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[I. CALL TO ORDER]
IT IS SEVEN O'CLOCK.UH, TIME TO CALL THE FRONT ROYAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
MEETING TO ORDER, UH, MS. POTTER, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? COMMISSIONER MARRAZZO? HERE.
THANK YOU CHAIRMAN NEIL, I MEAN, SORRY, COMMISSIONER.
[IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IS, UH, ASSUMING THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION HAS HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE AGENDA, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO ADD OR DELETE ANYTHING FROM THE AGENDA? HEARING NONE.WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 16TH MEETING.
AND IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? I MOVE THE, WE, UH, APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING FROM OCTOBER 16TH AS WRITTEN.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? I WILL CALL THE QUESTION.
UM, AT THIS TIME, UH, WE OPEN THE FLOOR TO CITIZEN COMMENTS ON SUBJECTS RELATED TO LAND USE, BUT NOT ON THE AGENDA.
UH, NOBODY HAS SIGNED UP AND I DON'T SEE ANYBODY SITTING IN THE ROOM.
SO NONETHELESS, I WILL OPEN THE CITIZEN COMMENTS AND I WILL CLOSE THE CITIZEN.
[VI. CONSENT AGENDA]
I MOVE THAT THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA TO PUBLICLY ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN DECEMBER, AS PRESENTED ON THE TWO ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.UH, ONE IS THE 2 4 0 0 5 9 9 ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR TOBACCO, SMOKE, OR VAPE SHOPS IN THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS WITHIN TOWN LIMITS.
UH, IF, UH, IF WE CONSENT TO THIS CONSENT AGENDA, THIS IS GIVING CONSENT TO ADVERTISE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 18TH, UH, AT THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
THE SECOND ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS 2 4 0 0 6 5 2.
A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO AMEND THE AREA BETWEEN FROSTBURG ROAD AND DUCK STREET TO RUGBY STREET FROM A FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF COMMERCIAL TO NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL.
AND AGAIN, IF THIS GOES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THAT MEANS CONSENT TO ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 18TH THIS YEAR.
UM, I HAVE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THIS MADAM CHAIRMAN? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.
[VII. OLD BUSINESS]
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS OLD BUSINESS.THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 2 4 0 0 5 2 3.
A SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY COLONEL SAMUEL MILLER, VFW POST 1860.
AND COMMANDER JEFFREY COOK FOR RELIEF OF THE EXISTING PARKING TOWN CODE REQUIREMENTS LOCATED AT 6 54 B WEST 11TH STREET, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP TWO ZERO A ONE DASH TWO DASH THREE DASH THREE AND FOUR.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED C TWO COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE? AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? THANK YOU FOR COMING.
PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND PUT THE MIC BY YOUR MOUTH PLEASE, SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR YOU.
I'M THE REALTOR REPRESENTING VFW POST 1860 FOR THE POTENTIAL PURPOSE, UH, PURCHASE OF 6 54 WEST 11TH STREET.
UM, AT THIS TIME, THE POST COMMANDER'S OUT OF TOWN, SO HE'S REQUESTED MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND TO COME AND SPEAK ON THE POST BEHALF.
MY HUSBAND'S A MEMBER OF VFW POST 1860.
HE'S THE SURFACE OFFICER, ONE OF THE SURFACE OFF SERVICE OFFICERS FOR THE POST.
UM, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE ASKING THAT ANY FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE APPLICATION BE DEFERRED UNTIL THE DECEMBER MEETING.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE FRONT ROYAL CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE TO MEET PARKING REQUIREMENTS,
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AND WE'RE ASKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY PURSUE THAT PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION BEING HEARD ANY FURTHER.I MEAN, IF WE CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE PLANNING DIRECTOR THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PULL THE APPLICATION FROM YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT? I DO.
UM, IS THERE ANY PROCEDURAL PROBLEM WITH US PUTTING THIS OFF TO NEXT MONTH? UH, SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO POST A TO A DATE CERTAIN.
SO JUST THE PROCEDURE IS ALL WE NEED.
THERE'S NO POSTPONE ACTION TO A DATE CERTAIN.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? MADAM CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO POSTPONE THE, UM, 24 0 0 5 2 3 TO PUT IT OFF UNTIL OUR NEXT DECEMBER 18TH.
DO YOU WANNA HEAR A SECOND? SECOND? IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NO DISCUSSION? I WILL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF DEFERRING THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION FOR THE VFW.
