Mar 23, 2026 Town Council

COUNCIL APPROVE THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 23RD, 2026.

SO NEXT UP IS OUR APPROVAL

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

OF MINUTES.

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT.

MEETING MARCH 2ND, 2026, WORK SESSION.

AND MARCH 9TH, 2026.

WORK SESSION AS PRESENTED.

OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION.

A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? KAY, CALL MS. ONG.

COUNCILWOMAN DEMAN COPA? YES.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THE COUNCIL.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITION OR DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA AND OR ANY REVISION TO ORDER OF BUSINESS?

[00:05:02]

UM, NEXT ARE OUR RECOGNITIONS

[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS ]

AWARDS, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS.

AND SO TONIGHT WE HAVE QUITE A FEW.

UM, SO THE FIRST ONE THAT WE ARE GONNA DO IS THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING ZUCKERMAN METALS.

IS SOMEBODY HERE FROM ZUCKERMAN METALS? NO.

UM, AT THE JOHN MARLOW PLAZA AREA IN THE, IN THE COMMONS THERE.

I JUST WANTED TO, UM, I, I WON'T READ THE WHOLE PROCLAMATION, BUT I DO WANT Y'ALL TO, UM, UM, BE AWARE THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING ZUCKERMAN MEDALS, UH, FOR 87 YEARS OF BEING A BUSINESS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

AND SO WE LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, RECOGNIZE THAT FOR PEOPLE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIZENS.

AND ON MARCH 11TH, IT ACTUALLY CLOSED ITS DOORS, AND THAT WAS AN END OF AN ERA FOR US HERE IN 87 YEAR HISTORY.

SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT, THAT HE GETS THIS.

ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE ROTARY CLUB OF FRONT ROYAL FOR CELEBRATING A HUNDRED YEARS.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE HERE FROM THE ROTARY CLUB, CORRECT.

MS. HERBECK? MS. LEWIS.

SO, UM, JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF FRONT ROYAL WAS CHARTERED ON MAY 20TH, 1926, AND FOR 100 YEARS HAS BEEN A VITAL CIVIC ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY.

THROUGH VOLUNTEER SERVICE, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, AND CHARITABLE GIVING, THEY HAVE PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITY WITH MEMBERS ADVOCATING FOR MAJOR REGIONAL INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE CREATION OF SKYLINE DRIVE AND SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, WHICH REMAIN DEFINING FEATURES OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AND IMPORTANT DRIVERS OF TOURISM AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.

UH, JUST SOME OTHER, UM, UH, THINGS THAT THEY'RE KNOWN FOR.

I JUST WANTED TO, UH, AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA READ IT ALL, BUT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FRONT ROYAL SKATE PARK AND SPLASH PAD IMPROVEMENTS TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS.

I KNOW MY, MY PLAYGROUND WAS THE BENEFIT OF A ROTARY GRANT, STEWARDS OF THE DOC SMITH CHRISTMAS BASKET PROGRAM FOR OVER TWO DECADES, CONTINUING THE TRADITION OF NEIGHBORLY CARE, SUPPORT OF SUB SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROMOTE LITERACY, LEADERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIPS.

AND THEY ACTIVELY WORK TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED THROUGH FOOD DRIVES, CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND FOOD INSECURITY.

SO IN CELEBRATION OF ITS HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY, THE ROTARY CLUB OF FRONT ROYAL IS HONORING ITS LEGACY OF SERVICE THROUGH A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE KNOWN AS HUNDRED ACTS OF KINDNESS, CONTINUING ITS COMMITMENT TO THE ROTARY MOTTO, SERVICE ABOVE SOUTH.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED.

THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA HEREBY COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE THE ROTARY CLUB OF FRONT ROYAL ON ITS CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, WHOSE GENEROSITY FROM PAST AND PRESENT ROTARIANS OF TIME LEADERSHIP AND RESOURCES HAVE HELPED STRENGTHEN THE CIVIC EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE LIFE OF THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY.

AND WE EXTEND OUR BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS.

SO I'M GONNA COME DOWN THERE QUICK AND AFTERWARDS, I, NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTRY.

OKAY, WE HAVE A, A FEW MORE.

THIS IS A PROCLAMATION FOR ARBOR DAY.

AND AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL OF THIS, I DON'T WANT TO, UM, BUT JUST KNOW THAT, UM, FRONT ROYAL, UM, IS, UH, WE RECEIVED OUR, UM, TREE CITY USA AGAIN, UH, THIS YEAR.

AND, UM, THIS HAS GONE ON FOR MANY YEARS THAT FRONT ROYAL WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND, UM, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS.

AND, UH, APRIL 26TH, AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? I BELIEVE APRIL 26TH IS LONE TIME DAY, AND THERE WILL BE LOTS OF ACTIVITIES DOWN,

[00:10:01]

SO, YES, SO I'M GONNA, I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY HERE IS ACTUALLY HERE TO PICK THIS UP, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE ORGANIZATION GETS THIS.

OUR ACES IS A BIG PART OF THIS.

NEXT UP IS, UM, A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK.

UM, THIS IS HELD ANNUALLY TO HONOR PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT, SERVICE, AND SACRIFICE.

UM, AND I, I, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR OWN TELECOMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL AT THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATED DEDICATION, UM, TO SERVING THE PUBLIC.

AND SO, I'M JUST GONNA READ THE NAMES.

I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF THEM ARE HERE, BUT YOU MIGHT KNOW THEM AS YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE SAY THANK YOU.

SO IT'S SAMARA BURROWS, CASSIE COURTNEY, BRITTANY DENNIS, JOHN DEAVER, ROBIN DOON, KATIE DUNCAN, DAN ALITO, KAYLEE MONTGOMERY, ERICA UMBEL, MADISON VELOZA, AND ALICIA WINES.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE ARE ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE HERE.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, NO, JUST AGAIN, WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND ITS CITIZENS.

AND THE LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY.

UM, AND THIS IS HONORED ON APRIL 22ND.

AND SO BY THE TIME WE HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING, IT WILL HAVE PASSED.

UM, IN 1942, THE NATIONAL SECRETARY'S ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED TO RECOGNIZE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL TO THE ECONOMY, SUPPORT THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND ATTRACT WORKERS TO THE FIELD.

AND THEN IN 1955, NATIONAL SECRETARY'S WEEK WAS RECOGNIZED IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, UM, WITH WEDNESDAY OF THAT WEEK DESIGNATED AS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY.

UM, AND THEN IN 2000, NATIONAL SECRETARY'S WEEK WAS RENAMED ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS WEEK TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF ALL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS, OFFICE MANAGERS, RECEPTIONISTS, AND OTHER SUPPORT STAFF WHO PLAY ESSENTIAL ROLES.

AND SO, AGAIN, WE JUST WANNA, UM, SALUTE THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL THE TOWN'S ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS, ENCOURAGE ALL EMPLOYERS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO SUPPORT CONTINUED TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNIZING THAT A WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS.

SO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF THAT AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZED ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF OUR ADMINISTRATOR, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME HERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA WANNA STAND UP.

BUT ANYWAY, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

UM, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, , SORRY.

ALRIGHT, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN,

[7.A. Special Use Permit (SUP) Application Submitted by Veronica Tello to Allow a Short-Term Rental at 214 Lee Street. ]

PROBABLY WHAT THE MAJORITY OF YOU ARE HERE FOR.

AND THAT IS OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

SO BEFORE WE START OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, I WANNA, UM, SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU THAT WILL MAKE THIS GO MORE EFFICIENTLY.

WE'VE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

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

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

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

THERE IS A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR SPEAKERS.

AFTER THREE MINUTES, THE MICROPHONE WILL CUT OFF.

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

AND SO OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, UM, SUBMITTED BY VERONICA ELLO TO ALLOW A SHORT-TERM RENTAL AT TWO 14 LEE STREET.

MS. ONG, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL HAS REQUESTED TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY VERONICA ELLO TO ALLOW A SHORT-TERM RENTAL AT TWO 14 LEE STREET, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A SEVEN DASH FOUR DASH 93.

THE PROPERTY IS ZONED R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND IS LOCATED WITHIN THE HISTORIC OVERLAY DISTRICT.

THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO RENT THE ENTIRE HOUSE WITH FOUR BEDROOMS AND NO MORE THAN 10 OCCUPANTS AT A TIME.

THE DRIVEWAY PROVIDES THREE OFF STREET PARKING SPACES, MEANING TOWN CODE REQUIREMENTS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH NO CONDITIONS.

ALRIGHT, UM, STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED TO SHARE? WANT TO SHARE? NOTHING.

NOTHING TO SHARE AT THIS POINT.

GONNA, SORRY, THREE YEARS, MS. ONG.

THEN I'M GONNA OPEN UP A PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, DO WE HAVE ANY, I'M GONNA, I'M

[00:15:01]

DO, DID ANYBODY SIGN UP TO SPEAK THE, THE APPLICANT MAY WANT TO SPEAK IF SHE'S HERE.

IS THE APPLICANT HERE? YES, SHE HERE? YES.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP, YOU I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU FIRST DS EVEN THOUGH, UH, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS VERONICA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME BEING HERE.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO JUST SHARE AGAIN, THE, THE PURPOSE FOR, UH, MY APPLICATION IS BECAUSE, UH, WE BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY.

WE REALLY LIKE, UH, THIS HISTORIC TOWN OF FROM ROYAL AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS, UM, OUR PROPERTY FOR, TO OTHER PEOPLE WHENEVER WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, IN THE PROPERTY.

UH, IT'S NOT GONNA BE OUR MAIN RESIDENCE, OUR VACATION HOUSE, SECOND HOME.

UM, AND THAT'S IT.

WE'RE LIKE, I'M GONNA BE MANAGING ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS THERE.

WE'RE GONNA, UM, WHENEVER IT HAPPENS, IT'S GONNA BE THE WHOLE PROPERTY AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE MAINTENANCE OUTSIDE OF THE PROPERTY INSIDE WILL BE UP TO CODE TO THE TOWN.

AND ALL THE WHATEVER CONDITIONS YOU GUYS GIVES US, WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE WILL.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

UH, COUNSEL, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? UM, I DO.

MADAM MAYOR, GO AHEAD.

CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO, TO YOUR MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY? 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU, YOU DON'T LIVE LOCALLY, RIGHT? SO WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE NOT AT THE PROPERTY, UM, HOW ARE YOU GONNA LIKE, KEEP, KEEP IT SUPERVISED OR, YOU KNOW, BE TIMELY WITH ADDRESSING ISSUES? OKAY, WELL I LEAVE ABOUT 50 MINUTES FROM HERE AND WE ARE COMING AND GOING EVERY WEEK MOSTLY.

AND I'M GONNA HAVE PEOPLE LOCAL THAT WILL HELP US WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY.

UM, SO I'M GONNA BE IN CONTACT ALL THE TIME AND MAKING SURE THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF ANYTHING REGARDING THE HOUSE.

I HAVE CAMERAS AS WELL OUTSIDE, LIKE SECURITY CAMERAS OUTSIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS LIKE A TREE FALLS OR SOME, UM, I'M GONNA BE AWARE TO RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? OKAY, THANK YOU.

IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS, WE'LL ASK YOU THEM.

SURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CAN I GO SEE? YEAH.

MS. SWONG, DO YOU, UM, WHO'S, WHO'S SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? LOUIS MOGAN.

LEWIS MOTON.

MR. MOTON, YOU READY? PUBLIC COMMENT? NOPE.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DID YOU MEAN TO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING? I SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

IT'S OKAY.

MAYBE A DIFFERENT LIST.

ANYWAY, WE GOOD? SO NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR, NO ONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? COME ON UP.

I DID SIGN UP.

I DON'T KNOW IF SOMETHING GOT CONFUSED WITH THE PAPERS, BUT COME ON UP.

LIKE I SAID, THE HOUSES ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.

MY NAME IS JOAN HARDING AND I LIVE AT TWO 18, WHICH IS THE HOUSE DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO THE PROPOSED PROPERTY.

AND I AM AGAINST HAVING IT AS A TEMPORARY, UM, RENTAL.

AND I HAVE CONCERNS THE FACT THAT IT'S IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THE FACT THAT THERE ARE, THE HOUSES ON THAT STREET ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.

THERE ARE ALREADY, UH, A LOT OF, ALTHOUGH TWO 14 DOES HAVE ALL STREET PARKING, A NUMBER OF THE HOUSES ON THAT STREET DO NOT.

AND SO THERE'S LOTS OF CARS AND IT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO FIND PARKING.

UM, I JUST AM VERY CONCERNED WITH WHAT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON AT THE PROPERTY, NOT THAT THE OWNERS WILL MEANING TO, UM, RENT, TO PEOPLE WHO WILL BEHAVE BADLY.

UM, THE LAST MEETING THEY SAID, OH, WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA RENT TO PEOPLE WITH LOTS OF CHILDREN.

THEY'LL JUST BE PEOPLE ON LIKE WINE WEEKENDS.

WELL, I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE ADULTS ON WINE WEEKENDS.

UM,

[00:20:01]

THERE'S A LOT OF NOISE.

THERE'S SOME AMENITIES IN THEIR BACKYARD, WHICH OF COURSE WILL WANT TO BE USED.

I THINK IT WILL IMPACT.

I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 1989.

I ALWAYS SPENT 10 YEARS ON THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, COMMITTEE.

UH, SO I'M VERY WELL AWARE OF THE SORT OF PEOPLE.

AND I JUST THINK HAVING PEOPLE COMING AND GOING, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE, UH, SEVERAL RENTALS ON THAT STREET, UM, A LOT OF TIMES THE PEOPLE THAT RENT THERE ARE THERE FOR MANY YEARS.

AND, UM, SO IT'S A VERY COHESIVE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK JUST HAVING PEOPLE COMING AND GOING.

UM, THEY DO HAVE THREE CARS OFF STREET PARKING, THAT'S IF YOU SQUEEZE THEM IN, THERE'S SOME PARKING OUT FRONT.

UM, BUT I WAS ALSO, IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED LAST MEETING THAT, UM, THERE'S ONLY 30 SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN TOWN.

AND SO THAT'S NOT REALLY THAT MANY.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? I HAVE TWO OF 'EM ON MY STREET, TWO OF THEM ON MY BLOCK.

SO I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGH DENSITY AS FAR AS SHORT TERM RENTALS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE PUTTING ANOTHER ONE RIGHT NEXT TO ONE THAT'S ALREADY WAS APPROVED A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND IF YOU COUNT CONSTANT SPRINGS, UH, THE HILL THAT'S MY STREET IS FOUR BLOCKS LONG AND THAT WOULD BE BASICALLY THREE OF THEM AND TWO BLOCKS.

AND WE ARE RIGHT OFF OF ROYAL AVENUE.

THERE ARE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FOR RENT, VERY, VERY CLOSE.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING ADDITIONAL SHORT TERM RENTALS THIS CLOSE, THIS MANY, AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE SHORT TERM RENTALS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IT TAKES HOUSING OUT OF THE COMMUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND SO I AM VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO THIS.

THANK YOU, MS. HARDING.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO, UH, REGARDING THIS APPLICATION? ANYONE? OKAY.

I AM GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL.

COUNSEL .

WELL, MADAM MAYOR, I'LL START, I GUESS.

UM, I NEED A MOTION FIRST.

OH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, LET ME GO BACK HERE.

MY APOLOGIES.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT THE COUNCIL DENY A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT TWO 14 LEE STREET.

OKAY, THERE.

MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.

AND IT WOULD GO TO MR. OUTTA SINK TONIGHT.

I, MY APOLOGIES.

UM, NOT SO MUCH THAT, UM, THIS SHORT TERM RENTAL, I, I DO ADMIT THAT THE PICTURES I'VE SEEN AND DRIVING BY THERE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN, UM, RENOVATING, CLEANING UP THE PROPERTY.

AND WE DO FIND THAT MANY OF THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, UM, THE PEOPLE WHO DO BUY THEM, UH, IMPROVE, UM, THE HOUSING.

BUT I ALSO WOULD CONCEDE WITH THE LAST SPEAKER THAT THIS IS TAKING UP OUR HOUSING INVENTORY.

UH, WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, WE HAVE APPROVED THREE SHORT TERM RENTALS OF TWO BEDROOM HOMES.

TWO BEDROOM HOMES ARE TYPICALLY A STARTER HOME FOR FAMILIES, AND THESE THREE ARE GOING TO BE OWNED BY PEOPLE PRIMARILY OUT OF THE AREA.

ONE IS A LOCAL, UH, RESIDENT, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE USED AS AIRBNB.

WHEN WE ALLOW THIS, AS WE DID WITH THOSE THREE, IT THEN TAKES THOSE HOUSES AWAY FROM OUR POPULATION WHO WOULD LIKE TO BUY THEM AND SETTLE IN 'EM.

AND MANY OF US STARTED IN A ONE OR TWO BEDROOM HOUSE OR APARTMENT.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S, UM, MY GREATEST OPPOSITION.

IT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING TO DO, BUT THE FACT THAT NOW ANOTHER HOUSE IS BEING TAKEN OFF.

UM, AND WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LARGE INVENTORY OF, OF HOUSES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT PEOPLE COME AND GO WITH THE VISITORS THAT CAN DISTURB THE NEIGHBORHOOD PIECE.

[00:25:01]

WHILE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES, I DON'T THINK FROM OUR, UM, UH, AIR BEES AND BEES, UM, THERE IS AN UNSETTLING THAT WHEN WE HAVE ONE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO RUN IT, YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR BEHAVIOR.

