[00:00:01]
THAT CASE,[I. CALL TO ORDER]
I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE FRONT ROYAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY THE 18TH, 2026.UH, MS. POTTER, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? CHAIRMAN MARNER.
AND COMMISSIONER MARRAZZO IS OUT TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANY ADDITION OR DELETION TO THE PRE-PRINTED AGENDA? HEARING NONE.
[IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OUR MEETING OF JANUARY 21ST.HAVE ALL THE MEMBERS REVIEWED THE MINUTES? OKAY.
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES REQUESTED? NOPE.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE? I MOVE TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT PERTAINING TO LAND USE IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
UH, AND, UH, NOBODY HAS SIGNED UP FOR IT.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANYTHING NOT RELATED TO THE AGENDA? OKAY.
SO I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[VI. PUBLIC HEARING]
THIS POINT WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT.
UH, THE FIRST ONE, UH, I WILL READ THE DESCRIPTION.
WE WILL ASK MR. WARE OF THE STAFF TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
AFTER MR. WARE HAS SPOKEN, THEN THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THEN I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY VERONICA ELLO TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AS DEFINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 2 0 8 7 4 9 3 AND LOCATED AT TWO 14 LEE STREET.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND IS LOCATED WITHIN THE HISTORIC OVERLAY DISTRICT.
MR. WARE, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THIS ITEM? PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NUMBER ONE FOR TONIGHT.
UH, PERMIT NUMBER 25 0 0 6 1 0 IS FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL, UH, LOCATED AT 2 1 4 LEE STREET.
UH, THERE'S THE PROPERTY OUTLINED, UH, THERE, UH, JUST SOUTH OF WEST STONEWALL DRIVE THERE ON THE EAST SIDE OF LEE STREET, TWO 14.
UH, THERE'S A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE, UH, STRUCTURE FROM THE STREET AND A PART OF THE STRUCTURE FROM THE STREET SHOWING THE PARKING ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE DRIVEWAY.
UH, THE PARCEL DOES HAVE THREE OFF STREET PARKING SPACES.
UH, THEY DID FURNISH A SURVEY PLAT OF THE PROPERTY, UH, SHOWING THAT AREA OUTLINED TO THE NORTH IN YELLOW FOR, TO ACCOMMODATE THREE UH, CARS OFF STREET, PLUS THE AREA FOR REFUGE THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
STAFF DID CONDUCT A SITE INSPECTION ON FEBRUARY 10TH.
IT WAS FOUND COMPLIANT WITH THE INSPECTION.
THEY HAVE AN EVACUATION PLAN POSTED IN THE BEDROOMS AS REQUIRED.
UH, THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE KITCHEN AREA AND, UH, THE MANAGEMENT PLAN AVAILABLE.
UH, THAT ALL DID PASS THE, UH, INSPECTION OF THE STRUCTURE.
UH, JUST A MOMENT ON THE QUESTIONS FROM THE WORK SESSION.
IT DOES HAVE FOUR BEDROOMS AS ADVERTISED WITH, UH, AND ON THE APPLICATION FOR 10 PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A, AN ADDITIONAL BEDROOM, THE FIFTH BEDROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
UH, SO THERE WILL BE FIVE BEDROOMS THERE TO ACCOMMODATE 10 PEOPLE MAXIMUM, WHICH IS ALLOWED PER CODE, UM, TWO ADULTS PER BEDROOM WITH A MAXIMUM OF 10 THAT IS ALLOWED BY THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM OF 10.
SO THEY DO MEET THAT CONDITION WITH THE INSPECTION.
WITH THAT, IT DID PASS INSPECTION, LIKE I SAID.
UH, AND THEY MADE ALL, UH, NECESSARY, UH, APPLICATIONS.
HAS ALL THE INFORMATION IN THERE.
[00:05:02]
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WARE? NO.PLEASE COME AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR YOU.
HELLO, MY NAME IS VERONICA CELLO WITH THE MIC CLOSE TO YOUR MOUTH.
HI, MY NAME IS VERONICA CELLO.
UH, I'M THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, WE ARE ABOUT 50 MINUTES FROM THERE.
UH, OUR PLAN IS TO HAVE LIKE A VACATION HOUSE AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE IT TO OTHER PEOPLE WHEN WE CANNOT, YOU KNOW, GONNA COME.
UH, WE LOVE THE CITY OF ROYAL.
WE'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR WEEKENDS, UM, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ALREADY.
AND WE WANT TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN THIS KIND OF LITTLE TOWN TO OTHER PEOPLE.
UM, AIRBNB, WE'RE PLANNING ON USING AIRBNB, VRBO, UM, DO IT LIKE A WEEKLY, UM, THING AND OR WEEKENDS.
UM, I'M GONNA TAKE CARE OF THE MANAGEMENT.
I'M ALREADY USED TO DO THAT, TO DO THAT.
I'M A REAL ESTATE AGENT BY PROFESSION IN VIRGINIA.
UM, AND WELL, WE'RE COMMITTED IN KEEPING EVERYTHING OUTSIDE LOOKING GOOD, KEEPING THE HISTORICAL, UM, MR. UH, HE ALREADY TOLD MR. WHERE, I'M SORRY, HE ALREADY TOLD US THAT OUR PROPERTY IS NOT HISTORICAL PLACE AND WE HAVE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
UH, SO WE ARE COMMITTED IN LEAVING IT THAT WAY.
UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA TOUCH OR CHANGE ANYTHING STRUCTURAL OR FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE PROPERTY AND FROM THE INSIDE WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT AS WELL.
UM, ACCORDING TO THE TIME, THE HOUSE IS FROM 1909 AND WE ARE MAKING IT OUR LITTLE NO ESCAPEE PLACE FROM THE CITY.
I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ONE PERSON HAS SIGNED UP.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC? IF NOT, UH, JOAN HARDING, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING THE LIVE STREAM.
I LIVE AT TWO 18 LEE STREET, WHICH IS THE HOUSE EXACTLY NEXT TO THEM.
THERE IS NO TWO 16, JUST THE WAY THE STREET IS NUMBERED.
I HAVE LIVED IN MY HOUSE SINCE 1989.
UM, AND IT IS THE SISTER HOUSE TO MINE.
WE DON'T LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME ON THE EXTERIOR, BUT THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH IDENTICAL.
IT IS PART OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I ACTUALLY SPENT 10 YEARS ON THE HISTORICAL BOARD, THE, THE AR.
UM, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH OLD HOUSES AND TRYING TO GET THEM PUT TO GOOD USE.
I HAVE TO SAY I AM VERY, VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE IDEA OF THIS BEING A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
UH, I'VE SPOKEN TO MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS.
THEY ARE ALSO UNHAPPY WITH THIS.
UM, WE ARE A RESIDENTIAL STREET, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE SOME RENTALS, THEY ARE LONG TERM.
WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT HAVE RENTED THERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
ONE THING I WILL SAY THOUGH IS THE HOUSES ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER, VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.
MANY OF THE HOUSES ON THAT STREET DO NOT HAVE OFF STREET PARKING.
UM, AND SO IT'S KIND OF HARD IF WE HAVE NEW PEOPLE COMING IN WHO MAYBE DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS NORMALLY THE SPOT THAT JOHN PARKS IN OR WHATEVER, I FEEL THAT THAT'S GOING TO CREATE ISSUES AND ILL WILL.
WHEN PEOPLE COME IN PARK AND THEN SOMEBODY COMES HOME FROM WORK AND CAN'T PARK IN THEIR PARKING SPOT.
UM, EVEN THOUGH THAT HOUSE DOES HAVE ROOM FOR TWO OR THREE VERY SKIMPY PARKING SPOTS.
UM, AND UH, THE OTHER THING IS THERE'S A LITTLE HOUSE THAT SORT OF VERY QUIETLY WAS APPROVED TO BE AN AIRBNB.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO GET MUCH USE, BUT IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
THERE'S ANOTHER B AND B UP ON THE HILL, THE MANOR GRADE BUILDING, AND THERE'S A HOTEL, RIGHT, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE CORNER.
UM, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED ADDITIONAL RENTALS, SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I DON'T MIND IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO BUY IT AND MAYBE PUT IT IN AS A RENTAL.
WE DO HAVE SOME OF THOSE ON THE STREET.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LONG-TERM PEOPLE, UM, WHO HAVE LIVED THERE,
[00:10:01]
WHO ARE OWNERS AND RENTERS.UM, I JUST THINK IT IS NOT THE PROPER USE.
WE WERE LOOKING THINGS UP IN THE GUIDEBOOK AND IT WAS SEEMINGLY TO SAY THAT IN OUR ZONING, WHICH APPARENTLY HAS BEEN CHANGED, YOU HAVE TO HAVE X AMOUNT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST HALF AN ACRE.
BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S BEEN CHANGED.
I KNOW FROM THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE, AM I OUT OF TOWN? YES.
I THINK IT WILL CREATE PROBLEMS. AND I DON'T WANNA A PARTY HOUSE.
I DON'T LIVE IN FLORIDA ANYMORE.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANNA BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO WERE DOWN THERE PARTYING WHEN I'M TRYING TO LIVE A BASIC LIFE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, UH, WHO WISH TO ADDRESS? OKAY.
OKAY, IN THAT CASE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, AND AT THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION, UM, THIS IS WHERE, UM, THE, UH, MARCH WE ARE, WE ARE READY ACTUALLY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
WE, WE NEED A MOTION AT THIS POINT, BUT I JUST CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I WAS SO ABSORBED WHAT SHE WAS SAYING.
WE WANT TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, HAVE DONE THAT.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION REBUTTAL? WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO MAKE A REBUTTAL? OKAY.
UM, IN BEHALF OF WHAT, UH, MY NEIGHBOR SAID, UH, WE ARE NOT PLANNING ON RENTING THIS PROPERTY FOR ANY KIND OF PARTIES.
LOUD NOISES, YOUNG PEOPLE IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE A REQUEST OF BEING 25 AND UP.
UM, WE ARE MAINLY FOCUSING ON FAMILIES AND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE LITTLE TOWN.
THAT PROPERTY IS LESS THAN A MILE FROM SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, FROM SKYLAND DRIVE, FROM WINERIES, FROM PLACES THAT YOU WANNA GO AS AN ADULT, NOT LIKE A VACATION HOUSE IN MIAMI.
UM, WE ARE VERY COMMITTED AND HAVING THE PROPERTY LOOKING GOOD FROM THE OUTSIDE, SO IT WON'T BOTHER ANYBODY.
WE WANT TO KEEP THE CARS FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE, SO IT WILL, IT WILL PARK IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOT BOTHER THE STREETS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT IN THE PROPERTY.
WE GO LIKE ON WEEKENDS AND STUFF.
UM, AND THERE'S ALWAYS CARS IN FRONT OF OUR PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S PUBLIC STREET.
UM, SO WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE STREET IS PUBLIC AND WHOEVER WANTS CAN PARK THERE.
SO WE'RE, UH, COMMITTING IN JUST HAVING THREE VEHICLES ON THE DRIVE ON DRIVEWAY, SO IT WON'T BOTHER ANYBODY AS WELL.
UM, I'M GONNA BE MANAGING THE PROPERTY, AS I SAID, AND AIRBNB HAS A VERY STRICT CLAUSE ON PARTIES.
AND IF EVEN THE NEIGHBORS CAN COMPLAIN WITH AIRBNB, AND IF MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINS, THEY CALL ME AND I HAVE TO, UH, ACCESS THE, THE PEOPLE IN, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THAT I'M HOSTING MY PROPERTY.
UM, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS GONNA CREATE A BAD THING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WAY THAT WE SMALL, LIKE FAMILIES CAN PROMOTE A PLACE.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR, I LOVE THIS CITY, LIKE THIS LITTLE TOWN, AND I FEEL THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE THE GOODNESS THAT YOU GUYS CAN PROVIDE FOR THEM BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, UM, IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA MAKE IT BETTER THAN MAKING IT BAD.
AND AS WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SUBJECT TO INSPECTIONS IF ANYBODY'S COMPLAINING.
AND I'M OPEN FOR THAT AS WELL.
I'M, I'M VERY COMMITTED IN MAINTAINING MY PROPERTY IN A GOOD, UH, IN A GOOD WAY.
NOT MAKING THE STREETS OR ANYBODY UNCOMFORTABLE.
I'D LIKE TO ASK JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
UM, YOU SAID YOU AND YOUR FAMILY COME AND SPEND TIME HERE ON THE WEEKENDS.
DO YOU KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY WEEKENDS? HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU ACTUALLY SPEND THERE A YEAR? WELL, I, WE JUST BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN DECEMBER.
SO WE'VE BEEN COMING ON THE WEEKENDS ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND THAT WE CAN.
UH, OUR PLAN IS TO, AS IF WE ARE FREE, WE CAN COME, WE'RE LIKE 50 MINUTES AWAY.
UH, AT, I'M GONNA GONNA BE, I'M GONNA BE COMING AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.
UH, BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT STAY OVERNIGHT.
WE HAVE OTHER PLANS, YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY.
[00:15:01]
BUT WE'RE GONNA BE OFTEN IN THE PROPERTY.DO YOU HAVE A SENSE IF YOU'RE GONNA BE POSTING IT ON AIRBNB? MM-HMM
UM, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MUCH TIME YOU'RE GONNA MAKE AVAILABLE ON AIRBNB? UM, WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN BE IN THE PROPERTY 15 DAYS AND MAYBE TWO WEEKENDS AVAILABLE FOR THE PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, IT WILL DEPEND ON OUR SCHEDULE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO.
NOW, WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AND FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE B? I MOVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 5 0 0 6 1 0 FOR SHORT SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 2 1 4 LEE STREET, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP TWO ZERO A SEVEN DASH FOUR DASH NINE THREE.
THE, THE PROPERTY ITSELF, IT, IT MEETS, UM, BEING AN AIRBNB, IT MEETS OUR CODE, UH, COMPLETELY AND THERE'S NOTHING IN OUR CODE PRECLUDING IT TO BE THERE OR THERE'S NO LIMITATION ON AIRBNB AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD IN GENERAL IS NOT EXCLUSIVE FROM HAVING AIRBNBS.
SO IT WOULD BE HARD TO DENY THIS AND, AND, UM, STAY WITHIN THE CODE.
MR. YOU COMMENT MR. BOOKS? YES.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD, WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE KNEW KIND OF MORE OF THE, THE INTENT OF THE VOLUME OF CONSUMPTION OF, OF RENTAL.
'CAUSE IT JUST SEEMS A LITTLE BIT, KIND OF HARD TO PREDICT THAT.
