON A PROMINENT CORNER AND GIVE IT SOME LOVE THAT IT NEEDS.

UH, THE 39 UNITS AIM TO BE APPROACHABLE TO NORMAL WORKING FRONT ROYAL PEOPLE.

THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SECTION EIGHT FOR LOW INCOME, UH, PRICES THAT ARE NOT TOO HIGH, NOT TOO LOW.

THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S GOING INTO THIS PROPERTY TO, TO CHANGE IT FROM WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW TO WHAT THE RENDERING SHOW.

AND I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE, FOR THE OWNER, BUT THEY DO WANNA MAKE MONEY.

THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHY THEY ARE, ARE GETTING INTO THIS.

UM,

[00:55:01]

I MEAN, IT IS AT THE BASE OF YOUR DOWNTOWN.

IT IS DROPPING 39 UNITS THAT, THAT, THAT'S BUILT IN FOR, FOR SHOPPING, FOR DINING, FOR, FOR GOING TO PUBLIC EVENTS.

THERE.

UH, IT'S MAKING IT MORE WALKABLE LIFESTYLE.

UH, SO IT SHOULD CUT DOWN ON TRAFFIC.

UH, IT'S DECENT SIZED UNITS, SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SQUEEZE TOO MANY IN ACTUALLY THAT THIRD OPTION WAS ADDITIONAL TWO BEDROOMS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE KIND OF CAUGHT THAT ONE, BUT THAT WAS, UH, I GUESS THERE WAS SOME FEEDBACK OR SOME REQUESTS TO SEE ADDITIONAL TWO BEDROOM UNITS.

SO THAT THIRD OPTION ACTUALLY HAS MORE TWO BEDROOMS KIND.

IT'S KIND OF EQUAL TWO BEDROOMS PLUS ONE BEDROOMS. UM, THERE ARE A TON OF AMENITIES IN THIS, UH, WHICH I WOULD KIND OF SEE.

I, I DOUBT THERE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, MANY AROUND HERE THAT OFFER AS MUCH.

BUT THE POOL, I MEAN, IT IS A GREAT POOL.

IT'S AMPLE GREEN SPACE LAUNDRY ON SITE.

IT'S COWORKING, UH, LOUNGE AREAS.

THERE'S STORAGE LOCKERS.

THERE'S AN ELEVATOR FOR A DA ACCESS.

UH, THERE'S ALSO A DA, THERE WILL BE A DA UNITS AS WELL, UM, FOR ANYONE WITH MOVEMENT, UH, DIFFICULTIES.

UM, WE CAN PARK, UH, TWO SPOTS PER UNIT.

SO THE PARKING'S NO LONGER AN ISSUE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME BACK AND FORTH BEFORE ON THAT ONE, BUT WE MADE IT WORK WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY OF THE RESTAURANT'S EXISTING BARKING.

UH, SO WE SHOULD BE GOOD THERE.

UH, POLICE CALLS, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD BE GOING DOWN AFTER CHANGING THE USE.

I MEAN, WE ARE, WE'RE CHANGING, UH, CLIENTELE ON THIS ONE.

I DON'T THINK THE OWNER WANTS TO DEAL WITH, UH, WITH POLICE CALLS AND THOSE HEADACHES.

UH, AND THEN ALSO TOO, JUST TO KIND OF BRING UP WHAT YOU GUYS WERE TALKING ABOUT, A YEAR IS DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GET DOCUMENTS DONE.

I MEAN, ON MY END IT'S GONNA TAKE SIX MONTHS.

UH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FOR ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTION, FINDING A CONTRACTOR AND THEN DOING IT, I MEAN, A YEAR IS JUST, IT'S NOT GONNA BE DOABLE.

UM, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING I HAD FROM THE, FROM THE ARCHITECTURE STANDPOINT.

THANKS KYLE.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

UH, MADAM MAYOR AND EACH OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HAD REQUESTED MS. TINA TO SHARE TWO DOCUMENTS WITH EACH ONE OF YOU.

ONE OF THEM IS THE PRESENTATION IN DETAIL OF EVERYTHING CURRENT AND IN FUTURE THAT WE PROPOSE TO DO.

AND THE SECOND ONE IS, UM, THE SHOW OF SUPPORT TOWARDS OUR APPLICATION BY SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF PUBLIC AND LOCAL BUSINESSES IN TOWN.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S THEIR WORKING DAY, WORKING EVENING, THEY CANNOT MAKE IT.

SO THEY HAD REPRESENTED THEMSELVES THROUGH SIGNATURES, SO THEY SHOULD BE AT EACH OF YOUR DESKS.

UM, SO BASICALLY, I, I DON'T WANT TO SUMMARIZE THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION FOR YOU.

I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM IT.

UH, FIRSTLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT IS WE HAVE PRIVATE FUNDING AVAILABLE.

SO WE ARE NOT SEEKING ANY BANK LOANS.

SO IF THAT WAS ANY OF A CONCERN, THAT IS NO LONGER THERE, WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH FUNDING AVAILABLE THROUGH PRIVATE, UH, INVESTORS THAT WE PERSONALLY KNOW.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S ON THE TABLE ALREADY.

UM, WE WILL OPERATE THE APARTMENT BUILDING VERY RESPONSIBLY WITH BACKGROUND CHECKS, SECURITY DEPOSITS, JOB GUARANTEES, REFERENCES, ET CETERA, ENOUGH TO SAY NO TO ANY APPLICANTS THAT WE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE RENTING THIS PLACE.

UM, WE FEEL COMFORTABLE AT THE MOMENT WITH LOCAL WORKFORCE.

AND SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THAT WE THINK ARE, UH, UH, WE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH WOULD BE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, TEACHERS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, TRAVELING, NURSES, EMTS, AND ANY OF THE LOCAL WORKING, UM, UH, CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN.

AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THIS HIGHLIGHTED, WE WILL NOT RENT TO SECTION EIGHT BECAUSE, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE MONEY WE ARE GONNA SPEND AND WE'RE GONNA SPEND OVER GOOD SIX FIGURES TO RENOVATE, NOT JUST INSIDE THE OUTSIDE THE GREEN SPACE, THE FENCE, THE PAINT, UH, APPLIANCES, ELECTRICAL UPGRADES, IT'S A LOT.

SO WE ARE, UH, NOT LOOKING TO GET THAT DAMAGED WITH OFFERING IT TO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW SECTION EIGHT IS THE ONE THAT'S DISCUSSED THE MOST, BUT ANYBODY WITH TEMPORARY FUNDING THAT IS NOT, UH, CAPABLE OF PAYING A YEARLY LEASE, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SAY, SAY NO TO SUCH CANDIDATES.

'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT OUR MONEY DESTROYED AND WE'RE ANSWERABLE TO THE PRIVATE FUNDERS TO US TOO.

SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU MAKE THAT DECISION.

UH, WE DO HAVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE TOWN ENERGY SERVICES.

ANY ADDITIONAL UTILITIES THAT WE NEED IS GOING TO BE MANAGED WITH EQUIPMENT UPGRADE, ESPECIALLY THE ELECTRICAL, WITH ALL THE APPLIANCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PUT IN.

THEY SAID IT IS MANAGEABLE, IT'LL JUST NEED A EQUIPMENT UPGRADE.

SO THAT COMES IN PART OF THE BUILDING PERMITS AND THE CONSTRUCTION TIME, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THAT.

UM, WE HAD A NEW ELEVATOR INSTALLED IN THE BUILDING LAST YEAR, SO IT'S GOOD FOR NEXT 30

[01:00:01]

YEARS WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE.

YOU KNOW, WITH NOW THE NEW ELEVATORS ACTUALLY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A VIDEO EMERGENCY CALL FEATURE RATHER THAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL.

SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WITH THE NEW, UH, UH, CODE FOR VIRGINIA.

UH, AGAIN, NOW FINALLY WITH ALL THE NEW HOTELS COMING UP IN THE I 66 CORRIDOR, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO STAY AFLOAT FINANCIALLY BECAUSE ALL THE TOURISTS ARE GOING THERE.

WE ONLY GET THE OVERFLOWS, WHICH ONLY HAPPENS ON, YOU KNOW, A FEW TIMES A YEAR.

SO IT IS, IT IS DIRE SITUATION FOR US.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TO REQUEST THIS TO BE CONVERTED.

UM, I KNOW THIS, UH, TOWN HAS KNOWN THIS HOTEL AS A LEGACY HOTEL DECADES AGO.

IT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.

LIKE CURRENTLY WE ARE SEASONALLY OCCUPIED ONLY AND THE OCCUPIES FALLING, UM, CONSTANTLY.

SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT FEASIBLE TO MAINTAIN THIS FINANCIALLY.

WE HAVE TURNED AWAY A LOT OF THE LOCAL GUESTS FOR A LONG TIME TO AVOID ANY UNPLEASANT SITUATIONS.

SO I KNOW YOU HEAR ABOUT POLICE, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE TRULY OUR CASES.

SO THESE ARE PEOPLE FROM OTHER TOWNS THAT COME LIVE HERE.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE A FRONT ROYAL ADDRESS.

WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM WE TURN AWAY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LIST OF, YOU KNOW, CUSTOMERS THAT WE SHOULD TURN AWAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FROM STRASBURG, WINCHESTER, THEY COME IN BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT NOT ALLOWED IN THOSE TOWNS.

SO THEY COME HERE, WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THEM.

AND AT FACE VALUE, SOMEBODY'S WALKING IN AT THE HOTEL, YOU CANNOT TELL WHETHER YOU'RE GONNA DAMAGE OR NOT, YOU KNOW, BUT WE DO NOT TAKE ANY CASH CUSTOMERS.

THAT'S BEEN THE POLICY FOR LONG TIME AGO.

RIGHT? SO JUST WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THAT.

UM, ALREADY MENTIONED, WE'RE GONNA SPEND UPWARD OF SIX FIGURES.

SO WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO, YOU KNOW, UM, ANY DAMAGES TO OUR MONEY AS WELL.

WE ARE GOING TO OFFER THE, UH, THE AMENITIES WITH THE RENT, THE SWIMMING POOL, THE TWO PARKING SPOTS PER APARTMENT, GREEN SPACE FOR OUTDOOR ENJOYMENT, SECURE ACCESS, 24 BY SEVEN.

CAMERA RECORDING, UH, BANQUET HALL.

CLUBHOUSE IS AVAILABLE FOR THE RENTER'S USE.

WE WILL HAVE LOCKERS ONSITE, LAUNDRY, CABLE, INTERNET VENDING MACHINES, AND A WALKIN CONNECTION TO THE MAIN STREET.

UH, PLEASE HELP US IMPROVE THIS, UH, BUILDING FOR THIS TOWN.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I MEAN, WE CAN STAY, JUST HANG TIGHT.

YES, THAT'S FINE.

SO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SHARMA OR MR. HOPKINS? IS THAT, WAS IT HOP? DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.

HOPKINS.

MAD A MAYOR.

UM, SO I SEE ON YOUR BULLET POINTS THAT YOU ATTACH TO HERE, YOU WILL HAVE AN ON ONSITE, AN ON-CALL MAINTENANCE PERSON AND MANAGER.

SO THAT MANAGER WILL BE ON SITE.

24 7.

SO IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES, ANYTHING THAT COMES UP, THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY THERE MANAGE IT.

I ALSO NOTICED IN YOUR AMENITIES, AND AGAIN COMPARING YOUR PROPERTY TO THE ONE IN ROOKE, UM, YOU HAVE THE SWIMMING POOL AND YOU'RE GONNA EXPAND THE GREEN SPACE OUT TO THE PARKING LOT ACCORDING TO THE DRAWINGS, CORRECT? YES.

AND THAT WILL INCLUDE PICNIC TABLES AND GRILLS? YES.

BECAUSE THERE IS, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE MOTEL WILL LOOK WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE BY.

THEY'RE GONNA BE GRILL OUT THERE, TOWELS HUNG OUT, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, STORAGE LOCKERS IS ANOTHER AMENITY.

I, I NOTICED WHEN I TOURED THE FACILITY.

YOU HAVE THE GYM THERE THAT'S GONNA BE AVAILABLE, THE COWORKING SPACE.

AND AGAIN, THE GREEN SPACE FOR OUT, UH, OUTDOOR ENJOYMENT.

AND OF COURSE BEING RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, UM, FROM MAIN STREET, YOU'VE INDICATED IN YOUR SECOND SET OF BULLET POINTS, A RANGE OF RENTALS, UM, WHICH OF COURSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO, BUT I, I APPRECIATE THAT AT LEAST THAT BEING ABLE TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT RENTING ONE AND TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS FOR THIS DOES INCLUDE ALL UTILITY EXCEPT FOR WATER.

SO ELECTRICITY WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RENT.

WATER WILL BE SEPARATE.

THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTIONS I HAD.

I WANNA MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR ON THAT.

THE, UH, LET ME DO THE EASIER ONE.

YEAH, I'M CAN JUST, YES, OUT LOUD.

UM, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO THE WATER SEPARATE.

UM, I JUST WOULD JUST BECAUSE LIKE WITH THE TOWN, OUR BILLS ARE WATER AND ELECTRIC TOGETHER.

I'M ASSUMING YOU'VE ALREADY TALKED TO I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE ENERGY SERVICES.

SORRY.

SO I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE ENERGY SERVICES.

THEY'VE TOURED, UH, MARY ELLEN AND HER, UH, ASSOCIATE, THEY TOURED THE WAY THIS BUILDING PLUMBING WAS AND ELECTRIC BOAT WERE INSTALLED.

[01:05:01]

THE ELECTRIC, THE EVERY ROOM HAS THEIR INDIVIDUAL PTAC.

SO THAT'S ON A SPECIAL SEPARATE BREAKER 'CAUSE IT'S 2 0 8 VOLTS.

THE REST OF THE ROOM IS ON A SEPARATE, UH, BREAKER.

THEY ARE IN TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUILDING.

SO FOR US TO COMBINE ELECTRICAL, YOU'LL HAVE A METER AND YOU'LL HAVE A METER AND YOU'LL HAVE A THIRD METER WIRELESSLY COMBINING AND MULTIPLY THAT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, NUMBER 39 UNITS OR WHERE ARE THESE METER GOING TO BE INSTALLED, LIKE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE ROOM OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND IT'S REMOTELY READING IT OR, AND THEN THE THIRD THING IS TO COMBINE THE TWO READINGS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH THE MONTHLY.

SO, SO THAT'S THE ELECTRICAL, THE WATER, BECAUSE IT'S AN L-SHAPED BUILDING, OUR WATER MAIN COMES FROM THE BASEMENT.

THAT'S WHEN IT STARTS, WHICH IS IN A SEPARATE BUILDING AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTIAL PART OF THE, WHERE THE RIGHT BELOW THE THAI, RIGHT IN THAT BASEMENT AREA.

THAT'S WHERE OUR WATER SOURCE STARTS.

AND IT RUNS THE LENGTH OF THAT BUILDING UNDER THE GROUND COMES UP INTO THE L-SHAPED BUILDING.

AND IT GOES VERTICALLY UP THIS WAY AND SPLITS THREE WAYS.

AND IT SPLITS MULTIPLE WAYS TO GO FOR THE ROOM BEHIND AND IN THE FRONT.

SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IN, UH, ONE OF THE DISCUSSION WAS, WHY CAN'T YOU MAKE SHOTGUN, UH, APARTMENTS THAT GO STRAIGHT THROUGH, COMBINE THE FRONT AND THE BACK RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN THE FLOORS IS WHERE THE PLUMBING LINES ARE RUNNING.