AND DO WE POLICE IT? BUT MY OTHER ISSUE WITH THIS IS DO WE COLLECT THE TAXES? SEE, WHEN WE HAVE AIRBNBS, THEY COMPETE WITH OUR MOTELS OR AIRBNBS, WHICH PAY A LODGING TAX.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE NOTHING IN OUR ORDINANCES OTHER THAN WE'LL TELL THE YOUNG LADY THAT SHE HAS TO PAY A TAX AND PAY IT TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S ON A, UM, TRUST ISSUE.

WE TRUST YOU THAT IF YOU HAVE RENTALS, THAT WHATEVER YOU COLLECT FOR THAT, YOU'LL REMIT THE AMOUNT MONTHLY TO OUR, OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

SO WE POINTED OUT THERE'S 30 NOW.

I PERSONALLY JUST FEEL THAT'S ENOUGH.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.

BRIDGE.

NO, PLEASE.

UM, IF, UM, SOMEONE IS DENIED A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, UH, DO THEY HAVE AN OPTION TO COME BACK IN THE FUTURE? UM, AND, AND REAPPLY AT ANY POINT IN A YEAR? AND THEY HAVE TO REPAY THE, WHERE WE CHARGE $1,200.

OH, SO HE WOULD PAY THAT TWICE THEN? YES.

OH, EACH TIME THEY APPLY, THEY GET ONE YEAR.

UH, I, I DO HAVE A, A QUESTION FOR, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING STAFF, MS. KAKI.

UM, SO, UH, MY RECOLLECTION IS, IS THIS OWNER OCCUPIED? NO, THEY LIVED IN ANOTHER COUNTY.

THIS IS A, A LIKE A SECOND HOME FOR THEM.

THEY PURCHASED IT, THEY SPEND THE WEEKENDS HERE TYPICALLY, AND THEN THEY WERE JUST WANTING TO RENT THIS OUT.

UM, WHEN THEY'RE NOT HERE, JUST STOP WORKING.

UH, SO PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO, WELL, THE OTHER THING, IT, IT IS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

SO PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR, FOR OWNER OCCUPANT OCCUPANCY IN, UH, SHORT TERM RENTALS.

AND THERE'S REASONS FOR THAT.

UH, NO.

OUR CODE IS WHAT OUR CODE IS.

UH, OUR, OUR CODE SORT OF HAS, LIKE, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO A BOILER PLATE FOR, FOR ALL.

AND WHEN WE OPEN IT UP TO ALL ZONES, AND MY, MY BELIEF AFTER DOING RESEARCH, UH, YOU GET A LOT MORE WITH OWNER OCCUPANCY, UH, EXAMPLES, OWNER OCCUPIED, UH, SHORT TERM RENTALS, THEY OFFER HIGHER INCOME POTENTIAL WITH BETTER PROPERTY CONTROL.

UM, HOSTING ON SITE REDUCES THE RISK OF PROPERTY DAMAGE FROM GUESTS.

UM, ANOTHER ONE IS ALLOWS FOR IMMEDIATE MAINTENANCE.

IF SOMETHING IS WRONG, THE PERSON IS HERE TO ENSURE THAT IT'S FIXED.

UH, IT CAN HELP TO REDUCE THE NAME OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT NOISE OR PARKING.

IN FACT, UH, WEAVE, WE'VE KIND OF LIKE RELAXED THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN THE CODE.

UH, AND IT ALSO ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH THE LOCAL REGULATIONS THAT OFTEN FAVOR OWNER OCCUPIED RENTALS, MAKING THEM EASIER TO OPERATE LEGALLY.

AND THAT'S THE OTHER THING WE ONLY KNOW ABOUT 30 LEGAL.

THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY ILLEGAL SHORT TERM RENTALS DO WE HAVE OUT THERE THAT WE'RE NOT COLLECTING ANY TAXES? SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MEASURE TONIGHT.

YEAH, MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I, I UNDERSTAND THE POINTS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN REGARDS TO REMOVING HOUSING FROM, UH, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR AS FAR AS MARKET AVAILABILITY.

IS THERE, THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WISH TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION?

[00:30:02]

BUT, YOU KNOW, ALL I'VE HEARD IS THAT PEOPLE ARE USING EXAMPLES AROUND, YOU KNOW, AROUND THEIR HOUSES, LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE NEXT DOOR AND WHAT THEY HAVE DOWN THE STREET.

YOU KNOW, AND, AND I CAN SAY THE SAME FOR I LIVE, 'CAUSE HALF THE HOUSES ON MY STREET ARE LONG-TERM RENTALS AND MY LONG-TERM RENTALS, IF OUR DEFINITION OF LONG-TERM RENTALS IS SOMEBODY LIVING IN A SPACE FOR SIX MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS, 10 YEARS, UH, YOU KNOW, THEN IT'S ALL OVER THE MAP.

I MEAN, I'VE GOT NEIGHBORS WHO'VE LIVED IN HOUSES WITHIN A STONE'S THROW OF ME FOR THREE MONTHS, AND I'VE HAD NEIGHBORS THAT LIVED WITHIN A STONE'S THROW OF ME THAT LIVED, THAT'S LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE FOR 20 YEARS.

SO I DON'T, I MEAN, I, I, IF, IF THAT'S THE CASE, I DON'T SEE ANY NUMBERS TO, TO SUGGEST HOW THE SHORT TERM RENTAL HAS HAD A DEEP IMPACT ON OUR HOUSING AVAILABILITY.

UH, IF IT HAS, THEN IF KNOW THERE SOMEBODY CAN SHOW ME SOME, SOME NUMBERS, I, I WOULD, I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO SAY OKAY.

BUT, UM, I I, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS SITUATION IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN, YOU KNOW, MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HOUSING MARKET IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S THE CASE BEING, BEING STATED.

BUT ANYWAYS, UM, NEXT POINT, YOU KNOW, I WILL COUNTER OF COURSE IS THE PARKING.

I KNOW I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD ON THIS, BUT LET'S JUST SAY IF THIS PROPERTY WAS TO BE ON SHORT A LONG-TERM RENTAL, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON LONG-TERM RENTAL PARKING.

SO THEY COULD PARK AS MANY CARS AS THEY WANT UP AND DOWN THE STREET AND OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN TOWN FOR THAT MATTER AND BE A LITTLE OR NOTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT IT.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S ALLOWED.

BUT FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS, YOU KNOW, WE DO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO PUT PARKING IN THEM TO ACCOMMODATE, TO HELP MITIGATE THE ISSUE OF PARKING.

SO, UH, I THINK THAT POINT STANDS STANDS ON ON ITS OWN.

BUT ANYWAYS, I, I'VE ALWAYS JUST BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE'S TO TRY TO FIX THEIR PROPERTY UP.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, UM, PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, PROPERTY OWNER RIGHTS, I SHOULD SAY.

YOU KNOW.

AND, UH, I THINK THAT IN OVERALL WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE BUILD OR TAKE THESE HOUSES THAT HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, BEEN UNDER MAYBE OTHERWISE BE, YOU KNOW, IN ROUGH CONDITION, FIX 'EM UP, RENT 'EM OUT.

AND I'VE HEARD MULTIPLE PEOPLE SAY THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE COME HERE FROM OUT OF TOWN THAT HAVE STAYED IN, IN SHORT TERM RENTALS AND SAY THAT THEY, IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN COME HERE TUESDAY.

SO I THINK IT UP AS A POSITIVE, BUT ALSO I WILL CONCEDE THAT, YEAH, I MEAN, THERE MAY BE COMING TO A TIME WHERE WE, WHERE EVEN MYSELF, I MAY HAVE TO STOP AND THINK LIKE, HEY, OKAY, HOW MANY WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN A CERTAIN AREA, UH, THAT IS A REASONABLE, I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE THOUGHT TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE.

BUT ANYWAYS, I'M, I'M OKAY WITH THIS BECOMING A SHORT TERM RENTAL, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE COUNCIL DECIDES.

SO THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY.

COUNCILMAN C LOOK AT THIS RESIDENCE.

UM, THEY DO HAVE A PAID DRIVEWAY TO THE LEFT OF THE HOUSE.

LOOKS LIKE IT COULD MAYBE HANDLE PROBABLY THREE CARS, MAYBE EVEN FOUR CARS THAT THEY PARK 'EM RIGHT.

UM, ON THE OUTSIDE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE LADIES THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT NEXT TO HER HOUSE, BUT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE CONSIDERATION THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE HOUSE TOO.

UH, BUT I MEAN, I, ON STREET PARKING, IT'S JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN INGRAM SAID SOMEBODY BUYS THAT THEY CAN PARK FIVE CARS ON THE STREET AND THERE'S NOTHING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT.

'CAUSE IT'S PUBLIC PARKING.

SO I, I'M, I'M GONNA HAVE TO, I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO WITH WITH COUNCIL GRAM ON THIS ONE.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

UM, FOR STAFF, CAN IT BE A CONDITION THAT, UM, UH, THAT THEY LIST THEIR MANAGEMENT COMPANY OR, OR NO, LIKE THEIR, LIKE WHICH ONE THEY'RE USING? LIKE, IF YOU, LIKE, IF THIS IS APPROVED TONIGHT THAT THEY, UM, HAVE A, A MANAGEMENT COMPANY LISTED AS PART OF IT, OR NO, WELL, AS PART OF THEIR RENTAL, UH, INFRAS OR THE, THE RENTAL, UM, AGREEMENTS OR THE RENTAL, THE INFORMATION PACK THAT THEY GET, THEY HAVE THE CONTACT INFORMATION IN THERE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE APPLICATION WE REQUIRE THAT THEY KIND OF EXPLAIN LIKE IF THERE'S AN ISSUE AT THE PROPERTY, WHO THE, I GUESS THE TEMPORARY TENANT, UM, WOULD NEED TO CONTACT MM-HMM .

UM, IF SHE'S GOT AN OFFSITE, LIKE IF SHE'S GOT SOMEBODY HERE IN TOWN THAT'S GONNA BE RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES THAT HAPPEN AT THE HOUSE, LIKE SAY SOMETHING LEAKS OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE IN THAT PACKET.

THE APPLICATION OR THE USE ON THE PROPERTY.

UM, I JUST DON'T RE I MEAN, I, I SAW THE PACKET, BUT YOUR COMMISSION SHOULD BE RELATED TO THE IMPACT OF THE,

[00:35:02]

SO, WELL, THE MANAGEMENT OF THAT, IT'S YOU TO SECURE.

I MEAN, IF THE CONCERNS, IF THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT THE USAGE OF THE PROPERTY WOULD CREATE POTENTIAL HAVOC OR SAFETY ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY, THEN I MEAN, IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER REINSURANCE WE WOULD HAVE WOULD BE HELPFUL.

WELL, THERE'S A, IF THERE'S A SAFETY PROBLEM THEY WOULD CALL THE POLICE, THEY, IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY, THEY'RE GONNA CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

UH, IF THERE'S SOMETHING STRUCTURALLY HAPPENING AT THE HOME, I WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE PROPERTY MANAGER AND QUESTION.

I MEAN, YOU COULD ALWAYS POTENTIALLY REQUIRE A CARETAKER.

AND I'M NOT, JUST SO I CAN COMMENT, I'M, I MEAN, I, I HEAR WHAT MR. RAPPAPORT IS SAYING ABOUT OWNER OCCUPIED.

I, I PERSONALLY, I'VE SPAYED A LOT OF A OR B'S I THINK IT'S A LITTLE CREEPY WHEN WE, WHEN WE HAVE AN OWNER AND, UM, RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.

UM, BUT I DON'T MIND IF THEY'RE DOWN THE STREET A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW? SO 50 MILES AWAY IS JUST WHAT, WHAT IS CONCERNING ME.

UM, AND SO I, UM, WHETHER THIS GETS APPROVED OR NOT APPROVED TONIGHT, I HOPE THAT THE APPLICANT HEARS THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

50 MILES, YOU KNOW, I'VE LIVED THAT WAY.

50 MILES CAN TURN INTO THREE HOURS, UM, VERY QUICKLY.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO HAVE SOMEBODY LOCAL THAT CAN ADDRESS ISSUES, UM, AND OVERSIGHT OF THE, OF THE, UH, PROPERTY.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S IT.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, THEN YEAH, JUST A, JUST A, A LITTLE REBUTTAL ON A, WE WE DON'T REBUT ITS DISCUSSION.

MR. I THINK, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING TOO MANY MOVIES.

UH, YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING TOO MANY MOVIES, COUNCILMAN DEMON.

UH, BUT, BUT, UH, THE, THE REALITY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO THEY HAD BOARDING HOUSES.

UH, YOU KNOW, UH, MOST PEOPLE WHEN IT'S OWNER OCCUPIED, THEY, THEY WANT TO, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE GOOD PEOPLE IN THERE.

AND THAT, THAT'S THE POINT.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER POINTS IS THAT, AGAIN, WE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ILLEGAL ONES THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

AND IT TAKES, THERE'S, THERE'S NO ARGUMENT THAT, THAT WHEN YOU, WHEN A SHORT TERM, WHEN SOME, WHEN A HOUSE GOES TO SHORT TERM RENTAL, ESPECIALLY A FOUR OR FIVE BEDROOM, HOME GOES SHORT TERM RENTAL, IT TAKES HOUSING STOCK OFF THE MARKET.

AND ALL I HEAR IS COMPLAINTS ABOUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING.

OKAY? WE BRING IN SHORT TERM RENTALS, IT'S OFF, IT'S OFF THE MARKET.

SO, OKAY.

SO WE'RE READY FOR A ROLL CALL.

MS. WILL WONG.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT, THE, SHOULD WE CLARIFY THE MOTION WAS TO DENY, CLARIFY.

CLARIFY.

THE MOTION WAS TO DENY.

COUNCILWOMAN DE DOPA? NO.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? NO.

COUNCILMAN LOC? UH, NO.

SO JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT, UM, THE MOTION WAS TO CHAIR, NOT DENY MADAM MAYOR.

YES, I, I'M AWARE.

SO THE, THE MOTION WAS TO DENY IT, AND SO WHICH DID, WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

AND SO THE CHAIR MAY ENTERTAIN AN ALTERNATE ALTERNATIVE MOTION.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AT.

SO, UH, MADAM BEAR AND FURTHER, AND SO THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE BI MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT TWO 14 LEE STREET, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 28 7 DASH FOUR DASH 93.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY, I'M GONNA GO WITH COUNCILMAN INGRAM.

I COULD HEAR HIS VOICE BEFORE THAT.

I, I'M GONNA ASSUME THAT COUNSEL, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE NO OTHER DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT.

WE'VE DISCUSSED.

SO, AND IF NO ONE OBJECTS TO THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A WORLD CALL.

MS. ONG.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT NO.

DE COUNCILWOMAN DEPA? YES.

COUNCILMAN WOOD? NO.

VICE MAYOR AL IS ABSENT.

NIGHT SEVEN B IS ALSO, OR NOT ALSO, BUT A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY PROPERTY CONNECTIONS LLC TO ALLOW AN AUTOMOBILE PARKING LOT COMMERCIAL TOW YARD ON A VACANT LOT ON KIBBLER STREET.

MOTION PASSES.

AND SO OUR SECOND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE

[7.B. Special Use Permit (SUP) Application Submitted by Property Connection LLC, to Allow an Automobile Parking Lot, Commercial Tow Yard on a Vacant Lot on Kibler Street. ]

MS. ONG, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY? AND I APOLOGIZE.

IT IS VERY LONG.

[00:40:03]

COUNSEL HAS REQUESTED TO CONSIDER A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY PROPERTY CONNECTION LLC TO ALLOW AN AUTOMOBILE PARKING LOT COMMERCIAL TOW YARD ON A VACANT LOT ON KLER STREET, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A FOUR DASH FOUR DASH FOUR DASH FIVE.

THE PROPERTY IS ZONED C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT AND LOCATED WITHIN THE FEMA FLOODWAY.

THIS APPLICATION WOULD PERMIT THE OWNER TO PARK SIX OR MORE VEHICLES ON THE LOT AND OFFER TOWING SERVICES TO BRING VEHICLES TO THE SITE.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

ONE, THE VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY SHALL BE FULLY ENCLOSED BY COMMERCIAL GRADE FENCE, WHICH DOES NOT RESTRICT THE FLOW OF WATER AND IS AT LEAST SIX FEET TALL.

TWO, THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE LOT SHALL BE SCREENED TO ALWAYS OBSTRUCT VIEW FROM THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES IN PUBLIC STREET WITH THE EVERGREEN HEDGE AT LEAST SIX FEET AND HEIGHT.

THREE, THE VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY LOT SHALL HAVE A GRAVELED OR PAVED SURFACE FOR WRECKED OR DAMAGED VEHICLE SHALL NOT REMAIN ON SITE FOR A PERIOD LONGER THAN 48 HOURS.

UPON ARRIVAL ON THE LOT FIVE, THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR REMOVING ALL VEHICLES FROM THE PROPERTY IN THE EVENT OF FLOOD LETTERS WERE SENT TO ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFYING THEM OF A PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, I JUST WANNA, I, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE KNOWS THIS, BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE MICROPHONES ARE NOT VERY LOUD TONIGHT.

WE, WE'VE STRUGGLED.

YOU STRUGGLED.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO BACK THERE.

UM, BUT WE, WE'VE ALL BEEN, I KNOW, I KNOW THIS END DOWN HERE HAS HAD A HARD TIME HEARING PEOPLE ON THAT END, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IN CASE WE NEEDED TO TURN IT UP IN ANY WAY.

SO, STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED TO SAY, WANT TO SAY, NEED TO SHARE? NOTHING ADDITIONAL.

NOTHING ADDITIONAL THAN WHAT'S MARY IN OUR PACKET? UM, IS THE APPLICANT HERE AND DO THEY WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY.

I DON'T SEE THE APPLICANT.