ACTUALLY NO, NOW THAT YOU'RE SAYING IT, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT.
NO, AND IN GENERAL, WHEN WE LOOKED AND LOOKED AT THIS BEFORE, THERE'S ABOUT 30 AIRBNBS IN TOWN RIGHT NOW, I THINK IS WHAT YOU CAME UP WITH WHEN YOU LOOKED INTO IT.
UM, QUESTION FOR LAUREN AND THEN WE COULD ASSUME THAT THERE'S SOME OTHERS THAT WE YEAH, WE'RE, WE'RE BETWEEN 21 IS COMING TO MIND, BUT WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR, SO, OR IN THE PAST YEAR, SO GETTING CLOSE TO 30 PERT OKAY.
AND PROPORTION TO THE TOWN POPULATION.
SO WE HAVE ABOUT 6,700 HOUSEHOLDS IN TOWN AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHY.
AND THERE'S NO REGULATIONS CURRENTLY LIMITING AIRBNBS HERE IN TOWN? NO, THEY'RE PERMITTED IN EVERY ZONING DISTRICT WITHIN TOWN LIMITS BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
UM, WELL, WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND.
MS. POTTER, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE CHAIRMAN NER? YES.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY DANA KLEIN REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP.
THIS IS NUMBER 2 6 0 0 0 1 3 TO RECLASSIFY TWO VACANT LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A SIX SECTION SIX BLOCK FOUR PARTIALS 11 A AND 14 A FROM R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
MR. WARE, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS SUBJECT? THE SECOND ITEM ON THE PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA IS PERMIT NUMBER 26 0 0 0 1 3.
THAT'S A REZONING APPLICATION, UH, FOR TWO VACANT LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE LOTS, 11 A AND LOTS 14 A.
THE REQUEST IS FROM R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
UH, THERE'S THE AERIAL VIEW OF THE TWO VACANT LOTS THERE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF GRAND AVENUE AND CYPRESS STREET.
UH, THEY'RE OFF THE CORNER OF CHERRY STREET.
THAT'S THE AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, THE ZONING CURRENTLY, UM, I'M COLORBLIND, SO JUST BEAR WITH ME.
SO THE YELLOW LOOKING TO ME, UH, THOSE IS THE R ONE DISTRICT TO THE NORTH IN THE ORANGE IS R THREE AND UP TO THE NORTHWEST IS THE R TWO, WHICH IS LIKE A TAN
[00:20:01]
COLLAR THERE.SO THEY ARE ASKING, UH, TO REZONE THE PROPERTY FROM THE R ONE TO THE R THREE, WHICH IS RIGHT TO THE NORTH OF THEM WITH ABUT THE LOTS TO THE REAR.
UH, THERE IS A, UH, CONCEPTIONAL DRAWING OF THE LOTS FOR THE REZONING.
THE LOTS ARE 75 FOOT WIDE, 150 FOOT DEEP WITH A LOT AREA OF OVER 11,000 SQUARE FEET FOR THE LOTS.
UH, THERE'S A CONCEPT DRAWING POTENTIALLY, UH, WHICH WOULD ALLOW DUPLEXES ON THE LOTS.
THEY CAN BE FURTHER SUBDIVIDED INTO A DUPLEX LOT.
UH, THE R ONE DISTRICT REQUIRES THE MINIMUM LOTS TO HAVE AT LEAST 10,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO CURRENTLY MINIMUM FOR R ONE IS 10,000.
THESE LOTS ACTUALLY WOULD BE OVER THAT OVER WITH 11,000 SQUARE FOOT.
BEYOND THAT FOR EACH LOT, UH, THE R THREE REQUIRES THE LOTS TO BE 6,000 SQUARE FEET, UH, WHICH CAN BE FURTHER SUBDIVIDED INTO DUPLEX.
SO THESE, THESE LOTS WILL BE LARGER THAN THE R ONE CURRENTLY FOR THE MINIMUM STANDARDS AND LARGER THAN THE R THREE.
UH, THE CONCEPT, UM, YOU ASKED THAT THE WORK SESSION TO GIVE A RENDERING OR SOMETHING OF THE, UH, POTENTIAL, UM, STRUCTURE THAT COULD BE LOCATED ON IT.
AND THE APPLICANT DID PROVIDE, UH, THAT DRAWING WITH THE COMMENTS FROM YOUR WORK SESSION.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY COULD PUT A PORCH ON THE REAR AND DECKS ALSO WEIGH THE SAME WAY WITH THE FRONT END, JUST, JUST A, A RENDERING WHAT THE POTENTIALLY THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY PUT ANOTHER PORCH ON IT OR, UH, WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO DO.
BUT ONE ROOF LINE WHERE A HIP STYLE ROOF WHERE IT LOOKED LIKE A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING.
UM, CURRENTLY THE LOTS ARE 75 FOOT WIDE WITH 11,250 SQUARE FEET.
LIKE I SAID, THE R ONE MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS IS 10,000.
SO THE LOTS ARE LARGER, UH, THAN THE R ONE ARE REQUIRES THE SETBACKS ON THE LOTS CONFIGURED THERE.
THE R RUN REQUIRES A MINIMUM SETBACK ON THE SIDE OF 10 FEET WITH A TOTAL OF 25.
UH, SO, UH, A TOTAL OF 25 WITH THIS CONFIGURATION, THE TOTAL OF THE SETBACKS WOULD BE OVER, UH, 31 FEET.
SO THE SETBACKS ON THE SIDE, THE TOTAL WOULD BE LARGER THAN REQUIREMENT FOR THE OR ONE ITSELF.
UH, THEY WOULD FURNISH OBVIOUSLY OFF STREET PARKING, UH, TWO PARKING SPACES PER DWELLING UNIT REQUIRED BY TOWN CODE.
UH, TOWN CODE DOES REQUIRE SIDEWALKS TO BE INSTALLED FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT AND NEW LOTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO DO THAT REGARDLESS.
UH, SO THIS IS THE, YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
THESE ARE THE PLANNING AREAS, UH, APPROVED BY, UH, RECOMMENDED APPROVAL BY THIS PLANNING COMMISSION AND APPROVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL.
OF THE 15 PLANNING AREAS, THEY ARE LOCATED IN NUMBER FIVE, VISCO CITY.
UH, SO THERE IS THE OVERALL VIEW OF THAT AREA.
THE NEW PLANNING DISTRICT, ACCORDING TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT DOES FALL IN ALIGNMENT OR AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UH, FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY.
UH, PRIMARY USES WOULD BE SINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED AND DETACHED STRUCTURES.
UH, THERE'S THE CONCEPT DRAWINGS OF WHAT POTENTIALLY BY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SINGLE FAMILY THERE TO YOUR LEFT, UPPER LEFT ON THE PAGE TWO TO THE RIGHT, UH, SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED.
UH, THERE YOU SEE THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EIGHT, UH, SINGLE FAMILY AACH STRUCTURE.
UH, SO IT DOES FALL IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THERE IS THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN FOR GRAND AVENUE.
THAT AREA, THEY'RE HIGHLIGHTED WITH THE BLACK HASHING.
THAT'S, THOSE ARE THE TWO LOTS.
THAT PORTION SOUTH OF GRAND AVENUE WOULD BE ZONED.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY, UH, THE AREA I'LL POINT OUT HERE, UH, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THIS IS THE, UH, SQUIRREL HILL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S IN ITS FINAL STAGES OF APPROVAL.
UH, THEY WILL, UH, BE BEGIN THIS YEAR.
WE'RE HOPING, UH, TO CONSTRUCT 32 DUPLEXES THERE OFF OF ORCHARD STREET.
[00:25:01]
THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE PRELIMINARY PLAN IN THE FINAL STAGES OF SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT PLAN.SO THOSE WILL BE DUPLEXES LOCATED AGAIN WITH THIS OTHER, UH, DEVELOPMENT HERE.
THOSE WILL BE 32 DUPLEXES, UH, HERE IN THE FUTURE.
SO IT DOES ALIGN WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IT DOES ALIGN WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS FOR TOWN STAFF? WERE THERE ANY OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN YOU, UM, MADE THE RECOMMENDATION WITHIN THE PACKAGE HERE? WERE THOSE TWO THINGS, WERE THERE ANY OTHER THINGS YOU LOOKED AT BEYOND IT? IT ALIGNS WITH IT'S, IT'S POSSIBLE BY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND, AND DOESN'T VIOLATE THE, UM, ANY ORDINANCE PER SE BY CHANGING IT.
I MEANING IT'S NOT SPOT ZONING OR SO ON.
SO IS THERE ANY OTHER THING THAT WAS CONSIDERED, UH, NO, NOTHING ELSE WAS CONSIDERED IT JUST THAT THE LOTS, UH, KEEP IN MIND THE LOTS ARE LARGER WITH THIS REZONING, UH, REQUEST FOR THE LOTS.
THEY ARE LARGER THAN THE R ONE CURRENTLY REQUIRES, UH, EVEN FOR THE R ONE AND OBVIOUSLY LARGER FOR THE R THREE, UM, WITH THE SETBACKS AND THE LOT WIDTH AND THE DEPTH.
WE DISCUSSED THIS EXTENSIVELY AT OUR WORK SESSION, SO WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
UH, WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO SPEAK GOOD EVENING? UH, MY NAME'S DANA KLEIN.
I, UH, BEEN BORN AND RAISED HERE IN FRONT ROYAL AND I OWN THE TWO LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR AGREEING TO HEAR MY REQUEST.
WHEN I FIRST WENT DOWN TO PLANNING AND ZONING, I DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROCEDURE FOR REZONING.
I WANT THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO KNOW HOW GREAT AND HELPFUL EVERYONE IS AT PLANNING AND ZONING.
WHEN I FIRST WENT DOWN THERE, THEY ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS AND EXPLAINED THE PROCESS OF REZONING THOROUGHLY.
NO MATTER WHO I TALKED TO, I ALWAYS GOT THE ANSWERS I NEEDED.
THE TOWN SHOULD FEEL PROUD AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH GREAT EMPLOYEES.
I WANT THE HOMEOWNERS ON GRAND AVENUE AND HOFFMAN HEIGHTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO PURPOSELY RUIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DO REALIZE WHILE THEY'RE AGAINST MY REQUEST, I WANT MY NEIGHBORS TO KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT IS BUILT ON THESE LOTS, THEY WILL BE BUILT TO A HIGH QUALITY STANDARD AND TASTEFULLY DONE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT DESIGN DUPLEXES OUT THERE THAT WOULD LOOK JUST LIKE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
ONE SUCH DESIGN WOULD HAVE EACH SET OF DUPLEXES SHARING ONE ROOF LINE WITH THIS TYPE OF DESIGN.
THE ONLY WAY ANYONE COULD RECOGNIZE THEY ARE DUPLEXES AND NOT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO INDIVIDUAL FRONT DOORS I WANT TO BRING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S ATTENTION THAT ORCHARD STREET, WHICH IS JUST ONE STREET OVER AND BACKS UP TO THESE LOTS IS ZONED R THREE.
ALTHOUGH THIS WAS ZONED R THREE A LONG TIME AGO, THEY DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM ALLOWING DUPLEXES ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET AND ALL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON THE OTHER.
THEY CLEARLY DID NOT THINK THE DECISION THEY MADE WOULD RUIN OR DISRUPT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT I'M REQUESTING IS NOWHERE NEAR TO THE EXTENT OF ORCHARD STREET, NO MATTER WHAT DECISION IS MADE ON THESE LOTS, I WANT MY NEIGHBORS TO KNOW THAT I'LL ALWAYS BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND WILL NOT HOLD A GRUDGE AGAINST THEM FOR THEIR VIEWS AND OPINIONS.
I CAN ONLY HOPE THEY WILL NOT HOLD A GRUDGE AGAINST ME FOR MERELY TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE INVESTMENT.
WE MIGHT HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
THE EARLIER, UH, UH, THE, UH, IT WAS THE, I GUESS THE SURVEY APPLICATION SHOWED DRIVEWAYS IN THE FRONT THAT RELATES THE PICTURE, RIGHT? UH, ARE YOU STILL PLANNING THE DRIVEWAYS IN THE FRONT? ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT SHOWS THE, THE TWO UNITS TO BE SORT OF STAGGERED, RIGHT.
ARE YOU STILL PLANNING TO DO THAT? RIGHT.
I WOULD DO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE VISUAL THAT WE SHOWED A MINUTE AGO.
YEAH, I WAS JUST TRYING TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE.
OKAY, SO HOW WITH, WITH THE STAGGERED, WITH THE STAGGERED APPEARANCE, UH, WHY, HOW DO YOU FIRST OF ALL GET A, A COMMON ROOF LINE WITH THAT, BUT WHY THE STAGGERING? UH, JUST SO IF YOU HAVE FRONT PORCHES, NOT EVERYBODY'S LINED UP ALL IN A ROW.
AND THIS, THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS ALL ABOUT REZONING FROM TO
[00:30:01]
R ONE TO R THREE.IT DOESN'T OBLIGATE ANY KIND OF CONSTRUCTION TO BE ON IT OTHER THAN WHAT'S PERMISSIBLE WITHIN R THREE.
WILL YOU BE LIVING IN ONE OF THESE YOURSELF? UH, NO.
I LIVE HERE IN TOWN, OUT IN RIVERMONT DRIVE IS WHERE I LIVE.
UH, WE HAVE, WE'LL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE 12 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP.
IF ANYBODY NOW WISHES TO SPEAK WHOSE NAME IS NOT ON THIS LIST, PLEASE GET YOUR NAME ON THE LIST, UH, RIGHT AWAY.
THE, THE RULES FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ARE THAT YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT REFERS TO THE SUBJECT AT HAND, UH, ADDRESSES DIRECTLY TO THE SUBJECT AT HAND.
UH, NEEDLESS TO SAY, ALL PRESENTATIONS MUST BE COURTEOUS, UH, APPROPRIATE, UH, NO, UH, INSULTING LANGUAGE OR ANY SUCH LIKE THAT WILL BE TOLERATED.
UM, ARE THERE, ARE THERE MORE NAMES UP THERE? OH, OKAY.
OKAY, WELL, LET'S, LET'S GET STARTED FOR THE FIRST THREE MINUTES, UH, UH, MS. POTTER WILL BE OUR, OUR, UH, TIMEKEEPER.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE DINGA DING DING, THEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU THREE MINUTES ARE UP.
UH, DR. NANCY LEE, YOU WERE THE FIRST ONE UP.
AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LIVE STREAM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE AND PUT THE MIC, PLEASE PRETEND YOU'RE A POP SINGER AND KEEP THE MIC REAL CLOSE TO YOUR MOUTH SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN HEAR YOU.
YOU'LL BE GLAD I'M NOT A POP SINGER.
I LIVE AT TWO 14 GRAND AVENUE, AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'VE LIVED THERE FOR OVER 40 YEARS ON GRAND AVENUE.
I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE A PROPOSED, PROPOSED REZONING OF THE TWO LOTS FROM R ONE TO R THREE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW TOWNHOUSES TO BE BUILT WITHIN AN ESTABLISHED SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD.
GRAND AVENUE HAS BEEN A STABLE, WELL ESTABLISHED STREET FOR DECADES.
FAMILIES HAVE MOVED THEIR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE R ONE ZONE IS PROTECTS THE CHARACTER, SCALE AND DENSITY OF OUR HOMES.
REZONING EVEN TWO LOTS TO R THREE WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE CHARACTER BY INTRODUCING HIGH DENSITY HOUSING, INCREASED TRAFFIC AND PARKING CONCERNS.
I I SEEM TO THINK THAT THIS REZONING IS REALLY NOT NECESSARY.
UM, THERE ARE MANY AREAS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE PROPERLY ZONED, R THREE AND SPECIFICALLY INTENDED FOR TOWNHOUSES AND HIGHER DENSITY DEVELOPMENT.
THE BUILDER CAN PURSUE THIS PROJECT IN THOSE LOCATIONS RATHER THAN ALTERNATING, THAN ALTERING THE ZONING OF LONGSTANDING R ONE PROPERTIES ON GRAND AVENUE.
FINALLY, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRECEDENT.
IF THESE TWO LOTS ARE REZONED FROM R ONE TO R THREE, IT OPENS THE FLOOD GATES.
IT SETS A PRECEDENT, PRECEDENT THAT ZONING CAN BE CHANGED LOT BY LOT, MAKING IT EASIER FOR SIMILAR REQUESTS TO FOLLOW THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
OVER TIME, THIS WEAKENS THE PURPOSE OF THE ZONING PROTECTION THAT RESIDENTS RELY ON FOR STABILITY.
I AM OPPOSED TO CHANGING ZONING RULES IN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS TO ACCOMMODATE DEVELOPMENT THAT BELONGS ELSEWHERE.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DENY THIS REZONING REQUEST AND ER PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF GRANT AVENUE.
CARISSA GREEN IS THE NEXT PERSON.
I WANNA BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I AM, WE'RE NOT HERE TO OPPOSE GROWTH.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO EVEN RESIST PLANNING.
WE ARE HERE TO ASK THAT THE TOWN FOLLOW ITS OWN ADOPTED RULES AND POLICIES CONSISTENTLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.
THE STAFF REPORT REPLIES HEAVILY ON THE FUTURE LAND USE POLICY, EXCUSE ME, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP TO REUP SUPPORT THE REZONING REQUEST.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ALLOWS THAT MAP TO BE USED AS A PLANNING TOOL.
IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC DETERMINATION OF ZONING OUTCOMES.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ALSO SAYS THAT INFILL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD MATCH THE CHARACTER OF EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
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IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.EVEN UNDER NEIGHBORHOOD MEDIUM DENSITY STAFF ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS AREA IS CURRENTLY COMPOSED OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
YET THE RECOMMENDATION DOES NOT CLEARLY EXPLAIN HOW MOVING FROM AN R ONE TO AN R THREE ALIGNS WITH THAT STATED POLICY OR HOW THAT PRESERVES THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER.
THIS IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT ONE APPLICATION.
THE TOWN IS ACTIVELY REWRITING CHAPTER 1 75 TO OUR KNOWLEDGE TO ALIGN ZONING WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IF HIGHER DENSITY ZONING IS INTENDED FOR THIS AREA, THAT DISCUSSION SHOULD OCCUR THROUGH THAT TOWN WIDE PROCESS WHERE ALL RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE EQUALLY RATHER THAN THROUGH ISOLATED PARCEL BY PARCEL CHANGES.
APPROVING INDIVIDUAL REZONINGS AHEAD OF THAT BROADER IMPLEMENTATION CREATES UNCERTAINTY FOR RESIDENTS AND INCONSISTENT TREATMENT ACROSS SIMILARLY SITUATED NEIGHBORHOODS.
MANY LONGTIME RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF WHAT MANY PROFESSIONALS IN PLANNING AND PROPERTY LIKE MYSELF CALL SPOT ZONING SITUATIONS WHERE SMALL PARCELS ARE CHANGED IN WAYS THAT DIFFER FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA.
WHETHER OR NOT THIS APPLICATION MEETS THE LEGAL DEFINITION IS NOT THE POINT TONIGHT.
THE POINT IS THAT INCREMENTAL CHANGES WITHOUT A CLEAR AREA WIDE STRATEGY CAN UNDERMINE PUBLIC TRUST IN PLANNING DECISIONS.
RESIDENTS ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR CONSISTENCY.
USE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FULLY, INCLUDING THE PARTS THAT CALL FOR COMPATIBILITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER, NOT JUST THE PARTS THAT SUPPORT HIGHER DENSITY.
GROWTH AND PRESERVATION ARE NOT OPPOSITES.
THEY'RE NOT TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF A COIN.
BOTH ARE POSSIBLE WHEN THE PLANNING IS TRANSPARENT, CONSISTENT, AND APPLIED FAIRLY ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND THE ZONING CHANGES FOLLOW THE SAME DELIBERATE COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS THE TOWN IS ALREADY UNDERTAKING, RATHER THAN ADVANCING PIECEMEAL CHANGES THAT MAY AFFECT NEIGHBORHOODS AFTER FAR BEYOND THIS SINGLE APPLICATION.
WE SHOULDN'T REALLY APPLAUD AFTER SPEAKERS IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, ANN BOYD EARL IS THE NEXT ANN BOYD EARL 400 GRAND AVENUE.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
WE HOPE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TOWN COUNCIL TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC LONGSTANDING R ONE STATUS AND CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND TO ESTABLISH VITALLY IMPORTANT PRECEDENT TO PROTECT ALL ONE R ONE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE TOWN NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
MY ANCESTRAL ROOTS OF OVER 200 YEARS IN WARREN COUNTY, IN FRONT ROYAL RUN QUITE DEEP.
ADDITIONALLY, MY GRANDMOTHER MOVED TO SALEM AVENUE 60 YEARS AGO.
MY PARENTS RETIRED TO GRAND AVENUE 45 YEARS AGO, AND MY HUSBAND AND I CHOSE GRAND AVENUE AS OUR RETIREMENT HOME 14 YEARS AGO.
SPECIFICALLY BASED ON HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OVER SO MANY YEARS, GRAND AND SALEM AVENUES COMPRISE AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD IN FRONT ROYAL, WITH THE ANCHOR BEING THE ORIGINAL VICTORIAN HOME BUILT IN 1900 BY THE HOFFMAN FAMILY THAT IS STILL OWNED BY THAT FAMILY.
OUR R ONE DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOOD CLEARLY DEFINED ON MULTIPLE MAPS IN THE 2023.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ZONING, ESPECIALLY RESIDENTIAL ZONING, EXISTS FOR A REASON TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF NEIGHBORHOODS FROM ARBITRARY AND UNWANTED DEVELOPMENT.
PAGE ONE 14 OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STATES SUPPORT HOUSING WHERE IT EXISTS, INCREASE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING IN THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA AND PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE.
THESE STATEMENTS ARE QUITE IMPORTANT AND SUPPORT MAINTAINING R ONE DESIGNATIONS IN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
HOWEVER, IT'S INCREDIBLY DISTRESSING TO READ THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF HAS GIVEN THEIR GREEN LIGHT APPROVAL TO THE REZONING.
THIS PROPOSAL AS NOTED INTO THE AGENDA PACKET, BECAUSE LOCAL BUILDERS AND DEVELOPMENTS INTERACT FREQUENTLY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THEY POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME INFLUENCE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD MORE THAN WE DO, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT WE LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT COULD BE FOREVER AFFECTED BY THIS DECISION.
WE ASK THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DISAGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE STAFF ON THIS MATTER AND VOTE TO RETAIN THE R ONE DESIGNATION OF THE HOFFMAN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
ADDITIONALLY, AND QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY, THE AGING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ON GRAND AVENUE, IN MY OPINION, CANNOT SUPPORT MULTIPLE DWELLING DEVELOPMENT.
MANY EVENINGS OUR WATER PRESSURE IS DOWN TO A TRICKLE TRICKLE DURING PEAK TIMES.
IMAGINE IF THIS WAS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU PURCHASED A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN AN R ONE ZONED AREA, ASSUMING THAT ZONING WOULD STAY THE SAME.
NOW IMAGINE THAT ALL OF THAT WAS GOING TO BE UPENDED BECAUSE THERE WERE REQUESTED ZONING VARIANCE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE CHARACTER OF YOUR LONG ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD AND UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON
[00:40:01]
YOUR EXISTING PROPERTY VALUES.I BET THAT YOU WOULD BE STANDING WHERE I AND OTHERS ARE TONIGHT ALSO ASKING THAT THE R ONE DESIGNATION REMAIN IN PLACE AND THAT THE R THREE ZONING VARIANCE BE DENIED.
I, HELLO, MY NAME IS TREY STANFORD.
I LIVE AT THREE 14 SALEM AVENUE.
UH, I'M HERE TO READ A LETTER WRITTEN BY MY MOTHER WHO LIVES AT 3 0 3 GRAND AVENUE.
UH, SO SHE LIVES RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE, UM, TO THE PARCELS IN QUESTION.
UH, SHE'S 80 YEARS OLD, HAS CANCER AND IS TAKING CARE RIGHT NOW OF, UH, MY SISTER, UH, WHO'S 47, UH, HAS CEREBRAL PALSY, SEIZURE DISORDER, AND IS CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR.
SO THEY SIMPLY COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
DEAR COMMISSIONERS, ALL OF US WHO IN GOOD FAITH PURCHASED HOMES IN THE HISTORIC TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL ON AN EQUALLY HISTORIC STREET CALLED GRAND AVENUE, CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL AS IF WE HAVE BECOME TOKENS ON, ON A MONOPOLY GAME BOARD.
ONE PLAYING CARD COULD ROB OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF ITS UNIQUE CHARACTER, AS WELL AS DEVALUE OUR HOMES AND PROPERTIES REZONING TO ALLOW COOKIE CUTTER DUPLEXES IN THIS UNIQUE AND HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD NOT ONLY DESTROY ITS TRANQUILITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF A COVENANT TRUST THAT WAS PLACED IN THE TOWN WHEN OUR PROPERTIES WERE PURCHASED.
NEXT DOOR TO ME STANDS AN EXCELLENT VICTORIAN BARN, A REMNANT OF THE WORKING FARM.
ONCE CAME, OUR INDIVIDUAL LOTS VERY NEAR THE BARN ALSO REMAINS THE HOME OF THE FARM FOREMAN.
FURTHER UP GRAND, THERE'S THE STATELY VICTORIAN HOMESTEAD, WHICH EVEN NOW REMAINS IN THE FAMILY OF ITS ORIGINAL OWNER, ALL VERY MUCH A PART OF THE TOWN, UH, FRONT ROYALS RICH AND STORIED HERITAGE.
WHILE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THE TOWN'S CULTURAL HERITAGE, ITS PERSONAL HISTORY, IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR THE TOWN TO HONOR THE COVENANT TRUST, WHICH HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE TOWN BY ALL OF ITS CITIZENS, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT.
SINCERELY, JIMMA MEADOWS, STANFORD.
MY NAME IS MARY STANFORD AND I LIVE AT THREE 14 SALEM AVENUE IN FRONT ROYAL, WHERE WE'VE LIVED FOR 23 YEARS, A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE PROPERTY ON GRAND.
AND I IMPLORE YOU TONIGHT TO VOTE AGAINST ITS REZONING TO R THREE AS MENTIONED BY MY HUSBAND, MY WIDOWED MOTHER-IN-LAW AND DISABLED SISTER-IN-LAW LIVE IN THE HOME AT 3 0 3 GRAND, WHICH BORDERS THE LOTS UNDER CONSIDERATION.
A CRUCIAL REASON THEY MOVED INTO THEIR HOUSE ON GRAND WAS BECAUSE THE AVENUE WAS QUIET WITH BIG YARDS AND MATURE TREES.
AND THEY COUNTED ON THE FACT THAT IF THE PARCEL NEXT DOOR WAS DEVELOPED, THEN IT TOO WOULD BE SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOME OR HOMES AND NOT A DUPLEX, MUCH LESS TWO DUPLEXES, WHICH IS BOUND TO MAKE LIFE RIGHT NEXT TO THEM.
A LOT LOUDER AND BUSIER THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED IN DESCRIBING THE AREA OF GRAND AVENUE.
FRONT ROYAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STIPULATION, INFILL DEVELOPMENT WILL MATCH THE CHARACTER OF EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
TO PUT DUPLEXES ON THESE LOTS WOULD NOT MATCH THE CHARACTER OF DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS REZONING CHANGE FEELS LIKE GOING BACK ON A PROMISE THAT THE TOWN HAS IMPLICITLY MADE TO EVERYONE WHO INVESTED HERE.
CREATING MORE INVENTORY FOR FAMILIES IN THIS WAY AND ON THIS STREET IS NOT A COMPELLING REASON TO CHANGE THE ZONING AS THERE IS OTHER AVAILABLE LAND THAT HAS ALREADY ZONED R THREE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE TOWN AND COUNTY.
THERE ARE EVEN OTHER WAYS OF CREATING MORE INVENTORY FOR FAMILIES, SUCH AS ALLOWING FEWER OF THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WHICH HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY REDUCING EXISTING INVENTORY IN OUR TOWN.
LET'S REMEMBER THAT THE BUILDER BY RIGHT IS ALREADY FREE TO BUILD A DETACHED HOME OR HOMES WHICH ARE IN GREAT DEMAND AROUND HERE ON THE PARCELS IN QUESTION.
AND THUS, TO ADD TO THE TOWN INVENTORY, THESE LOTS HAVE BEEN SITTING EMPTY FOR AGES WITHOUT ANY DEVELOPMENT.
BUILDING ONE OR TWO DETACHED HOMES WOULD BE A WIN FOR THE TOWN, FOR THE DEVELOPER, AND FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THIS REZONING OCCURS, IT'S REALLY ONLY A WIN FOR THE DEVELOPER AS THE TAXES LEVIED BY THE TOWN ON THAT STREET WILL NO DOUBT BE REDUCED DUE TO THE DEPRECIATION OF THE NEARBY HOMES.
FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS, MY FAMILY AND I BEG YOU NOT TO MAKE THIS REZONING CHANGE.
ANDREA STEWART, MS. POTTER, DO YOU HAVE THE NAME OF THE EX? THE PERSON WHO SIGNED UP? THANK YOU.
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HELLO, MY NAME IS ANDREA STEWART.UM, I'M A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A ROMANTIC, LESS OF A TECHNOLOGICAL PERSON, SO YOU'LL HEAR THAT IN WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
UH, I DIDN'T WANT TO LET THE OPPORTUNITY PASS TO SHARE MY VIEWS WITH YOU REGARDING THE PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE R ONE STATUS OF LOTS 11 A AND 14 A ON GRAND AVENUE SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR WHAT MAY BE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM THOSE YOU'VE HEARD.
MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED TO GRAND AVENUE 10 YEARS AGO THIS JUNE.
WE MOVED HERE WITH NINE CHILDREN, AND THOUGH MOST OF THEM HAVE MOVED ON AND THEIR LIVES, WE STILL HAVE FOUR AT HOME, OUR YOUNGEST TWO BEING 12-YEAR-OLD BOYS, I OFTEN CONSIDER OUR HOUSE TO BE THE LAST HOUSE ON GRAND AVENUE BECAUSE DIAGONALLY IN OUR VIEW, THE TOWNHOUSES BEGIN AND THE STREET BECOMES WELL LESS GRAND.
THE STREET SKYLINE PLACE IS DIRECTLY PASSED AND ACROSS FROM OUR PROPERTY.
WHEN I SAY THAT THE STREET BECOMES LESS GRAND, YOU MUST FIRST SEE GRAND AVENUE AT ITS START AT THE TOP OF CHERRY STREET WHERE GRAND BEGINS AS YOU BEGIN ON GRAND AVENUE, PARTICULARLY IN SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL.
THE FIRST THING THAT DRAWS YOUR ATTENTION ARE THE ABUNDANT TREES, AND THESE ARE GOOD OLD TREES.
NEXT, YOU WILL NOTICE THE NICELY MAINTAINED LAWNS, THE FRIENDLY WAVES FROM THE RESIDENTS, AND A SERENITY THAT IS ALMOST UNEXPECTED.
BEING SO CLOSE TO THE BUSTLE OF DOWNTOWN GRAND AVENUE ALSO BOASTS ONE OF THE MOST CHARMING DWELLINGS IN FRONT ROYAL, A BEAUTIFUL YELLOW VICTORIAN WITH A LARGE LAWN THAT OUR FAMILY AT LEAST KNOWS AS MRS. WOOD'S HOUSE, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO HER LARGE LAWN, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ENJOY THE COOLNESS OF THE TREES, THE SILENCE OF LARGE UNPOPULATED SPACE AND WILDLIFE FROM BEARS TO FOXES, DEER HAWKS, AND SQUIRRELS.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR HAVING THE PRIVILEGE OF OWNING PROPERTY ON THIS GRAND AVENUE.
AS YOU PASS SKYLINE PLACE, AN ENTIRELY NEW AND CHAOTIC VISION MEETS YOUR EYES AND YOUR EARS.
AS THE COMPLEX OF TOWN HOMES COMES INTO VIEW WITH THE ABUNDANT VEHICLES VYING FOR A PARKING SPOT, THE RESIDENTS GOING TO AND FRO AND CHILDREN WITH NO OTHER PLACE TO PLAY THAN THE STREET, I HAVE NO DISREGARD FOR ANY OF THESE RESIDENTS.
IN FACT, FOR THE MOST PART, WE'VE ONLY SEEN FRIENDLY FACES, BUT THEY COME AND THEY GO MOVING ON AFTER A SHORT TIME.
DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE LIVED HERE, WE HAVE GOTTEN USED TO THIS COMPLETE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER PARTS OF OUR STREET.
BUT TO THINK THAT THE TRANQUILITY THAT HAS BEEN HELD BY THE UPPER END OF GRAND AVENUE COULD BE IN DANGER OF EVAPORATING DUE TO THE LACK OF CARE OR VISION HELD BY THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER EVEN LIVED HERE IS TRAGIC.
I DID GIVE YOU A COPY OF MY LETTER.
UH, COLIN STEWART FRONT, UH, GRAND 4 25 GRAND AVENUE.
I'LL BE BRIEF, UH, TO TURN A BEAUTIFUL STREET AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES INTO THE CHAOS THAT IS ALREADY VISIBLE AT THE END OF THIS STREET IS IRRESPONSIBLE NOT ONLY TO THE RESIDENCE, BUT OUR ENTIRE TOWN.
EVEN THOSE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE ENJOY DRIVING AND EVEN WALKING DOWN GRAND AVENUE BECAUSE IT IS A HAVEN, A NOOK, A LITTLE TUCKED AWAY ENVIRONMENT OF QUIET BEAUTY THAT I WOULD THINK OUR OWN TOWN WOULD WANT TO MAINTAIN.
OUR FAMILY'S HOPE HAS BEEN TO HAVE GRAND AVENUE AS OUR FOREVER HOME.
WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE EVER GROWING FAMILY OF YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN COME AND ENJOY OUR HOME AND OUR STREET AND ON THEIR VISITS.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE SACRIFICED FOR, FOR OUR FUTURE AND OUR FAMILY'S FUTURE.
MY FEAR IS THAT A CHANGE TO ZONING FROM R ONE TO ANYTHING ELSE WILL DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR INVESTMENT IN THOSE OF ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN AN EVER-GROWING TECHNOLOGICAL AGE WHERE IT IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FEEL ACTUALLY HEARD BY HUMAN EARS,
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I BEG THIS BOARD TO HEAR THIS STORY WITH HUMAN EARS AND TAKE IT TO HEART.I INVITE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO PICTURE YOURSELVES IN OUR PLACE.
UM, THE, UM, AND AS FAR AS I RECOMMEND, UH, UNDERSTAND, UH, THIS WAS KIND OF PUT IN THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE DOING SPOT ZONING BECAUSE THE TOWN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN VOTED ON OR APPROVED, COULD BE WRONG, BUT THAT'S WHAT I, FROM WHAT I READ, UM, AND THE VISUAL THAT, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNER HAD UP THERE, UM, THAT'S NOT GONNA LOOK LIKE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
WHEN YOU STAGGER THOSE HOUSES LIKE THAT, THAT'S NOT GONNA BE THE ROOF LINE.
UM, THEY'RE NOT GONNA LOOK LIKE THAT.
IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA LOOK LIKE DUPLEXES WHEN YOU HAVEN'T BEEN STAGGERED LIKE THAT.
HE'S WELCOME TO BUILD A BEAUTIFUL SINGLE FAMILY HOME AROUND AGAINST THE BUILDING THERE AT ALL.
WE JUST KNOW THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA LOOK LIKE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
THEY WILL LOOK LIKE TOWNHOUSES.
I GUARANTEE IT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TWO PARKING SPACES IN FRONT OF, OF EACH PLACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU FOR COMING, BUT PLEASE PUT THE MIC CLOSE TO YOUR MOUTH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
WHEN I DO THE DISHES AT NIGHT, I SEE THE PROPERTY, UM, DOWN THE ROAD ON CYPRUS.
UM, VERY MUCH WHAT'S BEEN SAID, I WOULD CERTAINLY, UH, UH, AGREE WITH AND AND COMMISERATE WITH.
UM, IT'S, THERE'S THE EMOTIONAL APPEAL AND THERE'S JUST ALSO THE VERY PRACTICAL APPEAL.
AND I, I THINK TOO, THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, COMMENT ON BRIEFLY.
I THINK NEARLY ABOUT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE HERE AND ALL THOSE WE TALKED TO REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS AS A SINGLE, SINGLE DWELLING HOMES ON THESE LOTS.
UM, THERE'S NO ONE THAT I KNOW THAT REALLY SEES THIS AS A BENEFIT.
SO THAT'S REALLY A REFLECTION OF THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK AND WALK ON THAT STREET.
LIKE MANY, I WALK MY DOG ON THAT STREET, THERE'S BEAUTIFUL TREES ON THAT STREET AND IT'S REALLY A WONDERFUL GREEN AREA TO HAVE.
IT'S GONNA BE SAD TO SEE HOMES COME, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S KIND OF INEVITABLE AT SOME POINT.
BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE THEM AS SINGLE HOMES AND NOT AS A, AS TWO DUPLEXES.
UM, THE PRESENT CONFIGURATION IS NOTED AS FOR SINGLE DWELLINGS.
UM, PURCHASE OF THE HOMES OF OUR OWN HOME WAS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AREA WOULD STAY THAT WAY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF COMING AND GOING ON GRAND AVENUE ALREADY AND IT'S AN AREA TOO WHERE, UM, I THINK INCREASED TRAFFIC WOULD BE A PROBLEM.
I THINK TOO THAT WHAT SHOULD BE COMMENTED ON, THAT THE LOT ITSELF AT THE BACK IS QUITE SLOPED.
AND WHEN THOSE HOMES ARE PLACED, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE MUCH OF A BACKYARD FOR THOSE HOMES TO BEGIN WITH.
UM, I HAVE A HOME THAT I'M SELLING FROM STRAUSSBERG WHEN WE MOVED OVER HERE FROM, FROM ROYAL, AND IT'S BEEN A REAL PROBLEM.
IT YOU, YOU JUST LOSE AN AREA TO, TO LIVE IN AND IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE APPRE THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE APPRECIATED.
FURTHER, THE SPACE WITH FOUR CARS IN THE FRONT, YOU'RE JUST GONNA LOSE ALL YOUR GREEN AREA AND WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH FOUR PLACES THERE, WITH FOUR CARS IS REALLY GONNA CHANGE THE NATURE OF THAT AREA.
AND FINALLY, AND I SAY THIS RESPECTFULLY, YOU KNOW THAT THE, THE, THE APPEAL AND THE FOR THIS CHANGE IS REALLY COMING FROM SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T LIVE WITHIN OUR AREA.
AND THOSE DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE PERMANENT.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP IT, THEY DON'T, THEY CAN LIVE ELSEWHERE.
SO RESPECTFULLY ALONG WITH MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS, UH, I REALLY PETITION THE COMMISSION THAT THEY WOULD DENY THIS REQUEST.
MY NAME IS MARK PIERRE JANSEN AND I LIVE AT 3 1 6 CYPRESS STREET.
UH, ALMOST ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED OUR HOME ON CYPRESS STREET IN 2012 AFTER LOOKING AT OTHER PROPERTIES IN FRONT ROYAL.
AND WE DECIDED TO MOVE THERE BECAUSE THERE WERE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WE HAD LOOKED ON AT HOUSES AT THE TIME ON ORCHARD AND ALSO DOWN, UM, WHERE THE PAST, UM, ON SHENANDOAH AND GRAND.
AND WE WERE NOT INTERESTED TO LIVE NEAR, UM, DUPLEXES OR TOWNHOUSES.
IN 2015, MY WIFE AND I DID EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS ON A
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PROPERTY.WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT AND WE WANTED TO ADD A THIRD STORY TO OUR PROPERTY.
WE WERE DENIED THAT THAT MOTION ARCHITECT TOLD US THAT WE WERE NOT ZONED TO ADD A THIRD STORY.
AND SO WE RESPECTED THE RULES AND DID NOT CHANGE OR PUSH IT AT ALL BECAUSE WE LIKED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE WANTED TO LIVE IN THIS TYPE OF SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
SO I QUESTION A CHANGE TO DUPLEXES OR TOWNHOUSES.
IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY CHANGE THE NATURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FRONT ROYAL IS A UNIQUE TOWN AND IT HAS MIXES AND MELANS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE TOWN.
BUT THIS AREA IS KIND OF UNIQUE.
IT HAS A, JUST HAS A CERTAIN FEEL TO IT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CHURCH NEARBY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN THE OLD HOUSES THERE.
SO I KINDLY ASK YOU NOT TO VOTE ON CHANGING THE ZONING.
AND FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LABORS ON BEHALF OF OUR TOWN.
11 YEARS AGO, I SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF WIDOWED AND NEEDING TO DOWNSIZE FROM OUR FAMILY HOME ON STONEWALL JACKSON HIGHWAY REALTORS, BETH WALLER AND ERIC REPLOG WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING ME FIND MY HOME THAT WAS PERFECT FOR MY FAMILY.
IN THIS, OUR ZONED QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE NEIGHBORS WARMLY WELCOMED ME AND I COULD INVEST MY LIMITED RESOURCES IN PROPERTY AS AN INHERITANCE FOR MY SIX CHILDREN.
THIS HIGH DENSITY PROPOSAL FOR OUR THREE SPOT ZONING WILL ALTER OUR STREET AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR PROPERTY VALUES.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR GRAND AVENUE.
IT IS MISGUIDED TO PRIORITIZE MR. KLEIN'S PROPOSAL OVER ALL THE FAMILIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED ON OUR STREET.
TWO, DUPLEXES WITH FOUR FAMILIES LOCATED CLOSE TO THE CHERRY AND GRAND AVENUE CURVE POSE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN AT PLAY WALKING TO AND FROM SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
THIRDLY, MR. KLEIN COULD TAKE NOTE OF THE QUALITY BUILDINGS THAT HAVE IMPROVED OUR TOWN.
HE SHOULD BUILD RESPONSIBLY IN KEEPING WITH THE CURRENT ARCHITECTURAL VALUE OF OUR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
MR. KLEIN KNOWINGLY PURCHASED ARWIN PROPERTY AND SHOULD BUILD ACCORDINGLY.
HIS PROPOSED HIGH DENSITY DUPLEXES ARE NOT COMPATIBLE ON OUR STREET AND POSE A SERIOUS PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE BUILDING, NOT ONLY ON GRAND AVENUE, BUT IN OTHER LOCATIONS AS WELL.
THEREFORE, I IMPLORE THE COMMISSIONERS TO ASK YOURSELVES, WOULD YOU WANT THIS DRASTIC CHANGE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT TO YOUR HOME? IS THIS TRULY GOOD PLANNING? I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW, THAT NAME, THAT NAME IS ALSO ON FOR ANOTHER HEARING.
IS IT BY INTENTION OR BY MISTAKE? THAT IT'S ON FOR THIS ONE? WELL, WHAT HEARING ARE YOU, WHICH HEARING ARE YOU SPEAKING AT? OH, OKAY, FINE.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT HONESTLY, THAT'S, THAT, THAT THAT'S FINE.