ALL IN FAVOR OF DEFERRING IT TO DECEMBER 18TH MEETING, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
UM, COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS.
DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION HAVE A REPORT TO MAKE MR. NEIL? OKAY.
THIS, THIS LAST WEEK WE ATTENDED, UH, A DATA CENTER, 1 0 1 BRIEFING GIVEN BY THE WARREN COUNTY, UM, AT THE WARREN COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER FROM THE FRONT ROYAL WC, PRESENTED BY KIMBERLY HORN, UM, KIMBERLY HORN, KIMBERLY HORN.
THIS WAS A BRIEFING THAT WAS ORGANIZED, UM, BY THE EDA OFFICIALS AND WE WERE GRACIOUSLY INVITED.
THE BRIEFING WAS MEANT AS AN INTRODUCTION, NOT A COMPREHENSIVE BLUEPRINT.
WHAT I DID COME AWAY WITH IS AN UNDERSTANDING FROM THE NEED OF BOTH FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY TO PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO WHAT DATA CENTERS WOULD MEAN FOR OUR AREA.
WE NEED TO CONSIDER NOT ONLY ZONING FOR SUCH FACILITIES, BUT THE TOTAL LIFE CYCLE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE NOT LIMITED TO CONCEPTION, DESIGN, ECONOMICS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, END OF LIFE TERMINATION, AND ON AND ON.
PERHAPS THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TOPIC FOR OUR NEXT, UH, WORKING GROUP MEETING OR SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, COULD I JUST ADD TO THAT? UM, IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, OUR, OUR TOWN AND COUNTY ARE COMING OUT OF A SCANDAL AND, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THAT.
UM, I AM VERY INVOLVED WITH THESE DATA CENTERS, UH, COMING TO OUR AREA.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS OUT THERE ABOUT THEM.
UM, BUT I, I'M JUST GONNA BE HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC AND EVERYBODY HERE, YOU KNOW, UM, WE GOT A BILL COME AND DUE REAL SOON, AND, UM, I DO NOT WANT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE THE TOWN OR COUNTY TO HAVE TO, TO BE TAXING OUR CITIZENS, UM, FOR THIS BILL, WE'VE PAID ENOUGH AND, UM, WE, WE REALLY HAVE TO CONSIDER, UM, THESE DATA CENTERS, UM, AND, AND GIVE THEM A FULL, HONEST, UM, CHANCE.
YEAH, JUST DON'T WANNA BE CUT FLATFOOTED, IF IT DOES COME TO US, WE JUST NEED TO SAY, WELL, WHAT? RIGHT, RIGHT.
WELL, UM, IF, IF WE, I THINK IT GOT DISCUSSION AND KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING TO HAVE.
WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THE ZONING COURT ZONING CODE FIRST FOR OUR WORK SESSIONS.
UPDATING THE, UM, OH,
ANY OTHER COMMISSION REPORTS? MS. ZO? NO, I SAW YOU'RE REACHING FOR YOUR MIC.
UM, THERE BEING NO COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS,
[IX. PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT]
IS THERE A PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT? OF COURSE THERE IS, YES.SO IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, WE HAD 24 NEW ZONING PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OPENED 16 NEW ENFORCEMENT CASES, CLOSED OUT FIVE AND CONDUCTED 36 INSPECTIONS.
WE ISSUED NINE NEW BUSINESS LICENSES, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BUSINESS LICENSES TO 122 FOR THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
UM, AND WE HAD 10 SOLICITOR AND ITINERANT MERCHANT PERMITS, UM, COME IN.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD FOUR RIGHT OF WAY UTILIZATION PERMITS.
WE'RE AT A HUNDRED FOR THE YEAR ON THAT ONE, WHICH IS A BIG JUMP FROM 2023.
UM, AND TO DATE, WE HAVE HAD 2,262
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WALK-INS TO PLANNING AND ZONING THIS YEAR.UM, AND WE ARE UP TO 50 NEW DWELLING UNITS, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST IN FOUR YEARS.
UM, AND SO, UH, FOR THE, UH, SORRY, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, I WILL BE BRINGING A DRAFT OF THAT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN JANUARY.
UM, TYPICALLY THAT COINCIDES WITH BUDGETING.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET'S GONNA BE GOING TO TOWN COUNCIL.