UM, MS. ONG, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHED TO SPEAK TO THIS APPLICATION? OKAY.

UM, I, I'M, I'M OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

NOBODY'S REQUESTED TO SPEAK, SO I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL MADAM MAYOR IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE B AND MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW AN AUTOMOBILE PARKING LOT COMMERCIAL TOWY YARD ON A VACANT LOT ON KIBBLER STREET, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP TWO ZERO A FOUR DASH FOUR DASH FOUR DASH FIVE WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

ONE, THE VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY SHALL BE FULLY ENCLOSED BY COMMERCIAL GRADE FENCE, WHICH DOES NOT RESTRICT THE FLOW OF WATER AND IS AT LEAST SIX FEET TALL TO THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE LOT SHALL BE SCREENED TO ALWAYS, TO ALWAYS OBSTRUCT VIEW FROM THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND PUBLIC STREET WITHIN EVERGREEN HEDGE AT LEAST SIX FEET IN HEIGHT.

THREE, THE VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY SHALL HAVE A GRAVEL OR PAVED SURFACE.

FOUR WRECK OR DAMAGED VEHICLES SHALL NOT REMAIN ON THE SITE FOR A PERIOD LONGER THAN 48 HOURS UPON ARRIVAL ON THE LOT.

AND FIVE, THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR REMOVING ALL VEHICLES FROM THE PROPERTY IN THE MABLE FLOOD.

OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION.

AND SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MA.

MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

MAY I? THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO OFFER THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

MAY.

REMOVING ALL VEHICLES FROM THE PROPERTY IN THE EVENT OF A FLOOD.

IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVE CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 1 BI MOVE THE COUNCIL APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, SUP TO ALLOW AN AUTOMOBILE, AUTOMOBILE PARKING LOT COMMERCIAL TOW YARD ON A VACANT LOT ON KIBBLE STREET IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A 4 4 4 5 WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

ONE, THE VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY SHALL BE FULLY ENCLOSED BY COMMERCIAL GRADE FENCE, WHICH DOES NOT RESTRICT THE FLOW OF WATER AND IS AT LEAST SIX FEET TALL TO THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE LOT SHALL BE SCREENED TO ALWAYS OBSTRUCT VIEW FROM THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND PUBLIC STREET WITH AN EVERGREEN HEDGE AT LEAST SIX FEET IN HEIGHT.

THREE, THE VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY SHALL HAVE A GRAVELED OR PAVE SURFACE FOUR WRECK WRECKED OR DAMAGED VEHICLES SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED ON SITE.

AND FIVE, THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR

[00:45:01]

JUST TO CLARIFY THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, THE ONLY ITEM THAT CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS THAT THE ORIGINAL MOTION SAID THAT RECTOR DAMAGED VEHICLES SHALL NOT REMAIN ON SITE FOR LONGER THAN 48 HOURS.

UPON ARRIVAL ON THE LOT, COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT'S SUBSTITUTE MOTION SAID THAT RECTOR DAMAGED VEHICLES SHALL NOT REMAIN ON SITE AT ALL.

IS NOT ALLOWED, IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE OKAY.

ON, ON SITE.

THE SUBSTITUTE MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT FOR DISCUSSION.

SECOND IT FOR DISCUSSION.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT, SINCE IT WAS YOUR SUBSTITUTE MOTION, YOU WOULD ADDRESS THE YEAH, MY, MY, MY PRIMARY, UH, OBJECTION TO ALLOWING WRECKED OR DAMAGED VEHICLES ON, ON THE SITE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE INTENT IS TO REMOVE 'EM WITHIN 48 HOURS, BUT THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ENFORCE IT OR, OR THE OWNER'S ON THE HONOR CODE.

IT'S NEAR WATER AND VEHICLES THAT ARE WRECKED OR DAMAGED LEAK.

AND FROM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CALL ME A TREE HUGGER OR ENVIRONMENTALIST OR WHATEVER, IT'S OUR WATER.

SO THERE'S NO REASON THAT YOU CAN'T RUN A TOE LOT AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN IT IF YOU MARKET IT CORRECTLY WITHOUT HAVING DAMAGED OR ERECT VEHICLES ON A PROPERTY THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO HAPPY CREEK.

AND THAT IS MY REASON FOR WANTING TO REMOVE NUMBER FOUR AS THE ORIGINAL MOTION, UH, WAS CAST.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UM, MADAM MAYOR, UM, I'M, NOW I APOLOGIZE, BUT I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, IF, IF MY CAR IS GETTING TOWED, I CONSIDER IT DAMAGED IN SOME WAY.

SO I I'M WONDERING UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS, LIKE WOULD YOU TOW A CAR AND, AND THERE WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT? IT'S QUITE INTERESTING.

I, WHILE I WAS SITTING HERE, HAVE YOU BEEN TO HILL BUILDINGS ? I DID GO.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO HILL BUILDINGS LANE? EXCUSE ME.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

UM, SO I ACTUALLY LOOKED IT UP LIKE, OKAY, SO IT SAYS THAT A TOW YARD OR IMPOUND LOT IS A SECURE TEMPORARY STORAGE FACILITY FOR VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN TOWED, HAULED, OR IMPOUNDED FROM PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY.

THESE YARDS HOLD VEHICLES OFTEN AFTER ILLEGAL PARKING ACCIDENTS OR ABANDONMENT UNTIL OWNERS, OWNERS PAY FEES RETRIEVE.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT I, I QUITE FRANKLY WAS THINKING LIKE YOU, LIKE, WELL, WHAT IS, WHAT ELSE IS A TOW YARD FOR THINKING THAT IT WOULD BE, SO ANYWAY, UM, THEN INOPERABLE VEHICLE.

SO, UM, SO, UH, WRECKED OR DAMAGED IS, LOOKS LIKE, MIGHT BE THE WORDING THAT EVERYBODY'S HUNG UP ON.

SO, UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SORRY.

COUNCILMAN .

YOU HAD SOMETHING, IT'S LIKE COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT SAID, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, EVEN IF THEY PUT GRAVEL DOWN, THE LIQUID IS STILL, IF IT RUNS OUTTA THE CARS, IT'S GOING TO THE CREEK.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RIVER FOR YEARS.

WHY DO ALMOST START PROBLEMS WITH HAPPY CREEK? YOU KNOW, UM, IT FLOODS.

IT'S GONNA, IT'S, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN IT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BYPASS AND IF IT GETS IN THOSE CARS, IT'S GONNA WASH THE STUFF OUT OF 'EM AND DOWN THE CREEK IT GOES.

SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY YOU CAN REALLY CONTAIN IT UNLESS THEY GO IN AND PUT THE HAZMAT RETENTION, UH, EQUIPMENT INTO, TO, IF IT DOES COME OUT.

SO IT'LL STOP IT BEFORE IT GETS TO THE CREEK.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE WANT THAT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, MADAM MAYOR? YES.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY THE OWNER OF THE REQUESTER IS NOT HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE.

IF HE WAS LOOKING AT, HE OR SHE WAS LOOKING AT PUTTING DAMAGED WRECK VEHICLES OR IMPOUNDED VEHICLES AS YOU READ FROM THE CODE.

SO IT'S, WE CAN ONLY SIT HERE AND SPECULATE WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO WITH IT.

I LIKE A PREVIOUS COUNCILMAN.

I AM CONCERNED.

WE KNOW THAT HAPPY CREEK FLOODS, THAT'S WHY WE BUILT A NEW BRIDGE THERE.

WATER GETS UP IN THAT AREA, AND WHETHER WE HAVE GRAVEL OR PAVEMENT, UM, FLUIDS COULD BE WASHED INTO OUR WATER TABLE.

AND,

[00:50:01]

THIS IS PROBABLY A GOOD USE FOR THAT PROPERTY, FOR AN OPERABLE EQUIPMENT, BUT PERHAPS NOT DAMAGED OR WRECK EQUIPMENT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.

BAR NO DISCUSSION.

WE'RE READY FOR ROLL CALL.

MS. WE'LL FOLLOW FOR THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION OF REMOVING THE RECTOR DAMAGED VEHICLES SHALL NOT REMAIN ON SITE TO NOT BE ALLOWED.

COUNCILWOMAN DEDO COPA? YES.

COUNCILMAN LOCK? YES.

VICE MAYOR AL, ABSENT.

MOTION FAILS OR NOT THE MOTION PASSES TO, TO, TO, UH, SUBSTITUTE, CREATE THE ADDITIONAL, UM, RESTRICTION.

HEARING OF THE NIGHT, AND THAT IS A REQUEST BY DANA KLINE TO AMEND THE ZONING MAP TO RECLASSIFY VACANT LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE FROM R ONE TO R THREE.

ITEM SEVEN C.

THIS IS OUR THIRD PUBLIC

[7.C. Request by Dana Cline to Amend the Zoning Map to Reclassify Vacant Lots on Grand Avenue from R-1 to R-3.]

MS. WIL, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL HAS REQUESTED TO CONSIDER AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY DANA KLEIN REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP TO RECLASSIFY TWO VACANT LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A SIX SECTION SIX BLOCK FOUR PARCELS 11 A AND 14 A FROM R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.

THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ENCOURAGES AND FIELD DEVELOPMENT.

THERE ARE R THREE ZONE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING GRAND AVENUE.

HOWEVER, THIS REQUEST WOULD BE THE ONLY R THREE ON THE STRETCH OF STREET.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST AND LETTERS WERE SENT TO THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS AND I'D FIND THEM.

UM, SO THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS STAFF.

STAFF.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH TO OFFER? I CAN TAKE YOU THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION REAL QUICK.

ONCE AGAIN, I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW.

UM, I KNOW I'M REAL.

I I CAN HEAR MYSELF AND I CAN HEAR IT OUT THERE, BUT I'M SUPER CLOSE TO THE MIC, BUT EVERYBODY IS STRUGGLING.

WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THAT ONE? I THINK SO.

'CAUSE I'M, WE, THEY WERE STILL, UM, SUGGESTING THEY COULDN'T HEAR YOU HILLARY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO GET CLOSER TO IT OR, BUT UM, YEAH.

YEAH, I WOULD JUST SAY WE'LL HAVE TO MOVE CLOSER.

HOPEFULLY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR ME BETTER WITH THIS.

SO THIS IS A REZONING REQUEST TO GO FROM THE R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO THE R THREE DISTRICT.

UM, AND THIS IS NOT WORKING.

CHARLES, CAN YOU ADVANCE THE SLIDE? OKAY.

SO THIS IS JUST YOUR, THE AERIAL OF THE PROPERTIES IN QUESTION.

SO, UM, THESE WERE SUBDIVIDED OUT.

THE SUBDIVISION PLAT WAS APPROVED, UH, FOR TWO LOTS.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING UNITS ARE PERMITTED BY RIGHT ON THESE LOTS.

UH, IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THIS IS JUST THE SUBDIVISION PLAT.

YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS THE SUBDIVISION PLAT THAT WAS APPROVED BY STAFF.

YEP.

SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE.

SO WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING HERE ARE THE, UH, PROPOSED REZONING WOULD PERMIT DUPLEXES AS A BUYRIGHT USE ON THESE TWO LOTS.

SO THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT LOT SIZE, WELL, THEY HAVE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT LOT SIZE, UM, FOR THIS USE.

AND THE APPLICANT HAS PROPOSED THIS RENDERING AS TO WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE.

THE INTENTION IS THAT THESE WOULD LOOK LIKE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TWO FRONT DOORS.

IF YOU COULD ADVANCE THE SLIDE THAT'S THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE.

UH, THE BIRD'S EYE VIEW.

UM, SO THIS IS, THESE ARE OUR PLANNING AREAS.

SO IF YOU REMEMBER BACK TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE TOWN IS DIVIDED INTO 15 PLANNING AREAS.

UH, GRAND AVENUE IS IN THE VISCO CITY.

UM, DISTRICT.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, SO HERE'S OUR AREA DESCRIPTION.

SO WHAT THIS SHOWS US IS THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT THESE REZONINGS ARE APPROPRIATE, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL USE, UM, IS SUPPOSED TO BE INTENDED FOR LIKE POTENTIALLY HIGHER DENSITY USES.

THEY MAY BE APPROPRIATE, IT'S A MAY NOT A, THEY ARE APPROPRIATE IN ALL INSTANCES.

UM, THIS JUST PROVIDES, UH, SOME FLEXIBILITY IN DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THESE APPLICATIONS AND THESE ASKS ARE APPROPRIATE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

UM, SO ONE OF THE MAIN CAVEATS OF THIS IS DOES IT MATCH THE EXISTING CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD? UH, NEXT SLIDE.

YEP.

[00:55:01]

UM, YOU CAN GO ONE MORE.

SO THIS IS THE ZOOMED IN VERSION OF THE FUTURE LAND.

YOU SEE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS PER THE FUTURE LAND USE SLATED FOR BDM DENSITY, RESIDENTIAL, UM, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL WOULD'VE BEEN THAT LIGHT YELLOW COLOR THAT'S, UH, RIGHT THERE ON SALEM.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SORRY.

GO BACK THEN.

AND THAT'S, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF, PLEASE ASK THEM.

NO.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT THIS TIME? MS. KAKI? JUST SO I'M CLEAR, THE RENDITION OF THE TOWN HOME THAT YOU SHOWED EARLIER MM-HMM .

THAT WOULD BE ONE ON EACH LOT? CORRECT.

SO THERE WOULD BE FOUR UNITS, FOUR UNITS TOTAL.

JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT THIS TIME? UH, TO FOLLOW UP ON, UM, COUNCILMAN WOODS'S QUESTION THOUGH, THAT THAT DESIGN IS NOT FINAL, CORRECT? NO, THAT DESIGN CAN'T CHANGE.

THAT DESIGN IS NOT PROFFERED.

THAT'S JUST WAS A RENDERING SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT SHOWING WHAT HE COULD BUILD.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAT? SO, UH, LOOKING DOWN TOWARD THE BOTTOM, BE BELOW THE SITE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MM-HMM .

IS, WOULD THAT, WOULD THAT INCLUDE SALEM CYPRUS? UM, BROWN.

SO THE NORTH END OF SALEM AVENUE WOULD BE, UM, I GUESS POTENTIALLY INTENDED FOR INFILL DEVELOPMENT.

SO WHEN, WHEN THESE PLANS WERE BEING, LIKE, WHEN THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN WAS BEING LOOKED AT AND ANALYZED, WHEN YOU START SEEING, AT LEAST FROM THE PLANNING END WHEN YOU START SEEING THOSE VERY THIN LOTS AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF THEM, UM, THAT'S INDICATIVE OF AREAS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE APPROPRIATE FOR INFILL DEVELOPMENT.

UM, THAT WAS THE INITIAL BASIS FOR THE DECISION TO MAKE THIS, UM, POTENTIALLY APPROPRIATE FOR HIGHER DENSITY IS JUST THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LOTS THERE.

UM, OKAY.

BUT IT DOESN'T, BUT THAT SOUTHERN PART, IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE LOTS ON THE SOUTHERN END OF SALEM AVENUE, THOSE ARE MUCH LARGER LOTS.

SO THAT TELLS US THAT THEY'RE POTENTIALLY NOT APPROPRIATE FOR REDEVELOPMENT UNLESS YOU'RE TAKING DOWN THE STRUCTURE AND RE REDOING IT.

BUT IN, IN OUR COMP PLAN, UH, IT, IT STATES, UH, INFILL DEVELOPMENT WILL MATCH CHARACTER EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS? YES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? YES.

JUST CLARIFICATION, THERE ARE NO OTHER DUPLEXES ON THIS STREET, CORRECT? NO.

THERE ARE PROPOSED DUPLEXES ONE STREET OVER, UM, BUT, BUT NOT ON GRAND AVENUE.

THEY'RE NOT THAT YET.

I I I HAVE A FOLLOW UP ON THOSE MR. I MEAN, COUNCILMAN WOODS.

UH, SO WHEN YOU, WHEN WE LOOK, WE LOOK ON SALEM, WE LOOK ON CYPRUS, WE LOOK ON BROWN.

THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A DUPLEX.

AND EVEN WHEN YOU GO FURTHER OVER INTO D HILL, UM, CORRECT.

THOSE ARE SINGLE FAMILY.

IT, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT SOME TOWN HOME STRUCTURES ON SKYLINE PLACE TO THE, UM, WEST THERE.

BUT YES, EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND IT IS SINGLE FAMILY.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONCE ORCHARD STREET AND, UH, SQUIRREL HILL IS DEVELOPED, YOU'LL HAVE DUPLEXES TO THE NORTH THERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT, UM, TOUCHING THESE PROPERTIES.

BUT SKYLINE ABUTS, UH, IF I'M CORRECT, SHE SOUTH SHEOR? YEP.

IT'S AT THE, THAT INTERSECTION THERE.

SO YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE WESTERN PART OF THE MAP.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY.

I DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROCEDURE FOR REZONING.

SO AT THIS TIME DOES THE APPLICANT WISH TO SPEAK? YES.

AND WHILE YOU'RE WALKING UP HERE, GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANNA, UM, IT'S 73 IN HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOT CONTROL OF THAT OVER THERE, BUT I THINK 73 IS A LITTLE WARM FOR THIS CROWD.

, IT'S A LITTLE WARMER THAN USUAL.

I'M GONNA TRY TO TAKE IT DOWN A FEW, TAKE IT DOWN A FEW DEGREES IN HERE.

I HEAR YOU WELL.

GOOD EVENINGS Y'ALL.

UM, MY NAME'S DANA KLEIN.

I LIVE ON 1728 RIVERMONT DRIVE AND I EARN, UH, OWN THE LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE.

UH, I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR GREEN TO HEAR MY REQUEST.