SO I CANNOT BUST TO GO ACROSS.

I HAVE TO GO ROOM SIDE BY SIDE.

SO WITH THAT, THE WATER RUNS THIS WAY, SPLITS TO THE SHOWER, TO THE TOILET, AND TO THE VANITY AGAIN.

AND THEN SOME ROOMS GET THE WATER FROM THE ROOM BELOW IT AND SOME GET IT FROM THE ROOM BESIDE IT.

SO THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WATER SOURCE IN THE SAME ROOM, IN THE SAME VANITY AREA.

SO AGAIN, BEHIND THE WALLS, PUT TWO METERS AND THEN HAVE A WAY TO COMBINE AND DO THAT 39 TIMES AND HOPE FOR NO ERROR.

SO IT'S A LOT OF, LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUST, LOT OF EQUIPMENT TO PUT AND THEN COMBINE AND DO THAT CORRECTLY.

SO THEY TOURED IT AND THEY SAID, REGARDLESS OF WHO PAYS, WE ARE CURRENTLY PAYING THE ENTIRE BILL ANYWAYS.

SO THAT'S OUR INTENT TO PAY THE ELECTRICAL AND THE WATER OURSELVES.

UH, AND THEN THE ELECTRIC WOULD BE BAKED INTO THE RENT, THE WATER.

WE HAVE DATA FOR LAST SO MANY YEARS OF WHAT EACH ROOM RENTS AND HOW MUCH UTILITY, WATER, ELECTRICITY USED WHEN WE RENT IT INDIVIDUALLY.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE FAMILY OF ONE.

WE RENT FAMILY OF TWO OR FAMILY OF FOUR THAT WE RENT ON A ONE NIGHT BASIS.

YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY A WEEK, BY A MONTH, YOU HAVE GENERAL IDEA.

IF A FAMILY OF FOUR WILL STAY IN THREE ROOMS, WHICH IS NOW ONE UNIT, WHAT WOULD IT APPROXIMATELY TAKE? OKAY.

SO THAT'S HOW WE INTEND TO DO THIS.

SO IT'S NOT BY ACTUAL USAGE, IT'S MORE BY LIKE A PREDICTION OF WHAT YOU GETTING YEAH.

HISTORICAL DATA.

SO, OKAY, NOW LET'S FAST FORWARD.

LET'S SAY 39 UNITS ARE OCCUPIED AND WE GET X AMOUNT OF WATER AND SEWER USAGE PER MONTH.

SO THEN WE GO BACK TO THE DATA WE HAVE FROM WHEN WE WERE RENTING THESE ROOMS INDIVIDUALLY.

AND HOW MUCH WAS IT MONTHLY AND HOW MUCH DID IT COME OUT PER, PER PER DAY, PER WEEK FOR US? 'CAUSE OUR BUSINESS RIGHT NOW IS PER DAY.

SO THAT'S HOW WE'LL EXTRAPOLATE.

AND YOU KNOW, AS WE GO ALONG, IT WILL, WE WILL ALSO LEARN.

'CAUSE THIS THING HAS NOT BEEN DONE.

SO I'M NOT TRYING TO SELL YOU SOMETHING THAT I ALREADY KNOW.

I DON'T, BUT WE WILL ALSO LEARN ALONG THE WAY.

BUT AGAIN, WITH COMPARISON, SO TO NOT TO BLOW IT OUT OF PROPORTION, THEN WATER BECOME 900 A MONTH.

SO IT WON'T BE THAT.

IT'S BASED ON THE USAGE AND WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE PAST.

AND WATER COMPANIES ARE ALWAYS THERE.

THEY CAN ALWAYS COME AND, YOU KNOW, GIVE US AN IDEA OKAY.

FOR BOTH INCOMING AND OUTGOING SEWER.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

THANKS.

OTHER QUESTIONS? FROM MR. SHARMA OR MR. HOPKINS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? NO.

HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY REMEMBERS.

ALRIGHT, SO, UM, NEXT I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND MS. PRESLEY, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAVE THREE, BUT MR. SHARMA JUST SPOKE.

SO DAVID SIG IS NEXT.

READ YOUR .

I DID.

ALRIGHT.

I'VE JUST READ IT THE ONE TIME BEFORE ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL DAVID SOAK 1, 6, 5 FIGURES IN HOLLOW ROAD FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA, WHILE NOT A TOWN VOTER.

I AM A TOWN TAXPAYER.

UM, WHEN I FIRST, UH, HEARD ABOUT THIS PUBLIC HEARING, I WAS DECIDEDLY AGAINST THE PROPOSAL, UM, THINKING, UM, WHAT I'VE SEEN WHEN I GO IN THESE HOTELS AS A GUARDIAN LEAD, AND I'VE MENTIONED

[01:10:01]

THIS TO PRIOR COUNSELS BEFORE, YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED WHAT I FIND IN THE VARIOUS HOTELS AROUND FRONT ROYAL, WHEN I GO IN THEM AS A GUARDIAN AND LEAD 'EM FOR CHILDREN.

IT'S, IT'S DISGUSTING.

IT'S, IT'S SCARY AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE, UH, HAVING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S CREATING PROBLEMS. IT'S CREATING REAL PROBLEMS FROM A SOCIOECONOMIC, FROM JUDICIAL, FROM SOCIAL SERVICES.

IT'S COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE.

UH, THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE TRANSITIONED THEIR BUSINESS MODELS INTO THAT IS IN OF ITS SOURCE THE PROBLEM.

AND TO ADDRESS WHAT MS. D DOMENICO PAYNE WAS ASKING, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO PREVENT A CHANGE IN TENANCY OR TYPES OF TENANTS, ET CETERA, UNLESS MAYBE YOU HAVE A SUNSET ON THE SPECIAL USE TO MAKE IT HAVE TO COME BACK EVERY THREE OR FIVE YEARS.

SO IT DOESN'T BECOME A FESTERING PROBLEM.

THESE HOTEL OWNERS HAD AN OPTION TO UPGRADE TO CHANGE WHAT THEY HAD, WHAT THEY PURCHASED, WHAT THEY INVESTED RATHER THAN DOWNGRADE.

AND ALL THE HOTEL OWNERS IN FRONT ROYAL HAVE DOWNGRADED.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THAT'S NOT BEING A GOOD STEWARD AND THAT'S NOT BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO ALL OF US HERE.

IT'S BEING A BAD NEIGHBOR.

YOU PUT MONEY BACK IN THE BUSINESS, AS THE GENTLEMAN SAID, IT'S, IT'S AN UNDESIRABLE HOTEL.

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, IT WAS THE QUALITY COURTS, THEN IT BECAME THE QUALITY INN.

AND THAT WAS THE PLACE WHERE YOU HAD YOUR RELATIVES STAY.

WHEN THEY CAME HERE, IT WAS CLEAN, IT WAS NICE.

IT'S NOT ANYMORE.

WHEN RELATIVES COME HERE TO STAY, THEY DON'T GET TO STAY IN TOWN.

THEY'RE OUT ON THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ATTRACTIVE IN TOWN.

AND THE REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ATTRACTIVE IN TOWN, THESE BUSINESS OWNERS CHOSE NOT TO INVEST IN THEIR PROPERTY AND TO UPGRADE.

THEY CHOSE CONSTANTLY TO DOWNGRADE.

I PREPARED A REPORT THAT I SHARED WITH MS. D DOMENICO PAYNE, MAYOR AL AND, UH, CHALLENGE TOURISM PERSON.

AND I DETAILED THE VARIOUS HOTELS IN THEIR CREATION IN FRONT ROYAL AND WHAT THE TOURIST HOMES WERE IN THE TWENTIES AND THE THIRTIES.

TWO OF YOU WILL REMEMBER RACHEL HARRINGTON THAT HAD THE LAST TOURIST HOME, MAYBE YOU WILL TOO, GLEN ON ROYAL AVENUE FAGLEY ACROSS FROM SACKETTS.

I THINK IT'S, IT WAS THE HARRIS STATION THAT WAS THE FIRST REAL LAST TOURIST HOME IN FRONT ROYAL.

THEN YOU START TO HAVE THE ADVENT OF THE, UH, WHAT I'LL CALL THE SKYLINE DRIVE ERA HOTELS.

WHEN THE DRIVE OPENED, YOU STARTED GETTING THE HOTELS UP BY THE DRIVE AND DOWN ON ROYAL AVENUE STRIP.

THEN IN THE EIGHTIES WE GOT TWO NEW HOTELS.

WE GOT, UM, WHAT SCOTTISH ENDS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED NOW.

AND THEN THE ONE UP BY THE WAI RESTAURANT.

SO I KNOW I'VE REACHED I KNOW.

NO, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, SO ASK FOR LEAVE.

WANNA WRAP UP? I WOULD ASK FOR LEAVE FOR A LITTLE MORE TIME.

UM, ALL STREET PARKING, IT'S, I THINK YOU NEED TO HOLD YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE ON THAT.

THE SECTION EIGHT IS A RED HERRING.

I HAVE ONE HOUSE THAT ACCEPTS SECTION EIGHT HOUSING ON, AND THE TENANT'S JUST FINE.

THE PROBLEM IS WEEKLY TENANTS, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

NOT SECTION EIGHT TENANTS.

SO IT'S UNFAIR TO SAY SECTION EIGHT TENANTS ARE THE PROBLEM.

IT'S THE WEEKLY TENANTS.

THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE START TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS. UM, MR. SEK, I WAS GONNA SAY, SORRY.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I SIGNED UP FOR THE NEXT ONE, SO I'LL SAVE MY TIME.

OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, WHO ELSE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? UM, IT'S ACTUAL KYLE HOPKINS.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF SO KYLE DID.

YEAH, HE JUST DID.

IF YOU WANTED TO ADD YEP.

CAN I SPEAK FOR ONE SECOND? YEP.

JUST HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

THERE WAS A THIRD PERSON IN.

IS THERE A THIRD PERSON? MR. HOPKINS WAS THE THIRD ONE.

CAN ONLY PUT SO MUCH MAKEUP ON SOMEBODY.

IF YOU, I I WAS GONNA OFFER TO ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, BUT MY, MY NAME IS SONNY METHA AND I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTY FOR MORE THAN ABOUT 40 PLUS YEARS.

AND I'M A MAJORITY OWNER OF QUALITY INN.

THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M TALKING IS WHAT MR. SALICK SAID.

I TOOK IT VERY PERSONALLY.

LAST TWO AND A HALF TO THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS, WE'VE PUT, BY THE WAY, OWNED THAT PLACE FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.

THE QUALITY END, WE PUT OVER TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH I CAN PROVE IN BLACK AND WHITE IT LAST FIVE YEARS TO UPGRADE THAT PROPERTY.

YOU

[01:15:01]

MY APOLOGIES.

ONLY MAKE UP, MAKE UP SOME ON SOMEBODY TO MAKE HIM LOOK YOUNG.

YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM LOOK YOUNG FOREVER.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO TELL MRS. IT REALLY HURT ME.

IT'S OKAY WHEN HE TOLD, BUT HE, MR. ME STANDS UP OVER HERE.

JUST, I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU YES, MA'AM, THAT WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU'RE ACTUALLY ADDRESSING COUNSEL MEMBERS.

COUNSEL.

I APOLOGIZE.

IT'S OKAY.

I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU.

WELL, I APOLOGIZE.

IT'S OKAY.

BUT I, SORRY, I WAS NOT, I DID NOT SIGN UP TO WRITE.

IT'S OKAY.

SORRY TO SPEAK.

UH, BUT I HAD TO, I JUST WANTED THE COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT IS POSSIBLY NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR THAT PROPERTY TO KEEP IT THE OLD QUALITY COURT.

I'M VERY MUCH FAMILIAR WITH THE HISTORY OF THAT PLACE.

WHEN I, WHEN I BOUGHT THAT FROM MR. COURTNEY, I PROMISED HIM THAT WE WILL TRY OUR LEVEL BEST.

BUT YOU CAN'T DO BUT SO MUCH.

AND THOUGH THE RESULT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY BUILT OVER THERE.

THEY BUILT AND WE LOST OUR BUSINESS.

HOW DO YOU MAKE AN EXTERIOR PROPERTY TO BE AN INTERIOR CORRIDOR PROPERTY? IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

SO IF A COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I'LL BRING MY ACCOUNTING BOOKS NEXT, NEXT TIME I'LL SHOW YOU.

I'LL SPEND OVER $2 MILLION ON IN THAT, ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY TO UPGRADE.

BUT YOU CAN'T DO BUT SO MUCH.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ASK.

WE, WE ARE GONNA FINISH OUR PUBLIC HEARING, AND IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS, WE'LL ASK THE APPLICANT.

AND YOU'RE PART OF THE APPLICANT.

SO, UH, MS. PRESLEY, NO ONE ELSE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, RIGHT? NO.

NO ONE.

IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MY NAME'S TOM ESHELMAN.

I'M A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL AS WELL AS OWNING TWO BUSINESSES DOWN ON MAIN STREET.

AND ULTIMATELY I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP WITH A STATEMENT.

I ALSO SERVE ON YOUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD FROM FRIDA.

AND I GOT A DOCUMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA HOUSING OUTTA RICHMOND, AND THEY DID A STUDY WITH THE MIRA ECONOMICS AND ANALYTICS IN 20 23 80.

SOME PAGES LONG, I'LL JUST READ THE BRIEF STATEMENT.

THE VALUE OF HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY AND AVAILABILITY IS BECOMING AS IMPORTANT TO THE LOCAL WORKFORCE AS SKILLED WORKERS ARE TO EMPLOYERS.

INADEQUATE HOUSING SUPPLY HAMPERS YOUR WORKFORCE MOBILITY, IT LIMITS JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTS A STATE'S ECONOMIC COMPETITIVE, IF APPROPRIATE HOUSING IS NOT AVAILABLE, FIRMS WILL FACE CHALLENGES ATTRACTING NEW WORKERS FROM OTHER STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES AND POSSIBLY LOSE EXISTING WORKERS WHO MAY BE DRIVEN AWAY BY PRIVATE COSTS.

SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I, I COMPLIMENT THEM.

THEY DID A GREAT JOB ON THEIR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

SO I'M KIND OF A BULLET POINT GUY KIND OF TOO.

SO I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO SUMMARIZE IN BASICALLY NUMBER ONE, THIS IS IN LINE WITH YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO THAT IS WONDERFUL.

NUMBER TWO, I'VE HEARD ALL THE COUNCILMEN HERE AT SOME POINT IN TIME MAKE A STATEMENT THAT THEY ARE FOR INTRODUCING WORKFORCE HOUSING, FINDING WAYS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND THIS HELPS SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT YOU'RE IN FOR PROPERTY OWNER RIGHTS.

SO ULTIMATELY, HERE'S A PROPERTY OWNER WHO'S TRYING TO APPROVE UPON HIS PROPERTY, WHO'S TRYING TO MAKE GOOD IN TOWN, AND HE CAN'T COMPETE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON OUT IN THE CORRIDOR, BUT HE CAN DEFINITELY OFFER SOMETHING HERE FOR OUR TOWN.

UM, NUMBER FOUR, IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION.

IT WAS ALSO DISCUSSED WITH YOUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND BOTH RECOMMENDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

UM, NUMBER FIVE, THERE WAS A STATEMENT MADE IN ONE OF Y'ALL'S PLANNING SESSIONS ABOUT LOSS OF HOTEL TAX REVENUE.

UM, I MET WITH YOUR TOWN MANAGER, MR. WALTZ.