I JUST, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WASN'T BY MISTAKE ON ONE OR THE OTHER LIST.
I HAD SAW IT LAST MINUTE WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE AGENDA ON THE COMPUTER.
AND SO ANYWAY, SO THIS, THAT WAS WELCOME.
LAST MINUTE ADDITION TO MY, I'M HERE.
OKAY, MY NAME IS LAURA GILLUM.
I'M HERE TO VOICE MY OBJECTION TO THE REZONING REQUEST, WHICH YOU ARE NOW CONSIDERING.
THE APPLICANT, DANA MATTHEW KLEIN, HAS REQUESTED REZONING OF VACANT LAND KNOWN AS LOTS 11 A AND 14 A ON GRAND AVENUE FROM R ONE TO R THREE.
I DISPUTE THE JUSTIFICATION AND VALIDITY OF THE REZONING REQUEST.
I PURPOSEFULLY PURCHASED 3 0 4 GRAND AVENUE AND THE ADJOINING LOTS BECAUSE OF ITS R ONE DESIGNATION IN AN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD.
I BELIEVE THAT I BELIEVED THAT I COULD RELY ON TOWN GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN THE R ONE ZONING FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
EACH OF MY NEIGHBORS ACTED UPON THE SAME EXPECTATION.
IF LOTS 11 A AND 14 A ON GRAND AVENUE WERE TO OBTAIN AN R THREE ZONING DESIGNATION, IT
[01:00:01]
COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE STABILITY OF THE R ONE DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT SHOULD REMAIN LOW CONCENTRATION AND SUBJECT TO PERMITTED USE AS SINGLE UNIT DWELLINGS.UH, ADDITIONALLY, AND MY HUSBAND SAID THAT THIS PART IS A LITTLE CONFUSING, SO I'D ALREADY PRINTED IT OUT WHEN HE READ IT.
ANYWAY, WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE R THREE ZONING DESIGNATION DID TO A NEIGHBORHOOD A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.
WEST MAIN STREET HAS BEEN IRRETRIEVABLY ALTERED AS CONSEQUENCE OF R THREE ZONING.
NOW, UM, HE SAID THAT I NEEDED TO SPECIFY THE AREA AND ON WEST MAIN STREET BECAUSE IT STRETCHES, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY FROM RURAL AVENUE DOWN TO, UM, WHERE AVTEC WAS.
AND SO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IS THE AREA WHERE THEY, UM, RECENTLY ALLOWED THE, UM, DUPLEXES AND TOWNHOUSES TO BE BUILT.
AND I THINK THAT EXTENDS LIKE FROM CHERRY STREET TO UP BY THE, UM, DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE MCCARTY HOUSE IS ACROSS FROM RANDOLPH? MACON, THE BIG WHITE HOUSE UP THERE ON THE HILL? MM-HMM
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
SO, UM, AND I, I PRINTED OUT COPIES FOR ALL OF YOU ALL.
SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, DISTRIBUTE THOSE I GUESS TO EACH, EACH OF YOU AND, AND THE TOWN ATTORNEY GIVE, GIVE THEM TO MS. CONNIE THERE AND SHE'LL TAKE CARE.
SHE'LL TAKE CARE OF GIVING IT TO US.
DOES, DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS? MS. GILLUM? DID THAT? THAT CONCLUDES.
UH, NEXT ONE IS, UH, AMANDA SLATE.
ALL I STATE MY NAME AND WHERE I LIVE OR PLEASE AND YOUR ADDRESS.
PUT YOUR MIC CLOSE TO YOUR MOUTH PLEASE.
I LIVE, UM, I'M AMANDA SLATE AND I LIVE ON BROWNTOWN ROAD IN WARREN COUNTY.
I AM A LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT.
I AM A LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
I DO THINK THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE REZONED TO R THREE.
THERE IS A BIG QUANTITY OF TOWN HOMES RIGHT NOW ON THE MARKET.
AND A LOT OF IT, BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED TO R THREE ALREADY.
I THINK A LOT OF BUILDERS, MAYBE EVEN THE FORMER MAYOR HAS MADE A LOT OF PROMISES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT YOU'LL FIND THAT THOSE UNITS HAVE SET ON THE MARKET WHILE OVER A YEAR.
UM, MOST OF THEM STARTED OVER $400,000, WHICH WOULD HAVE A HOUSE PAYMENT OF $2,800 A MONTH.
AND YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF THOSE PRICES COME DOWN.
AND EVEN SOME OF THE LOCAL BUILDERS HAVE HAD TO RENT THOSE UNITS BECAUSE THEY'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SELL THEM.
UM, I DID SELL A PROPERTY ON 11TH STREET LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE, AND IT HAD A NEWLY REMODELED HOME ON IT THAT THE BUILDER TORE THE HOUSE DOWN THE BUILT TOWNHOUSES, WHICH IS PERFECTLY FINE 'CAUSE IT'S OWNED OUR THREE, RIGHT? BUT THOSE UNITS, SOME OF THEM STILL HAVEN'T SOLD.
SO THEY HAVE RENTED THOSE UNITS OUT.
THERE IS DEFINITELY MORE OF A NEED FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR OUR AGING COMMUNITY, OUR TEACHERS THAT NEED TO GET OFF THE MOUNTAINS AND FOR OUR FAMILIES.
UM, THE TOWN HOMES DON'T ACCOMMODATE, YOU KNOW, THAT GROWING POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT NEED ONE LEVELS.
AND I KNOW THAT MR. KLEIN'S PROBABLY GOT A TON OF OFFERS TO BUY THIS.
I PERSONALLY SENT HIM A LETTER A COUPLE YEARS AGO AS THE PRESIDENT OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
WE HAD A RETIRED COUPLE THAT NEEDED A SINGLE LEVEL HOME, UM, THAT WE WERE BUILDING, AND WE ENDED UP PUTTING THEM ON ORCHARD STREET RIGHT BEHIND IT.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY, THEY DIDN'T RESPOND.
BUT THERE IS JUST THAT DEMAND.
SO THERE IS NOT A DEMAND FOR TOWN HOMES OR WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HOUSES RIGHT NOW.
I DO THINK PLANNING AND ZONING IS A TRICKY THING.
AND YOU LOOK AT AREAS LIKE ORCHARD STREET AND YOU'RE LIKE, AH, THOSE TOWNHOUSES THERE DIDN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE.
BUT FOR SOME REASON IN THE SEVENTIES, OUR PLANNING COMMISSION AND TOWN COUNCIL, SOMEBODY PUT 'EM THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS.
THERE IS A LOT OF WATER ISSUES.
AGAIN, I GC THE HOUSE FOR HABITAT ON ORCHARD THAT HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF WATER.
UM, AND I DEALT WITH ONE OF OUR TOWN COUNCIL EVERY MORNING AT EIGHT O'CLOCK EVERY TIME IT WAS RAINING, BUT THEY WERE PUT THERE IN THE SEVENTIES.
IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF WALKING DOWN, YOU KNOW, BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF OLD HOMES AND YOU'RE LIKE, RANDOMLY THERE ARE SOME TOWN HOMES BECAUSE AGAIN, ANOTHER COUNCIL OR PLANNING IN THE EIGHTIES WE'RE LIKE, WE'RE GONNA PUT SOME TOWNHOUSES THERE.
YOU KNOW, SO YOU TAKE THIS PROPERTY THAT IS A VICTORIAN HOME, JUST REPEATING WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, AND A BARN, YOU KNOW, FROM THE 19 HUNDREDS AND IT JUST LOOKS LIKE THAT PROPERTY DOESN'T FIT.
[01:05:03]
LAST COMMENT FROM ANTHONY DRE ANTHONY DEANDRE, TWO 13 SALEM AVENUE.UM, LIVED IN FRONT ROYAL FOR 29 YEARS.
UM, JUST WANT TO GO, GO RECAP HERE.
UM, LOOK AT THE, LOOK AT THE SHEER NUMBERS OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO THE, SO THE PROS ARE OBVIOUSLY, UM, MORE HOUSING FOR FRONT ROYAL, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
WE, WE NEED HOUSING AND ALSO WE HAVE A, UM, A VERY NICE MAN WHO WANTS TO, TO BUILD AND THAT.
BUT I HAVE, UM, 11, UH, 12 ITEMS HERE TO, TO THAT WOULD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, SO THE, THE TO REZONE TO R ONE, UM, IT SETS THE PRECEDENT THAT R ONE IS NO LONGER, UM, WELL THOUGHT OF.
SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANNA SET THAT PRECEDENT.
UM, UM, THE SHEER NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN THIS FAVOR, THE SHEER NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN FAVOR, YOU HAVE A, A JOB TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO, UM, TO SERVE US.
SO KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSE TO YOUR MIC SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR YOU.
SO THAT'S, UM, A CONSIDERATION.
UM, THE, IT'S AESTHETICALLY NEGATIVE.
UM, SHORT DRIVEWAYS, FOUR DWELLINGS, THAT'S AT LEAST EIGHT CARS FITTING.
THE CARS IN THE DRIVEWAYS GONNA BE VISIBLE.
NO GARAGE PARKING ON THE STREET RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE IF ANY PARKING ON THE STREET IN THAT AREA.
UM, AS WAS MENTIONED, IT'S THE WRONG END OF THE GRAND AVENUE TO PUT RENTALS, UM, OR DUPLEXES, EITHER OR.
UM, SO NOW IT'S STARTING TO COME UP THE WRONG DIRECTION.
YOU WANNA PRESERVE THAT, THAT BEAUTY ON THAT END.
UM, THE DEMARCATION POINT BETWEEN THE R THREE AND R ONE BEING ORCHARD AND THEN GRAND, UM, NOW YOU'RE STARTING TO BLEND ORCHARD UP, UP TO GRAND, WHICH IS, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO STREETS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY NOT KEEP THE DEMARCATION? ALSO, UM, IT'S A WOODED AREA.
SO THE, THE TWO STREETS ARE SEPARATED BY WOODS, AND NOW IT'S SPILLING UP TO GRAND.
UM, UM, IT REDUCES THE INVESTMENT VALUE ALL THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON THE STREET, WHICH ISN'T A GOOD THING.
UM, LET'S SEE, THAT'S NUMBER SIX, NUMBER SEVEN.
SO THE BUILDER IS NOT A RESIDENT.
UM, EVERYONE ON THAT STREET IS A RESIDENT.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO RENTALS ON THAT STREET.
UM, THE BAIT AND SWITCH THAT WENT ON WITH ELAINE MILLER, WHERE IT WAS PROMISED THAT THERE WOULD BE, IT WOULDN'T BE DU UM, RENTALS OR DUPLEXES.
UM, ELAINE MILLER IS A, A RESIDENT OF LONG STANDING.
HISTORICALLY, YOU KNOW, THE HERITAGE OF HER FATHER AND, UM, AND, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT SHOULD BE A CONSIDERATION.
UM, SIDEWALKS, UH, UM, ARE NOT, WOULD NOT FIT IN ON THAT STREET.
IT, IT'S, IT'S VISUALLY INCONSISTENT.
AND, UM, UH, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON THAT STREET ARE, ARE, ARE APPRECIATING MUCH.
SO IT'S, IT, IT, AS FAR AS AN INVESTMENT GOES, IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
MAKING INVESTMENT OFF OF RENTALS IS NOT GOOD FOR A COMMUNITY.
MAKING INVE, UH, INVESTMENTS ON SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IS MUCH BETTER FOR FRONT ROYAL.
UM, WE'D LIKE TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY, UM, GROW IN, UM, TO A POINT WHERE IT'S A LITTLE MORE AFFLUENT.
AND THIS IS DOING THE CONTRARY.
LAST MINUTE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
HEARING ON, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I MOVE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION OF DENIAL FOR REZONING APPLICATION NUMBER 2 6 0 0 1 3 REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP TO RECLASSIFY TWO VACANT LOTS ON AND AVENUE IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A SIX, SECTION SIX BLOCK FOUR PARCELS 11 A AND 14 A FROM R ONE RESIDENTIAL FROM R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
ALTHOUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IDENTIFIES THIS AREA IS APPROPRIATE FOR, WHAT IS THAT DISCUSSION? IS THAT THE MOTION WE HAVE? THIS IS THE MOTION.
THIS PART I HAVE TO FILL FOLLOWING THE REASONS.
YEAH, THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
I RECOMMEND THAT COUNSEL, I'M SORRY.
COUNSEL, THE COMMISSION ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION.
HAVE TO HAVE, WE HAVE TO FAR AS SECOND TO THE MOTION THOUGH, BEFORE WE, IT SAYS IN SUPPORT OR AGAINST, JUST STOP AT THE MOTIONS, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO WE CAN GET A SECOND SO WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION.
AND I, I'LL, I'LL JUST, JUST, I, I'LL GO, I'LL LEAVE OFF THE FOLLOWING BRIEF.
DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT AGAIN OR JUST GO? YOU, UM, MS. POTTER.
DO, DOES HE NEED TO READ THAT AGAIN? SO YOU GET THE WORDING? NO.
[01:10:01]
OKAY.SO IN THAT CASE, WE HAVE THE MOTION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND THE MOTION.
UH, WHO IS BURSTING TO SPEAK FIRST? I GUESS I'LL GO AHEAD WITH, BECAUSE I, I HAD THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
IT, IT'S WAY THIS THING WAS WORDED.
UM, 'CAUSE IT SAID FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS, BUT ANYWAY.
WELL, I WAS GOING, ALTHOUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IDENTIFIES AREA AS APPROPRIATE FOR HIGHER DENSITY RESIDENTIAL IN THE LONG TERM, THE PLAN IS ADVISORY AND NOT SELF IMPLEMENTING.
THE PROPOSAL REPRESENTS AN ISOLATED IMPLEMENTATION FOR HIGHER DENSITY POLICY THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE ESTABLISHED DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY, CREATING AN ABRUPT TRANSITION IN LAND THAT USE ADVERSELY AFFECTS SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND IS INCONSISTENT WITH ORDERLY AND COORDINATED GROWTH.
NUMBER TWO, WHY HIGHER DENSITY IS ENVISIONED GENERALLY IN THIS AREA? THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ALSO EMPHASIZES COMPATIBILITY AND PROTECTION OF THE ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS.
R THREE DESIGNATION CREATES AN ABRUPT DENSITY TRANSITION INCONSISTENT WITH THAT ORDERLY PHASE TRANSITION IMPLEMENTATION.
NOW TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK.