WHEN I FIRST WENT DOWN TO PLANNING AND ZONING,

[01:00:01]

I WANT THE COUNCIL 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 TALK 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 IN HOFFMAN HEIGHTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO PURPOSELY RUIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DO REALIZE WHY THEY ARE 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 CAN RECOGNIZE THEY ARE DUPLEXES IN NOT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO INDIVIDUAL FRONT DOORS.

I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR 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 SIDE.

THEY CLEARLY DID NOT THINK THE DECISION THEY MADE WOULD RUIN OR DISRUPT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT I AM 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 MY INVESTMENT.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT AT THIS TIME? YOU GOOD? EVERYBODY GOOD? AND, AND WE MAY END UP HAVING QUESTIONS AFTER.

SO I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MS WILL FALL.

I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK, SO WE'LL START WITH THE FIRST PERSON, DR. NANCY LEE.

MY NAME'S NANCY LEE.

I LIVE AT TWO 14 GRAND AVENUE.

I ALSO HAVE LIVED ON GRAND GRAND AVENUE FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE THE 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 MOVE HERE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT R ONE ZONING PROTECTS THE CHARACTER, SCALE AND DENSITY OF OUR HOMES.

REZONING EVEN TWO LOTS TO R THREE WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE CHARACTER BY INTRODUCING HIGHER DENSITY HOUSING, INCREASED TRAFFIC AND PARKING CONCERNS.

THIS REZONING ALSO SEEMS UNNECESSARY.

THERE ARE OTHER AREAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE PROPERLY REZONED, R THREE AND SPECIFICALLY INTENDED FOR TOWNHOUSES IN HIGHER DENSITY DEVELOPMENT.

THE BUILDER COULD PURSUE THIS PROJECT IN THOSE LOCATIONS RATHER THAN ALTERING THE ZONING OF LONGTIME STANDING R ONE PROPERTIES ON GRAND AVENUE.

FINALLY, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT A PRECEDENT IF THESE TWO LOTS ARE REZONED FROM R ONE TO R THREE, IT OPENS A FLOODGATE, IT SETS A PRECEDENT THAT ZONING CAN BE CHANGED LOT BY LOT, MAKING IT EASIER FOR SIMILAR REQUESTS TO FOLLOW THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.

OVER TIME, THIS WEAKNESS, THE PURPOSE OF REZONING PROTECTION THAT THE RESIDENTS RELY ON FOR STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY WILL BECOME VERY WEAK.

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO GROWTH.

I AM OPPOSED TO CHANGING ZONING RULES IN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS TO ACCOMMODATE DEVELOPMENT THAT BELONGS ELSEWHERE.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE TOWN COUNCIL TO DENY THIS REZONING REQUEST AND PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF GRAND AVENUE.

THANK YOU MS. ONG, STEVE EARL, STEVE EARL, 400 GRAND AVENUE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHERS HERE WHO ARE HERE FOR SOLIDARITY.

OUR GRAND AVENUE COMMUNITY IS UNITED IN OPPOSING THIS ZONING CHANGE.

I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS IT TONIGHT.

SEVERAL OF US WILL SPEAK, BUT

[01:05:01]

THE APPLICANT SEEKS TO HAVE TWO LOTS REZONED FROM R ONE TO R THREE.

HE SAYS HE HOPES THAT WE DO NOT HOLD A GRUDGE AGAINST HIM FOR MERELY TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF HIS INVESTMENT.

I DON'T BEGRUDGE ANYONE MAKING A DOLLAR OR A NICE PROFIT BY ADHERING TO R ONE STANDARDS, BUT I DO OBJECT TO THE CHANGE TO R THREE.

HERE ARE FOUR CONCERNS THAT KEEP ME AWAKE AT NIGHT.

NUMBER ONE, THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE GRAND AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD IS 20 HOMES BUILT TO R ONE STANDARDS.

THE APPLICANT'S R THREE PROPOSAL SHOWS EIGHT CONCRETE DRIVEWAYS APPROACHING TWO BUILDINGS WITH FOUR DOORS.

THERE'S NO HIDING THE FACT THAT THESE ARE DUPLEXES, PARTY CRASHERS THAT ARE INCOMPATIBLE AND NON-CONFORMING WITH THE EXISTING CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

NUMBER TWO, DENSITY TWO DUPLEXES IS DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF DWELLINGS PERMITTED UNDER R ONE R ONE.

NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BY DEFINITION QUIET.

AND TODAY GRAND AVENUE IS PIN DROP QUIET.

THE ONLY NOISE WE HEAR IS GENERALLY TUESDAY MORNINGS WITH TRASH COLLECTION AND AN OCCASIONAL LAWNMOWER IN THE AFTERNOON.

PIVOT TO R THREE AND THE DEFINITION ELIMINATES QUIET AS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE APPLICANT'S PLAN WOULD INCREASE, UH, NOISE DUE TO MORE RESIDENTS, MORE PETS, MORE VEHICLES, MORE TRAFFIC.

THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES PARKING FOR EIGHT VEHICLES.

WHERE DO GUESTS PARK, ESPECIALLY WHEN HOSTS, UH, WHEN RESIDENTS ARE HOSTING EVENTS ON STREET PARKING IN THAT AREA IS VERY LIMITED AND WOULD BE OVERWHELMED.

MY NEXT POINT IS PRECEDENTS, WHICH DR. LEE UH ADDRESSED.

UH, WOULD POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE FIVE UNDEVELOPED LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO, UH, A POSSIBLE REQUEST FOR REZONING IF THIS, UH, REZONING IS APPROVED.

UM, MY FOURTH ISSUE IS REAL ESTATE VALUES AND INTRUSIVE R THREE PROPERTY WOULD CAUSE OUR HOMES ON GRAND AVENUE TO LOSE VALUE.

LOWER REAL ESTATE VALUES MEANS LESS TAX REVENUE FOR THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

THE REQUESTED REZONING WOULD ONLY BENEFIT THE PETITIONER ONLY BENEFIT THE PETITIONER WHILE ADVERSELY AFFECTING OUR ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE TOWN, AND IS THEREFORE FLAGRANTLY SPOT ZONING ISH.

PLEASE VALIDATE THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION AND DENY THOSE VARIANCE.

THANK YOU MR. EARL.

MS. ONG ANN EARL.

I BET YOU'RE RELATED.

THE UPCOMING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ENSURE THAT GRAND AND SALEM AVENUES REMAIN R ONE NEIGHBORHOODS.

47 YEARS RELATED OR 57 YEARS RELATED.

I'M ANNE EARL, 400 GRAND AVENUE IN TOWN.

YOU ARE HEARING THE STRONG COMMITMENT BY RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS OF OUR GRAND AVENUE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF RETAINING THE R ONE DESIGNATION.

I WANT TO RAISE A VERY IMPORTANT RELATED CONTEXTUAL ISSUE DURING THE WORK SESSIONS FOR BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS AND THE TOWN COUNCIL.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING STAFF PRESENTATIONS REFERRED FREQUENTLY TO THE PROPOSED MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL ZONING ON THE FUTURE USE MAPS FOR THE GRAND AVENUE AREA.

IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

HOWEVER, HOW CAN CURRENT ZONING DECISIONS BE INFLUENCED OR MADE USING FUTURE USE MAPS AS A RATIONALE FOR THE REQUESTED CHANGE TO R THREE ZONING ON THE TWO LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE.

THE ONLY ZONING MAP RELEVANT TO THE DECISION REGARDING THE TWO GRAND AVENUE LOTS UNDER CONSIDERATION IS THE CURRENT ZONING MAP, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THIS AREA IS ZONED R ONE.

HOWEVER, AS I WAS DOING RESEARCH, TWO MAPS ON THE TOWN'S GSI MAPS WEBSITE GRABBED MY ATTENTION.

MAP NUMBER ONE SHOWS THE CURRENT ZONING MAP THAT INCLUDES GRAND AND SALEM AVENUES, OFTEN CALLED HOFFMAN HEIGHTS.

NOTICE THAT ON THIS CURRENT ZONING MAP, BOTH GRAND AND SALEM AVENUES ARE ZONED R ONE ALONG WITH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE AREA AND HOMES AROUND THOSE STREETS.

MAP TWO IS LA LABORED FUTURE LAND USE MAP Y.

OUR GRAND AND SALEM AVENUES SINGLED OUT INDEED CHERRY PICKED TO BECOME MULTI-USE RESIDENTIAL ON THE FUTURE USE MAP.

WHEN CLEARLY THE CURRENT ZONING MAP, THEY ARE PART OF AN R ONE ZONING.

THIS MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE WHATSOEVER AND ISN'T MULTI-USE RESIDENTIAL THE SAME AS R THREE.

PLEASE CONSIDER WORKING WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TO FIX THE UNWARRANTED TWO STREET REZONING PROBLEM IN

[01:10:01]

CHANGING THE ZONING ON ANY PARCELS OF LAND FROM R ONE TO R THREE, PARTICULARLY IN A 120 6-YEAR-OLD ESTABLISHED QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD IS A VERY SERIOUS DECISION BECAUSE IT DRASTICALLY AND IRREVOCABLY CHANGES THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT ALSO SETS A TERRIBLE ZONING PRECEDENT FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN TOWN, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN R ONE NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS UNANIMOUSLY DECIDE DENIED THE PETITION FOR R THREE ZONING OF THE TWO LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE.

PLEASE AFFIRM THEIR DECISION AND ALSO VOTE TO DENY THIS DRASTIC R THREE CHANGE IN ZONING.

IF THIS WAS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT YOU'D BE STANDING IN THE SAME AND ASKING FOR THE SAME.

THANK YOU, MR. EARL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. WILLAM.

LAURA GILLUM.

LET'S SEE.

CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? OH, OKAY.

YEAH, THERE WE GO.

I WAS WAITING TO HEAR THAT ECHO.

MY NAME IS LAURA GILLUM.

I LIVE AT 3 0 4 GRAND AVENUE.

I'M HERE TO VOICE MY OBJECTION TO THE REZONING REQUEST, WHICH YOU'RE NOW CONSIDERING.

THE APPLICANT, DANA MATTHEW KLINE 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.

NOW, THE LOTS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO ME ARE ALSO LITTLE SKINNY LOTS AND ALMOST EVERYTHING IN TOWN, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S ALL LITTLE SKINNY LOTS, .

I MEAN, THERE AREN'T REALLY BIG PARCELS THAT ARE ZONED THAT WAY.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT ARE PLATTED THAT WAY.

LET ME REPHRASE THAT.

SO, UM, 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 DE DESIGNATION, IT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE STABILITY OF THE R ONE DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN ALL R ONE DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD REMAIN LOW CONCENTRATION AND SUBJECT TO PERMITTED USE AS SINGLE UNIT DWELLINGS.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE DECISION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT ITS FEBRUARY 18TH MEETING TO DENY MR. KLINE'S APPLICATION TO REZONE LOTS 11 A AND 14 A ON GRAND AVENUE FROM R ONE TO R THREE.

OH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THESE JUST BECAUSE YEP.

IF YOU GIVE THEM TO THE CLERK, THEY'LL MAKE SURE WE GET THAT.

THE DETRIMENT OF ALL THE OTHERS OWNER OWNERS ON GRAND AVENUE? SECONDLY, SAFETY IS A CONCERN.

UH, MS. ONG, WHO'S NEXT? PATTY CHU.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

WE'RE STILL PASSING DOWN HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

AS COUNCIL, I KNOW YOU WORK VERY HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND I JUST WANNA EXTEND MY APPRECIATION.

11 YEARS AGO, I SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF WIDOWED AND NEEDING TO DOWNSIZE FROM OUR FAMILY HOME ON STONEWALL JACKSON HIGHWAY.

BETH WALLER AND ERIC REPLOG WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING ME FIND MY HOME THAT WAS PERFECT FOR MY FAMILY.

IN THIS R ONE ZONED QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE NEIGHBORS WARMLY WELCOMED ME, AND I COULD INVEST MY LIMITED RESOURCES IN PROPERTY AS AN INHERITANCE FOR MY CHILDREN AND HAVE MY YOUNGEST SON GO TO SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE WALKED DAILY.

THIS HIGH DENSITY PROPOSAL FOR R ONE 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 ON GRAND AVENUE.

WHAT THEN DOES ZONING MEAN IF ONE OWNER CAN GET SPECIAL ZONING TO

[01:15:01]

TWO DUPLEXES WITH FOUR FAMILIES LOCATED CLOSE TO THE CHERRY STREET AND GRAND AVENUE CURVE POSE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE CHILDREN PLAY AND, UH, SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN WALK DAILY.

UH, THE PROPOSED CURB AND GUTTER ADDED WILL NARROW THE ROAD AND ADD MORE CONGESTION.

THIRDLY, MR. KLEIN SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF THE CHARACTER AND QUALITY OF 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 R ONE PROPERTY AND SHOULD BUILD ACCORDINGLY.

HIS PROPOSED HIGH DENSITY DUPLEXES ARE NOT COMPATIBLE ON OUR STREET AND POSE A SIGNIFICANT PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE BUILDING.

THEREFORE, I IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO ASK YOURSELVES, WOULD YOU WANT THIS DRASTIC CHANGE NEXT TO YOUR HOME? IS THIS TRULY GOOD PLANNING? I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER OF OUR SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

SINCERELY, JIMMA, STANFORD.

TREY STANFORD.

COULD YOU SAY THAT NAME AGAIN? TREY STANFORD.

HI, GOOD EVENING.

UH, MY NAME IS TREY STANFORD.

I LIVE AT THREE 14 SALEM AVENUE.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING MY MOTHER WHO LIVES AT 3 0 3 GRAND AVENUE, UH, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE NEAREST NEIGHBOR TO, UH, THIS, SHE IS THE NEAREST NEIGHBOR TO THIS PROPERTY.

UM, SHE CANNOT BE HERE TONIGHT.

UH, SHE'S 80 YEARS OLD AND HAS CANCER.

SHE'S THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO MY SISTER.

HER DAUGHTER, WHO'S 47 YEARS OLD, HAS CEREBRAL PALSY, A SEIZURE DISORDER, AND IS COMBINED TO A WHEELCHAIR.

BUT I'M HERE REPRESENTING THEM, AND I HAVE A SIMPLE SHORT LETTER TO READ FROM MY MOTHER.

DEAR COUNSEL AND MADAM, UH, MAYOR, ALL OF US WHO LIVE IN GOOD FAITH, I'M SORRY, ALL OF US WHO IN GOOD FAITH PURCHASED HOMES IN THE HISTORIC TOWN.

A FRONT ROYAL ON AN EQUALLY HISTORIC STREET CALLED GRAND AVENUE CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL AS IF WE HAVE BECOME TOKENS 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 IN EXCELLENT VICTORIAN BARN.

A REMNANT OF THE WORKING FARM FROM WINCE CAME OUR INDIVIDUAL LOTS VERY NEAR THE BARN ALSO REMAINS THE HOME OF THE FARM FOREMAN.

FURTHER UP GRAND THERE IS THE STATELY VICTORIAN HOMESTEAD, WHICH EVEN NOW REMAINS IN THE FAMILY OF ITS ORIGINAL OWNER, ALL VERY MUCH PART OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL'S, 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 ITS CITIZENS, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT.

THANK YOU, MR. GRANT, STANFORD.

SORRY I SAID I I SAID CRANFORD, AND I WAS LIKE, NO, IT'S STANFORD.

I'M SORRY ABOUT YOUR MOTHER TOO.

THE STRUGGLES.

MARY STANFORD, DEAR TOWN COUNCIL AND MAYOR COCKRELL.

MY NAME IS MARY STANFORD.

I'VE LIVED FOR OVER 23 YEARS AT THREE 14 SALEM AVENUE IN FRONT ROYAL, A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE PROPERTY ON GRAND.

I JOINED MY VOICE TO THE MANY VOICES OF GRAND AVENUE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE IMPLORING YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY ON GRAND AVENUE TO R THREE.

WHILE I LIVE A BLOCK AWAY FROM GRAND, MY 80-YEAR-OLD MOTHER-IN-LAW AND DISABLED SISTER-IN-LAW LIVE IN THE HOME AT 3 0 3 GRAND, WHICH BORDERS THE LOTS UNDER CONSIDERATION.

THEY WILL LIVE CLOSEST TO WHAT IS, TO WHATEVER IS BUILT ON THESE PARCELS.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, A CRUCIAL REASON THAT 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 A SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOME AND NOT A DUPLEX, OR IN THIS CASE, TWO DUPLEXES,

[01:20:01]

WHICH IS BOUND TO MAKE LIFE ON THAT PART OF THE, OF THE BLOCK.

A LOT LOUDER AND BUSIER THAN ANYONE WHO BOUGHT A HOME THERE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

IN DESCRIBING THE AREA OF GRAND AVENUE, THE MAY, 2023 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR FRONT ROYAL INCLUDED THE 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.

SO WELL ESTABLISHED ON GRAND AVENUE BETWEEN CHERRY AND SKYLINE PLACE.

THE WHOLE BLOCK ON BOTH SIDES IS ENTIRELY SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOMES.

CRAMMING TWO DUPLEXES ON THOSE NARROW PARCELS WILL CERTAINLY CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF GRAND WHILE NEARBY.

ORCHARD STREET HAS BEEN MADE INTO A VISUAL HODGEPODGE OF TOWN HOMES AND DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

GRAND AVENUE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THAT AT ALL.

IN HIS STATEMENT, READ BEFORE THE TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 18TH AND REPEATED TONIGHT, MR. KLEIN CLOSED WITH A TELLING STATEMENT.

HE HOPED THAT THE FAMILIES ON GRAND WOULD NOT HOLD A GRUDGE AGAINST ME FOR MERELY TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF MY INVESTMENT, TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF MY INVESTMENT.