I FOUND OUT WHAT YOUR TOTAL REVENUE WAS DIVIDED UP BY THE 12 PROPERTIES.

YOUR IMPACT IS GONNA BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $20,000 IN LOSS.

THAT'S VERY MINIMAL CONSIDERING WHAT THE BUDGET IS.

UM, AND THE LAST, IF YOU DON'T ALLOW THIS TO GO FORWARD, THEN YOU'RE JUST ENSURING THAT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE NOW IS GONNA CONTINUE BECAUSE HE CAN DO THAT BY, RIGHT.

SO I THINK IT'S A POSITIVE MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK YOU SHOULD ALLOW FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION ON THE 30 FOOT SETBACK.

I THINK IT SHOULD ALLOW FOR THE PARKING LOTS TO REMAIN NINE BY 18 INSTEAD OF THE 10 BY 20.

I WENT AND PERSONALLY MEASURED PARKING SPOTS ALL OVER TOWN.

NINE BY 18 WAS THE GOING THING.

SO I'M HOPING TO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE THIS A POSITIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND FOR THIS OWNER.

I, I BELIEVE I SAW ANOTHER HAND.

DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? YES.

MY CONCERN AS A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL IS WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BECOME 10, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

HELLO, COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS DEBORAH SIX A AND I'M A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL ONE 18 WEST STONEWALL DRIVE.

[01:20:01]

THIS GENTLEMAN, UM, HOPEFULLY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THAT HE WANTS TO DO AND HAVE A RESIDENTIAL POOL THAT IS GOING TO KEEP UP THE PROPERTY AND THE MAINTENANCE OUTSIDE.

WE ALL LIVE HERE.

WE DRIVE BY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ALL THE TIME WITH COUCHES ON THE PORCH, WITH AREAS THAT JUST ARE, I'M ASHAMED HONESTLY, AS A RESIDENT THAT WE ALLOW SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS TO EXIST IN OUR TOWN.

UM, I'M ALSO A REALTOR AND I'M ALSO PRESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

SO I KNOW THE NEED, THE EXTREME NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THAT LOCATION IS SO PIVOTAL AT MAIN STREET.

WE HAVE SEEN A MAIN STREET TURN AROUND.

I MEAN, YOU SEE PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE STREET DURING THE EVENING AND DURING THE DAY.

WE WOULDN'T WANNA DO ANYTHING TO HAVE MAIN STREET LOOK ON ONE SIDE, LIKE IT LOOKS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

I'M SORRY, WHERE WE HAVE THE AFTERNOON THAT HAS LOOKED LIKE THAT FOR HOW MANY YEARS? 20.

30 YEARS.

IT'S LOOKED THE SAME WAY.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT SO MUCH THAT THIS MIGHT BE A WONDERFUL APARTMENT TO ME, THE APARTMENTS OR RESIDENTIAL LEASING IS THAT WE, WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE AND HOW ARE WE THE TOWN GONNA MONITOR IT.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THIS APPLICATION? GOING ONCE? NOPE.

SO AT THIS TIME I'M ACTUALLY GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND IF THE APPLICANT WISHES TO SPEAK AGAIN, THERE'S NO PRESSURE.

I'M JUST SAYING IF THERE WAS SOMETIMES THE APPLICANT AFTER HEARING SOME OF THE PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS WANTS TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY UP TO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, I JUST, I JUST JUST WANNA GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY.

I'M SAM S SHERMA, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY.

SO, UM, IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING, IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

THAT IS, UH, I MEAN, WE ARE CONSTANTLY DOING THINGS TO IT TO IMPROVE.

YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO GO INSIDE AND LOOK AT EACH AND EVERY ROOM.

WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM CARPET IN EVERY ROOM.

EVERY ROOM HAS HARDWOOD FLOORS, EVERY ROOM HAS NEW TOILETS, NEW TUBS.

UH, A LOT OF THE VANITIES HAVE CHANGED.

THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE ROOMS HAVE CHANGED.

WE'VE GOT EVERY ROOM PAINTED OVER THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS.

SO OUTSIDE IT'S AN L-SHAPED EXTERIOR CORRIDOR BUILDING.

I CANNOT CHANGE IT UNLESS THE BUILDING IS BROUGHT DOWN AND BUILT AND, YOU KNOW, INTERIOR CORRIDOR BUILDING.

SO THAT IS THE COMMENT WE GET.

BUILDING IS OLD.

IT IS ARCHITECTURED TO BE THAT WAY.

I CANNOT DO ANYTHING.

I CAN KEEP PAINTING IT, BUT I CANNOT CHANGE IT IN ANY OTHER SHAPE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THAT ON THE OUTSIDE, WE STILL MAINTAIN IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN, INCLUDING WE HAVE SOMEBODY, UH, YOU KNOW, PICKING UP TRASH COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY ON THE, 'CAUSE IT'S AN OPEN SPACE, NOT JUST OUR GUESTS, BUT PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE ON THE STREET THROW IN, IT BLOWS INTO OUR PARKING LOT.

SO WE KEEP CLEANING THAT ALL DAY.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE PERSON ONLY TO DO THAT.

SO WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN, BUT IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING TO IT, IT'S GOING TO GET DIFFICULT BOTH FROM A RESOURCE POINT OF VIEW AND FINANCIALLY.

IF IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD, NOT MORE GUESTS COME IN, THE MONEY GOES DOWN AND IT'S A CASH 22.

YOU CAN'T HIRE PEOPLE TO CLEAN BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.

SO WE ARE ACTIVELY ACTUALLY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND DOING SOMETHING NOW.

WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

WE HAVE PRIVATE FUNDERS WHO WILL FUND THIS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD TO DO SOMETHING NICE.

SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

I MEAN, WE, WE, WE HAVE TO DO IT.

OTHERWISE THIS WILL JUST KEEP GOING DOWN.

THANK YOU MR. CHARMAN.

UH, UM, COUNSEL, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. CHARMAN BEFORE HE SITS DOWN? NOPE.

AND UPDATING THE PRESENTATION AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAME UP WITH THREE OPTIONS INSTEAD OF ONE FOR THE NUMBER OF UNITS.

NOPE.

BRUCE, NO.

THOUGHT YOU WERE, YOU WERE LEANING IN .

WELL, IT'S A QUESTION.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

I, I CAN TELL YOUR HEART IS IN THIS, UH, IT IS MR. SHAMAN AND, AND MORE LIKE, LIKE EVEN KYLE.

LIKE, HE, HE'S INTO IT NOW.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT AN OWNER, BUT WE THREE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME BRAINSTORMING

[01:25:01]

SO WE ARE INTO THIS DEEP, WE JUST LIKE TO GET YOUR APPROVAL AND, YOU KNOW, THEN WHATEVER TIME IT TAKES TO GET THE BUILDING PERMITS AND CONSTRUCTION STARTED, WE'D LOVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

WHEN YOU SAY UPWARDS OF SIX FIGURES.

YOU REALLY, UH, AND IT IS LIKE CONSTRUC, IT'S, IT'S A SEVEN FIGURE, I MEAN, RIGHT? YEAH.

LIKE A MILLION OR FOUR.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SIX ZERO, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.

'CAUSE OTHER PEOPLE HAD SAID OVER A MILLION, AND WHEN YOU SAID SIX FIGURES, I WAS LIKE, I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S GONNA BE MORE THAN SIX FIGURES.

I JUST MEANT LIKE THE ZEROS.

I UNDERSTAND.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S THE CONSTRUCTION COST ITSELF, THE LABOR, AND THERE'S SO MUCH TIME WAITING FOR THE MATERIAL.

I CAN'T EVEN GIVE YOU LIKE A EXACT OR A BALLPARK FIGURE.

YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS WE GET THIS APPROVAL, HOPEFULLY WE DO, WE'LL GET GOING WITH THE BUILDING PERMITS AND, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT TAKES, KYLE WOULD BE ON IT RIGHT AWAY.

AND THEN WE JUST WAIT FOR THE, YOU KNOW, MATERIAL AND DESIGNS TO BE APPROVED.

AND THEN WE JUST WAIT.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO FINISH OUR BUSY SEASON.

ALSO, LIKE OCTOBER, NOVEMBER IS A BUSY LEAF CHANGING SEASON IN THIS AREA.

SO WE HAVE TO WAIT AND IT MAY TAKE THAT LONG ANYWAYS TO GET THROUGH THIS.

AND THEN WE GET GOING WITH THIS.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

DON'T WANT TO ATTRACT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO TEAR UP YOUR BUILDING.

SO AT THIS TIME, I AM GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL HERE.

NO, I THINK I, I CLOSED IT BEFORE I ASKED THEM TO SPEAK, DIDN'T I? YES.

IF I, I THINK OF IT, BUT, BUT IF NOT, I CAN CLOSE IT AGAIN.

I'LL OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL THOUGH, MADAM MAYOR.

I MOVE THAT.

COUNCIL GRANT A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR CCC ENTERPRISES, LLC OF VIRGINIA FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO CONVERT A THREE STORY MOTEL INTO A THREE STORY APARTMENT BUILDING WITH A MAXIMUM OF 39 DWELLING UNIT SIZED APARTMENTS LOCATED AT 10 SOUTH COMMERCE AVENUE TAX MAP.

28 8 DASH 22 DASH SIX, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

ONE, THE APPLICANT MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE OFF STREET PARKING PER TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 75 DASH 1 0 4 OFF STREET PARKING AND CHAPTER 1 48 DASH EIGHT 70, PARKING AND LOADING AREAS.

AND TWO, THAT THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT BE RENEWED EVERY THREE YEARS.

SECOND, NOW THAT IT'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION, I HAVE SOME DISCUSSION TO ADD.

UM, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE MISCONCEPTION FROM ANYBODY ON COUNCIL OR A CONSTITUENT OR ANYBODY WHO'S KEPT UP WITH THIS HAS GOTTEN THE IDEA THAT I WAS ELECTED TO THIS COUNCIL, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE TO RUBBER STAMP AND SAY YES TO EVERYTHING THAT COMES BEFORE US.

I FEEL LIKE QUESTIONING THE LODGING TAX AND THE IMPACTS TO THE BUDGET OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL IS MY DUE DILIGENCE AS A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL.

AND I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO NOT ONLY THIS TOWN, BUT TO THIS COUNCIL IF I DID NOT ASK QUESTIONS.

NOT ONLY AT ONE WORK SESSION, BUT TWO, I THINK AN IMPACT TO A STRUCTURE SO OLD THAT'S BEEN IN FRONT ROYAL AND DOES AFFECT OUR BUDGET AND THE LIVELIHOOD OF OTHERS.

MYSELF BEING ONE PERSON WHO LIVES BEHIND IT, IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO SAY THE LEAST.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE QUESTION OF WHY WE'VE HAD THESE CONCERNS WOULD COME FROM.

I THINK IT WAS COMPLETELY RELEVANT TO ASK THE INTENDED USE OF THIS PROPERTY.

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO SECTION EIGHT HOUSING.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'VE BEEN SOMEBODY WHO HAS OWNED HOMES, WHO HAS OWNED RENTAL HOMES, AND WHO HAS RENTED WHILE OWNING HOMES IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY IN MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.

I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR HOUSING.

WHILE I APPRECIATE SOME OF THE CLIFF NOTES THAT WERE PROVIDED TO COUNCIL TONIGHT ON THE DIOCESE, I DO NOT THINK THAT IT WILL SOLVE THE HOUSING ISSUE IN FRONT ROYAL RESPECTFULLY.

I THINK IT WILL BE A STEP FORWARD IN RESOLUTION.

I THINK THE ISSUE IS MUCH LARGER THAN JUST THIS.

UM, AS FAR AS WEEKLY RENTALS GO, WHILE I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A LARGER PROBLEM WITH THE CRIME RATE AND THE CAPACITY AS A WHOLE IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, I VERY PASSIONATELY HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE 104 PLUS WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY LIVING IN MOTELS AND HOTELS IN WARREN COUNTY.

AND WHILE THE IMPACTS OF WHAT THEY'RE LIVING IN ARE AWFUL, AS MR. SILA ATTESTED TO AS A GUARDIAN AT LITUM ENTERING AND VISITING THOSE, THOSE CHILDREN DON'T DESERVE TO BE HOMELESS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE NO LONGER HAVE A WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO THINK WE SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WITH ALL OF THE MOTELS AND HOTELS WHO WERE DISPLACING THAT CAN ONLY AFFORD A WEEKLY RENTAL BECAUSE YES, THEY'RE NOT CREDIT WORTHY OR THEY DON'T HAVE STABLE INCOME, BUT THOSE CHILDREN STILL DESERVE TO HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW THAT THE CRIME RATE HAS DROPPED.

I DO KNOW WHAT THE CRIME RATE PER HOTEL AND MOTEL IN FRONT ROYAL IS.

THE CHIEF OF POLICE ANNUALLY GIVES US A REPORT FOR CALLS TO EACH INDIVIDUAL MOTEL AND HOTEL IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

I UNDERSTAND AS A PROPERTY OWNER, YOU DON'T WANT A HIGH CRIME RATE.

YOU

[01:30:01]

HOWEVER, I DO KNOW THAT PLACES LIKE THE CRIER ROAD APARTMENTS, ROYAL ARM APARTMENTS, SHENANDOAH COMMONS, ARE NOT FILLING THE NEED FOR HOUSING THAT WE HAVE, DESPITE CATERING TO A DIFFERENT POPULATION OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MONTHLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING VOUCHERS.

UM, THEY, I DO NOT QUALIFY TO RENT FROM THOSE PLACES.

AND I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN HOMES FOR RENT ONLINE IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL RIGHT NOW.

AS A MORTGAGE BROKER, I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES IN THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE HOUSING CRISIS.

I HAVE TEACHERS THAT REACH OUT TO ME WHO COME HERE TO WORK IN VIRGINIA ALL OF THE TIME, WHO DON'T WANNA PURCHASE A HOME BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT PART OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL OR THE COUNTY OF WARREN THEY WISH TO LIVE IN YET.

SO THEY DO WISH TO RENT.

SO I WAS DOING MY SERVICE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, AS A TAX PAYING CITIZEN BY ASKING QUESTIONS.

AND I'M SORRY TO THOSE THAT OFFENDED AS FAR AS THE L SHAPE OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROPERTY.

I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT.

I TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE FIRST WORK SESSION.

I WORKED FOR THE BAYMONT END WHEN IT WAS QUALITY TITLE AS A TEENAGER.

IT WAS NOT, I THINK IT WAS MY THIRD JOB ON TOP OF ALL THE HOME OR JOBS THAT I HAD, UM, IN HIGH SCHOOL TO GRADUATE EARLY.

UM, SO WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I WAS NEVER NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S THE DUE DILIGENCE OF EVERY PERSON SITTING ON THIS STAS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND SEEK ANSWERS.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION? UH, YES, MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY, UH, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN UH, MORRIS JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERY ONE OF US HERE, THIS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TOOK THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH AS MANY CONCERNS AS, UM, AS WE HEARD ON THIS.

THAT'S WHY IT WENT TO, UH, MULTIPLE WORK SESSIONS BECAUSE WE ALL HAD, EACH ONE OF US HERE HAD HAD, UH, QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AND LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS BECAUSE THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING OR WE'RE MAKING AREN'T JUST WHAT WE SEE ON PAPER.