OTHER, UH, NO, I JUST, I I AGREE COMPLETELY, UM, WITH COMMISSIONER NEIL, THAT'S, THAT'S THE SAME WAY THAT IT STRUCK ME.
I ALSO FEEL THAT ACCORDING TO THE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I HAD IT WRITTEN DOWN, BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW, A COUPLE PEOPLE MENTIONED IT.
THE, THAT IT MAINTAINS THE CHARACTER, THE INFILL DEVELOPMENT PRESERVES THE CHARACTER.
AND EVEN THOUGH, UM, IT DOES A BUT WITH R THREE, UM, THERE IS A, A NATURAL DEMARCATION BETWEEN THE TWO ZONES.
AND I FEEL THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT A WHOLE HOST OF PEOPLE AND THAT THEY'RE STILL, I THINK IT'S GREAT TO BE CONSIDERATE OF HOUSING AND, AND, AND BRINGING IN THOSE THINGS.
UM, IT FEELS LIKE THAT THE COST, I SHOULD USE THE WORD FIELD.
IT APPEARS THAT THE COST OUTWEIGHS THE BENEFIT IN THAT, FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, THAT THAT CAN STILL BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT VIOLATING THAT, THAT CHARACTERISTIC IN THAT ENTIRE KIND OF, THAT WHOLE STREET AREA.
UM, THE MS. MARRAZZO WAS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY DUE, DUE TO ILLNESS, BUT SHE HAD INDICATED THAT SHE SUBSTANTIALLY AGREES WITH, WITH, UH, THE, UH, OPINIONS SPEAK.
UM, UM, THE, UH, I MUST SAY THAT IN, IN MY YEARS ON THIS COMMISSION, I HAVE NEVER SEEN HALF OF THE HOUSES ON THE STREET.
AND IF, IF I'M READING THAT MAP RIGHT, WE HAD OVER HALF OF THE HOUSES ON THAT STREET WERE HERE TONIGHT TO MAKE THEIR OPINIONS HEARD, WHICH IS, UH, UH, A SIGNIFICANT INPUT, UH, WORDS LIKE VIOLATION OF COVENANT TRUST, UH, WORDS LIKE SERENITY AND INTEGRITY.
UM, THE, THESE COMMENTS REFLECT A VERY INTENSE AND VERY POSITIVE COMMUNITY FEELING.
AND, UH, UH, THAT'S JUST AN OBSERVATION THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, LAND THE LAND, THE LANDOWNER HAS THE RIGHT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS WITH HIS PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY A SACRED RIGHT.
BUT THE COMMUNITY ALSO HAS TO LET ITSELF BE KNOWN.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST AVENUE TO LET ITSELF BE KNOWN.
UM, SO, UM, I THINK THAT WE'VE SPOKEN ARTICULATELY AND I THINK WE'RE READY TO CALL THE QUESTION AND OH, YOU WANNA MAKE SOME MORE COMMENTS? JUST, I JUST, I JUST DO WANT TO, UM, TAKE THE TIME TO THANK THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF.
'CAUSE I THINK ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE ON THIS HAS CREATED A VERY CLEAR SCENARIO OF WHERE THE PARAMETERS ARE PER THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.
SO IT ENABLES TO COME TO A GREATER DECISION ABOUT THE GREATER GOOD THAT'S PRESENT.
SO, UM, I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE ON THIS.
WE'LL, WE ALL SECOND THAT MOTION.
JUST, JUST TO MENTION, MR. KLEIN IS AN HONORABLE MAN, AND HE, HE HAD, HE HAD VAL VALID REASONS TO TRY TO BRING THIS FORWARD AND WORKING FORWARD, JUST TAKING IN THE, THE BROADER SENSE IS THE CONSIDERATION.
MS. POTTER, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? CHAIRMAN MARSH, UH, YOUR MOTION WAS TO DENY, DENY IT.
[01:15:03]
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 2 6 0 0 2 1.AND IF, IF YOU ARE LEAVING, PLEASE LEAVE QUIETLY.
WE'LL JUST WAIT A SECOND HERE.
IF SOMEBODY COULD CLOSE THAT DOOR PLEASE, SO THAT WE CAN OH, WE CAN'T CLOSE THE DOOR.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT, THAT THERE'S A RULE AGAINST CLOSING THE DOOR.
DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS, OR PLEASE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN.
I, IS THAT A FIRE REGULATION THAT YOU CAN'T CLOSE THE DOOR? NO, IT'S TRANSPARENCY.
WE CERTAINLY WANNA COMPLY WITH FOIA.
OKAY, NOW WE WILL BEGIN
AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY MONTEVERDE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN STUDIO ON BEHALF OF SQUIRREL HILL ONE LLC, REQUESTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 48 DASH EIGHT 60 DASH A DASH SIX E, WHICH LIMITS MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF A RETAINING WALL TO SIX FEET.
IF WE COULD HAVE ONE MEETING HERE, IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WALL HEIGHT TO 10 FEET FOR UNDEVELOPED PROPERTIES LOCATED ON ORCHARD STREET, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 2 0 8 6, SECTION FIVE PARTIALS, EIGHT TO ONE EIGHT DASH TWO EIGHT DASH 3 8 11, AND EIGHT 12.
MR. WARE, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION PREPARED FOR THIS ITEM? PUBLIC HEARING.
ITEM NUMBER THREE FOR TONIGHT IS, UH, APPLICATION 26 0 0 0 2 1.
UH, THAT IS AN APPLICATION FOR REQUESTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION OF TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 48, 8 60 A SIX E, UH, WHICH LIMITS THE HEIGHT, UH, THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT RETAINING WALLS TO SIX FEET.
UH, THOSE ARE THE PROPERTIES HERE, UH, ON ORCHARD STREET, UH, ZONED R TWO, WHICH IS PERMITTED BY RIGHT FOR, UH, DUPLEXES.
THOSE AREAS OUTLINED THERE IN YELLOW, YELLOW IN MY VISION, UH, THEY'RE ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE AND THE NORTHWEST SIDE THERE.
THOSE ARE THE AREAS WHERE THEY'RE REQUESTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT OF THE RETAINING WALLS.
UH, THERE'S A BID ON THE TAX MAPS THERE FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
JOHN, EXCUSE ME, JOHN, WE NEED SILENCE IN THE ROOM SO THAT MR. WARE CAN BE HEARD.
UH, THERE IS THE, UH, SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT PLAN PAGES OF, UH, PAGE SIX C 6 0 1 FOR THE SQUIRREL HILL DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN, UH, THE PROPERTIES FOR THE LOTS THERE ON THE LOWER SIDE OF ORCHARD STREET, ESSENTIALLY, UH, TOWN CODE, UH, 1 48 8 60 A SIX E, UH, THE USE OF RETAINING WALLS IS ENCOURAGED.
[01:20:01]
TO REDUCE THE STEEPNESS OF BANDAID SLOPES AND TO PROVIDE PLANTING POCKETS CONDUCIVE TO VEGETATION AND LANDSCAPING.ALL RETAINING WALLS SHALL REQUIRE AN ENGINEERED DESIGN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NON TIERED RETAINING WALLS WITH LEVEL BACK FIELD AND NO SURCHARGE LOADING WITH THE HEIGHT OF 24 INCHES OR TWO FEET OR LESS FROM FINISHED GRADE.
RETAINING WALLS SHALL NOT EXCEED 72 INCHES OR SIX FEET IN HEIGHT FROM FINISHED GRADE.
SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO THE HEIGHT THE CODE REQUIRES.
THE HEIGHT CANNOT BE HIGHER THAN SIX FEET IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS, UH, ON THIS PAGE HERE.
SO THE, UH, WHAT HAPPENS HERE WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT, UH, THE GRADE FROM THE STREET TO THE DRIVEWAYS IS SET BY TOWN CODE NOT TO EXCEED BASICALLY 10%.
SO THE GRADE IS SET FROM THE DRIVE FROM THE ROAD UP THE DRIVEWAY, THEN THE LOT'S PUT IN FOR THE HOUSING.
AND BECAUSE OF THE STEEPNESS OF THE SLOPE IN THE REAR, RETAINING WALLS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED THERE.
UH, SO THE RETAINING WALLS WILL BE IN PLACE WITH THIS.
THEY ARE JUST ASKING FOR THE HEIGHT TO BE INCREASED, UH, AND THE SITE GRADING CONDITIONS NE NECESSITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RETAINING WALL EXCEEDING THE HEIGHT LIMITATIONS FOR OPTIMAL LOT DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES RELATED TO DRAINAGE AND SPACING FROM THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS.
THIS INCREASE IN HEIGHT WOULD MAINTAIN PROPER DRAINAGE AWAY FROM THE STRUCTURES.
UH, SO A LITTLE BIT ON THE, UM, WE DISCUSSED AT THE WORK SESSION.
SO RETAINING WALLS ARE BASICALLY STRUCTURES JUST LIKE THE HOMES.
THEY WOULD GET A, WITH THE APPLICATIONS THAT'S CONSTRUCT THE HOME AND THE RETAINING WALL, THOSE RETAINING WALLS REQUIRE AN ENGINEERED DESIGN.
TOWN STAFF WOULD NOT REVIEW THAT, THAT'S PART OF THE BUILDING CODE RESPONSIBILITY.
SO THE, UH, REGISTERED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL WOULD DESIGN THE, THE RETAINING WALL WITH THE FOOTER BASED ON THE SOILS REPORT FOR THE SIZE AND THE HEIGHT OF THE RETAINING WALL.
STAFF WOULD ONLY APPROVE THE LOCATION OF THE RETAINING WALL.
WARREN COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT REVIEWS THE PLANS OF THE RETAINING WALL DESIGNED BY REGISTER DESIGN PROFESSIONAL.
SO WE WOULD JUST APPROVE THE LOCATION ALONG WITH THE HOUSE THAT SETS ON THE LOT.
THE OTHER RESPONSIBILITY GOES TO THE WARREN COUNTY BUILDING APARTMENT.
RETAINING WALL IS PART OF THE BUILDING CODE, NOT ZONING CODE.
WE ONLY APPROVE THE LOCATION OF THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE YOU, UH, ESSENTIALLY THE HEIGHT HERE.
UH, IF YOU, UH, LOOKED IN YOUR PACKET, THE RETAINING WALL, THE SLOPE WOULD COME DOWN WITH THIS IS THE TYPICAL SIX FOOT HEIGHT RETAINING WALL IN THE BACK.
IF THEY DID THE INCREASE IN HEIGHT, NOW THEY DID PUT IN THE APPLICATION A MAXIMUM OF 10 FEET, BUT THEIR PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR RIGHT NOW, UH, SHOWS MAYBE AN EIGHT OR AN EIGHT AND A HALF FOOT HEIGHT WALL.
THEY DID PUT A MAXIMUM OF 10 ON THEIR APPLICATION JUST, UH, TO PREPARE FOR OTHER ENGINEERING DESIGN IF THEY NEED TO.
BUT PRELIMINARY, THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE HEIGHT WILL BE AROUND EIGHT OR EIGHT AND A HALF FEET, BUT THEY DID PUT ON THE APPLICATION FOR 10.
UH, AND THEY MAY DO SOME OTHER GRADING DEPENDING ON A SPECIAL EXCEPTION AS GRANTED BY TOWN COUNCIL.
SO THEY COULD RIG THE RE THE REAR OF THESE LOTS ALTOGETHER AND, UH, MAY HAVE TO ADJUST THE RETAINING WALL HEIGHTS ON A COUPLE OF THOSE LOTS.
THAT'S PART OF THE APPLICATION.
UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS, TERESA? OKAY, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THERE'S, IT, IT'S COMPLICATED.
THE, THIS DANCE BETWEEN DEQ TOWN AND COUNTY AND WHO DOES INSPECTIONS AND WHAT, AND WHAT TOWN'S RESPONSIBLE FOR, AS YOU WERE SAYING, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE WALL SIZE.
AND, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, IT'S ALSO THE SLOPES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND THE IMPACTS OF DRAINAGE THEREOF, ISN'T IT? THE TOWN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND, BUT THE, WHEN YOU CHANGE, WHEN YOU ADAPT SOMETHING TO THE WALL AND YOU'RE CHANGING THE SLOPE, THAT THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THE TOWN IS CONCERNED ABOUT IN THE CODE AND THE APPROVAL.
WELL, THE, UH, FOR THIS SITE, IT DOES HAVE THOSE STEEP SLOPES.
SO UNDER THE STEEP SLOPE PART OF THE CODE, THAT'S WHY THE RETAINING WALLS ARE ENCOURAGED.
UH, AND WITH THAT, THERE IS LIMITATIONS OF SIX FEET.
SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ASKING SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR, BECAUSE IT IS STEEP SLOPES.
BUT THE SOILS REPORT, UH, WHICH IS IN YOUR
[01:25:01]
PACKET, DETERMINES THE, WHAT IS THE BEST ENGINEERING DESIGN BASED ON THE SOIL CONDITIONS THERE.THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE INCREASE IN HEIGHT TO FACILITATE WATER AWAY FROM THE RETAINING WALL WITH A PLANNING POCKET IN THE BACK AND TO DISSIPATE THE WATER TO THE EDGES OF THE HOMES AND NOT WORK BASICALLY TO CASCADE OVER THE TOP.
SO IF, UH, IF, IF WAS A CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PLAN, HOW WOULD YOU KNOW A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE THAT WOULD IMPACT THE HEIGHT OF THE RETAINING WALL? THAT WOULD THE HEIGHT OR YOU, YOU SAY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WALL WAS NOT, UM, OUR PROBLEM, SO TO SPEAK.
SO ESSENTIALLY, IF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS GRANTED, UH, FROM TOWN COUNCIL, THEY WOULD TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION WITH THEIR GRADING OF THE LOTS.
THEIR, THE PLANS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED AT THIS POINT.
SO THEY'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES.
THEY'RE AWAITING APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO COMPLETE THE PLANS 100% WITH THE DESIGN OF THE RETAINING WALL IN THAT.
AND WE WOULD REVIEW THAT AT THAT TIME.
BUT IT'LL NEVER COME BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGAIN AFTER THIS.
IT WOULD, YOU'RE SAYING IT WILL COME BACK TO, FOR THE RETAINING WALL? FOR THE RETAINING WALL AND THE, ANY CHA.
SO IF THEY CHANGE SOMETHING SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE DESIGN OF THE SLOPES OR THE RETAINING WALL, HOW WOULD, HOW WOULD WE EVER KNOW? UH, WELL EFFECT FROM THE PRELIMINARY PLAN, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2025.
UH, PLANS NOW ARE ONLY APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY.