WE'RE FOLLOWING KIND OF BEHIND THAT WITH CIP, WHICH IS THE NORMAL SCHEDULE.
UM, AND THEN ONCE YOU APPROVE THAT, I, I BELIEVE IT DOES GO TO COUNCIL.
UM, AND THEN FOR THE NEXT DECEMBER WORK SESSION, I BELIEVE WE WILL BE REVIEWING, I THINK WE'RE ON ARTICLE THREE.
UM, SO WE'LL SEND, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET, BUT IF YOU WANNA GET A HEAD START, START LOOKING AT THE NEXT ARTICLE OF THE DRAFT ZONING ORDINANCE.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MS. KAKI.
UM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE BEEN ASKING ME WHAT IS GOING ON AT AFTERNOON? CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE, PLEASE? LAST WE LOOKED AT IT, THEY HAD APPLIED FOR AN UPDATED BUILDING PERMIT THROUGH THE COUNTY.
THEY ARE EXTEND, THEY'RE DOING ROOF WORK NOW.
I, I BELIEVE THE PERMIT WAS FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE, UM, LIKE THE ROOF OVERHANG.
UM, AND SO THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY NEED A ZONING PERMIT FROM US FOR THAT.
SO THEY ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING PERMITS WITH THE COUNTY, BUT THERE'S NOTHING BEFORE US AT THE MOMENT.
SO WORK IS PROCEEDING AND THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THAT TUNNEL.
WORK IS PROCEEDING, BUT IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT WE'VE SIGNED OFF ON, LIKE WE'VE, IT'S, IT'S APPROVED, BUT IT'S, IT'S ALL THROUGH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, NOT THROUGH THE TOWN.
SO WE, SO THE TOWN HAS NO FURTHER SAY IN IT.
ARE YOU SAYING THEY HAVEN'T SUBMITTED ANYTHING NEW FOR US TO REVIEW? SO THE, NOTHING BEYOND WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED YEARS AGO? YEAH.
LAUREN, I I HAVE A, ANOTHER QUESTION.
AND, UM, I AM NEW TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, SO FORGIVE ME FOR MY IGNORANCE ON THIS, BUT HOW LONG DO DOES A PROPERTY OWNER HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE DAMAGE? UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE SEVERAL HOUSES HERE THROUGH OUR TOWN THAT HAVE, HAVE CAUGHT FIRE IN THEIR COMPLETE LOSS.
AND THE SHELL BUILDING IS JUST STILL SITTING THERE AND IT, IT, IT, IT POSES A, A HAZARD, UM, TO THE PUBLIC THE WAY THEY ARE.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT THAT.
SO WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN, IT'S ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BASIS.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE, UM, UNDER, I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE THE NUISANCE CODE.
WE HAVE, UH, NOTIFIED I THINK FOUR PROPERTIES IN TOWN.
UM, I KNOW ONE HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED UP ON STRASBURG ROAD.
UH, THE OTHERS, TWO OF THEM I BELIEVE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF, UM, JUST GETTING THEIR APPROVALS FOR THEIR, THEIR, LIKE THEIR COA AND THE DEMOLITION ONE IS, UM, HAS BEEN FORECLOSED AND THE BANK IS STARTING THE PROCESS TO SELL IT.
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE, UM, THEY'VE SUBMITTED AN ABATEMENT PLAN TO US.
SO WE'RE SLOWLY WORKING THROUGH THE STEPS.
UM, BUT IT'S JUST A, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF APPROVING IT.
THE, UM, I THINK, I BELIEVE THE ONE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, UM, IS GONNA BE GOING TO THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW IN TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS.
SO THE ONE I'M REFERRING TO IS THE ONE OUT ON 17TH STREET.
THAT, THAT IS OWNED BY THE BANK.
AND THAT ONE, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO SELL IT.
AND I TAKE IT THEY'RE GONNA BE THE ONE TO CLEAN IT UP AND WELL, THE TOWN HAS GONE IN AND, AND, UM, WE CLEANED UP THE PROPERTY.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE WAITING ON THE BANK TO DO SOMETHING.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, PROCEEDED AT GOOD SPEED THROUGH OUR PLANNED AGENDA.
AT THIS POINT, WE WILL, WE END THE MEETING.
IF I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN AND GO INTO A WORK SESSION.
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MR. GILLESPIE SECONDS.FIRST
WHO WAS THE SECONDED? UH, MR. GILLESPIE SECONDED.