THEY'RE THE RESULT OF WHAT, OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, OF WHAT, UM, OF WHAT WE APPROVE AND DON'T APPROVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT IS IMPACTFUL, NOT JUST IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT'S, IT'S IMPACTFUL FOR, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, YOU KNOW? SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF INTANGIBLES THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT ON PAPER, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER ENTITY OR, YOU KNOW, OR, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR OTHER BOARDS MAY, UM, MAY CONSIDER ON PAPER THAT MAY BE FINE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR, UM, PLANNING DEPARTMENT HERE DID IS DUE DILIGENCE, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH PUTTING INFORMATION HERE TOGETHER FOR US.

AND IT'S PRESENTED TO US TO MAKE A DECISION.

SO AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S UP TO US TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO CONSIDER NOT JUST WHAT WE SEE, BUT WHAT WE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE FEEL, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN SEE TO BE, UH, WHAT, WHAT'S THE RESULT IS GONNA BE.

SO, AGAIN, I I'LL SAY IT, TOM BLUE IN THE FACE, IT'S, IT'S FACTUAL.

WE FEELINGS, I THINK, WITH THE FACTS THAT WE'RE PRESENTING, AND I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS, IS TRYING TO, I SINCERELY BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS TRYING TO IMPROVE HIS PROPERTY.

UM, AND I'M SAYING, I, I KNOW I MENTIONED THE HIGH LEVEL POLICE CALLS, BELIEVE ME, I DIDN'T MEAN FOR YOU TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE HOSTING, YOU KNOW, ON PURPOSE THE HIGH LEVEL POLICE CALLS.

I KNOW THAT, I MEAN, IT'D BE STUPID FOR YOU TO, TO, TO, TO DO THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT, IT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, I, I I, THAT'S, THAT'S COMMON SENSE THERE, RIGHT? SO, UM, SO MY HOPE IS THAT THIS DOES WORK FOR A COMMUNITY.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, THE CLIENTELE GONNA STAY THERE, YOU KNOW? BUT AGAIN, AS, AS SOMEONE WHO ADVOCATES, UH, PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND FOR SOMEONE WHO ALSO HAS ADVOCATED FOR REVITALIZATION OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE HERE, UM, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CONTRADICT MYSELF ON, ON WHAT I'VE STATED, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST.

I TRY NOT TO, I MEAN, I, I, I, I, UM, I TRY TO STAND ON MY PRINCIPLES, BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANNA MAKE IT KNOWN THAT, YOU KNOW, I I, THERE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS AND I, I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS'S MOTION FOR, FOR GRANTING IT FOR THREE YEARS.

I THINK AT THAT POINT, WE WILL KNOW THE RESULTS OF OUR DECISION MORE SO, AND I THINK, I THINK THAT'S A FAIR, UH, I THINK THAT'S A FAIR, FAIR MOTION, AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WISH TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION? YES, MA'AM.

I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU SEE.

VICE MAYOR EK, MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS, I THINK IS RIGHT UP THE STREET, OFF TOP THE HILL.

AND I GUESS THE, KIND OF, IN THEIR DEFENSE, I DON'T SEE HOW THEY'RE STAYING OPEN NOW.

I LOOKED AT THE CARS THERE.

I'VE BEEN ON THAT HILL FOR 22 YEARS, I GUESS.

UH, AND I'VE SEEN A DECLINE IN THE CARS DOWN TO SOME NIGHTS.

THERE'S NO CARS AROUND THE BACK OR AROUND THE SIDE.

AND MY CONCERN IS, IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING, WE'RE GONNA END UP WITH ANOTHER AFTERNOON.

SO, I, I, NO,

[01:35:01]

YOU KNOW, IT MAY NOT SUIT EVERYBODY, BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO.

UM, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT THEY, IF THEY STICK TO THE WORD, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE PLEASED WITH THEIR OUTCOME.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WISH TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION? OKAY, SO I'LL GO AHEAD.

I DON'T WANT TO GO LAST.

, HURRY UP.

MY AFTER YOU.

AGAIN, WE'RE NOT DONE.

I'M SORRY.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE BAYMONT ONLY ALLOWS FOR 72 MAXIMUM, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE 108, UH, THE NUMBERS DON'T WORK OUT.

I'M GONNA GO A LITTLE ROUNDABOUT HERE IN, UH, A LITTLE HISTORY.

UH, SO THERE IS SOME LOGIC TO MY MADNESS HERE.

UH, ABOUT 35 YEARS AGO, WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, THINGS WEREN'T REALLY GREAT IN TOWN, UH, WITH THE CLOSURE OF AVTEC, UH, AND, UH, BUT THEN THERE WERE GROUPS, THERE WERE INVESTMENT GROUPS THAT WERE FORMED THAT TOOK AN INTEREST TO FIX UP OLD BUILDINGS AND STARTED FIXING UP OLD BUILDINGS.

UM, THERE WERE NEW BUSINESS STARTUPS THAT CAME IN LITTLE AT A TIME.

UH, WE EVEN SAW BUILDING NEW HOMES, UM, HOUSING PICKED UP, UH, CLEANED UP SOME VACANT LOTS, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO REMOVE BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEYOND REPAIR.

UH, WE EVEN HAVE INCREASED OUR TREE CANOPY, YOU KNOW, TO IMPROVE THE, OUR ACES GROUP, OUR STEWARDS, OUR TREE STEWARDS.

THEY'RE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB TO MAKING THE COMMUNITY LOOKING BETTER.

UM, I SEE SOME ACTION HAPPENING ON OSAGE STREET, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT LOOKS LIKE, UH, THERE MAY BE SOME MOVEMENT, UH, ON THAT.

I'M HOPEFUL.

UH, BUT WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS, IS I HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO DO SOME RESEARCH AS WELL.

AND I DRIVE BY THE BAYMONT ALMOST EVERY EVENING, ABOUT NINE O'CLOCK.

AND I TAKE A LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I USED TO WORK IN THE QUALITY INN WHEN I WAS A, A YOUNG BUCK, RIGHT? UH, AND, UH, WAS, EXCUSE ME, AS A BELLHOP, WE WERE, I WAS A BELLHOP , ACTUALLY.

I STARTED, I STARTED OUT IN, UM, WAITING.

I WAS LIKE WAITING, UH, BUS BOY.

I WAS A BUS BOY, RIGHT? , BUT A BLOKE.

I BROKE TOO MANY GLASSES.

AND, UH, MR. WILKINSON SAID, YOU'RE NO LONGER A BUS BOY, YOU'RE A BELLHOP.

SO I GOT A TIE, RIGHT? SO, ANY, ANYWAY, UH, UH, IT WAS AN EXCELLENT MOTEL BACK THEN.

I MEAN, IT WAS THE PLACE, I MEAN, THERE WERE BUSES EVERY NIGHT.

UM, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I MADE LIKE 50 BUCKS IN TIPS, UH, YOU KNOW, BIG MONEY, YOU KNOW.

UH, SO, UH, THE UNFORTUNATELY TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S INTERSTATE SYSTEMS NOW.

UH, I CAN REMEMBER BACK THEN, UH, DATING MYSELF AROUND 1972.

THE, UH, THE, I'M NOT SURE THAT THE INTERSTATE WAS COMPLETE THEN.

UH, I THINK IT MAY BE RAN TO, TO, UH, UH, I'M NOT SURE.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS COMPLETE OUT HERE OR NOT.

BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL.

NOW THAT THE INTERSTATE WAS GOING TO BE THERE, THERE WERE GOING TO BE AT SOME POINT IN TIME HOTELS.

AND FOR A HOTEL TO BE, UH, THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE FOUND FOR A HOTEL TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU NEED ABOUT ANYWHERE BETWEEN, UH, 35 TO 49% OCCUPANCY ON AN AVERAGE.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN I DRIVE BY THERE, I SEE MAYBE 12 TO 20 CARS PARKED THERE.

AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A 72 UNIT, UH, MOTEL,

[01:40:01]

AND GOING TO THE LODGING TAX, THE NUMBERS DON'T WORK OUT BECAUSE, UH, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE NUMBERS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THE INPUT ON THE LODGING TAX.

A THOUGHT PROCESS IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE, IF, IF THIS IS APPROVED, UH, THE OFFSITE, THE OFFSITE REVENUE FOR THE TOWN WILL BE THE BENEFIC BENEFICIARY, UH, TO OUR COFFERS.

UH, SO, UM, THAT'S REALLY WHERE, WHERE I'M AT.

LIKE THIS, UH, REALLY SMART MAN, UH, ONCE SAID TO ME, IF IT'S GOOD FOR FRONT ROYAL, THEN YOU GOTTA DO IT.

AND, UH, I THINK YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT.

SO, UM, ANYWAY, UH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I GOT FOR YOU TONIGHT ON THAT.

UM, I, UH, I BELIEVE THE GENTLEMAN, UH, MR. ME, AND, UH, MR. SHARMA, UH, WOULDN'T BE INVESTING UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, 2 MILLION.

THEY'VE ALREADY INVESTED TRYING TO SAVE IT.

UH, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO THROW A AT, HAD GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD.

AND, UH, I THINK THAT, UH, THIS IS GOOD FOR FRONT ROYAL.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR GIVING ME A MOMENT.

SURE.

I GUESS I WILL SAY, I, I DIDN'T KNOW, UM, COUNCILMAN MORRIS HAD HAD, OR COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS HAD, UM, RECEIVED ANY CRITICISM.

I GUESS IT'S PROBABLY OUT THERE FOR ME TOO, BECAUSE I LIKE TO GET IN THE WEEDS AS WELL AND ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

BUT THAT IS JUST BECAUSE I WANNA, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT I'M FLIP FLOPPING, BUT I LIKE TO LOOK AT IT FROM ALL ANGLES AS MUCH AS I CAN GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I CAN BEFORE I'M MAKING A DECISION.

AND I GUESS WHAT I WOULD JUST OFFER TO THE APPLICANTS, WE HAVEN'T VOTED YET, BUT YOU'VE HEARD IT, YOU'VE HEARD IT TONIGHT.

YOU'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A LANDMARK, A HISTORICAL LANDMARK IN THE COMMUNITY.

UM, PEOPLE HAVE AN, AN, UH, ENDEARMENT TOWARDS A LOT OF FACILITIES AND THINGS AROUND TOWN WITH THAT HAVE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR US.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHINE.

YOU KNOW, WE, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT THAT PEOPLE, WE HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE LOADING UP THE HOTELS AND THAT THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, A HOMELESSNESS ISSUE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THERE'S A TERRIBLE ECONOMY AND, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF SOCIAL ISSUES.

THAT'S, THAT'S NOT YOUR FAULT AT ALL.

UM, I DO WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TONIGHT TO OFFER THAT YOU WANT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS MY INTENT AS WELL, IS THAT I WANT THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT SERVES THE COMMUNITY WELL, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

IT IS NOT, WHILE I LOVE TO GO TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA, AND I DEFINITELY HAVE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE LIVING IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, I DO NOT HAVE AN INTEREST IN BUILDING UP THIS COMMUNITY TO BRING PEOPLE IN FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

FIRST, THEY WANT TO COME FINE.

BUT THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY NICE AND LIVABLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE, WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE, ALREADY WORK HERE, AND WANT TO, WANT TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

AND, UM, I HAVE, I ALSO HAVE NOTHING, OBVIOUSLY, NOTHING AGAINST THE POOR, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY HALF OF, UM, EVERYONE HERE IS POOR, UM, OR, YOU KNOW, NOT, UH, WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT ALL RICH FOR SURE.

UM, BUT I DEFINITELY WANT, WANT OPTIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW THAT AS PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE DRIVING BY, THEY'RE GONNA BE WATCHING, YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE TO, YOU KNOW, UM, MAKE US ALL PROUD OF WHAT YOU CAN ENVISION.

I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH YOUR, YOUR VISION LOOKS GREAT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO STICK WITH IT AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I THANK YOU.

TONIGHT, THE NUMBER WENT UP TO 40 PERHAPS, BUT IT'S PROBABLY LESS THAN THAT ONE IN TWO BEDROOM PARTS.

I'LL TRY TO REDUCE THIS.

NOW THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME, SAME AREA BALL FIELD, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED WORKFORCE HOUSING IN OUR TOWN.

THE CONVERSION OF THE BAYMONT INTO

[01:45:01]

UM, APARTMENTS GOES A LONG WAY TO FULFILL THE NEED FOR, UH, WORKING PROFESSIONALS.

I HAVE A LETTER FROM, UH, UH, JODY LEE, UH, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES THAT'S GONNA BE IN THE, UM, OF GIVING IT TO TINA.

YOU SHOULD ALL RECEIVE IT.

IT SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF RECRUITING AND RETENTION OF TEACHERS FOR THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO FAR THIS YEAR, HE IS LOOKING TO HIRE 32 NEW, 32 NEW TEACHERS INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

LAST YEAR, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY HIRED 55 NEW TEACHERS AND 69% OF 'EM, OR 38 LIVE OUTSIDE OF WARREN COUNTY.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS THEN, RIGHT? THEY SHOP IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITY, THEY MAKE FRIENDS THERE.

AND WHEN THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, MOST CHOOSE TO WORK AND NOT, UM, COMMUTE BACK HERE TO WORK.

UM, THAT'S NOT JUST THE TEACHERS.

UM, OUR COUNTY'S TRYING TO HIRE NEW DEPUTIES, A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE COORDINATOR, WHATEVER THAT IS.

DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS, DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECS, NUMEROUS FIREFIGHTERS, EMTS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, OUR TOWNS RECRUITING THE CHIEF, SORRY TO SAY, UH, WHO'S GONNA RETIRE LATER THIS YEAR? AND FOUR NEW OFFICERS.

ALL THESE POSITIONS I'VE LISTED FOR YOU, PAY 50,000 AND ABOVE IN SALARIES.

YOU MAY SAY SOME OF THESE WON'T STAY IN AN APARTMENT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THEY'RE GONNA STAY SOMEWHERE UNTIL THEY FIND A HOUSE, IF THAT'S WHAT THEIR GOLDEN OBJECTIVE IS.

I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT WE ARE BETTER OFF FOR THEM STAYING WITH US THAN OUTSIDE THE TOWN.

AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT NURSES AND OTHER WORKFORCE PROFESSIONALS.

AND THE STORY'S PRETTY, UH, BEEN REPEATED A COUPLE TIMES.

WHY IS THE APPLICANT WANTING TO DO WHAT WAS ONCE A CROWN JEWEL? WELL, THE COUNTY HAS BRAND NAME HOTELS IN THE 5 22 QUARTER, AND TWO MORE HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS TO BE BUILT THERE.

THEY'RE LOCATED RIGHT OFF OF 66.

THEY BOUGHT, THEY WILL DRAW MOST OF THE TRAVELERS AND SHORT TERM BUSINESS PERSONS SERVING OUR LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

WE, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAVE AT LEAST 11 OLDER MOTEL PROPERTIES IN TOWN.

THEREFORE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THESE PROPERTIES AND MANY OF 'EM ARE GONNA FALL INTO DISREPAIR.

THERE ARE NOW MORE DAILY AND WEEKLY RENTALS FOR FOLKS WHO CANNOT AFFORD APARTMENT, EVEN IF THEY FOUND THEM.

WE HAVE SCHOOL BUSES TO COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MORRIS', UH, POINT.

WE HAVE SCHOOL BUSES STOPPING AT THESE PROPERTIES AS ENTIRE FAMILIES.

AND MR. SILA TALKED ABOUT THIS, LIVING IN A ROOM FOR 400 PLUS A WEEK.

THIS APPLICANT FINDS HIMSELF IN THE LAST SAME POSITION.

SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT, UH, PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THE OWNER OR TAXPAYER WANTS TO DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY.