PLANS WILL NOT COME, THESE PLANS WILL NOT COME BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL OR DENIAL.
THEY WILL NOT GO TO TOWN COUNCIL APPROVAL OR DENIAL.
THE STATE HAS PASSED THAT EFFECT OF JULY 1ST, 2025.
THESE PLANS ARE ONLY APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY, AND THAT'S THE TOWN WILL APPROVE THEM OR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVELY, THE TOWN WILL APPROVE THE TOWN RIGHT AFTER JULY 1ST, 2025 PROJECTS VERY SIMILAR TO THIS.
PLANNING COMMISSION AND TOWN COUNCIL WAS REMOVED FROM THE APPROVAL BASED ON STATE CODE THAT BECAME EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST.
SO BECAUSE WE ARE A JURISDICTION OF MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE PLANNING THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, THE GOVERNING BODY HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF PLAN REVIEW.
IT IS LEGISLATIVE AT THIS, OR SORRY, IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE AT THIS POINT.
UM, TONIGHT, THIS SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS GIVING THEM BASICALLY SOME BUFFER AND SOME LATITUDE TO DESIGN THE WALL AS THEY NEED TO, AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THIS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE JUST SETTING THAT, THAT HIGH BAR FOR THEM, AND THEN THEY'LL WORK WITH STAFF AND THEIR ENGINEERS TO FINALIZE
DID THAT, DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? IF, ACTUALLY, IF I MAY CHIME IN AS WELL.
THERE WAS A BILL PROPOSED FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO MOVE THAT FROM 5,000 TO 20,000, BUT I BELIEVE THAT BILL FAILED.
THERESA, YOU HAD A QUESTION? OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. BROOKS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO.
AND THE, UH, PRINCIPAL OWNER OF SQUIRREL HILL ONE LLC IS HERE.
WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO SPEAK? SURE.
YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF PLEASE? OH, YES.
UH, DONALD MCCARTY, CLIFTON, VIRGINIA.
AND, UM, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER DISCLAIMER FIRST.
UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ADD MUCH TO WHAT JOHN DID, UH, BECAUSE HE'S MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN THEN I, ON THE ENGINEERING SIDE OF THIS.
BUT, UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT, UM, IN, IN A, IN A TIME OF EVER ESCALATING, I DO HAVE NOTES AND I'M LIKE, EH, DO I READ MY NOTES OR DO I JUST ADLI IT? SO I, I'M, I'M GONNA READ MY NOTES.
IN A TIME OF EVER ESCALATING CONSTRUCTION COSTS, THE DENIAL OF A HIGHER RETAINING WALL WOULD FORCE THE EXPENSE OF TRUCKING EXCESS DIRT OFFSITE, PLACING ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BURDEN WITH NO SIGNIFICANT, UH, GAIN ON A DEVELOPMENT THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, DEVELOPMENT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, UH, I DON'T KNOW, DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS? MAYBE I SHOULD GO THERE.
IT'S LIKE, WELL, I THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS, IS THE SAFETY AND THE WELLBEING OF THE
[01:30:01]
HOUSES THAT WOULD BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL WITH THE MOUNTAIN COMING DOWN ON TOP OF THEM.YEAH, I MEAN, UM, I HAVE THESE, UH, I KIND OF EDUCATED MYSELF ON IT.
I I'M SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR, BUT I'M JUST GONNA READ MY NOTES IF I MAY.
UM, ENGINEERED WALLS SUCH AS THE ANCHOR DIAMOND PRO, WHICH WERE SPECED IN THIS, AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN'T BE CHANGED, OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOTTA BE APPROVED BY DEQ AND, UH, THE STATE.
BUT THE, THIS, THE ENGINEER WOULD, WOULD, WOULD DO ALL THAT TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS IN COMPLIANCE.
AND, UH, ENGINEER WALLS ARE DESIGNED, CALCULATED, AND APPROVED BY LICENSED PROFESSIONALS TO WITHSTAND SPECIFIC QUANTIFIABLE FORCES TO ENSURE LONG TERM STABILITY.
WATER BUILDUP BEHIND A RETAINING WALL IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF FAILURE.
AND WE'VE ALL SEEN THIS WITH, WITH WALLS THAT WERE BUILT 30, 40, 50 YEARS AGO.
THEY'RE CINDER BLOCK, THERE'S STONE WALLS ALONG THE SIDEWALK, AND THEY'RE LEANING AND THEY'RE CRACKED, AND THEY'RE THIS AND THAT.
THOSE WERE NOT CREATED BY AN ENGINEER.
THEY WERE, THEY, THEY, I, WELL, I'LL STOP THERE.
UM, AT ANY RATE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE BEHIND THE RETAINING WALL IS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
SO, ENGINEERED WALLS ARE DESIGNED WITH INTEGRATED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS TO PREVENT HYDROSTATIC FAILURE.
SO IF YOU'VE SEEN WALLS THAT ARE LEANING AND FALLING OFF, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WALLS YOU SEE EVERYWHERE NEXT TO SHOPPING CENTERS AND INTERSTATES.
AND I MEAN, THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN BE A HUNDRED FEET HIGH.
THEY CAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT 'CAUSE THEY'RE ENGINEERED SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT APPLICATION.
BUT ANYWAY, I THINK I'VE RAMBLED ENOUGH, BUT DOES ANYONE HAVE MORE QUESTION? CHAIRMAN MARSH? OKAY.
STAFF WOULD THAT WE WOULD BE REVIEWING THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AT THE COUNTY WILL BE REVIEWING IT.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA SIGN OFF ON A WALL THAT'S JUST GONNA FALL DOWN.
NO, I, I'M NOT, I HAVE NO, NO CONCERN WHATSOEVER THAT THE WALL'S GONNA FALL DOWN.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC WHO'S VIEWING THIS UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S INVOLVED HERE.
AND WHY, AND WHY WE'RE EVEN DOING THIS IF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY EXISTS ALREADY TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SUCH PROGRESS.
SO, UM, YOU HAVE CONCLUDED THAT A SIX FOOT WALL, THAT'S THE CURRENT NORM IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE NEEDS OF THIS PROPERTY.
IT WOULD WORK, BUT IT WOULD, THE, THE ALTERNATIVE IS WE, WE'D HAVE TO TRUCK A LOT OF EARTH OFFSITE AT A MUCH HIGHER COST, AND THAT GOES INTO THE COST OF THE STRUCTURE.
SO YOU'RE JUST, SO YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO DO A BETTER RIGHT.
A BETTER, AND THERE'S NO PROPERTY FOR YOUR, YOUR, THE HOUSES THAT YOU'RE BUILDING.
AND IT DOES NOT ADD ADVERSELY IF IT GOES UP TO EIGHT FEET VERSUS SIX FEET, I MEAN, THERE'S NO MORE RISK AND IT DOESN'T ADVERSELY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE APPLICATION.
NO, THERE'S, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO HOSTILITY HERE.
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT NO, I, I KNOW THAT, I KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
OF THE WAY THINGS ARE STRUCTURED.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? JUST A COMMENT.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE ENTIRE GEOTECH REPORT.
THAT WAS A VERY HELPFUL ANSWER TO VAST MAJORITY OF THE QUESTIONS.
AND OUR, OUR RESIDENT ENGINEER DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
UH, I WANNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, AND THERE IS NOBODY SIGNED UP.
DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SIGN UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SQUIRREL HILL RETAINING WALL? SEEING NOBODY? I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, I WILL, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND FURTHER, AND SO THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE B, I MOVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARD THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION NUMBER 2 6 0 0 0 2 1 SUBMITTED BY MONTEVERDE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN ON BEHALF OF SQUIRREL HILL, ONE LLC, REQUESTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 48 DASH EIGHT 60 DASH A SIX E, WHICH LIMITS THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF A RETAINING WALL TO SIX FEET, AND INCREASE THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WALL HEIGHT TO 10 FEET FOR UNDEVELOPED PROPERTIES LOCATED ON ORCHARD STREET, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP TWO ZERO A SIX SECTION FIVE PARCELS, EIGHT DASH ONE, EIGHT DASH TWO, EIGHT DASH THREE EIGHT DASH 11, AND EIGHT DASH 12.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHERE WE STAND ON THIS ONE.
MS. POTTER, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[01:35:01]
BROOKS? YES.UH, LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT 2 5 0 0 3 1 9 TO TOWN CODE SECTIONS 1 75 DASH THREE DEFINITIONS TO DEFINE THE USE OF AN AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT, 1 75 DASH 11 SECTION 1 75 DASH 12 A SECTION 1 75 18 2A, SECTION 1 75 DASH 20, SECTION 1 75 DASH 29 A AND 1 75 DASH 37.3 A TO ADD ADUS, THAT IS TO SAY AUXILIARY DWELLING UNITS AS A BY RIGHT USE.
AND TO ESTABLISH ONE 70 SECTION 1 75 DASH ONE 15 AUXILIARY DWELLING UNITS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WITHIN THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS OF TOWN CODE.
MR. WARE, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION PREPARED FOR THIS ITEM? SO, PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NUMBER FOUR, APPLICATION 25 DOUBLE 0 3 1 9.
THAT'S SAYS ZONING TEXT, AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE AS STATED BY THE CHAIR, UH, FOR ADUS AS ARE BY RIGHT USE, AND TO ESTABLISH SECTIONS 1 7 5 1 15 FOR THE AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WITHIN THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS OF TOWN CODE.
THIS IS, UH, A TEXT AMENDMENT THAT YOU SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
YOU HAVE WORKED NUMEROUS MONTHS ON THIS TOPIC.
SO BASICALLY, UH, UNDER TOWN CODE NOW, 1 75 3, WE DO DEFINE ACCESSORY USE, WHICH DOES ALLOW AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.
UH, SO THOSE ARE BY RIGHT CURRENTLY.
THOSE ARE BY RIGHT IN THE ZONING DISTRICTS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE PROPOSAL.
UH, THE R ONE, R ONE A, THE R TWO, THE R THREE, AND THE P AND D.
THOSE ARE ALLOWED, I THINK, A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION.
THOSE ARE ALLOWED BY RIGHT CURRENTLY, IF THE LOT MEETS THE 12,000 SQUARE FOOT IN SIZE.
BUT THE DWELLING UNIT CANNOT UTILIZE MORE THAN 500 SQUARE FEET.
SO TO ALIGN, UH, THE DEFINITIONS OF A DWELLING UNIT, WHICH IS 600 SQUARE FOOT BY TOWN CODE, WE ARE ASKING TO STRIKE THAT IS OUTLINED THERE IN RED WITH A LINE THROUGH IT AND INTRODUCE A NEW DEFINITION TO A, TO AN AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT, ALSO KNOWN AS IN-LAW UNITS, BACKYARD COTTAGES, OR GRANNY FLATS.
AS A SECONDARY SELF-CONTAINED RESIDENTIAL UNIT, LOCATED ON THE SAME LOT AS A PRIMARY SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING.
IT INCLUDES INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES SUCH AS A KITCHEN, BATHROOM, SLEEPING AREA, AND SEPARATE ENTRANCE THAT IS BASICALLY THE SAME AS A DWELLING UNIT PREVIOUSLY AS AN ACCESSORY USE DWELLING.
SO WE JUST ADDED THE DEFINITION TO CLARIFY WHAT THIS IS, BUT ONLY PERMITTED WHETHER IT'S A PRIMARY SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING ON THE LOT.
SO WE, THOSE ARE PART OF THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF HAS WORKED ON.
UH, YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
THESE WOULD ONLY BE IN THE R ONE, R ONE A, R TWO, R THREE, AND THE P AND D.
THE A DU OR THE AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT MUST BE LOCATED ON THE SAME LOT AS A SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED DWELLING UNIT, EXISTING OR PROPOSED, AND ONLY ONE A DU IS PERMITTED PER RESIDENTIAL LOT.
PART OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, THE PROPERTY MUST BE OWNER OCCUPIED.
THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT A NOTARIZED STATEMENT ATTESTING THAT THEY ARE RESIDING ON THE PROPERTY AND EITHER THE PRIMARY OR THE AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT.
THE, THE DETACHED ADUS CANNOT EXCEED 1000 SQUARE FEET OR 80% OF THE GROSS FLOOR AREA OF THE PRINCIPLE DWELLING, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
AND TO ALIGN THAT WITH TOWN CODE ON THE DEFINITION OF DWELLING UNIT UNDER D, THE DETACHED ADUS SHALL BE A MINIMUM OF 600 SQUARE FEET.
THE AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT MUST FOLLOW THE UNDERLYING ZONING DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.
SET BACK LOT COVERAGE IS APPEARANCE AND HEIGHTS.
AND THE DETACHED, A DU SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM LOT SQUARE FOOTAGE COVERAGE ALLOWED IN THE ZONING DISTRICTS, UH, PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
STAFF WILL CONDUCT AN INSPECTION PRIOR TO FINAL APPROVAL.
[01:40:01]
PROPERTY OWNER TO SCHEDULE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND TO RE-CERTIFY THE A DU IS COMPLIANT WITH THE CODE.UH, THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR OR DESIGNEE MAY INSPECT A PROPERTY IF THERE IS A COMPLAINT RESTED WITH THE TOWN, OR IF THE ZONING OR THE OFFICIAL HAS OTHER REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE OWNER OR THE OCCUPANTS ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE A DU APPROVAL.
UH, THE OWNER SHALL MAKE PROVISIONS TO ALLOW INSPECTIONS OF THE PROPERTY, THE TOWN PERSONNEL DURING REASONABLE HOURS.
AND THE A DU SHALL MEET THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS FOR SAFETY, HEALTH, AND SANITATION THROUGH APPROPRIATE COUNTY AGENCIES.
ALSO UNDER H UPON TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, THE NEW OWNER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO CERTIFY IN WRITING TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR THAT EITHER THE CONTINUED USE OF THE A DU WILL COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS OF THE PREVIOUS APPROVAL OF THE A DU OR THE AULA A DU WILL NO LONGER BE USED AS A SEPARATE DWELLING UNIT.
THOSE CANS BACK FROM ENFORCEMENT, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TOWN COUNCIL AT THEIR MEETING.
SO THAT'S HOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TOWN STAFF WORKED ON THE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
SO ATTACHED IN YOUR PACKET ALSO IS, UH, OUR PROPOSAL FOR AN APPLICATION FOR THE ADUS, UH, THAT WE WENT THROUGH THROUGH THE WORK SESSION.
SO THESE WOULD BE BY, RIGHT, JUST AS PREVIOUSLY THE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ARE, UH, BY RIGHT, ONLY ON SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED LOTS.