I IN NO WAY BEGRUDGE MR. KLEIN HIS DESIRE TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

BUT IS THAT A COMPELLING REASON TO CHANGE THE ZONING HERE IN A WAY THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECTS SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE? THE CHOICE YOU FACE TONIGHT IS BETWEEN MAXIMIZING ONE DEVELOPER'S POTENTIAL INVESTMENT OR HONORING THE INVESTMENTS ALREADY MADE BY ALL OF THE FAMILIES WHOSE HOMES ON GRAND WILL DEPRECIATE AS SOON AS THE DEVELOPER BUILDS AND SELLS THESE DUPLEXES AND MOVES ON LEAVING GRAND AVENUE BEHIND BY.

MR. KLEIN CAN ALREADY BUILD A DETACHED HOME OR HOMES ON THAT PROPERTY AND DO VERY WELL ON HIS INVESTMENT WITHOUT CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WITHOUT ASKING YOU TO CHANGE THINGS SO THAT HE CAN MAKE THE MOST OF THE INVESTMENT.

IT HAS STRUCK PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE AVENUE THAT MAKING THIS REZONING CHANGE IS LIKE GOING BACK ON A PROMISE THE TOWN HAS IMPLICITLY MADE.

TO EVERYONE WHO HAS INVESTED THERE IS MY IS IT OVER? I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER, UM, CONSIDER THESE REASONS.

THANK YOU, MS. STANFORD.

MS. WILL, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? CARISSA GREEN.

ALRIGHT, LET'S HOPE I CAN GET THIS RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR IN TOWN COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS CURTIS GREEN OF 3 27 GRAND AVENUE.

I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THEIR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THIS APPLICATION AND FOR THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF DENIAL.

AS WE DISCUSSED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, RESIDENTS ARE NOT HERE TO OPPOSE GROWTH NOR TO RESIST PLANNING.

WE HAVE A MUCH SIMPLER REQUEST.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT FRONT ROYAL WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, BUT WE WANT YOU TO IMPLEMENT GROWTH IN A WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT, PREDICTABLE, AND RESPECTFUL OF OUR EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER.

THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES SPEAK TO INFILL DEVELOPMENT.

HOWEVER, IT ALSO CLEARLY STATES THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT SHOULD MATCH THE CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.

IN THIS CASE, BOTH STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION ACKNOWLEDGED THAT INCREASING DENSITY ON THESE LOTS WOULD NOT ALIGN WITH THE ESTABLISHED SINGLE FAMILY CHARACTER OF GRAND AVENUE AND THAT CONSISTENCY MATTERS.

THE CURRENT ZONING FOR THIS AREA IS R ONE RESIDENTS MADE DECISIONS TO LIVE AND INVEST IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

BASED ON THAT FRAMEWORK, APPLYING A DIFFERENT ZONING CLASSIFICATION TO A SMALL PORTION OF AN OTHERWISE CONSISTENT STREET INTRODUCES AN UNCERTAINTY THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THESE TWO LOTS.

AND THIS IS NOT A SMALL OR ISOLATED CONCERN AS REFLECTED IN THE MATERIALS PROVIDED TO COUNCIL AND BY MANY OF THE MEMBERS HERE, 40 PROPERTY OWNERS, I BELIEVE IT WAS 39 WHEN I ORIGINALLY HANDED YOU THE PETITIONS AND SUBMITTED THOSE TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.

THERE ARE NOW 40, 40 PROPERTY OWNERS FROM THE SURROUNDING STREETS HAVE SIGNED AN OPPOSITION TO THIS REQUEST, REQUESTING A CLEAR AND UNIFIED VOICE FROM THE IMMEDIATELY AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION IS NOT INCIDENTAL.

IT REFLECTS A COMMUNITY THAT IS ENGAGED, INFORMED, AND INVESTED IN THE LONG TERM STABILITY OF WHERE THEY LIVE.

FINALLY, WHILE LONG RANGE PLANNING TOOLS SUCH AS SUMMIT'S, GRAND AVENUE FUTURE USE PLAN AND EXTERNAL STUDIES CAN PROVIDE HELPFUL GUIDANCE, THEY SHOULD NOT REPLACE THE LIVED UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY AFFECT LOCAL CONTEXT MATTERS.

RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THESE AREAS EVERY DAY BRING A PERSPECTIVE THAT CANNOT BE FULLY CAPTURED IN A GENERALIZED PLANNING FRAMEWORK.

WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL TO UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION AND ENSURE THAT ZONING DECISIONS REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH BOTH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE ESTABLISHED CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

MS. ONG, DEREK GREEN HUSBANDS WIVES.

THANK YOU MS. GREEN.

[01:25:01]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MADAM MAYOR, I'LL KEEP THIS BRIEF.

YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ALL THE POLICY SIDE OF THE ISSUE.

I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR SOMEONE WHO LIVES THERE EVERY DAY.

GRAND AVENUE IS A QUIET, ESTABLISHED SINGLE FAMILY STREET.

IT IS NOT JUST ZONING ON A MAP, IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE BASED ON WHAT IT IS TODAY AND WHAT THEY REASONABLY EXPECT IT TO REMAIN.

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED WHEN INTRODUCED A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CONSISTENCY .

AND WHILE IT MAY INVOLVE ONLY A COUPLE OF LOTS RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A SMALL CHANGE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LONG TERM IMPACT ON YOUR STREET.

AND THAT'S WHY SO MANY OF US GOT INVOLVED.

THE LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION FROM RESIDENTS TO LETTERS, THE ATTENDANCE, THE PETITION REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY THAT IS PAYING ATTENTION AND ASKING FOR CONSISTENCY IN HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE.

AT THIS POINT, WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING COUNSEL TO UPHOLD THE RECOMMENDATIONS ALREADY MADE TO KEEP THE ZONING CONSISTENT AND RESPECT THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS IT EXISTS TODAY.

MEMBERS OF TOWN COUNCIL.

SORRY, I DON'T HAVE MUCH VOICE, BUT I'M AMANDA SLATE AND I LIVE AT 37 62 BROWNTOWN ROAD.

SO I DO NOT LIVE IN TOWN, BUT I'M A LOCAL REALTOR.

UM, AND I'VE SOLD A LOT OF HOMES IN THAT AREA.

I DID WANNA JUST REITERATE A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT THEY HAVE SAID IS HOW I FEEL TOO.

YOU KNOW, ZONING IS A PROMISE.

IT'S NOT A SUGGESTION THAT THESE PEOPLE BOUGHT SINGLE FAMILY R ONE HOMES AND YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL HOW YOU REZONE IT.

AND YOU CAN SEE OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE SEVENTIES, YOU KNOW, ORCHARD WAS REZONED AND THOSE TOWN HOMES THAT ARE THERE NOW ARE BUILT.

NOW.

THERE'VE BEEN A LOT OF ISSUES 'CAUSE OF OUR CURB AND GUTTER POLICY CHANGES ALONG WITH THE TOWN COUNCIL CONSTANTLY.

UM, ALSO YOU GO DOWN BLUE RIDGE AVENUE THAT HAS OLDER HOMES AND IN THE EIGHTIES WE HAD SOME CHANGING IN PLANS AND WE HAVE SOME TOWN HOMES THERE AS WELL.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE TODAY SHAPE THE FUTURE.

AND I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT LINES A LOT AND THAT THE BACK OF THAT PROPERTY IS OUR THREE, WHICH IS VERY COMMON.

YOU GO IN TOWN AND SOME HOUSES THAT USED TO BE HOUSES ARE ZONED COMMERCIAL.

IT DOESN'T MAKE THE HOUSES BEHIND THEM COMMERCIAL.

YOU KNOW, THE HISTORIC LINE IS VERY CLOSE TO THERE.

AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT THOSE HOMES, MANY OF THEM BUILT IN THE 19 HUNDREDS SHOULD BE ZONED HISTORIC.

YOU HAVE AN AMAZING BARN AND VICTORIAN HOMES AND EVEN THE HOMES ACROSS THE CORNER WERE BUILT IN THE 19 HUNDREDS EVEN SALEM AVENUE, I'VE SOLD A REALLY COOL HOUSE.

IT WAS PRETTY OLD AND IT HAD A BUNKER IN THE BASEMENT.

ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE ALSO LIGHTED TO BE REZONED ARE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

SO YOU'RE TAKING AWAY FROM OUR AGING COMMUNITY THAT IS RETIRING AND WANTS TO GET OFF THE MOUNTAIN.

I WOULD SAY ALL THE WAY TO DRUITT HILL, THOSE HOMES ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOCAL ENGINEER WHO RECENTLY MOVED INTO TOWN AND SOLD HIS HOUSE OUT IN THE COUNTY AS HE DOWNSIDE AND BOUGHT A LITTLE RANCH HOME ON DRUITT HILL BECAUSE THOSE HOMES WERE MEANT, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT AGING POPULATION THAT ARE ONE LEVEL, A LOT OF THEM.

SO I THINK WE GET TRAPPED SOMETIMES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE DENSITY AND CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT REALLY THOSE TOWNHOUSES WILL NOT BE AFFORDABLE.

I'VE SEEN A COUPLE DETACHED HOMES GET TORE DOWN IN TOWN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AS WE'RE DOING THAT INFILL DEVELOPMENT.

SO YOU TILL TEAR DOWN A HOUSE AND YOU BUILD SIX TOWNHOUSES.

BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THAT INVENTORY IS NOT MOVING.

YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY THEY PRICED THOSE TOWN HOMES AT OVER $400,000 AND A LOT OF THEM THEY'VE HAD TO REDUCE SOME OF THEM EVEN RENTING.

SO WE HAD A LOCAL SCHOOL EMPLOYEE WHO ENDED UP RENTING ONE OF THOSE TOWN HOMES FOR 2,700 A MONTH.

AND FOR THAT TO BE AFFORDABLE, YOU'RE MAKING WELL OVER A HUNDRED GRAND A YEAR.

A BIG CORNER THAT WAS BOUGHT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGES BY SEVEN 11, WHICH IS IN THE TOWN LIMITS.

NOW ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWNS RIGHT AT THE RIDGE.

WHAT I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, OH, THE TIMER WENT OFF.

OH, IT DID.

I DIDN'T HEAR.

SORRY.

YEAH, I WAS LIKE, IT'S NO.

WELL, SOMEBODY'S WENT OFF UP HERE ALARM.

SORRY.

YOU KEEP GOING.

I WAS GONNA SAY, I HEARD SOMETHING GOING OFF.

YOU KEEP GOING.

I'M SORRY, AMANDA.

IT'S OKAY.

SO FOR AFFORDABILITY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM,

[01:30:01]

AND THEY WILL BE BUILDING TOWN HOMES.

THERE IS ALREADY, IT'S ALREADY SLATED, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL START IN THE THREE HUNDREDS, BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT THESE TOWN HOMES WILL CREATE AFFORDABILITY.

YOU'RE JUST CHANGING THAT ARCHITECTURAL LANDSCAPE OF THE STREET THAT I REALLY THINK SHOULD BE PRESERVED.

THE R LINE AND EVEN ING SHOULD BE PRESERVED.

THERE'S, I STOPPED YOU, SO IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY.

I HAVE A LITTLE, I, NO, DO YOU HAVE ANY OH, OKAY.

I WAS GONNA SAY YOU COULD, AND I, I PROBABLY TOOK, I PROBABLY TOOK 30 OR SECONDS OFF, SO IF YOU WANTED TO KEEP GOING USED, BECAUSE THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE FUTURE PLACE WHEN THEY GOTCHA.

MS. ONG, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SIGN UP FOR THIS ONE? NO.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SIGN UP FOR THIS ONE? THERE'S A COUPLE EXTRA PEOPLE.

OKAY, COME ON UP.

SHOULD I SIGN IN FIRST OR NO? YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND THEY'LL PUT IT IN THE MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

MADAM MAYOR, MY NAME IS STEVE YOUNG.

I LIVE AT 3 1 5, UH, SALEM AVENUE.

I GUESS I AM PART OF THE AGING POPULATION THAT WAS, UH, JUST REFERRED TO .

I, UH, PURCHASED MY HOME SEVEN YEARS AGO ON SALEM.

I'M A REFUGEE FROM ALEXANDRIA AND I CAME TO FRONT ROYAL BECAUSE I LOVE THE CHARM OF THE TOWN, THE VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS THAT I HAVE FROM MY FRONT PORCH.

AND I ALSO BOUGHT FOR THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, I THINK IS A SOMEWHAT HISTORIC HOME.

IT IT WAS OWNED BY THE FORMER OWNERS OF THE KLER FURNITURE STORE DOWN HERE ON MAIN STREET.

UH, AND I HAVE INVESTED QUITE A BIT TO IMPROVE THE HOUSE, COSMETICALLY AND STRUCTURALLY.

AND LIKE MY NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FAR LONGER THAN I HAVE, I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE I LIKE THEM.

PURCHASED MY HOME, NOT WITHOUT A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE AS TO ZONING.

AND IT WAS ZONED R ONE RESIDENTIAL.

AND SO NOW IT, TO ME, IT'S AN ISSUE OF TRUST WITH THE TOWN BECAUSE I'M SEEING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SPOT ZONE IN AN AREA OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT JUST IS NOT APPROPRIATE.

YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION, THE TOWN'S PLANNING COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 18TH, MADE A UNANIMOUS DECISION TO DENY THIS REQUEST.

ITS PRINCIPLE PURPOSE.

PRINCIPLE REASON WAS THAT IT DID NOT MATCH THE EXISTING CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

MY, MY SALEM AVENUE, MY SIDE OF SALEM AVENUE IS THE NORTH END, WHICH ALL THE SKINNY LITTLE PARCELS, I HAVE FOUR OF THOSE.

I WOULD FIND IT HARD PRESSED TO FIND WHERE THERE WOULD BE ANY INFIELD FIELD DEVELOPMENT FURTHER ON SALEM.

BUT NONETHELESS, THIS SETS A VERY BAD PRECEDENT.

AND I FEEL IT DOES BREACH THE TRUST OF ALL OF US IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO HAVE COUNTED ON THE ZONING MAPS THAT WE RESEARCHED WHEN WE PURCHASED.

AND I URGE YOU, PLEASE, TO UPHOLD THE DECISION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE ON FEBRUARY 18TH TO DENY THIS REQUEST.

THANK YOU, MR. YOUNG.

AND I BELIEVE THERE'S, OKAY, WE'LL LET YOU, AND I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU, SIR, EITHER THERE WAS SOMEBODY BACK THERE THAT ALSO HAD THEIR HAND UP.

YEAH, THERE'S SEVERAL.

UH, WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS SAID.

I'M JUST ALL JUMPING IN THERE.

GO AHEAD.

HI, WERE YOU PLANNING TO SPEAK? UH, I'M KEVIN CUTBACK.

I LIVE AT ONE 12 LURE AVE.

JUST OFF THE MAP ON THE RIGHT.

UM, I UNDERSTAND WHY IN THE PAST AND IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, SKINNY LITTLE LOTS YOU SAY, THAT MAKES IT EASY TO PUT A LOT OF SKINNY LITTLE HOUSES AND, AND HOW THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CAME TO THINK OF THIS IN THAT WAY.

I THINK, UH, I THINK YOU WILL WANT TO REVISIT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BASED ON THE UNDERSTANDING, UH, THAT HAS COME HERE TONIGHT.

UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND THAT MESSAGE BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

UH, THE OTHER REALLY COOL THING IS THAT I CAN ALSO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY NIECE WHO LIVES AT 3 0 2 AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WHO LIVES AT, UH, 2 0 4, UH, THAT THEY WOULD ALSO, IF THEY WERE HERE, UH, BE, UH, URGING YOU TO, UH, ADOPT,

[01:35:01]

SO THANK YOU.

THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE.

MADAM MAYOR, COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

FIRST, JUST TO SAY THAT MANY OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO NOW, I'M GONNA GRAB, I'M GONNA STOP YOU AND SAY YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

THAT'S OKAY.

HER NAME IS DONALD JANSSEN.

I'M AT 3 0 1 SALEM.

I ACTUALLY LIVE RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF SALEM AND CYPRUS.

OUR BACK PORCH AND OUR KITCHEN WINDOW LOOK RIGHT ONTO THIS PROPERTY.

UM, WE COME AND GO AND OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE MADE I THINK MANY GOOD POINTS.

AND NOT TO REITERATE ALL THOSE.

I THINK THE ONE OTHER POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT I OFTEN THINK OF WHEN I LOOK AT THIS PROPERTY AND VERY MUCH BASED ON THE, HOW THE LAYOUT GOES, THAT THE PROPERTY LINES THERE ARE, AND THE LOTS ARE QUITE NARROW, BUT THE PROPERTY ITSELF ALSO ALSO GOES BACK AND IT GOES DOWN AT THE BACK.

SO IF YOU PUT FOUR PROPERTIES THERE, AND I WOULD EXPECT THAT BECAUSE THE HOMES ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN DISTANCE FROM THE ROAD ITSELF, THAT THOSE HOMES THEN AGAIN, ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE MUCH OF A BACKYARD.

SO IT'S GONNA BE VERY CLOSE.

THE TOPOGRAPHY IS ALSO INTERESTING THERE TOO, BECAUSE WHEN YOU COME UP GRAND AND AROUND THE CORNER, IS IT ORCHARD AT THE BACK? IT IT'S FURTHER BELOW AND BACK AND IT'S VERY TREE.

SO IT REALLY IS SOMEWHAT OF A SEPARATE AREA, AT LEAST JUST COMFORTABLY AS YOU KIND OF LIVE IN THAT AREA.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A REAL CHALLENGE TO HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE ON THAT PROPERTY.