SO I AGREE, LET'S ALLOW THIS OWNER TO REDEVELOP HIS PROPERTY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DESPERATELY NEED.

NOT A PART OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP SO MANY TIMES TONIGHT, IS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE WATCHING, BECAUSE THEY OFTEN DO, THE CURRENT OWNERS OF THE AFTON END ARE NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE TO USE BY SETTING A CONDITION ON THIS.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE I FORGOT TO ADD? THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT I WISHED TO SAY AT THE END.

I, WELL, AND I'LL ECHO COUNCILWOMAN DEIDA, MINKO PAYNE'S COMMENTS BECAUSE I HAD WRITTEN THAT DOWN.

THE PUBLIC HAS SEEN YOUR COMMITMENT HERE TONIGHT AND WHAT YOUR INTENTION IS.

SO I FEEL CONFIDENT IN MY VOTE THAT NOW I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE PUBLIC.

YOU GUYS WILL, WITH WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR PROPERTY.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT MAYBE YOU COULD CONDITION FOR YOUR TENANTS TO NOT HAVE FURNITURE OUTDOOR.

I KNOW ONE OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS MENTIONED THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I OFTEN SEE.

I JUST PASSED A HOUSE THE OTHER DAY AND DID A DOUBLE TAKE.

'CAUSE THEY HAD A LOVE SEAT ON THE FRONT PORCH WITH SOME NAKED KIDS CLIMBING ALL OVER IT.

AND I THOUGHT, I THINK THOSE GO INSIDE.

IT WAS RAINING EVEN.

BUT I WILL SAY ONE OF THE POSITIVES THAT I DON'T THINK THAT GOT ENOUGH LIGHT IN THE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL IS THE GREEN SPACE, THE OUTDOOR SPACE, THE AESTHETIC, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY LINE BY LINE.

IT'S A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT THAT EACH COUNCIL CAN MAKE AMENDS AND CHANGES TO.

BUT GREEN SPACE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALL WANTED TO SEE.

UM, I WAS A PART OF THE REVITALIZER DIE A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT HAPPENED DOWNTOWN.

AND THE AESTHETICS OF THESE TYPE OF PLACES IS WHAT EVERYBODY WAS IN AGREEMENT OF.

UM, AND I ALSO ADD THAT I WAS TRYING TO GAUGE SOME OF THE SPEAKERS WHO WEREN'T BEING VERY DIRECT AND IF THEY SUPPORTED OR JUST SUPPORTED THIS.

AND I DO THINK MR. SIG WAS IN SUPPORT OF THIS CONVERSION, UM, AND NOT NECESSARILY A DISSERVICE OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.

I THINK HE WAS SPEAKING THAT CONVERTING IT TO AN APARTMENT WILL ACTUALLY ELIMINATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HE SEES.

UM, AND THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, THAT'S

[01:50:01]

THEY WERE LIED TO AND THEY WERE SCAMMED.

UM, THAT IS VERY PUBLIC RECORD, THAT THAT WAS A PART OF THE ECONOMIC SCANDAL THAT HAPPENED WITH THE WARREN COUNTY FRONT, ROYAL EDA.

THEY ARE PRIVATE INVESTORS DOING IT ON THEIR OWN NOW.

AND THAT PROJECT WILL EVENTUALLY COME TO FRUITION.

THEY'RE VERY, VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, AND THEY JUST WON SOME INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS FOR THEIR WORK IN OTHER PLACES.

SO I HOPE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL WHO RESPECTS AND APPRECIATES THEIR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO SEEING THROUGH THE FRUITION OF THAT BUILDING, BECAUSE IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL ONCE IT'S COMPLETE, BUT IT UNFORTUNATELY DID GET TIED UP IN LITIGATION.

WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S YOUR INTENT AND THAT THAT'S WHAT THE END RESULT WILL BE.

SO, JUST REAL QUICKLY, I'LL ADD A FEW COMMENTS.

TRY NOT TO REPEAT EVERYTHING EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID, BUT SOME MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND OUR STAFF.

REMEMBER, UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN I, UH, TRIED TO GET THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME TO HAVE AN APPETITE TO ADDRESS, UM, SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS WITH MOTELS, THERE WAS A POLICE CHIEF IN ASHLAND WHO DID SOME REMARKABLE THINGS DOWN THERE.

AND, UM, I MET WITH HIM, AND THEN HE ACTUALLY SHARED WITH COUNSEL, UM, SOME OF THE CONCERNS WERE ABOUT DISPLACING FAMILIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY NOTEWORTHY IS WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IN THAT COMMUNITY.

AND THEY TOOK OLDER MOTELS ALONG 95 AND, AND, UM, AND, AND MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, UH, MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS, UH, I THINK IN ALL OF THEIR REGULATIONS AND THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO, UH, DO TO GET THOSE MOTELS TO IMPROVE.

I THINK ONLY LIKE ONE MOTEL ACTUALLY, UM, CLOSED THE REST ACTUALLY, UM, SAW THE BENEFIT OF IMPROVING.

SO, UH, I CERTAINLY HAVE AN APPETITE TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR CONCERNS WITH MOTELS IN OUR AREA.

I KNOW THAT I ASKED A LOT ABOUT THE WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND EVEN IN THE WORK SESSION, I ASKED MANY QUESTIONS, AND I THINK I JUST WANNA, UM, DEFEND MY POSITION OF WHY I WAS ASKING IS I HAVE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW, UM, THAT WHEN SHENDO COMMONS CAME ABOUT, UH, IT WAS BUILT AND PROMOTED TO OUR COMMUNITY AS, UM, TEACHERS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.

AND I KNOW AT THE TIME, BECAUSE I'M A TEACHER, THAT WAS VERY EXCITING TO ME, ME BECAUSE I PERSONALLY, AS COUNCILMAN WOOD TALKED ABOUT, I'VE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH TEACHERS WHO COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO LIVE IN WARREN COUNTY.

AND SO THEY CHOSE, THEY, THEY FOUND WHEREVER THEY COULD RENT, WHETHER IT WAS WINCHESTER OR, UH, FALK HERE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN THEY WOULD DRIVE HERE TO THEIR JOB, BUT THEY MADE FRIENDS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

AND SO THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY THEY HAD TO FIND A JOB IN, IN THOSE AREAS, THEY WOULD MOVE BACK THERE.

SO THEY WEREN'T DRIVING, YOU KNOW, 35 MINUTES TO WORK, BUT RATHER FIVE MINUTES TO WORK.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW, UM, THIS COULD, UM, BE, UM, A SOLUTION FOR SOME OF THE NEEDS OF OUR TEACHERS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE SHE NO COMMONS, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS BUILT AT.

BUT THEN BY THE TIME IT WAS BUILT, UM, NO TEACHERS COULD LIVE THERE BECAUSE THEY MADE TOO MUCH MONEY.

UM, AND SO IT, IT, IT, IT FELT LIKE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AT THAT TIME, AND THAT, UM, THAT WE WERE LIED TO, THAT THIS IS WHAT IT WAS GONNA BE, AND THEN IT DIDN'T END UP TURNING OUT TO THAT.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I ASKED MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT, UM, SAYING SOMETHING THAT COULD TURN AROUND AND CHANGE.

UM, I'VE ACTUALLY HEARD FROM CITIZENS WHO SHARED SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS THAT MS. UM, SIX BROUGHT UP.

AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY AGAIN, MR. SHARMA, MR. MEDA, MR. HOPKINS, EVEN OUR COMMUNITY HAS HEARD YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

THEY HAVE HEARD YOUR INTENDED USE, AND SO THEY'RE GONNA REMEMBER WHAT YOU'VE SAID AND THEY'RE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE, AND THEY'RE GONNA HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS.

SO, UM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR INTENDED USE AND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN THIS PROPERTY, UM, I JUST WANT, BUT I THINK OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT.

I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING TONIGHT AND THIS IS WHAT'S BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE TAKING ACTION ON BY HEARING YOUR INTENTIONS.

AND SO THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND OUR, OUR COMMUNITY

[01:55:01]

SO IF NO ONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, OH, GO AHEAD.

UM, I, IT WAS BROUGHT UP TO ME AT ONE POINT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE, IF YOU'VE GOT FAMILIES IN THERE THAT HAVE BEEN PAYING, YOU KNOW, OR LIVING THERE WEEKLY OR WHATEVER, AND HAVE BEEN LIVING THERE A LONG TIME AND MAKING THE, THE WEEKLY RENT, THEN YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IT WOULD BE FINE TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DISPLACE THEM.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE AFFORDING TO LIVE THERE.

SO IF, YOU KNOW, UM, MAYBE CONSIDER THAT IN YOUR, IN YOUR MODEL OF, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE IF POSSIBLE.

IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, I THINK MS. PRESLEY, WE ARE READY TO TAKE ACTION ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, WHICH JUST IS COUNSEL, HOPEFULLY YOU REMEMBER IT.

UM, THE MOTION ALSO INCLUDED A COUPLE CONDITIONS ABOUT THE OFF STREET PARKING AND A THREE YEAR, UM, RE UH, RENEWAL OF THE, OR NOT RENEWAL, BUT FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, RIGHT? OH, YES SIR.

I'M SORRY.

DO YOU HAVE A QUIET, OKAY, I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION.

SORRY, I'M NOT ADDING TO THE DISCUSSION.

THE THREE YEAR, IS THAT FROM THE DATE THIS IS CONVERTED CONSTRUCTED AND IT'S OPERATIONAL? OR IS IT THREE YEARS? 'CAUSE IF IT'S FROM TODAY, THEN IT'S TOO SHORT.

SO IT SHOULD BE FROM THE DATE FULLY OPERATIONAL AND THEN THE THREE YEARS.

'CAUSE IT'S OPERATING AS A SPECIAL USE CURRENTLY.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE ACTION HERE AND THEN WHEN YOU NEED TO CLARIFY THAT INFORMATION, OUR STAFF WILL GET WITH YOU ON THAT.

IS THAT OKAY? THANK YOU.

SORRY, , IS THAT, WOULD THAT BE APPROPRIATE MR. SONNETT TO SAY WAIT UNTIL ACTION'S TAKEN AND THEN THEY CAN ALWAYS ASK OUR PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT AND LEGAL? WELL, MY CONCERN IS THAT COUNSEL IS CRYSTAL CLEAR ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

BUT IT'S NOT BEING CONVERTED TO A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TODAY, THE DAY THAT THE ACTION IS TAKEN, ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT GONNA BE OPERATING UNDER THE SPECIAL USES TOMORROW.

I UNDERSTOOD THE, UM, THE ADDITIONAL CONDITION TO BE THE DURATION OF THE SUP IS THREE YEARS.

I MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD.

I WOULD AGREE.

BUT IT'S NOT, THE SUP ISN'T TAKING PLACE TODAY OR TOMORROW.

IT'S STILL GONNA OPERATE AS A HOTEL MOTEL TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

SO WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, GEORGE? DO WE NEED TO AMEND THE MOTION SO THAT IT'S APPLICABLE TO, UPON PERMITS AND EVERYTHING BEING APPROVED, OR ARE, ARE YOU INTERPRETING IT AS WE'RE SAYING THREE YEARS FROM TODAY OR TONIGHT? SO AGAIN, I UNDERSTOOD THE ADDITIONAL CONDITION TO PUT A TIME LIMIT ON THE SUP, WHICH COUNSEL CAN DO.

THAT SAID, IF THE, IF THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UM, IS, IS APPROVED OR ADOPTED, UM, YOU'RE SAYING THE SUP IS ISSUED.

SO IT WOULD BE THREE.

IT WOULD BE IT.

SO THE WAY IN WHICH THE MOTION WAS CRAFTED, YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF IF THIS MOTION PASSES, THEN IT WOULD BE THREE YEARS FROM, YOU KNOW, TOMORROW OPENING A BUSINESS, CORRECT? CORRECT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? CORRECT.

SO, UM, I KNOW I ASKED FOR A VOTE, BUT I'M GONNA PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND, UM, WE CAN, WE CAN STILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS.

I DON'T KNOW IF COUNSEL HAS, UM, IF COUNSEL WOULD PREFER TO LOOK AT THE CRAFTING OF THE MOTION TO CHANGE SOMETHING.

DOES IS MR. SONIC, CERTAINLY YOU CAN OPEN IT BACK UP FOR DISCUSSION.

OF THE PROJECT, ONCE THE BUILDING, ONCE THE BUILDING, UH, COUNTY IS ACTUALLY 39 UNITS.

SO AT THIS TIME I'M JUST GONNA ASK COUNSEL, DID YOU IN OR, OR WHAT IS, WHAT IS THIS COUNSEL'S INTENTION, UM, IN WHAT THEY WANNA ENTERTAIN IN A, IN A MOTION? I GUESS I NEED FURTHER INFORMATION BECAUSE DESPITE APPROVING IT AS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT ON JUNE 24TH, 2024, IT DOES NOT BECOME AS TITLED IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING, A 39 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING ON JUNE 24TH, 2024 OR OPENING OF BUSINESS JUNE 25TH, 2024.

THEREFORE, IT'S NOT APPLICABLE UNTIL THE USE IS WHAT MATCHES THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

SO, SO I DON'T SEE WHY THREE YEARS OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT OF A 39 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING LEGALLY WOULDN'T BE STARTED UNTIL IT BECAME A 39 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING.

SO WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO ENTERTAIN OR SOMEBODY TO, UH, AMEND THE MOTION TO TO SAY WHAT? TO SAY? WELL, I WAS GONNA SAY TO, AT THE COMPLETION, AT THE COMPLETION

[02:00:01]

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, MS. KAKI? WOULD THAT BE A BETTER THING TO SAY? LET'S WAIT UNTIL THEY HAVE ALL THEIR BUILDING, LIKE EVERYTHING'S BEEN APPROVED FOR AN OCCUPANCY AND THEN THREE YEARS FROM THERE.

LET ME JUST JUMP IN QUICKLY.

SO IF, AGAIN, IF THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR IS ADOPTED OR PASSED, IT'S, IT'S A RIGHT TO THE USE.

IT WOULD THEN BE UP TO THE PROPERTY OWNER TO, TO MAKE THE CONVERSION, UH, TO ACCO OF, OF THE PROPERTY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT USE.

BUT THE USE THE RIGHT TO THE USE WOULD BE IMMEDIATE? YES.

YOU WOULD? WELL, IF THEY CAN IMMEDIATELY BEGIN USING IT AS AN APARTMENT EFFECTIVE TOMORROW, THEN I DO NOT WISH TO AMEND MY MOTION OF THREE YEARS.

THIS GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO NEVER MAKE IT A 39 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING.

THEY COULD MAKE IT AN APARTMENT BUILDING TOMORROW AS IT STANDS, IF IT'S NOT READING BY THIS MOTION, THIS MOTION WOULD BE A CONDITION ON A 39 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING.

IT IS NOT CURRENTLY A 39 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING.

LET'S KEEP HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AND SEE WHAT'S GONNA BE THE BEST PATH FORWARD, BECAUSE I BELIEVE MR. SHARMA HAD ALREADY MADE THE, UM, COMMENTS THAT YOU, YOU WOULD BE WAITING UNTIL, AT LEAST TILL AFTER THE, THE SEASON, THE FALL SEASON WHEN YOU WOULD BE RENTING THE ROOMS, UH, AND, AND TIME TO GET MATERIALS AND ARCHITECTURE AND ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP MADAM MAYOR, KEEP THIS OPEN.

THE THREE YEARS WAS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.

AND THEN DID WE SAY THAT, THAT IT COULD BE RENEWED AFTER THAT THREE YEARS? YES.