UH, SO THERE WAS AN, UH, BROUGHT UP DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE NEED FOR THESE ADUS, UH, ON RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND ALSO FOR THOSE INTERIOR.
SO THESE COULD BE AN A DU COULD BE AN INTERIOR TO THE PRIMARY DWELLING, UH, TO MEET THE NEED.
UH, AS Y'ALL AWARE THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE'S MOTHER OR MOTHER-IN-LAW WANTS TO LIVE IN A HOUSE, BUT STILL HAVE THAT INDEPENDENCE OF LIVING IN THE HOME, UH, THERE COULD BE A CONVERSION IN THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE TO PROVIDE AN A DU OR AN A DU COULD BE SEPARATELY BUILT DETACHED FOR THIS HOUSING NEED, BUT EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER IS REQUIRED TO BE OWNER OCCUPIED.
SO JUST MAKE THAT CLEAR WITH THAT.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR TOWN STAFF ON THIS ITEM? SO, UM, ON POINT H, UPON THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, THE NEW OWNER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO CERTIFY IN WRITING TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR THAT EITHER THEY'LL CONTINUE TO USE IT OR THEY WON'T, THEY WON'T USE IT AS AN A DU.
UM, HOW ARE PEOPLE GONNA KNOW ABOUT THAT? THAT'S AN APPROVAL PROCESS WITH THE APPLICATION FOR, BUT LET'S SAY THE NEW OWN, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY ELSE APPLIED FOR THE A DU, RIGHT? AND THEN THEY, IT HAS A NEW OWNER, RIGHT? THE, THE PRIMARY PROPERTY HAS A NEW OWNER.
WE WOULD, UH, PART OF THE CODE IS WE'RE DOING ANNUAL INSPECTIONS.
OKAY? WE WILL CONTACT THE PROPERTY OWNERS DURING THAT TIME AND SET UP ANNUAL INSPECTIONS OF THAT.
OTHER QUESTIONS? WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS CONSIDERABLY.
THIS HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES.
UH, SO I THINK WE'VE GOT OUR QUESTIONS.
UH, SO MR. WARE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE AN APPLICANT FOR THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A ZONING TAX AMENDMENT, BUT THERE IS SOMEBODY SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK LAURA GLI TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
I LIVE AT 3 0 4 GRAND AVENUE, AND HONESTLY, I WAS ONLY AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING'S MEETING, AND THAT CONCERNED THE REZONING OF PROPERTY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I WAS INTERESTED IN.
AND SO THEN I READ ABOUT THIS, AND I THINK THAT SINCERELY, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD PLAN, BUT MY HUSBAND TOLD ME, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
SO, UM, BUT I, I THINK THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM IN THAT, UM, IF SOMEBODY GOES TO SELL A PIECE OF REAL ESTATE AND THEY HAVE ONE OF THESE, UM, AUXILIARY DWELLING UNITS ON IT, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS, THIS PROCESS THAT YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THIS YEARLY.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU'D GO ABOUT DISCLOSING IT TO, TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO.
SO LET'S SAY THAT I WANTED TO BUY A PIECE OF REAL ESTATE IN TOWN THAT'S GOT A, LIKE A LITTLE SHE SHACK ON IT, AND I FIGURE, OKAY, I'M FINE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE BUYER WOULD KNOW.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS. THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT I HAD WAS WITH THE, UM, PARKING
[01:45:01]
SITUATION, BECAUSE I OWN A LOT OF RENTALS, AND ONE OF THE PRIMARY PROBLEMS WITH RENTALS IS ALWAYS PARKING.I MEAN, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, IT'S PARKING IN THE TRASH.
SO I'M LIKE MY OWN LITTLE SMALL GOVERNMENT.
IT'S LIKE WATER, TRASH, SEWER, YOU KNOW? SO I, I'M WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THE TOWN FACES WITH THOSE THINGS.
AND SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA BRIEF LOOK AT IT.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S NOT A GREAT PLAN, BUT AT ANY RATE, I SAID, WELL, I'LL, I'M HERE.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME,
UH, MS. POTTER, HAS ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP OR DOES ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS THESE TRUTH? THANK YOU.
MAY WE? YEAH, MAY WE HAVE ONE MORE PART? COME ON UP.
IDENTIFY YOURSELF PLEASE AND IF YOU CAN SIGN IN AS WELL, PLEASE.
YOU CAN SIGN IN HERE WITH YOUR, YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
I LIVE AT 10 19 GOOD VIEW DRIVE.
I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL AND I HAVE 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, ALMOST 20, WITH THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND ALMOST 20 WITH THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG.
I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS IS AFFORDABILITY.
THE AVERAGE COST OF AN A DU IN VIRGINIA IS $180,000.
ADD THAT TO A $200,000 HOME, WHICH IS AN AFFORDABLE HOME IN FRONT ROYAL, YOU'VE NOW DOUBLED THE COST OF THAT HOME.
UH, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS WOULD EXACERBATE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS RATHER THAN, UH, THAN, UH, HELP SOLVE IT PURPOSE.
UH, THE DEFINITION APPEARS TO IMPLY THAT THE UNITS ARE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.
THEY'RE CALLED IN-LAW SUITES AND GRANDE COTTAGES, BUT THERE IS ACTUALLY NOTHING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WOULD RESTRICT THEM TO FAMILY USE.
MEANING THEY COULD BE CREATE, COULD BE RENTED, AND CREATE MULTI-FAMILY SITUATIONS IN SINGLE FAMILY ZONE DISTRICTS.
AS YOU HEARD EARLIER TONIGHT, PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY PROTECTIVE OF THEIR SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICTS.
THEY FEEL THAT THINGS LIKE THIS AFFECT CHARACTER AND ARE VIOLATION OF TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY.
PROPERTY OWNER OCCUPIED THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE REQUIRES THE PROPERTY OWNER OCCUPY THE PRIMARY OR THE A DU UNIT.
HOWEVER, COURTS IN VIRGINIA HAVE HELD AT SUCH ZONING REQUIREMENTS ARE ILLEGAL.
IF YOU WERE TO BE CHALLENGED AND THAT PORTION OF THE ORDINANCE IS STRICKEN, THEN WHAT WOULD LIKELY HAPPEN IS WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
YOU'LL HAVE REAL ESTATE VENTURE COMPANIES WHO WILL COME IN PURCHASE HOMES, PUT AN A DU IN THE BACK, THEY'LL RENT THE PRIMARY HOME, THEY'LL RENT THE A DU, EVEN AS SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND GUESS WHAT? YOU NO LONGER HAVE AFFORDABLE DWELLING UNITS, WATER SUPPLY ISSUES.
I UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAPPAPORT, THAT THERE COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 1400 HOMES ADDED TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AS A RESULT OF THIS.
NOW, FRONT ROYAL'S BEEN IN A DROUGHT FOR AT LIKE LEAST THE LAST THREE YEARS.
IT'S IMPLEMENTED WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES MULTIPLE TIMES.
AND IN FACT, SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE HUNDO VALLEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED WATER CONSERVATION THIS WINTER.
USUALLY IN THE WINTER IS WHEN YOUR, UH, AREA RECHARGE.
WE'RE NOT RECHARGING AND TO CONTINUE TO TAX OUR WATER RESOURCES BY ADDING ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS JUST CANNOT CONTINUE.
IF YOU ADD HOUSING UNITS TO THE BACKYARDS, THIS WILL DECREASE THE PERVIOUS SURFACE, WHICH ALSO CONTINUES TO EXACERBATE WATER SUPPLY ISSUES.
IT WILL MEAN LESS TREES AND LESS VEGETATION, WHICH AGAIN EXACERBATES WATER SUPPLY ISSUES.
I THINK WE HAD SOMEONE EARLIER SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF PARKING, SPOKE TO THAT, SO I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT WHAT SHE SAID.
AND LASTLY, I JUST DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THE STAFF TO ENFORCE THIS, THIS ORDINANCE.
BUT ALSO I NOTED, UH, IN THE AGENDA PACKET THAT THERE WAS A STAFF SUPPORT.
I'M ON MY LAST ITEM, UH, THERE WAS A STAFF SUPPORT PAPER,
[01:50:01]
AND IN IT, IT REFERENCES HOUSE BILL 2 2 9 3 AS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.UM, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THAT BECAUSE HOUSE BILL 2 2 9 3 WAS KILLED LAST YEAR.
IT WAS NOT ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
AND A SIMILAR BILL HOUSE BILL SIX 11 THIS YEAR DID NOT PASS EITHER.
SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THOSE BILLS SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THIS, THIS ORDINANCE.
SEE NOBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK.
UH, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK FOR A MOTION FOR THE PUBLIC NECESSITY, CONVENIENCE, GENERAL WELFARE, AND GOOD ZONING PRACTICE.
I MOVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL TO THE TOWN COUNCIL TO PROVE A TEXT, TO APPROVE A TEXT AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE SECTIONS 1 75 DASH THREE DEFINITIONS TO DEFINE THE USE OF AN AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT, 1 75 DASH 11 1 75 DASH 12 A 1 75 DASH 18.2 A, 1 75, 21, 75 DASH 29 A AND 1 75 DASH 37.3 A TO ADD ADU AS OF BY RIGHT USE, AND TO ESTABLISH 1 75 1 15 AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WITHIN THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS OF TOWN CODE.
IS THERE A SECOND? YOU SECOND? YES TO IT.
THIS HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES, AS, AS WE SAID, AND, AND IT HAS UNDERGONE LEGAL SCRUTINY AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF, OF LEGALITY OR I ILLEGALITY OF THIS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE IN THE PACKAGE ITSELF.
IT ADDRESSES SOME OF THE PARKING, UM, ISSUES IN THE STATISTICAL SENSE, UH, AS WE GO THROUGH.
UM, IT, IT, THE TEXT AMENDMENT IS INTENDED LIKE IT WAS MENTIONED FOR THE GRANNY FLATS AND FOR AUXILIARY HOUSING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.
IT ALSO DOES, UM, ENVISION FOR USING, FOR RENT FOR INCOME, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
IS PART OF THE INTENT BEHIND ALL THIS TO PROVIDE THAT INCOME AS LONG AS ONE OF THE RESIDENCES REMAINS OWNER OCCUPIED.
SO, UH, I DON'T SEE THE ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP HERE OCCURRING WITH, UM, COMMON ILL ILLEGALITY WHERE PART OF IT WOULD BE STRICKEN AND THEN THE DEVELOPERS COME AND TAKE OVER THE YEAH.
THE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, BEATEN AROUND THIS BUSH MANY TIMES AND THE, UH, FEELING THAT THE INFORMATION THAT HAS COME BEFORE US AND THE DATA THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS ARE THAT THIS IS A VERY, UH, MEASURE THAT WOULD BE CONDUCIVE TO MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING, WHICH IS A GOOD THING ON ANY LEVEL, SOCIOLOGICALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, EVERYTHING.
AND ALSO IS A GOOD LAND USE BECAUSE IN A TIME OF HOUSING SHORTAGE, IT ENABLES FAMILIES TO STAY TOGETHER, PEOPLE TO AGE IN PLACE.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, THAT WE CAN BE A LIFETIME COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN THEIR HOMES FOR THEIR LIFETIME.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE ARE READY TO VOTE ON.
SO, MS. POTTER, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION PASSES AND WE SEND IT TO THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR FURTHER DECISION.
[VII. ELECTION OF OFFICERS]
WE HAVE MORE ITEMS OF BUSINESS IN FEBRUARY OF THE YEAR.WE HAVE AT OUR, OUR BOARD, AT OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS, WE ELECT OFFICERS.
SO THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR THE NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN TODAY.
DO I HEAR ANY NOMINATIONS? I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE, UH, COMMISSIONER NEIL AS CHAIRMAN.
MS. POTTER, DO YOU NEED TO CALL THE ROLE OR CAN WE DO IT BY VOICE? I'LL CALL THE ROLE.
IF, IF ELECTED, YOU WILL SERVE
[01:55:01]
UM, ALAN NEIL IS ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, WE WILL NOW ENTERTAIN MOTIONS FOR NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIRMAN, THE MADAM CHAIR.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MS. MARRAZZO AS VICE CHAIR.
I'LL SECOND FEDERAL TEACHER TO MISS A MEETING.
MS. POTTER, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE CHAIRMAN.
[VIII. NEW BUSINESS]
NEW BUSINESS FOR BEFORE THE COMMISSION.WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ANY, UH, ABOUT THE REPORT FOR THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE 2025? UH, THIS IS JUST YOUR ANNUAL REPORT THAT STATE CODE REQUIRES US TO PROVIDE YOU.
SO TONIGHT, IF YOU'VE READ IT, YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD AND CERTIFY IT, THEN WE'LL GET IT UP ON THE, UM, EXCUSE ME.
WE'LL GET IT UP ON THE TOWN WEBSITE FOR THE PUBLIC.
ARE THERE ANY COMMISSION REMEMBER MEMBER REPORTS? NOPE.
[X. PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT]
YOU HAVE A PLENTY DIRECTOR REPORT FOR JANUARY? IF I CAN GET THE ATTENTION OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO LISTEN.SO FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, WE HAD 15 NEW ZONING PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
WE OPENED FOUR NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES, UM, CONDUCTED, UH, ONE REINSPECTION AND CLOSED OUT IT LOOKS LIKE FOUR CASES.
UM, WE TOOK IN FOUR LAND USE APPLICATIONS AND WE ISSUED EIGHT BUSINESS LICENSES AND HAD A TOTAL OF 176 WALK-INS TO PLANNING AND ZONING.
AND JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, UM, STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT SUMMIT ENGINEERING.
WE ARE ALMOST TO THE POINT OF HAVING A DRAFT SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE FOR YOU TO BEGIN REVIEWING.
SO, UM, WE WILL DO THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
WE DO NEED TO START GETTING THE ZONING ORDINANCE WRAPPED UP BECAUSE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, IT WILL BE TIME TO BEGIN WORKING ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AGAIN, WE WILL NEED TO RECERTIFY THAT, UM, IN, UH, MAY OF 2028.
GIVEN THAT THERE MAY NEED TO BE SOME SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES, WE SHOULD START WORKING ON IT BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO GET MOVING ON THE ZONING ORDINANCE THAT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO WORK SESSION NEXT MONTH.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING VERY HARD TO DO THAT FOR VERY MANY MONTHS.
MS. GOSKY, DO I HEAR MOTION TO ADJOURN? OH, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? NO, I WANT A MOTION TO ADJOURN.