AND OF COURSE, THEN MUCH AS MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE SAID, I, I THINK THAT THE AREA OF THE HOME AND THE PROMISE OF KEEPING THIS IN THE ZONING THAT IT IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND, AND WHAT THAT REPRESENTS FOR A TOWN LIKE THIS.

SO I'D REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP IT AS IT IS.

THANK YOU MR. JANSSEN.

NOW, WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? MR. MOTON? GOOD EVENING MAYOR IN TOWN COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON FROM 1132 KESSLER ROAD, FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA.

UM, MAINLY THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY SIMPLE, IT, IT, IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE YOU SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY DENY THIS REQUEST.

UM, I DON'T, BASICALLY I SEE SOMEBODY ASKING FOR SOMETHING FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT AND I DON'T, I HAVEN'T HEARD WHERE IT'S GONNA HELP THE TOWN.

WHAT I'M HEARING IS HOW IT'S GOING TO DISRUPT THE TOWN.

IT'S GONNA DISRUPT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HE HAS OTHER OPTIONS.

THIS ISN'T HIS ONLY OPTION, BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS IS THE FIRST GO-TO AND, UM, YOU KNOW, KUDOS FOR, FOR, IT DOESN'T HURT TO ASK I GUESS, BUT HE HAS OTHER OPTIONS.

HE CAN KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE BE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK REGARDING THIS APPLICATION? ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING, AND AT THIS TIME WE ALWAYS, IF THE APPLICANT WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING.

YEAH, I HAVE A JUST OKAY.

FOR STAFF, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.

GOOD.

SO I, I BELIEVE I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I WANT TO ASK IT PUBLICLY.

SO THIS ZONING, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPOT ZONING, IS THE ZONING REQUEST ONLY FOR THESE TWO LOTS OR FOR THE ENTIRE AREA? THE ZONING REQUEST IS ONLY FOR THESE TWO LOTS.

ONLY THE TWO LOTS.

SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT THE REST OF THE AREA? NO.

IF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME WAS SOLD OLD TO ANYBODY OR EVEN THE OWNER, WOULD THE OWNER BE ABLE TO CONVERT 'EM INTO APARTMENTS? APARTMENTS ARE PERMITTED IN THE R THREE DISTRICT ONLY BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

IT'S NOT A BLANKET REZONING.

COUNSEL'S NOT REZONING THE ENTIRE STREET OR TWO STREETS.

IT IS JUST FOR THESE TWO LOTS THAT THE APPLICANT REQUESTED.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR S OR QUITE FRANKLY, FOR THE APPLICANT? I, I HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT A MAYOR, SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

IF IT WERE TO GO TO R THREE AND AN OLDER HOME WAS SOLD, IT WOULD OPEN IT UP TO POTENTIALLY, UH, CONVERTING TO APARTMENTS.

YOU'RE ASKING IF ONE OF THESE HOUSES COULD BE? I'M ASKING.

IT'S A GENERAL QUESTION BECAUSE I, I LIVE ON, I LIVE IN R THREE AND I, THERE ARE, THERE ARE OLDER HOMES THAT WERE COM CONVERTED TO APARTMENTS.

IN FACT, I LIVE NEXT DOOR TO ONE.

SO MY QUESTION IS,

[01:40:02]

SO COUNSEL WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION TO PERMIT THAT, BUT THERE ARE ALSO ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH.

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF LOT AREA JUST TO HAVE THE FIRST THREE APARTMENTS AND THEN 2000 SQUARE FEET OF LOT AREA FOR EACH ADDITIONAL UNIT.

SO THAT WOULD BE A, IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT ONE OF THESE STRUCTURES ON GRAND AVENUE SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS WOULD BE CONVERTED.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, BUT, UM, BUT, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE THAT FINAL DECISION.

BUT IT BUT THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS IT IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR THE APPLICANT? OKAY.

IF THERE ARE NONE, THEN I'M GONNA ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MADAM MAYOR, IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES, UH, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL DENY IF, IF I MAY, MADAM MAYOR, ACTUALLY, THAT PREDIC THAT THAT STARTED IT, THAT THAT INITIAL LANGUAGE FROM THE FIRST MOTION IS APPROPRIATE IN THE MOTION YOU'RE ABOUT TO READ.

IT SHOULD BE, IT SHOULD BE ADDED.

WHAT HE'S SAYING IS YOU CAN USE THAT BEGINNING STATEMENT IN ADDITION TO THAT.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO LEAVE IT OFF IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES.

I MOVE THAT COUNSEL DENY AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP TO RECLASSIFY LOTS ON GRAND AVENUE FROM R ONE TO R THREE SECOND.

OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION.

AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? AND OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD START WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO MADE THE MOTION IF YOU SO CHOOSE.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD TO DISCUSSION? UH, THE ONLY THING, UH, THAT I, I'LL I'LL SAY IS THAT, UH, BECAUSE I, I GREW, I GREW UP IN, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, I WALK GRAND AVENUE, I WALK SALEM AVENUE, I WALK ROUND AVENUE.

UH, THERE'S NOTHING UP THERE THAT REFLECTS, UH, ANYTHING IN MY OPINION OF A DUPLEX.

SO IN MY OPINION, THE, THE, UH, PROPOSAL, UH, DOES NOT MEET THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING TO DENY THE REQUEST.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO PRESSURE JUST ASKING ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, THAT'S ODD FOR THIS, FOR THIS CROWD, BUT YES, IF THERE'S, I'LL JUST ADD ONE OTHER THING.

THAT'S YOUR SECOND TIME.

SO GO AHEAD.

INVOLVED AS WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES COMING AHEAD AS A COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN I WAS A KID, WHICH WAS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AND I SEE, I SEE SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE SAID, UH, CAN, UH, PROBABLY RODE THEIR BIKES THROUGH ALL THE ALLEYS, THE DIRT ALLEYS, UH, IT WAS NOTHING BUT WOODS ALL BACK THERE ALL THE WAY TO CURVE FOOT.

AND EVERYBODY HAD A TREE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, UH, BACK IN THE DAY.

SO, UH, GRAND AVENUE, UH, SALEM AVENUE, THERE'S BEEN SOME NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THERE, BUT IN GENERAL, I, IT'S THE WAY IT WAS BACK IN THE DAY.

AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT AMERICANA IS ALL ABOUT.

YES, PLEASE.

ARE YOU GOING TO REFLECT ON YOUR CHILDHOOD? NO, .

WELL, I GREW UP ONE DUNK WHEN I GREW UP.

WE WALKED TO SCHOOL BOTH UP AND DOWN THE HILL BOTH WAYS.

NOW, I I JUST WANT TO COMMENT.

UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT BECAUSE WE SELDOM SEE THIS TYPE OF PARTICIPATION FROM THE CITIZENS, AND THAT'S WHAT GOOD GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE SAT HERE AND LOOKED AT AN EMPTY ROOM AND WE MAKE A DECISION BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION FROM PLANNING.

MAYBE THE APPLICANT'S HERE, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT.

SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL INVOLVED.

I ONLY HOPE YOU'LL READ THE NEWSPAPERS AND STAY

[01:45:01]

BUT THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU MR. KLEIN FOR PRESENTING THIS.

UM, UH, YOU'RE A SMART GUY.

YOU HAVE BUILT SOME QUALITY, UH, HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR WILLING TO, UH, INVEST IN FRONT ROYAL.

UM, WE'VE SEEN IN SOME, UM, UM, STREETS AROUND HERE, PRIMARILY 17TH AND 18TH, I BELIEVE RECENTLY, INFIELD DEVELOPMENT WITH SOME VERY NICE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, UM, ON VERY SKINNY LOTS.

THERE WAS A SHOTGUN HOUSE, BUT IT, IT'S ATTRACTIVE.

IT FITS IN AND RIGHT UP 17TH, AND YOU'LL SEE QUITE A LARGE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE GOING IN THERE.

AND AGAIN, ABSENT OF ANY OTHER DUPLEXES ON THE STREET.

SO THE HOUSE REMAIN IN CHARACTER WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT, UM, IT, IT WARMS MY HEART TO SEE THE PARTICIPATION.

KEEP IT UP.

YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

AND YOU, SIR, LOOK FOR ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE.

AND BEST OF LUCK.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WELL, I'LL JUST, UH, I MEAN, I'LL BE REAL QUICK HERE, MADAM MAYOR.

UH, I'D LIKE THE SECOND ONE COUNCIL WHEN, UH, WOOD JUST SAID, IN THANKING EVERYBODY FOR SHOWING UP, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR, UH, FROM, FROM THE FOLKS WHO LIVE AROUND THIS AREA IS GONNA BE AFFECTED BY THIS.

AND LIKE COUNCILMAN WOOD, UH, I TOO SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION BEFORE I WAS, UH, ELECTED TO COUNT COUNCIL.

SO I, I KIND OF KEEP THAT HAT ON SOMETIMES WHEN I NEED IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, UH, TOPICS THAT WE DISCUSSED QUITE OFTEN, ESPECIALLY IN OUR, IN OUR TRAINING WAS, UH, WAS SPOT, YOU KNOW, SPOT ZONING.

SO I DID HEAR THAT BROUGHT UP A COUPLE TIMES BY A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SPOT ZONING IS JUST THAT IF YOU'RE ZONING JUST A COUPLE LOTS IN AN AREA THAT'S SURROUNDING BY A DIFFERENT ZONE, EVEN THOUGH AS IT WAS BROUGHT UP AGAIN BY THE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS ABOUT THE AREA BEHIND IT BEING, UH, OF THE, OF THE SAME, UH, ZONING, UH, I WOULD AGREE.

I, I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF, OF SPOT ZONING.

AND I KNOW THIS COUNCIL HAS IN THE PAST HAS APPROVED REZONING APPLICATIONS.

UH, BUT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHERE THEY WERE, I THINK THIS COUNCIL, UH, THUS FAR HAS, HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN, IN, UH, ALLOWING TO, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING THOSE AMENDMENTS OR ZONING CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE SO FAR.

BUT IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, HAVING SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS THE, AS THE, UH, COMP PLAN WAS BEING DEVELOPED, YOU KNOW, I ALMOST WANNA REITERATE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COMP PLAN IS, IS, IS A GUIDEBOOK.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A, UH, A IT'S NOT SO MUCH AS A RULE OF LAW, IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT HAS SUGGESTIONS LIKE A PLAYBOOK.

SO, UH, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME UP TO, UH, SHOW THEIR INFORMATION AND IDENTIFYING THAT, THAT YOU SAID, THAT SAYS, THAT SHOWS YOU CAME HERE INFORMED AND YOU, YOU ALL OF Y'ALL MADE COMPELLING POINTS AND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

SO, UH, ANYWAYS, THAT'S, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, AGAIN, THANKS FOR EVERYBODY FOR SHOWING UP AND, AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, I, I SUPPORTING THE DENIAL OF THIS, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, FOR THE SAKE OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, AND THEN FOR THE SAKE OF MY PLANNING COMMISSION HAT THAT I STILL WEAR.

SO, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ONE OTHER THING, UH, I WOULD BE REMISS, UH, MADAM MAYOR, YOU KNOW, I, I GOT THE TRIFECTA GOING, RIGHT? YOU DO.

UM, I'M, I'M, I AM BEING VERY LEAN TONIGHT.

GO AHEAD, .

YEAH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I, UH, DIDN'T, UH, APPRECIATE ALL THE PUBLIC'S INPUT.

UH, IT MAKES IT, IT MAKES OUR JOB A LOT EASIER.

UH, ALSO, I WANT TO THANK MR. KLEIN FOR INVESTING OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

UM, I'VE KNOWN THE KLEIN FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME, AND, AND YOU'RE GOOD PEOPLE.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO, DO RIGHT BY YOUR, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY.

UH, I DO APPRECIATE YOU ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.

I WILL SAY THAT IS A PACKED ROOM TONIGHT, AND THAT IS, AS COUNCILMAN WOOD SAID, UM, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AS OFTEN AS IT SHOULD.

SO, AND HAVING CITIZENS PARTICIPATE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT IS REALLY WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY HERE.

I ALSO WANNA SAY TOO, THAT THE, THE RENDITIONS AND THINGS THAT WE SAW IN OUR PACKET, THEY LOOK VERY NICE.

I FEEL CERTAIN SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON ANOTHER STREET WILL LOOK JUST

[01:50:01]

AS WONDERFUL THERE.

UM, IT IS QUALITY WORK.

YOU CAN SEE THAT AND YOUR REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU.

SO, UM, COUNCIL, I MEAN, COUNCIL, MRS. ONG, SORRY, WE'RE, WE'RE ONLY ON PUBLIC HEARING THREE.

WE HAVE SEVEN.

SO GO AHEAD AND, ALL RIGHT, THIS IS FOR THE MOTION TO DENY COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT.

COUNCILMAN DE DOPA.

COUNCILMAN OCK? YES.

VICE MAYOR ENTAL IS ABSENT.

A REQUEST FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION BY MONTEVERDE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN STUDIO ON BEHALF OF SQUIRREL HILL, LLC, TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT OF RETAINING WALL FOR UNDEVELOPED PROPERTIES ON ORCHARD STREET.

MOTION.

SO ITEM SEVEN D IS

[7.D. Request for a Special Exception by Monteverde Engineering & Design Studio on Behalf of Squirrel Hill LLC to Increase the Height of a Retaining Wall for Undeveloped Properties on Orchard Street ]

MS. WIL, I'M JUST GONNA READ THE SUMMARY.

I DO THAT EVERY NOW AND THEN WHEN IT'S SHORT, COUNSEL HAS RECEIVED AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY MONTEVERDE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN STUDIO ON BEHALF OF SQUIRREL HILL, LLC, REQUESTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM TOWN CODE 1 48 DASH EIGHT 60 DASH A DASH SIX E, WHICH LIMITS THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF A RETAINING WALL TO SIX FEET.

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 20 A SIX, SECTION FIVE PARCELS, EIGHT DASH ONE, EIGHT DASH TWO, EIGHT DASH THREE, EIGHT DASH 11, AND EIGHT DASH 12.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE REQUESTS WITHOUT CONDITIONS AND LETTERS WERE SENT TO THE ADJOINING PROPERTY UNDERS IDENTIFYING THEM OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING STAFF.

I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANYTHING YOU NEED TO SHARE WITH US AT THIS TIME.

I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, THEY CAN BUILD THE WALL UP TO SIX FEET TALL.

THIS IS AN EXCEPTION WITHIN THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE.

THIS IS NOT A VARIANCE UNDER THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

SO THERE'S THIS NOT THEM HAVING TO PROVE A HARDSHIP, THEY'RE NOT GETTING RELIEF FROM STRICT RULES.

THIS IS THEM SIMPLY ASKING FOR FLEXIBILITY, WHICH YOU CAN GRANT TO GO UP TO 10 FEET.

THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT.

DID YOU WANNA SPEAK AT THE MADAM MAYOR? IF I CAN JUST, UH, ADD TO THOSE COMMENTS.

JUST, JUST FOR PURPOSES OF CLARIFICATION.

SO THIS IS, ALTHOUGH IT'S REFERRED TO AS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION, IT'S, IT'S WITHIN THE ZONING ORDINANCE, UH, SORRY, EXCUSE ME.

IT'S WITHIN THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE, NOT THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND UNDER STATE LAW REFERRED TO AS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.

UH, IT IS NOT THAT IT IS A, AN EXCEPTION OR A VARIANCE WITHIN THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE.

WAS THAT YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT WE, WE ALWAYS WANNA GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

DON'T WASTE TIME.

IF, IF, IF YOU WANNA MOVE ON.

I, I THINK IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

I'M JAY MCCARTY.

I LIVE IN CLIFTON, VIRGINIA.

UM, AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING RETAINING WALLS.

THEY'RE ENGINEERED WALLS, AND THE ONES THAT WERE IN OUR, THE ENGINEER PUT, UH, ANCHOR DIAMOND PRO THAT HE SPECKED IN OUR PLAN.

UM, THEY'RE DESIGNED, CALCULATED AND APPROVED BY LICENSED PROFESSIONALS TO WITHSTAND SPECIFIC QUANTIFIABLE FORCES TO ENSURE LONG-TERM STABILITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SHODDY WALLS THAT ARE GONNA FALL OVER IN 10 YEARS.

UM, UH, THE MAIN PRIMARY FAILURE OF, OF RETAINING WALLS IS WATER BUILT UP BEHIND A RETAINING WALL.

BUT ENGINEERED WALLS ARE DESIGNED WITH INTEGRATED DRAINING SYSTEMS TO PREVENT HIGHTEST HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE, AND AS SUCH, THEY LAST FOREVER.

UM, SO THE ALTERNATIVE, IF, IF, IF, IF WE CAN'T GO ABOVE SIX FEET, THEN WE'LL JUST, WE'LL HAVE TO HAUL MORE EXPORT EARTH OFFSITE AT A HIGHER COST, AND THAT MAKES THE, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LESS AFFORDABLE.

AND, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.

UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? DOES COUNSEL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT AT THIS TIME? MADAM MAYOR, ARE YOU, ARE YOU OKAY WITH GOING UP TO 10 FEET? IS 10 FEET GONNA SATISFIED? YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY NO.

ON THE PLAN, THEY HAD EIGHT FEET, UH, EIGHT FEET OR EIGHT FEET, A COUPLE INCHES, I FORGET.

BUT THEY, THEY'RE JUST ASKING FOR THE MAXIMUM OF 10 SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK.

THEY'RE NOT ANTICIPATING HAVING TO GO UP THAT, I THINK EIGHT FEET IS WHAT I SAW ON, ON THE PLAN, OR JUST OVER EIGHT FEET.

BUT, UH, YES, UH, THE ENGINEER SUGGESTED WE ASK FOR 10 FEET.

SO BUILT IN A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM THERE.