WELL, IT WAS THREE YEARS FOR THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS THE WAY THE MOTION WAS WORDED.

SO, SO BASICALLY IN THREE YEARS, BASICALLY IN THREE YEARS, WE CAN COME BACK AND SEE WHERE THEY ARE AND IF THEY ARE NOT OPERATIONAL YET AND NEED MORE TIME, WE CAN ADJUST IT AT THAT TIME.

IS THAT CORRECT? RE RE IN, IN MY VIEW, REGARDLESS OF WHERE CONSTRUCTION STANDS, THEY WOULD COME BACK FOR AN, A RENEWAL OF THE SUP.

THEY WOULD, IN EFFECT HAVE TO REAPPLY.

AGAIN, THIS IS, AS I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, REAPPLICATIONS HAVEN'T SEEMED TO BE AN ISSUE FOR THE TOWN FOR MANY YEARS.

AND I THINK AS PEOPLE WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT THIS AS WE WENT, PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT AT, YOU KNOW, AT FIRST PEOPLE WERE SAYING MAYBE A YEAR AND AFTER LISTENING TO APPLICANT TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A YEAR IS JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR THEM TO, TO MAKE THE CONVERSION AND TO, UM, TO, TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE THREE YEARS CAME UP.

SO, UM, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD MADAM MAYOR.

I WOULD, WOULD IT BE, WOULD IT BE OUT OF LINE TO ASK THE APPLICANT, UH, WHAT THEIR TIMEFRAME IS? I ACTUALLY BELIEVE HE KINDA DID SHARE THAT THEIR TIMEFRAME IS, I MEAN, I MEAN, IS THERE A TIMEFRAME AS WITH REGARD TO, UH, A TRANS, A GRADUAL TRANSITION FROM A, FROM A MOTEL TO, TO A, AN APARTMENT BUILDING OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE, JUST LIKE ROANOKE, THEY, THEY JUST SHUTTERED IT AND STARTED THE RENOVATION.

UH, I MEAN THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY YOUR, YOUR INTENT.

I, I IT DIDN'T, SURE.

UM, YES, THIS IS PROBABLY A GOOD TIME FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONVERSATION.

'CAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THAT YOU, YOUR ROSS'S PLAN WAS TO CLOSE IT AND DO ALL THE RENOVATIONS.

YOU WANTED IT TO BE KIND OF A WORK IN PROGRESS SO YOU COULD USE PARTS OF IT AND CONTINUE TO, UH, ACTUALLY THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH BAYMONT, IT CAN ONLY STAY BAYMONT AS A UNIT.

SO IT CANNOT BE PARTIAL BAYMONT AND PARTIAL, UM, ANYTHING ELSE.

AND ONE COMMENT, AND THEN YOU LOSE 10 CUSTOMERS.

SO FOR US, IT, IT IS GOING TO BE ONE SHOT.

OKAY? SO WHEN THE BAYMONT, THE DAY THAT WE SEIZE NOW, OR THE DAY THAT WE WANT TO STOP BAYMONT, THAT'S WHEN WE, UH, START THE CONSTRUCTION AND IT'S NO LONGER BAYMONT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ALL THE CONSTRUCTION, THE DUMPSTER, THE DUST, WE GET UNNECESSARY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IS A DIRTY HOTEL

[02:05:01]

GOTCHA.

SO FOR US, HISTORICALLY, IT'S BETTER FOR US IF YOU'RE DOING IT, WE ARE ONLY DOING CONSTRUCTION.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PERMIT APPLICATION, SUBMIT TO THE, UM, BUILDING PERMIT, WHATEVER IT TAKES THEM TO DO.

PRIOR TO THAT, KYLE PUTS HIS DRAWINGS TOGETHER AND THEN IT BECOMES THE BUILDING PERMIT WAITING TIME.

IN THE MEANTIME, WHAT WE KNOW, WE START ORDERING SUPPLIES.

SO THOSE THINGS CAN HAPPEN PARALLEL, BUT WE CANNOT HAVE PART OF IT PAYMENT AND PART OF IT APARTMENTS.

UNFORTUNATELY.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK CONSTRUCTION'S GONNA TAKE? PROBABLY JUST A, A GUESS.

UH, AT LEAST SIX MONTHS, NO LESS.

UH, IT COULD BE MORE BASED ON IF THERE IS A SHORTAGE ON THE ELECTRICAL, YOU KNOW, GADGETS WE NEED.

IT COULD BE A YEAR.

UM, UNLESS WE START ORDERING, THAT'S WHEN, I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK AND UPDATE YOU ON THE PROGRESS OF THE EQUIPMENT AND WHAT THE LAG PERIOD IS, BUT UNTIL WE GET THE BUILDING PERMITS TO APPROVE WHAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO PUT, YOU KNOW, THIS VOLTAGE VERSUS THAT VOLTAGE.

AND THEN WE ORDER AND THEN WE WAIT.

SO I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK AND UPDATE.

I MEAN, RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION'S TAKING EIGHT TO 12 MONTHS FOR COMMERCIAL, IT'S GONNA BE 12 PLUS MONTHS FOR A CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.

IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, I'M FINE WITH THAT.

I THINK YOUR THREE YEARS STILL SOUNDS REASONABLE WITH WHAT HE'S DESCRIBING.

I DON'T WISH TO AMEND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

WE HAVE A PLAINTIFF DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVEN'T ASKED HIM WHAT THAT WELL, I DID, I DID ASK WHEN WE WERE ASKING ABOUT THE THREE YEARS, BUT, WELL, THE MOTION MS. MS KAKI IS THREE YEARS.

SO IT WOULD BE FROM TODAY AND THREE YEARS FROM NOW, IT WOULD BE FROM THE DATE THAT WE SEND THE LETTER OUT OR SEND OUT THE ACTUAL PERMIT AND SAY YOU HAVE THREE YEARS FROM THIS DATE.

SO, UM, I'M FINE, BUT LEAVING IT AT THREE YEARS.

OKAY, SO TYPICALLY THAT'S WITHIN, YOU KNOW, A WEEK OR TWO OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

ALL RIGHT.

EXCUSE ME.

ALL, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.

IT'S THREE YEARS FROM TODAY OR NEXT WEEK OR WEEK AFTER.

IT'S GONNA TAKE MINIMUM YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS.

THE AVERAGE, THE COST IS GOING BE BETWEEN 1.4 AND 1.6.

THREE YEARS FROM NOW, THIS COUNCIL MAY BE THERE, MAYBE NOT.

SOMEBODY MIGHT DECIDE, OOPS, WE DON'T LIKE THIS.

SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY.

IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN CONDITIONS ATTACHED.

ABSOLUTELY.

FOUR, THREE YEARS FROM THE TIME WE OPENED.

ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE NO, NO, NO ISSUES WITH THAT.

BUT TO GO OUT AND SPEND ONE AS A BUSINESSMAN OR YOU AS A BUSINESS PERSON, 1.4 TO $1.6 MILLION TO SPEND ON THE PROPERTY.

AND THREE YEARS YOU SAY FROM NOW GARDEN, IT MIGHT TAKE A YEAR AND A HALF 50 TO OPEN FOR TWO YEARS.

WE DON'T KNOW.

SO I WILL HIGHLY SUGGEST THE COUNCIL THREE YEARS FROM THE TIME WE GET THE OCCUPANCY FOR HOWEVER YOU WANT, WANT LEAVE.

BUT IF IT'S GONNA BE THREE YEARS FROM TODAY, I'M NOT GONNA SPEND IT.

I'M NOT GONNA SPEND THE KIND OF MONEY.

YOU WILL NOT SEE ME IN THREE YEARS ON THIS.

SO COUNSEL, UM, I WILL ASK AGAIN.

DOES IT, IF WE'RE READY TO TAKE ACTION, WE CAN, IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME.

UM, IS, IS ANYBODY, MADAM MAYOR, I SUGGEST WE AMEND THE MOTION AND WITHDRAW THE SECOND CONDITION.

I SECOND THAT.

MADAM MAYOR.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WOULD AMEND THAT MOTION TO KEEP THE SECOND CONDITION AND MAKE IT THREE YEARS FROM CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

I ALREADY SECOND.

MR. SONIC.

GO AHEAD, MR. YEAH, THERE WAS A SECOND ON MY FIRST MOTION.

THERE'S, THERE'S A, THERE'S A MOTION TO AMEND ON THE FLOOR RIGHT THERE.

THERE SHOULD BE DISCUSSION ON THAT AND A VOTE.

BEFORE, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, BEFORE ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS ARE CONSIDERED CORRECT, BUT, SO HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

MS. COUNCILWOMAN DE DO PAYNE.

SO WE CAN DISCUSS THE MOTION TO AMEND ON THE FLOOR, WHICH WAS TO REMOVE THE, UM, SECOND CONDITION.

SO IS THERE, AND BRUCE SECONDED IT.

BRUCE SECONDED IT.

SO AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MERITS OF THE REMOVING THE CONDITION OR TO NOT REMOVE THE CONDITION? SO WE CAN VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT NOW, RIGHT? CORRECT.

BUT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO DISCUSS IT BEFORE WE VOTE.

SO DOES ANYBODY I HAVE NO DISCUSSION.

NO DISCUSSION.

WANT TO, I DON'T WANT KILL THE, THE WHOLE VOTE LIKE WE HAVE SEE, AND, YOU KNOW.

WELL, NO, I, IF WE AM , I, I HATE TO DO THIS, BUT IF WE, IF WE DID THAT AMENDMENT MOTION AND WE VOTE THAT DOWN BECAUSE WE WANT TO CHANGE THE WORDING TO OCCUPANCY, IT GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

IT WILL GO BACK TO THE, BECAUSE I DON'T

[02:10:01]

INADVERTENTLY.

SO WE WOULD JUST BE VOTING ON THAT AMENDED MOTION, WHICH WOULD REVERT IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ONE.

BUT SOMEBODY COULD AMEND THAT MOTION TOO.

CORRECT.

MR. SONNET, UNTIL WE GET THE MOTION THAT PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH, I BELIEVE UNDER ROBERT'S RULES, THERE CAN BE, THERE CAN BE ONE MORE MOTION.

YES, IT'S A SUBSTITUTE.

ONE MORE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDED MOTION.

AND THAT'S IT, RIGHT? I'M, I'M TALKING ABOUT LEVELS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT LEVELS.

RIGHT? I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE PENDING ON THE FLOOR.

SO RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND THAT'S PENDING, RIGHT? IT, IT'S, THE POTENTIAL IS TO OFFER YET ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO THAT AMENDMENT IF APPROPRIATE.

AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE EXTENT OF AMENDING MOTIONS.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT WE CAN VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT.

THE COUNCILMAN WOULD PUT ON, MADE THE MOTION AND WAS SECONDED.

WE CAN VOTE ON THAT.

AND IF IT IS VOTED DOWN, THEN SOMEBODY CAN STILL DO ONE MORE AMENDMENT.

WELL, LET ME JUST INTERRUPT.

SORRY, GO AHEAD.

BUT THEN THE ORIGINAL MOTION WOULD BE ON THE FLOOR, RIGHT? AGAIN, FOR DISCUSSION.

RIGHT? UNDERSTAND.

BUT THEN SOMEBODY, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE ONLY BE A SECOND THERE COULD, YOU COULD MAKE YOURS GOTCHA.

AMENDMENT OFFERED.

UNDERSTAND.

SO IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE, WHAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS TO GRANT THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT WITH NO CONDITION ABOUT A, A YEARLY, UM, RENEWAL OF THE SUP? MAY I CONTINUE TO READ THE MOTION AGAIN, PLEASE? THE AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION IS TO REMOVE THE SECOND CONDITION, WHICH WAS THAT THEY WOULD RENEW IT, WHICH WAS THE THREE YEAR RENEWAL.

THANK, THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL YOU'RE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, LET'S DO A VOTE ON THAT, ON THAT AMENDMENT MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.

VICE MAYOR SELO? YES.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? NO.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? NO.

COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE? NO.

AND COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES.

AND SO IT IS A TIE.

AND SO, UM, THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THE MAYOR VOTES, AND I AM GOING TO VOTE NO FOR THE OP WITH, AND THEN WE CAN ENTERTAIN, UH, IT GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

, WHICH HAD THE TWO CONDITIONS.

BUT IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THAT MOTION? MADAM MAYOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE ORIGINAL MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR CONDITION NUMBER TWO TO STATE THREE YEARS AT THE TIME OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? YES.

THE DISCUSSION FOR THAT WOULD BE THAT DESPITE THERE BEING FUTURE CA FUTURE COUNCILS, WHICH THIS COULD BE SIX YEARS FROM TODAY OR TOMORROW, I DO THINK EVERY GOVERNING BODY DOES HAVE A SAY IN THE USE.

AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL NOT BE THE SAME COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TODAY THAT IT IS 3, 6, 9, 12 YEARS FROM NOW.

I THINK IT ALSO GIVES SOME LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

ONCE THERE'S A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, THE APARTMENTS ARE OCCUPIED.

YOU HAVE THREE YEARS FROM THAT TO SEE IF IT'S WORKING, IF IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE TOWN, OR IF PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THEIR LOVE SEATS OUT ON THE BALCONIES.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S AN UNFAIR OR UNREASONABLE REQUEST TO ASK THAT IT BE RENEWED EVERY THREE YEARS FROM THE TIME OF OCCUPANCY.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDED MOTION? ALL THE QUESTIONS.

WE'RE READY.

ALL ALL, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION.

THE AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS TO HAVE TWO CONDITIONS.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE APPLICANT MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE OFF STREET PARKING PER TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 75 DASH 1 0 4 OFF STREET PARKING AND CHAPTER 1 48 DASH EIGHT 70, PARKING AND LOADING AREAS.

AND NUMBER TWO, THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT BE RENEWED EVERY THREE YEARS AT TIME OF OCCUPANCY ICE.

MAYOR OTT? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN DEAMON PAYNE? YES.

COUNCILMAN

[02:15:01]

MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPORT? YES.

AND COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES.

TO ITEM SEVEN C, WHICH IS A, UH, PUBLIC HEARING FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS AT 10 COMMERCE AVENUE FOR CCC ENTERPRISES, LLC OF VIRGINIA.

MOTION PASSES.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON

[7.C. Special Exception to Parking Requirements at 10 S. Commerce Avenue for CCC Enterprises of VA]

I SUSPECT THAT, UM, STAFF HAS A PRESENTATION FOR THIS AS WELL.

PROBABLY NOT AS LONG AS THE OTHERS, I WOULD IMAGINE, RIGHT? 'CAUSE IT'S PRETTY, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR.

HOPEFULLY NOT.

SO THAT'S THE, UH, PRESENTATION THAT THE APPLICANT HAD.

SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THOSE QUICK.

THE SPEED THOSE UP.

SO APPLICATION 24 0 0 2 0 8 IS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION FOR 10 SOUTH COMMERCE AVENUE.

AND THIS IS REGARD TO THE PARKING.

UH, THERE'S AN OVERVIEW OF THE, UH, PROPERTY OUTLINED THERE IN RED, UH, YOU'RE QUITE FAMILIAR WITH.

UH, SO THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS PARKING.

THIS IS THE EXISTING LAYOUT, UH, WHERE THE PARKING, UH, IF YOU CAN SEE, UH, BUTTS CLOSE TO THE PROPERTY LINE HERE AND ALL THE WAY AROUND, UH, THE LOT.

SO THAT'S EXISTING AND THAT IS ALLOWABLE IN THE MOTEL HOTEL PART OF, UH, THE CODE.

UH, SO THEY HAVE 106 EXISTING PARKING SPACES.

ONE, THEY DON'T MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS.

UH, IT APPEARS THAT, UH, WHEN, UH, UH, PREVIOUS COUNCILS AMENDED THE PARKING AND LOADING AREAS OF 1 48, UH, THE PARKING FOR APARTMENTS IS IN 1 75.

SO IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A PEN, POTENTIAL OVERSIGHT FROM ONE CODE FROM THE 1 75 AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN 1 48.

THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THE DISPARITY IN THE PARKING SIZE.

THAT'S THE ONLY PART OF THE CODE WHERE PARKING IS NOT IN THE LOADING AND ZONING AREA OF THE CODE.

SO I THINK THAT WAS THE, WE THINK THAT WAS THE POTENTIAL OVERSIGHT.

SO THESE PARKING SPACES ARE NINE BY 18 CURRENTLY.

UH, SO THEY, THEY'RE REQUESTING, UH, WITH APARTMENTS IT'S 10 BY 20, AND THAT'S THE ONLY PART OF THE CODE THAT REQUIRES THAT.

AND AGAIN, THAT IS NOT LISTED IN THE PARKING AND LOADING, UH, PART OF THE TABLE OF 1 48, ONLY IN 1 75, 1 13.

SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR REDUCTION OF THE SIZE FROM THE 10 BY 20 TO THE STANDARD NINE BY 18.

ALSO, UH, WITH REQUIREMENTS OF 1 75 1 13, UH, THE PARKING SHOULD BE 30 FOOT FROM THE PROPERTY LINE, WHICH WOULD BE OUTLINED THERE IN RED.

AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE PARKING SPACES WOULD NOT MEET THAT.

UH, BUT AS FAR AS THE MOTEL HOTEL USE, IT DID MEET THAT COMPLIANCE.

UH, SO AGAIN, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS THE RED, UH, CHANGE FROM THE SIZE, THE REQUIREMENT OF 10 BY 20 TO THE STANDARD SIZE OF NINE BY 18.

AND THEY ALLEVIATE THE DISTANCE FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.

UH, THEIR PROPOSED, PROPOSED USE IS TWO PARKING SPACES PER UNIT.

THEY WOULD DO A CONVERSION, UH, THE PARKING UP HERE, UP AT THE SWIMMING POOL.

UH, THAT WOULD BE WHERE THE OPEN SPACES EXPANDED.

AND THEY HAD ADD PARKING SPACES AND THEY COULD ACCOMMODATE REQUIRED PARKING SPACES FOR THE 39 UNIT, AS IT IS SOME OF EXISTING.

AND IT, WE WOULD RELO RELOCATE SOME PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE OPEN SPACE.

DOES THAT, UH, SUMMARIZATION, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS FOR THAT? THE REASON THEY'RE ASKING FOR THIS? NO, I THINK, I THINK THIS ONE WAS, WAS PRETTY CLEAR IN OUR WORK SESSION.

UM, SO I WILL, UM, IF THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANYTHING? YOU, THERE'S NO NEED.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU, BUT I DON'T WANNA BREAK.

I DON'T WANNA BREAK FROM THE ROUTINE.

SO YOU'RE GOOD? YES.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, SO I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND MS. PRESLEY, DID ANYBODY SOUND TO SPEAK SPEAK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? YOU, DAVID, SIL? MR. S, WOULD YOU? I DON'T NEED TO.

Y'ALL DID WITHOUT WINNING.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE'RE SO HAPPY TO TO ACCOMMODATE .

AND PLEASE.

UM, IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO MAKE SOMEBODY HAPPY.

UM, ALL KIDDING ASIDE, THOUGH, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS APPLICATION? NO.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THE COUNSEL GRANT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS OF TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 75 DASH 1 0 4, OFF STREET PARKING AND CHAPTER 1 48 DASH EIGHT 70, PARKING AND LOADING AREAS FOR CCC ENTERPRISES, LSC OF VIRGINIA AT 10 COMMERCE AVENUE TAX MAP, 28 8 DASH 22 DASH SIX SPECIFICALLY NUMBER ONE, AN EXCEPTION FROM THE REQUIRED PARKING SPACE.

I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

DOES ANYBODY DO I HEAR A MOTION?

[02:20:01]

SIZE FROM 10 FEET TO 20 FEET TO NINE FEET BY 18 FEET.

AND TWO, AN EXCEPTION FROM THE REQUIRED PARKING AREA.

SETBACK OF 30 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINES, WITH THE GRANTING OF THIS SPECIAL EXCEPTION, CONDITIONED UPON THE GRANTING AND ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO CONVERT THE MOTEL INTO A 39 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING AT 10 COMMERCE AVENUE.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? MY ONLY DISCUSSION WAS I WAS EAGER TO READ THAT MOTION BECAUSE OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN THE TOWN CODE NEED TO BE REVISITED AND REVISED ASAP.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? CALL THE QUESTION.

UM, MS. BESLEY, GO AHEAD.

VICE MAYOR SEA LOTT? YES.

COUNCILMAN WOOD? YEP.

UH, SEVEN D AS AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 58 DASH SIX FOR THE ADOPTION BY REFERENCE OF THE STATE VEHICULAR LAWS.

MOTION PASSES,

[7.D. An Ordinance to Amend Town Code Chapter 158-6 for the Adoption by Reference of the State Vehicular Laws]

UM, MS. PRE, I'LL JUST READ THE SUMMARY JUST TO SAVE YOU A LITTLE BIT.

COUNSEL HAS REQUESTED TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 58 DASH SIX, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2024, PERTAINING TO ADOPTION OF REFERENCE OF THE STATE VEHICULAR LAWS AS PRESENTED.

THE TOWN MUST READ ADOPT SECTION 1 58 DASH SIX OF THE TOWN CODE, WHICH ALLOWS THE TOWN TO INCORPORATE ALL THE CHANGES TO THE STATE PARTICULAR LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY ADOPTED BY THE STATE BY INCORPORATING THE STATE VEHICLE CODE INTO THE TOWN CODE, ALLEGED VIOLATIONS COULD BE WRITTEN CITING TOWN CODE WITH ANY RESULTANT FINES PAID TO THE TOWN.

UM, THERE, UH, THERE THERE'S NO NEED FOR ANY STAFF TO SPEAK TO THIS.

UM, THIS IS REALLY MORE OF A HOUSEKEEPING THING, BUT I WILL, UM, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO THIS? OKAY.

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL WILL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 58 DASH SIX, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2024, PERTAINING TO ADOPTION BY REFERENCE OF THE STATE VEHICULAR LAWS AS PRESENTED.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.

GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.

VICE MAYOR SEELO.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES.

OUR NEXT, UH, SECTION FOR OUR, OUR, UH, MEETING TONIGHT IS PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

MOTION PASSES THIS, UH,

[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS]

AND NO, WHAT YOU GOT? YOU GOT A TREE TRIM VIDEO? NO, THAT DOESN'T, THAT'S NOT INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS? MS. PRESLEY? HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAVE ONE.

OKAY, THEN I'M GONNA, I I DIDN'T WANNA BORE YOU ALL WITH THE, IT'S THIS, WELL, IT'S MR. SIG.

IF, IF YOU, OH, HOLD ON.

I JUST GOTTA READ THIS PART REALLY QUICKLY.

SORRY.

WE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

IT IS DUTY OF THE MAYOR TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING IN ORDERLY MANNER PERSONS ADDRESSING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL REST TO LIMIT THE REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

NO PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE REMARKS EXCEPT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CLERK OF COUNCIL.

UPON RECOGNITION BY THE MAYOR, THE CLERK OF COUNCIL, THE SPEAKER SHALL STATE THEIR NAME, ADDRESS AND INDICATE IF THEY'RE A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL DIRECT.

THEIR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL NOT ADDRESS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD DURING THE SAME MEETING.

STAY WITHIN THE ALLOTTED THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

AFTER THAT TIME IS EXPIRED, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT OFF.

REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT INCLUDING OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING.

THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE WARNED TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBMENTS AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

THE MAYOR WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO ASK THE REPRESENTATIVE, THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP.

CLEAR THE ROOM SAID THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN.

AND MR. SU, THAT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU.

THAT IS JUST STANDARD WHAT I READ BEFORE.

SO , YOU'RE UP.

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I WAS FEELING TRIGGERED.

NO .

AND WE DO WANT TO GO HOME TONIGHT.

SO I HAD THE PLEASURE, MADAM MAYOR.

AND MEMBERS COUNCIL

[02:25:01]

AGAIN.

UH, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING BREAKFAST, UH, WITH THE MAYOR AND THE TOURISM DIRECTOR, WHOSE NAME I CANNOT REMEMBER, LIZZIE LEWIS.

AND, UH, CHAIRED WITH HER SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

TOURISM WAS HERE 'CAUSE IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

I SHARED WITH MS. STEVE DOMINICO PAIN AND, UH, THE MAYOR, UH, LAST FALL WHEN I RECEIVED MULTIPLE MAGAZINES, UM, EVERY MULTIPLE TOWNS IN THE VALLEY WERE FEATURED, BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ABOUT THE ENTRY OF THE SKYLINE DRIVE, SKYLINE, UH, SHENDO NATIONAL PARK, NORTHERN ENTRANCE FRONT, ROYAL CANOE CAPITAL, NOTHING IN SOUTHERN LIVING, NORTHERN VIRGINIA MAGAZINE, NOR THE WASHINGTONIAN ON WHAT TO DO IN THE FALL.

HOORAY FUR.

LOU RAY MADE IT, HARRISONBURG MADE IT, ELTON MADE IT, BUT NOTHING ABOUT US.

AND IF WE WANT TO BE IN THOSE THINGS NOW THIS FALL, IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE UNLESS WE START ON IT NOW.

SO I QUESTION WHETHER THE TOURISM DIRECTOR HAS DONE SOMETHING SINCE OUR BREAKFAST TWO WEEKS AGO TO GET IN FRONT OF THESE MAGAZINES SO WE CAN GET INCLUDED IN THESE, TO HAVE AN AD IN THEM AND HAVE A STORY ABOUT US.

AND TO INVITE THESE WRITERS OUT HERE AND SHOW THEM WHAT WE HAVE.

AND NOT THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DEBBIE SIX EIGHT'S EMBARRASSED BY AND THAT I'M EMBARRASSED BY, AND THAT YOU ALL ARE EMBARRASSED BY WHEN YOU DRIVE BY AND SEE THESE THINGS.

UM, SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE QUICKLY.

IF WE WANT TO BOOST WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS FALL.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE QUICK, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE.

AND PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.

NOT JUST SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT OR TALK ABOUT DOING IT, ACTUALLY DO IT.

UM, THE OTHER THING, WE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE FEW GOOD LOCATIONS WHERE WE CAN HAVE A BIG HOTEL HERE.

YOU HAVE A RECONSTITUTED EDA ACQUIRE SITES OR PARTNER WITH PEOPLE TO REDEVELOP THESE SITES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN HAPPEN AT THE END OF MAIN STREET AT QUALITY.

IT BE REDEVELOPED A NEW STRUCTURE.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED TAX BASE, A COMMERCIAL TAX BASE.

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN THE PERFECT SITE FOR A NEW HOTEL BECAUSE IT ALREADY HAS A MULTIPLE WATER AND SEWER HOOKUPS SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THE TAP FEES THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO PAY ELSEWHERE.

BUT WE, THESE ARE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT'S ON YOU ALL.

'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A ENVIRONMENT THAT ATTRACTS THAT BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT AND WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THAT.

SO I'LL VOLUNTEER TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE AND HELP, HELP IF YOU FORM, RATHER THAN SIT AND MOANING, RUN ABOUT IT, TRY TO DO SOMETHING.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION? NO ONE.

THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO, UM, THE ACTUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER FIRST.

UH, REPORTED COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, I THINK DUE TO THE TIME OF THE TONIGHT, I'M GONNA SKIP MY REPORT.

[9.B. Report of Councilmembers]

YES, MA'AM.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, WELCOME TO TOWN.

GOOD TURNOUT.

EXPLAIN STUFF ABOUT MAIN STREET AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO IN TOWN, AND AT LEAST SOME OF 'EM TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT.

'CAUSE I WENT TO THE MILL RESTAURANT THAT NIGHT AND THERE WAS FOUR OR FIVE OF 'EM IN THERE THAT I TALKED TO.

BUT THEY WERE REALLY, REALLY CORDIAL AND NEIGHBORLY ENJOYED BEING IN TOWN.

SO WE JUST KIND, LIKE I SAID, WE JUST GOTTA WORK A LITTLE HARDER ON IT.

BUT I THINK THAT'S ALL.

MAYOR.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SHARE? COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO, UM, UH, SAY THANKS TO, UH, JOE AND BJ HERE IN THE ROOM AND THE REST OF OUR DEPARTMENT, SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, UH, FOR PUTTING TOGETHER OUR OPEN HOUSE WE HAD ON SATURDAY.

UH, DESPITE THE VERY, VERY INTENSE HEAT AS WELL AS WE ALL, UM, EXPERIENCED, UH, I THINK WE HAD A, A FAIRLY GOOD TURNOUT, UH, CONSIDERING.

UM, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT, THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS HAVING, HAVING BOOTHS SET UP AND DISPLAYS.

I, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN DONE HERE IN TOWN FOR, FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT,

[02:30:01]

UH, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TURN INTO MAYBE AN ANNUAL BASIS, I THINK WE WILL, WE WILL, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL DO GOOD.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD EVEN, EVEN MORE TURN OUT, UH, IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS.

UH, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, AGAIN, THANKS TO OUR TOWN STAFF FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AND, UH, THANKS.

YOU KNOW, THANKS, THANKS TO THOSE WHO SHOW UP.

I ACTUALLY SPOKE TO A LADY WHO, UH, IS MAYBE INTERESTED IN MOVING HERE FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

AND SHE, YOU KNOW, AND SHE WAS GLAD TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAD, YOU KNOW, HAD HAD THE INFORMATION OUT THERE AT HAND, UH, FOR SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT SHE, THAT SHE LEGITIMATELY WAS ASKING.

SO ANYWAYS, UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT FOR NOW.

MAD MAYOR.

DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO WISH TO SHARE? VERY QUICKLY? UM, I DID ATTEND THE SALVATION ARMY ANNUAL DINNER IN ADDITION TO THE OPEN HOUSE, AND I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE WOODS, AMY AND GLEN, UM, ON THEIR AWARD FOR, UM, THE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERISM.

SO IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE OUT AND ATTEND THE COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE OPEN HOUSE MEETING NEW PEOPLE, SO IT WAS GREAT.

ANYBODY ELSE? NOPE.

UH, AGAIN, GIVEN THE HOUR OF THE DAY, LET'S BE FAST.

SO JUST SAY THAT I ATTENDED A GO RAIL ZOOM SEMINAR ON NAVIGATING THE RAIL CROSSING AND ELIMINATION, UM, UH, MATCHING.

AND IT WAS, UM, VERY INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO THAT, WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SET ASIDE ALL THIS MONEY TO HELP WITH SITUATIONS, MUCH LIKE, UM, ROCKLAND ROAD AND OUR OWN, UM, SHEOR ROAD.

UM, SHEOR SHORES ROAD, EXCUSE ME.

I ATTENDED SMALL TOWN FIRST EVER SMALL TOWN CONFERENCE, UM, ON JUNE 11TH AND 12TH IN ABINGTON, OR DONE, UM, VERY, VERY WELL ATTENDED.

AND IT WAS THE FIRST EVER THE VML VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE LOOKS ON PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.

UM, GOING FORWARD, THERE WERE NO CITIES THERE TO DOMINATE THE CONVERSATION.

NO COUNTIES.

SO I FELT, YOU KNOW, VERY GOOD AT, UH, MET A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, INTERESTING PEOPLE FROM OTHER TOWNS, BROUGHT BACK SOME IDEAS.

GAVE LIZ, UM, LIZZIE, A MAGAZINE THAT GOT FROM PATRICK COUNTY.

VERY GLOSSY, VERY NICE.

UM, JUST A COUPLE THINGS.

JUNETEENTH, WE ATTENDED.

IT WAS VERY NICE.

UM, NICE FIRST TIME CELEBRATION DOWNTOWN.

UM, WE, UM, WE, THE ROTARY CLUB OF WARREN COUNTY AND THE FRONT ROYAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION IS DOING A FREE SHRED DAY THIS THURSDAY, UH, AT THE VOLUNTEER FRONT ROYAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, FROM 10 TO 12.

SO BRING YOUR DOCUMENTS DOWN THERE, AND WE'RE THERE UNTIL EITHER THE TRUCK FILLS UP OR NOON OR, BUT COME EARLY.

AND ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STARBUCKS.

WE HAVE ONE HERE IN THE TOWN AND ONE OUT IN THE, UH, WALMART SHOPPING CENTER.

I JUST FOUND OUT LAST WEEK WHEN THEY ASKED US TO DO IT THAT THEY DONATE FOOD, UM, THAT THEY DON'T SELL, THAT IT'S STILL USABLE TO THE SALVATION ARMY.

SO WE PICK IT UP EVERY MONDAY, THURSDAY, AND IT'S, IT'S QUITE A MOTHER LOAD OF FOOD THAT WE GIVE OUT ON THURSDAYS AT OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION.

SO BIG THANK YOU TO STARBUCKS.

AND THE NEXT TIME YOU GET A COFFEE OR WHATEVER YOU LIKE FROM THEM, UM, THANK THEM.

AND THE LAST THING IS I ATTENDED THE REACHING OUT NOW OPEN HOUSE.

IT'S KIND OF AMAZING WHAT ALL THEY'VE DONE, UH, WITH THE OLD YOUTH CENTER.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T GET THERE, THERE WAS A NICE ARTICLE, I BELIEVE ON THE ROLE EXAMINER ABOUT IT.

OTHER THAN THAT, MAYOR, I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD.

I'LL FOREGO MY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORT FOR THIS MONTH.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE PLENTY TO REPORT NEXT MONTH, BUT AS MY GOOD FRIEND AND FORMER SUPERVISOR NOW DELEGATED THE 31ST HOUSE OF VIRGINIA, AND ONCE SAID, AS A SUPERVISOR, GOVERNMENT WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE FAST MOVING.

SO WHILE MYSELF, A MOTHER OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WOULD LOVE TO HAVE GONE HOME AT EIGHT O'CLOCK, THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT GOVERNMENT IS CREATED TO WORK.

SO I'LL JUST SAY MADAM MAYOR, THAT I, I ATTENDED THE OPEN HOUSE AS WELL AS, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN INGRAM, COUNCILMAN WOOD, UH, COUNCILMAN DEMON PAYNE, AND THE MAYOR OF COURSE, AND THE, AND MEN SEE LOT.

THANKS BRUCE SAT BACK THERE IN THE CHAIR HOLDING COURSE.

SHE WAS HIDING.

SHE'S HIDING YOU, WAYNE.

SORRY, SHE'S HIDING.

SHE'S, SHE WAS IN THE LINE OF VISION.

I WILL, SHE'S GONNA HIDE ME.

UM, BUT ANYWAY, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, MAYOR, AND I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD EVENT.

UH, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS VERY HOT, VERY, THERE WAS SOME INVIGORATING, VERY HOT CONVERSATIONS, UH, THAT I HAD WITH SOME INDIVIDUALS, UH, RESIDENTS.

UH, SOME WERE COUNTY RESIDENTS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, I THINK IT, WE WILL, WE'LL HAVE COOLER WEATHER NEXT YEAR.

RIGHT? UH,

[02:35:01]

[9.C. Report of the Mayor]

UM, I CAN'T, I CAN NEVER THANK THEM ENOUGH.

SO THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR, UH, IN THE PAST MONTH, JUNE 3RD, I ATTENDED THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF RIBBON CUTTING FOR BATTLEGROUNDS FITNESS.

UH, MR. WALTZ AND I WERE THERE, AS I SAID, THAT MORNING.

I OFTEN GET TO ATTEND RIBBON CUTTINGS FOR NEW BUSINESSES, BUT THIS ONE WAS DIFFERENT IN THAT THEY HAVE, UH, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED FIVE YEARS OF THEIR BUSINESS.

UM, AND, AND LOTS OF THEIR, UM, MEMBERS WERE THERE THAT MORNING.

UH, JUNE 6TH, MR. WALTZ AND MYSELF MET WITH, UH, MIKE MCCOOL FROM THE ROYAL EXAMINER, AND WE DID AN INTERVIEW FOR THE PUBLIC'S VIEWING WHERE WE DISCUSSED OUR TOWN VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS WITH ACTION STEPS.

UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS CAME OUT OF THE COUNCIL RETREAT FOR 2024, AND I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS ALREADY ON SOME OF THESE GOALS BY ACCOMPLISHING SOME OF OUR ACTION PLAN.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS ON OUR GOALS AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE THOSE WITH OUR CITIZENS.

JUNE 7TH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE SALVATION ARMY DINNER WITH COUNCILWOMAN DE DOMENICO PAYNE, UH, COUNCILMAN WOOD AND OUR CLERK OF COUNCIL, MS. PRESLEY JOINED US THAT EVENING.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT.

THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THAT EVENING DISCUSSED THE IMPACT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB MADE IN HIS LIFE.

UM, AND HE IS, UM, THE DIRECTOR OF A BOYS AND SALVATION ARMY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN RICHMOND, I BELIEVE.

UM, AND, UH, I, THERE WERE ONLY TWO, HE SAID, IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA SALVATION OR ARMY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN FRONT ROYAL IS ONE OF THOSE TWO.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY WORTH NOTING.

UM, IF YOU HAVE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM, UH, THAT CLUB, REACH OUT TO CAPTAIN ANNE HAWKE ALSO THAT EVENING.

COUNCILMAN DEMAN COANE ALREADY SAID THIS, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILMAN WOOD AND HIS WIFE AMY, 'CAUSE THEY WERE RECOGNIZED WITH THE ANNE CRIM AWARD FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM.

JUNE 11TH.

UH, AS MR. S SAID, UM, UH, LIZZIE LEWIS AND MYSELF MET WITH HIM.

AND, AND I WILL SAY THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR THE EMAIL JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO AND COULD NOT FIND IT, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PUBLICATIONS, UM, THAT, UH, MS. LEWIS HAS ALREADY SECURED INFORMATION TO PROMOTE THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AS A TOURISM.

UM, SO THANK YOU LIZZIE, UH, FOR WORKING TOWARDS THAT JUNE 12TH TOWN MANAGER WALTZ, LIZZIE LEWIS, UM, AND SHE IS THE TOWNS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DIRECTOR.

AND I, WE ATTENDED THE FRIENDS OF THE SHENDO RAIL TRAIL MEETING IN STRASSBURG, AND THAT WAS ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE NINE TOWNS AND COUNTIES ALONG THE RAIL CORRIDOR.

IT WAS A VERY INFORM, UH, INFORMATIVE MEETING.

AND WE HEARD FROM VDOT OFFICIALS ABOUT THE THREE PHASES OF THE STUDY WHERE THEY'RE GONNA DETERMINE THE BEST USE OF THE CORRIDOR, WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD INCLUDE A RAIL WITH TRAIL OR JUST THE RAIL TRAIL.

AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE UPDATES AS THE SECOND AND THIRD PHASES ARE COMPLETE.

UM, JUNE 19TH, I GAVE THE WELCOME, UH, ADDRESS AND ATTENDED THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION HELD AT THE TOWN COMMONS AND GAZEBO AREA.

AND AS, AS COUNCILMAN WOODS SAID, IT REALLY WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT.

THERE WERE GUEST SPEAKERS AND MUSICAL AND DANCE PERFORMANCES ALONG WITH VENDORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WERE SET UP.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY HOT DAY UNTIL SATURDAY HAPPENED.

AND THEN I REALIZED IT COULD BE HOTTER.

SO DESPITE DIET TEMPERATURES, UM, THERE REALLY WAS A GREAT TURNOUT.

AND SO THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT ORGANIZED AND PLANNED THAT FIRST YEAR EVENT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT GROW EVEN MORE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

THIS PAST SATURDAY, EVERYBODY'S ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, UH, WE ATTENDED THE TOWN'S FIRST OPEN HOUSE.

AND IT, THIS, I WILL POINT OUT, WAS ONE OF THE ACTION STEPS THAT THIS COUNCIL, UH, IDENTIFIED AS PART OF OUR COUNCIL RETREATS AND WITH RESPECT TO GOOD GOVERNANCE.

UM, AND EACH OF OUR TOWN DEPARTMENTS WERE REPRESENTED AND THEY HAD INFORMATION AND DEMONSTRATIONS AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

I, UH, ESPECIALLY ENJOYED THE CHALLENGE THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT STAFF, UH, GAVE ME.

BUT I HAD TO PUT ON I THESE INSULATED GLOVES AND TRY TO PUT, UH, BOLTS AND SCREWS TOGETHER.

AND, AND, AND MUCH TO THEIR SURPRISE OF MY OWN, I WAS ABLE TO DO IT.

UM, I KNOW WE SERVED OVER 300 HOT DOGS, RIGHT? MR. WALTZ AND LOTS OF PEOPLE CAME THROUGH AND DIDN'T GET A HOT DOG.

SO I ANTICIPATED THAT THERE WERE MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE THERE, AND MIGHT EVEN BEEN MORE THAN THAT.

BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAME THROUGH THAT AFTERNOON, EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER FORECASTERS CALLED IT THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

UM, I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF, 'CAUSE OUR STAFF, UM, REALLY, UH, WENT ALL OUT TO MAKE THAT A SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

AND,

[02:40:01]

SO WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE THOSE, UH, DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN ON OUR TOWN STAFF.

AND SO I WANNA THANK THEM FOR ALL THAT THEY DO.

THIS MORNING I ATTENDED, UM, THE CARNIVAL AT COMMONWEALTH SENIOR LIVING.

THEY INVITED ME TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

UM, AND IT WAS SUCH A COOL EVENT.

UM, THERE, I WON'T BORE YOU WITH ALL THE NEAT STUFF THEY HAD GOING ON, BUT THE RESIDENTS COULD WIN TICKETS.

AND THEN I WAS THE PRIZE, UH, STATION.

AND SO THEY CAME AND CASHED IN THEIR TICKETS TO WIN PRIZES AND THE PRIZES COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM LIKE ONE TICKET TO 40 TICKETS.

I, I HONESTLY, THERE WAS A LADY THAT CAME, LIKE, SOME CAME BACK WITH FIVE TICKETS AND I HELPED THEM PICK OUT THE THINGS THAT, THAT THEY MIGHT WANT.

BUT ONE LADY HAD 116 TICKETS.

SO, AND, AND THERE WAS ONE LADY WHO, UH, TOLD ME THAT SHE LIKED TO GO TO AUCTIONS AND UM, YARD SALES IN HER DAY.

SO SHE KEPT PICKING OUT AN ITEM AND THEN SHE'D GO BACK AND WIN THE TICKETS TO GET IT.

SO IT WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT, GREAT MORNING.

BUT LASTLY, THIS IS ALL STAR SEASON FOR OUR YOUNG ATHLETES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR, UM, YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS.

UM, I'VE, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO SOME OF THE BASEBALL, UH, GAMES AT FRONT ROW LITTLE LEAGUE.

IN FACT, TONIGHT THEY'RE PLAYING, THEY WERE PLAYING EIGHT O'CLOCK.

I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW OUR 12 YEAR OLDS DO.

THEY WERE UNDEFEATED GOING INTO TONIGHT.

UM, WE HAD SOME THAT ACTUALLY WON OUR DISTRICT AND OUR GIRLS SOFTBALL AS WELL.

SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOUR HARD WORK BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF EXTRA PRACTICES AND GAMES AND THOSE THAT ARE STILL PLAYING.

GOOD LUCK.

NEXT UP

[10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]

IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. UH, DO I HEAR A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND? ALRIGHT, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, MS. PRESLEY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.

VICE MAYOR ? YES.

COUNCILMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES.

COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.

IS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. AND, UM, TONIGHT WE, UH, COUNSEL IS TO TAKE ACTION ON AN OFFER FROM PROPERTY CONNECTION LLC TO PURCHASE 3,390 SQUARE FEET OF SEVENTH STREET AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH KIBBLER STREET.

LAST

[11.A. Approve Offer from Property Connection LLC to Purchase 3,390 Square Feet of 7th Street at its Intersection with Kibler Street]

MS. LEY, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY FOR ME PLEASE? OR FOR US, SORRY.

COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE AN OFFER ON THE AMOUNT OF $6,800 FROM PROPERTY CONNECTION LLC TO PURCHASE A 3,390 SQUARE FEET OF SEVENTH STREET ABUTTING 2 25 E SEVENTH STREET.

IF APPROVED, THIS VACATION WOULD CLOSE SEVENTH STREET TO FUTURE EXPANSION OVER HAPER CREEK AND ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO CREATE A LEGAL PARCEL.

THE SALE WOULD REQUIRE THE RESERVATION OF A 15 FOOT WIDE DRAINAGE EASEMENT IN FAVOR OF THE TOWN.

THANK YOU MS. PRESLEY.

I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE'VE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS, UH, BACK IN MARCH AND WE ALSO HAVE HAD FOUR WORK SESSIONS WHERE THIS ITEM WAS DISCUSSED.

SO, UM, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR, IN FURTHER IN, IN FURTHERANCE OF THE ORDINANCE, APPROVING THE CLOSURE AND VACATION OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY OF APPROXIMATELY 3,390 SQUARE FEET OF EAST SEVENTH STREET ABUTTING 2 25 EAST SEVENTH STREET.

I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVED THE OFFER TO PURCHASE RECEIVED BY THE TOWN MANAGER FROM THE APPLICANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $6,800 CONDITION UPON SATISFACTION OF ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS STATED IN THE ORDINANCE.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION.

IF YOU CAN DO A ROLL CALL VICE MAYOR SEA LOT? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN DE DEMON COPA? YES.

[12. CLOSED MEETING]

RETAINED BY A PUBLIC BODY BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL, MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE DISSOLUTION OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND THE COUNTY OF WARREN.

NEXT ITEM IS CLOSED MEETING.

UM, IS ANYBODY WILLING TO READ US INTO CLOSED? I MOVE THE TOWN COUNCIL CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PER SEC PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 AND 2.2372 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES.

ONE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A SEVEN OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF MEMBERS OR CONSULTANTS PERTAINING TO ACTUAL LITIGATION WHERE SUCH CONSULTATION OR BRIEFING AT AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LITIGATING POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL V JENNIFER MCDONALD.

AND TWO, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A EIGHT OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED OR

[02:45:01]

DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND.

UM, MS. PRESLEY, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.

VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

COUNCILMAN WOOD? NO.

WE'RE, UM, MOTION PASSES AND WE ARE IN CLOSED.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.