BUILT IN A LITTLE WIGGLE.

SURE.

NEED, UH, WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I MEAN, WE LIKE YOU, BUT WE DON'T LIKE COMING BACK JUST FOR THE SAME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT AT THIS TIME? COUNCIL JAY, NOT A, NOT A QUESTION, BUT JUST LIKE WE THANK MR. KLINE, THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS PLAN AND THIS DEVELOPMENT UP OFF OF WEST MAINE, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WE

[01:55:01]

AND I THINK WHAT YOU, YOU GUYS, YOUR FAMILY'S DOING UP THERE IS OUTSTANDING.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU.

IT'S BEEN IN THE PLANS FOR MANY DECADES.

ANYWAY.

I I HAVE ONE QUESTION, UH, ACTUALLY, MAYBE TWO.

UM, SO, UH, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE WALL AND, UH, HYDRO.

HYDRO HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE.

STATIC PRESSURE.

SO WILL, WILL THE WATER THAT BUILDS UP BEHIND ITS SEAT THROUGH, OR HOW, WHERE, WHERE, I'M NOT AN, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT AN ENGINEER.

HOWEVER, MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I MEAN, I'VE, I'VE, I'VE BUILT THESE, I'VE SEEN THEM, I'VE, UH MM-HMM .

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST A WALL BEHIND IT MM-HMM .

IT HAS, UH, HAS CRUSHED STONE, UH, PER THE SPEC MM-HMM .

AND THEN IT HAS, UH, LIKE A, A MESH TO PREVENT THE DIRT, DIRT EARTH BEHIND THAT FROM INFILTRATING.

AND SO, UH, THE WATER, ANY WATER THAT WOULD, WOULD BUILD UP, YOU KNOW, WOULD GO DOWN.

BUT ADDITIONALLY, THE WALL ITSELF IS NOT SOLID OR, OR SEALED.

IT'S NOT A POOL WALL.

IT'S, UH, WATER CAN FLOW THROUGH IT OR WHATEVER, BUT THE DESIGN IS FOR IT TO, TO TO GO DOWN BEHIND.

AND THEN IT GOES OUT.

DRAINS YOU NEVER EVEN SEE IT.

BUT, UH, AND I MEAN, THESE WALLS, WE, WE, YEAH, WE ALL SEE THEM EVERY DAY IN MM-HMM .

YOU KNOW, NEW COMMUNITIES OR, UH, SHOPPING CENTERS OR PARKING LOTS ON THE EDGE, ANYWHERE WHERE THERE'S A STEEP WALL, INTERSTATES.

I MEAN, THAT'S COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS, BUT, UM, IT'S NOT A NEW CONCEPT, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I, YEAH.

AND, AND MAYBE IT'S A QUESTION FOR STAFF, BUT, UH, WHERE THE FLOW, UH, I, I, I FIGURE THERE'S GONNA BE LIKE FRENCH DRAINS OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

AND, AND WHERE WILL IT FLOW? AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY CAN'T ANSWER.

I ASSURE YOU THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ENSURES THAT, UH, UH, THERE'S MORE THAN ADEQUATE.

UH, I MEAN, IT, THEY TAKE IT FROM THE RAINDROP ALL THE WAY TO THE, UH, WHAT THE RIGHT, MAYBE NOT THE RIVER, BUT, OKAY.

UH, THE, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY, UH, WE'RE SOLVING A LOT OF DOWNSTREAM WATER ISSUES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, I GUESS I'LL SAY.

OR, YOU KNOW, BEYOND THERE.

I MEAN THE, THE WATER THIS, UH, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANY DOWNSTREAM WATER.

THERE'S A LOT ACROSS FROM YOUR PROPERTY ON WEST MAIN AT THE SAME THING.

WELL, YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHY THERE'S A RETENTION BEHIND ON IN THE DEVELOPMENT.

SO I MEAN, THE ENGINEER CAME UP AND THE DEQ AND ALL THE STATE RIGHT.

STATE REQUIREMENTS.

BUT THAT'S, I'M WAY OVER MY HEAD HERE.

, I BET.

NO, THANK YOU FOR TAKING A STAND.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. ONG, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES.

ONE.

KEVIN KODIAK.

ONE 12.

RE I JUST THOUGHT A BEAUTIFUL WALL SHOULD HAVE SOMEONE COME UP AND SAY, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL WALL.

SO THAT'S IT.

ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SPEAK TO THIS AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING? LOUIS MOTON.

11TH 32.

KESSLER ROAD, FRONT, ROYAL VIRGINIA.

UH, SPEAKING OF BEAUTIFUL WALLS, IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE BEAUTIFUL MURALS.

ALRIGHT, ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS, UM, REGARDING THIS APPLICATION? THIS OKAY THEN I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OPEN UP THE COUNCIL.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THE COUNCIL APPROVE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM TOWN CODE 1 48 DASH EIGHT 60 DASH A DASH EIGHT A DO SIX E TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM AVAIL AVAIL, AH, IF I CAN SPEAK TONIGHT.

ALLOWABLE WALL HEIGHT RETAINING WALL TO 10 FEET FOR UNDEVELOPED PROPERTIES LOCATED ON ORCHARD STREET, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A SIX SECTION FIVE PARCELS.

EIGHT DASH ONE EIGHT DASH TWO EIGHT DASH THREE EIGHT DASH 11, AND EIGHT DASH 12 SECOND.

OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? UM, I NEED TO NOTE THAT I DID ALTER THE MOTION SLIGHTLY TO TAKE OUT THAT FIRST PART IN LIGHT OF WHAT OUR ATTORNEY WAS SAYING EARLIER ABOUT HOW THIS WAS ALIGNED WITH THE VARIOUS SUBDIVISION CODE OR ORDINANCES.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, THEN RULE CALL.

AND WHO SECOND THAT MOTION? GLEN DID.

COUNCILMAN WOOD? SORRY.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT?

[02:00:01]

COUNCILWOMAN DE DOCO PAIN? YES.

THAT IS THE, UM, PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ZONING TAX AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 75 PERTAINING TO AUXILIARY DWELLING UNITS.

RIGHT MR. ARIA? I THINK THAT WAS IT FOR YOU, DIDN'T I? RIGHT.

IS THAT THE ONLY WE'VE SEEN YOU SO MUCH HERE FROM? ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS ITEM SEVEN E AND

[7.E. A Zoning Text Amendment to Town Code Chapter 175 Pertaining to Auxiliary Dwelling Unit (ADU).]

ADUS.

MS. WIL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL IS REQUESTED TO CONSIDER A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO TOWN COUNCIL CODE 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 DASH 20, AND 1 75 29 A AND 1 75 DASH 37.3 A TO ADD AUS AS A BUYRIGHT USE AND TO ESTABLISH 1 75 DASH ONE 15 AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WITHIN THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS OF TOWN CODE AS PRESENTED, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE TAX AMENDMENT.

UH, STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? OKAY.

AND THERE IS NO APPLICANT 'CAUSE THIS IS US.

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

MS. ONG, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAVE TWO.

LAURA GILLUM.

I THINK EVERYBODY HERE IS TALLER THAN I AM.

MY NAME IS LAURA GILLUM.

I LIVE AT 3 0 4 GRAND AVENUE AND I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE AUXILIARY, UM, DWELLING UNITS, UM, TO ALLOW A SECOND DWELLING ON A PRIMARY DWELLING, UM, ON ANYTIME YOU ADD MORE UNITS TO A PARCEL.

AND I BELIEVE THAT, UM, THIS DECREASES THE AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT YOU, UM, NEED TO ALLOW A SECOND DWELLING ON THE PROPERTY AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT SUFFICIENT, UM, SETBACKS AND FRONTAGES AND SO FORTH.

AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU FROM AN EXPERIENCE, AND I'VE BEEN IN RENTALS MY ENTIRE LIFE, IS THAT ANYTIME YOU ADD MORE UNITS TO A PARCEL, IT CREATES A BAD, A GREATER AMOUNT OF TRASH AND NEED FOR PARKING.

AND THE CLOSER PEOPLE LIVE TO ONE ANOTHER CREATES THE GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF DISAGREEMENT.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THE, UM, SPECIAL USE PERMIT SO THAT NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS GET NOTIFIED WHEN SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT ONE OF THESE AUXILIARY DWELLING UNITS ON THEIR PROPERTY.

SO THAT IF YOU, YOU KNOW, OBJECT TO THE USE OF THAT FOR THE PROPERTY, THEN YOU'RE ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THAT.

NOW I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, WHICH IS ENABLE OUR IN-LAWS AND GRANDPARENTS AND SO FORTH TO LIVE ON THE PROPERTIES WITH US, WHICH I AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

BUT I THINK THAT IN, I THINK THAT IN, UH, AS A PRACTICAL APPLICATION, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS IS GONNA DO.

I BELIEVE IT'S GONNA CREATE AN R THREE TYPE ZONING IN R ONE, UM, DISTRICTS.

SO I'M JUST LETTING YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, MY OPINION 'CAUSE I'VE DEALT IN THIS FOR SO LONG, .

SO, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON THAT TONIGHT.

UM, UH, I URGE YOU TO ADOPT, UH, THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THE ADUS.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN VERY ELOQUENTLY TONIGHT ABOUT THE VALUE OF, I MEAN, WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST SIX FAMILIES HERE TONIGHT DESCRIBE HOW THEY VALUE LIVING NEXT TO OR ACROSS FROM OR AROUND THE CORNER FROM THEIR RELATIVES.

AND THAT'S REAL GREAT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TWO WHOLE HOUSES.

BUT I THINK WHAT ADUS MAKE POSSIBLE IS, UH, DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES LIVING TOGETHER IN THE SAME HOUSE WITH A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT ENTRANCE AND, AND A SEPARATE 600 SQUARE FOOT, UH, UH, DWELLING.

UM, AND THE OTHER KEY PROVISION IN THIS, UH, THAT I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF IS, IS THE NEED FOR THE MAIN UNIT OR THE OTHER UNIT TO

[02:05:01]

BE OWNER OCCUPIED.

THAT THE, THAT, THAT, THAT'S A KEY PART, UH, THAT I WANT TO CALL PEOPLE'S ATTENTION TO BECAUSE I, I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS WORK, UH, IS, IS THAT IT ENDS UP BEING AN OWNER OCCUPIED DWELLING, WHETHER THERE ARE LIVING IN THE, IN THE BIG UNIT OR THE SMALL UNIT.

UM, SO, UH, AND, AND YEAH, SO I THINK THAT ADDRESSES SOME OF, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, RAPPAPORT'S, UH, POINT ABOUT KEEPING OWNER OCCUPIED, BUT ALSO, UM, A LARGER DESIRE TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER.

THANKS.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT SIGNED UP? NO.

I'M ASSUMING MR. MOTON, YOU'RE WALKING THIS WAY, AREN'T YOU? NO.

LOUIS MOTON FROM, UH, 1132 KESSLER ROAD FROM ROYAL VIRGINIA.

I BELIEVE I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE ABOUT SOME OF MY CONFUSION WITH THE TERMINOLOGY, AND I SEE THAT'S BEEN ACTUALLY CLEANED UP QUITE A BIT.

UM, THERE'S SOME CONCERN I HAVE WITH SECTION F AND F1 WHERE F IS TALKING ABOUT, UH, AN APPROVAL PROCESS.

AND THEN ONE SAYS THAT WE WANT TO ACTUALLY REACH OUT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF THE ANNUAL BASIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONLY FOR THAT APPROVAL PROCESS OR ARE WE GOING TO KEEP GOING TO THESE HOMES EVERY YEAR TO VERIFY THAT IT'S STILL AN A DU AND WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THAT'S GONNA PUT ON THE STAFF AND IF THERE ARE COSTS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

UM, THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF A CONCERN OF WHAT ACTUALLY QUALIFIES AS A OWNER OCCUPANCY.

IS IT JUST THAT THEY'RE THERE FOR SIX MONTHS OR THAT THEY JUST VISIT ONCE A MONTH IF THEY'RE MILITARY OR WHATNOT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OVERSEAS SO THEY CAN'T BE THERE.

UM, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE QUESTION OF TRANSFER OF LIKE, HOW SOON DOES SOMEBODY NEED TO ACTUALLY REGISTER THAT'S SAYING, HEY, THIS IS STILL AN A DU.

DO THEY HAVE TO DO IT WITH THEIR PAPERWORK AT CLOSING? DO THEY HAVE GRACE, PERIOD? WHAT'S THE DEAL THERE? UM, AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO LIKE, I I JUST RE RECALL THAT HOUSE IN THE PRIOR HEARING AND I'M THINKING, WELL, WE, IF THE DEVELOPER JUST WANTS TO CREATE AN A DU OUT OF THAT PROBLEM SOLVED, STILL LOOKS THE SAME, BUT JUST SEPARATE ENTRANCE.

UM, THAT'S IT.

ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS APPLICATION OR THIS AMENDMENT? NOT APPLICATION.

ANYBODY.

ALL RIGHT, THEN I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UM, OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

ANYBODY, ANYBODY? MADAM MAYOR IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 1 B, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, ADOPT A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH THREE DEFINITIONS TO DEFINE THE USE OF AN AUXILIARY DWELLING UNIT.

SECTION 1 75 DASH 11 AND SECTION SECTION 1 75 DASH UH, ONE, TWO OR 12 A, UH, SECTION 1 75 18 2 A SECTION 1 75 DASH 20 AND SECTION 1 75 DASH 29 A AND SECTION 1 75 37 0.3 A AND ADD AUS AS A VITE USE AND TO ESTABLISH SECTION 1 75 DASH ONE 15 AUX AUXILIARY DWELLING DWELLING UNIT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WITHIN THE SUPPLEMENTING PROVISIONS OF TOWN CODE AS PRESENTED.

THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT HAS, THAT REALLY DOESN'T GO BETWEEN HOMEOWNERS AND THE FACT THAT IT, THAT IT DOES PROMOTE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, OCCUPANCY BY, BY THE HOMEOWNER.

OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? YEAH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY MADAM MAYOR, I KNOW, UM, COUNSEL HAS TAKEN A, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE WORK SESSIONS ON TRYING TO, UH, GET THIS ORDINANCE CLEANED UP.

I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE EVEN SHOT IT BACK TO PLANNING AND ZONING OR TO, TO HELP CHANGE SOME OF THE, UH, THE WORDING OF IT.

AND ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE POINTS BROUGHT UP THAT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY ARE, THERE ARE SOME LEGITIMATE CONCERNS.

I DON'T DO I THINK IT'S PERFECT.

NO, BUT I THINK IT'S, UH, BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

AND I THINK THIS ALLOWS PROPERTY OWNERS TO, TO, UH, USE THEIR, YOU KNOW, UH, A AUS OR USE THEIR DWELLING UNITS, UH, OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES OR WITHIN THEIR HOMES IS DEFINED, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS.

YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THE INTENT IS TO, YOU KNOW, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DOING IT.

UH, THAT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AS WELL, BUT I THINK JUST, JUST CLEANS UP WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND IT JUST, I THINK IT JUST GIVES A LITTLE PROPERTY, RIGHT? OR PROPERTY OWNERS A LITTLE BIT MORE, RIGHT, TO USE THEIR PROPERTY WITH SOME, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME, UH, REGULATION ATTACHED TO IT.

AND

[02:10:01]

THAT'S, THOSE ARE KEY COMPONENTS OF THIS, I THINK THAT, THAT SAVE IT WITHOUT THOSE KEY COMPONENTS, IN MY OPINION, I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS.

UH, NOW I WILL PIVOT ON MY SHORT TERM RENTAL STATEMENT, OF COURSE IS, AND THERE'S A BIG CONCERN ABOUT HAVING, UH, OWNER OCCUPIED SIT, YOU KNOW, UH, UNOCCUPIED SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WHICH I DON'T AGREE WITH, BUT IN THIS CASE, YEAH, I, I DO THINK IT MAKES SENSE.

AND AS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS, UH, POINTED OUT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMPELLING POINTS THAT I SAW TO SUPPORT THIS.

AND ALSO TOO ABOUT, ABOUT THE, AGAIN, THE FACT THAT THIS DOESN'T GO WITH THE PROPERTY PER SE, WHEN IT'S SOLD, THE NEW OWNER HAS TO BASICALLY RECERTIFY AND THAT THERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE INSPECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS BEING USED AS SUCH.

YOU KNOW, AND JUST, I WILL SAY OUR, OUR STAFF, UH, HAS DONE A GOOD JOB WITH DOING THE INSPECTIONS, I BELIEVE, FOR, FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS AND FOR MAKING SURE OUR STANDARDS ARE BEING KEPT WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY, UH, ALLOW THESE OR WHEN THESE APPLICATIONS COME INTO PLAY.

SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

THANKS MA'AM.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY TOO THAT, THAT I DO FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THIS AS WELL WITH THE, UM, I STATED THAT I FOUND IT CREEPY, YOU KNOW, AND FOR THE, UH, SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT I DON'T FIND IT CREEPY FOR AN A DU BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR OWN PRIVACY AND, UM, YOU ARE STILL ON THE LOT, YOU KNOW, BUT, UM, AND IT'S, IT'S MEANT FOR, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT IT MAY NOT TAKE THAT ALL THE TIME, BUT IT'S, IT'S MEANT FOR FAMILY AND IT'S MEANT FOR FRIENDS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE VISITING YOU.

THAT'S OUR INTENT.

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO EVEN CREATE THIS.

SO IT'S, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S GONNA BE WILLY-NILLY THAT EVERYBODY'S GONNA PROP SOMETHING UP IN THEIR BACKYARD FOR PEOPLE AND, AND START SHORT TERM RENTALS.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME.

BUT ANYWAY, UM, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER.

I, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE EVER CARED FOR SOMEONE ELDERLY IN YOUR FAMILY, AND IF YOU'VE EVER HAD, YOU KNOW, KIDS IN THEIR TEENS AND TWENTIES WHO CAN'T MOVE ON BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD RENT, UM, THIS IS A, A WAY TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER AND AFFORDABLE.

AND, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK THAT OVERALL THEY'RE A GOOD THING.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.

YOU KNEW, YOU KNEW I I WAS GONNA NOPE, I HAD NO IDEA.

UH, WHICH IS THE BUY RIGHT? I HAVE MORE INTEREST IN AN SUP FOR THESE, EVEN THOUGH I'LL GIVE IT TO PLANNING COMMISSION THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE TRIED TO STAB ESTABLISHED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I WANTED MORE LOCAL CONTROL.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF THE GRANNY FLATS AND KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND WHATNOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT IN THEORY, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO, A, A LOT OF THEM ARE GONNA BECOME RENTALS AND, UH, IT'S JUST THE REALITY BEHIND IT.

AND THE O THE OTHER THING IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, UM, IF ANYONE LISTENED TO THE WORK SESSION THAT, THAT WE HAD, UM, I WAS MORE FOCUSED ON R ONE.

AND THAT, THAT'S THE CONCERNING PART TO ME, IS THE REASON THERE'S A FOCUS ON R ONE IS BECAUSE THE, THE, UH, I ASKED FOR DATA ON THAT, AND THERE'S LIKE 12 TO THIR 1300, UH, PARCELS IN TOWN THAT ARE 12,000 SQUARE FEET OR LARGER.

AND I, I'M AN R THREE AND I HAVE A 13,000 SQUARE FOOT, SO TECHNICALLY AN R THREE BY RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT THIS, I COULD PUT A AND A DU.

UH, THE OTHER THING IS, UH, THIS ALL ORIGINATED OUT OF FAIRFAX COUNTY.

UH, YOU KNOW, THEY, I MEAN, THEY'RE BUSTING OUT THE SEAMS AND THEY GOTTA HAVE PLACES TO PUT PEOPLE.

AND, UH, SENATE BILL 3 0 4, UH, WA WAS THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT THAT I BELIEVE IT MADE IT THROUGH THE SENATE, BUT IT'S STILL IN COMMITTEE.

UH, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY MOVEMENT ON IT.

BUT THERE WAS A SENATE BILL 5 31 THAT BARELY, I GUESS, WELL, IT PASSED BOTH HOUSES.

UH, MOST REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST IT,

[02:15:02]

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S, UH, THE CONCERN IS, UH, WITH THE CONSERVATIVES THAT VOTED AGAINST 5 31, WAS THEY WANTED MORE LOCAL CONTROL THROUGH THE SUP PROCESS.

THE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS, I THINK IN A WAY WE'VE PICKED, WE'VE PICKED ON, NOT NECESSARILY PICKED ON R ONE, BUT 'CAUSE R ONE HAD LARGER PARCELS.

IT'S SORT OF A ONE SIZE FIT FITS ALL, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT AS MANY, UH, IN R THREE AND OBVIOUSLY IN R TWO, UM, THIS WILL ALSO AFFECT, UH, P AND D PLANNING, NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT.

UM, AND OF COURSE THOSE AREAS MOST LIKELY WILL HAVE HOAS.

SO THE HOAS WILL BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON IT, UM, INTO THE POINT OF, UM, MS. GILLUM.

I THINK IN EFFECT, YOU'RE GONNA BE INCREASING DENSITY, UH, ESPECIALLY IF THEY BECOME RENTALS.

THERE'S NO PARKING REQUIREMENTS.

AN SUP WOULD ALLOW, WOULD, WOULD POSSIBLY GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S GONNA PUT A STRAIN ON SEWER AND WATER UTILITIES.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE HIGHER NOISE LEVELS.

IT WILL, AND POTENTIALLY YOU'LL FIND MORE TRASH IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND IN A SENSE, IT DOES CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THE BIG QUESTION MARK IS HOW WILL IT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, AFFECT YOUR PROPERTY VALUES? SO THOSE ARE THE REASONS TONIGHT WHY I WILL NOT, UH, SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I WILL SAY, UM, THE MAYOR ONLY VOTES IN THE EVENT OF A TIE.

AND WE HAVE AN ODD NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT, BUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP, I, I SHARE THOSE CONCERNS.

I ALSO SEE THE BENEFITS OF, UM, BEING ABLE TO AGE IN PLACE, OR AS, AS YOU SAID, YOUNG CHILDREN OR NOT, THEY'RE NOT YOUNG, BUT CHILDREN THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO, UH, GO OUT ON THEIR OWN.

SO I, I DEFINITELY SEE THE BENEFITS OF, I SEE THE POSITIVES, BUT I ALSO SEE SOME OF THE CONCERNS.

BUYRIGHT ALWAYS MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE, UM, THAT YOU, YOU KIND OF OPEN THINGS UP THERE.

UM, AND ONE OTHER THING I, UH, WANTED TO SAY TOO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR STAFF GOING OUT ONCE A YEAR TO INSPECT, THAT ALSO INCREASES BURDEN ON STAFF'S TIME.

UM, AND I'M GONNA ASK THE QUESTION OF STAFF, RIGHT? SO THIS, A DU CANNOT TURN INTO A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, CORRECT? THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FOR A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT.

UH, COUNSEL DID NOT DIRECT STAFF TO PUT THAT PROVISION IN THERE, BUT YOU WOULD MAKE THE DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT COULD BE A SHORT TERM RENTAL THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE PROCESS.

THAT, THAT'S MY OTHER FEAR IS THAT WE'RE OPENING UP THE DOOR TO ADDITIONAL, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN IN THE BACKYARD OR ON THE SIDE OR WHATEVER.

BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN GRANNY'S NOT LIVING THERE ANY LONGER OR THE CHILDREN ARE NOT LIVING THERE ANY LONGER, THEN THEY'VE GOT TO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, RECOUP THEIR MONEY IN SOME WAY, UH, FOR THE INVESTMENT THAT THEY'VE PUT IN.

UM, BUT, UH, SO FROM THE, UM, THE PROTECTION OF THAT IS THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL.

YOU MADE THAT DECISION.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.

UM, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.

COUNCILMAN REPPORT?

[02:20:01]

NO.

COUNCILWOMAN DE DOMENICO PAIN? YES.

IS THE, UM, AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE 70 DASH 23 ELECTRIC RATES AND CHARGES.

[7.F. Ordinance Amendment to Town Code §70-23-Electric Rates and Charges. ]

UM, MS. ONG, CAN YOU READ, UM, THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL HAS REQUESTED TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN CODE, TOWN CODE 70 DASH 23 ELECTRIC RATES AND CHARGES.

THE TOWN HAS NOT ADJUSTED ELECTRIC RATES SINCE APRIL, 2019.

DURING THAT TIME, TIME, WHOLESALE POWER COSTS, INCLUDING TRANSMISSION AND CONGESTION CHARGES ON THE TRANSMISSION NETWORK HAVE STEADILY INCREASED RESULTING IN REVENUE.

SHORTFALL STAFF ENGAGED OUR GRID POWER LLC TO PERFORM A COST OF SERVICE STUDY TO EVALUATE THE TOWN'S CURRENT ELECTRIC RATE STRUCTURE AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATION TO ENSURE FULL COST RECOVERY AND LONG-TERM RATE STABILITY.

A WORK SESSION WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2026, IN WHICH TWO PHASES WERE PROPOSED IN WHICH TO LESSEN THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT TO ELECTRIC USERS.

IT WAS DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PHASE ONE.

IT IS INTENDED TO UPDATE AND IMPLEMENT PHASE TWO AND SPRING 2027.

ADDITIONALLY, THE TOWN WILL IMPLEMENT POWER COST ADJUSTMENTS, PCA AS STATED IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO MANAGE THE FLUCTUATING COST TO PURCHASE POWER IF ADOPTED.

THE ORDINANCE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE APRIL 1ST, 2026.

A CUSTOMER? SO THOSE, THAT WAS MY TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT , ABOUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON MY, THAT, THAT $3 CHARGE THAT I CURRENTLY SEE ON MY BILL.

UH, I DON'T, THERE'S NOTHING STAFF NEEDS TO SHARE.

WE'VE, WE'VE CERTAINLY HEARD ALL OF THAT.

SO I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DID ANY, DID ANYBODY SIGN TO SPEAK TO THIS? YES.

KEVIN CUTBACK.

I THINK YOU AND LEWIS HAS GOT LIKE A COMPETITION GOING.

DON'T THERE? THERE WERE, I APOLOGIZE, BUT THERE WERE A BUNCH OF SHEETS THAT HAD NOBODY ON THEM.

UH, KEVIN CUTBACK, UH, ONE 12 RE HAVE.

UM, I, UH, I'M A NUMBERS GUY, UH, FUNDAMENTALLY, UH, AND A DATA PERSON AND I, BUT I DID HAVE SOME.

AND, UH, AT FIRST JUST, I APPLAUD THE FACT THAT OUR RATES, EVEN AFTER GOING UP IN PHASE ONE, WILL STILL BE LOWER THAN THE TYPICAL RATE OUT AT RAPPAHANNOCK IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

AND I JUST THINK THAT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE TOWN ON OUR SIDE, UH, NEGOTIATING, UH, WITH THE POWER SUPPLIERS.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD IN THE, THE FIRST, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE, I PAY $3 A MONTH ON MY ELECTRIC BILL AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE BEFORE AND AFTER.

LIKE IT SAID, $8 AND 50 CENTS IS THE NEW BASIC CHARGE, OR WAS THE OLD BASIC CHARGE.

AND THE NEW BASIC CHARGE IS $25.

AND I WAS I JUST READING FROM THE WRONG PART OF THE CHART? UM, SO IT'S NOT ABOUT THE THE PER KILOWATT HOUR CHARGE, IT'S ABOUT THE PER METER OR PER CUSTOMER CHARGE.

AND I JUST WANTED CLARITY ON THAT, UM, BECAUSE I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE $8 AND 50 CENTS AS MY BEFORE NUMBER.

'CAUSE I THINK OF MY BEFORE NUMBER AS $3.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT WAS IN THE REPORT.

AND MAYBE YOU COULD JUST EXPLAIN WHETHER THE PER CUSTOMER CHARGE IS CHANGING EVEN A $25, THAT'S KIND OF A BARGAIN TO PAY FOR YOUR METER AND THE WIRES AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.

BUT I WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU KNEW, THE OTHER QUESTION WAS ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND WE KNOW HOW DATA CENTERS HAVE AN IMPACT ON, UM, I WAS JUST, I SEE THAT THE RATES GO DOWN.

THE MORE POWER YOU USE AS A COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER WHEN YOU'RE OVER 700 KILOWATT HOURS, YOUR RATES GO DOWN.

AND THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE SOME POINT AT WHICH THEY COULD GO BACK UP AGAIN IF YOU WERE USING AS MUCH POWER AS A DATA CENTER DID? IN OTHER WORDS, THE, THE, THE, IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE DATA CENTERS WORK FOR US BY HAVING ONE IN TOWN? DOES THAT ACTUALLY PUT MORE CUSTOMERS ON OUR SIDE NEGOTIATING WITH GENERATORS? UH, AND IS THERE A WAY, UM, TO BUILD INTO THE RATE STRUCTURE THAT IF YOU ARE A SUPER CONSUMER OF ELECTRICITY, THAT YOUR RATE WOULD GO BACK UP CLOSER TO WHAT THE REGULAR FOLKS ARE PAYING? 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW THE COMMERCIAL RATES DROP, UH, TO $8 AND 8 CENTS, SORRY, 8.80 CENTS A KILOWATT HOUR.

WOULD THERE BE AN OCCASION FOR SETTING A LEVEL AT WHICH THEY WOULD STEP BACK UP TO SORT OF PENALIZE EXCESSIVE USE? OR ACTUALLY DO WE WANT THEM ON OUR SIDE AS

[02:25:01]

AND SECOND, WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF DATA CENTERS, UH, AS SUPER USERS? DO THEY END UP ON OUR SIDE OR SOMEONE WE COULD CHARGE? THANK YOU, MR. KABA.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? ARE YOU, ARE YOU COMING THE LIST? THERE ISN'T THERE WASN'T ANYBODY ON THE LIST? I BELIEVE IT WAS JUST YES, IT WAS, IT WAS JUST HIM ALL BLANK.

SO LOUIS MOTON FROM, UH, 1132 KESSEL ROAD FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.

UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT I HAVE TRIED GETTING SOLAR A FEW YEARS BACK.

I ACT, I WAS ACTUALLY AFTER THE BATTERY BACK UP ABILITY BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE BEING UNABLE TO WORK FROM HOME FOR HOURS AT A TIME SOMETIMES.

AND EVERYTHING WAS PLANNED OUT OVER A FEW MONTHS.

AND APPARENTLY I GOT THE CALL THAT BECAUSE OF NET METERING OR THE LACK THEREOF, I COULD NOT DO SOLAR WITH THE COMPANY THAT I CHOSE.

SO THAT'S BEEN A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME.

AND BASICALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIC AND I JUST WANNA BRING UP A VERY BIG PAIN POINT.

AND I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE ARE MUNICIPAL MUNICIPALITY, WE HAVE THAT EXCLUSION WHERE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN VIRGINIA IS REQUIRED EXCEPT MUNICIPALITIES.

SO PAIN POINT, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO GET NET METERING.

ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THIS TOPIC? OKAY, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

WE GONNA FIGHT OVER IT? UH, NO, I'LL GO ALL I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I IT'S FOR THE MOTION.

OH, OH, IT'S MOTION.

FIRST.

GO AHEAD.

FIRST I MOVE THE COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE ONE, TOWN CODE 70 DASH 23 ELECTRIC RATES AND CHARGES AS PRESENTED EFFECTIVE APRIL 1ST, 2026.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND.

THIS, UH, MOTION TO PASS TONIGHT.

NOW DISCUSSION.

UH, BRUCE, YOU MADE THE MOTION SO YOU GET TO MAKE YOUR FIRST COMMENTS OR YOU CAN LET MELISSA, WHO WAS GONNA START BEFORE? WELL, UM, I, I WAS, LOOK, I WAS LOOKING THROUGH, AND MAYBE IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN, IN OUR PACKET, LIKE, UH, IN THE WORK SESSION, BUT, UH, THERE WAS A, A CHART IN THERE THAT BASICALLY, OH, THERE, IT'S, UH, THERE, IT'S, SO IT, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU COMPARED OUR, OUR CURRENT RATES, IT WAS LIKE, UH, OUR, UH, UH, THE DATA INDICATED THAT OUR AVERAGE MONTH, THE AVERAGE USER'S, UH, MONTHLY BILL WAS GOING TO, WAS $128 IN CHANGE.

AND THEN THE PROPOSED RATE BROUGHT IT UP TO 1 46.

WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA ELECTRIC, THEY WERE AT ONE 60.

SENATOR OR VALLEY ELECTRIC WAS 1 66.

TOWN OF CU PEPPER WAS 1 74.

HANOCK ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE WAS 180 6.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS, I THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE.

AND, UH, I THINK THAT, I BELIEVE IT'S, UH, IS IT RGIS? UH, THE GRID COMPANY, UH, THE CONSULTANT DID AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR US.

AND TYING INTO THIS AS WELL, WE, WE BUY OUR ELECTRIC FROM, UH, AMP AMERICAN MUNICIPAL POWER OUT OF OHIO.

AND THEY, THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB FOR US OVER THE YEARS.

AND IT'S JUST LIKE, UH, ANYONE'S PORTFOLIO, IF YOU'RE INVESTED IN THE STOCK MARKET OR WHATEVER, UH, THEY DIVERSIFY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GETTING THE, THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

SO, UM, I TOTALLY ENDORSE, UH,

[02:30:01]

MELISSA OR COUNCILWOMAN D DOMENICO PAY.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS.

UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A FEE FOR SERVICE SORT OF THING.

THIS IS NOT, UM, ANYTHING THAT THE MONEY FROM THIS DOES NOT GO TO US.

EVERYBODY UP HERE, UNLESS, UNLESS I'M OUT OF IT, WE ALL PAY AN ELECTRIC BILL TO THE TOWN.

SO WE GET THIS BILL TOO.

UM, WE ARE VERY WELL, I, I OPENED MY ELECTRIC BILL THE OTHER DAY AND I HAD PAID IT A DAY LATE, AND IT WAS LIKE ALMOST $700.

AND I THOUGHT, OH, AND THEN I REALIZED THAT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, ADDING FROM THE OTHER, FROM THE OTHER MONTH, THANK GOD.

BUT STILL, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE SAME, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT YOU DO.

UM, THE MONEY IS NOT GOING TO GIVE STAFF RAISES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

UM, AND AS A GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY, UM, YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT WE COULD ALL NOT HAVE GOVERNMENT AND BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO GET THE ELECTRIC AND WATER AND SEWER THAT WE NEED.

AND, BUT WE, WE ARE NOT THERE.

UM, SO IT'S A REALITY.

NOBODY IS STEALING MONEY.

THIS IS JUST WHAT IT COSTS.

AND, UM, IT'S PULLING FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE DATA CENTER CONVERSATION, UM, AT ALL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MORE WE ARE ON OUR PHONES AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, UM, YOU KNOW, USING TVS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD, WE, WE CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

YOU KNOW, AND WE LIKE OUR, WE LIKE OUR COLD IN THE SUMMER AND WE LIKE OUR HOT IN THE WINTER, AND ALL THOSE THINGS ADD UP AND THEY COST SOMETHING.

SO, YOU KNOW, JUST, IT'S A REALITY CHECK THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS A SERVICE THAT, THAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR AND YOU'RE GETTING WHAT IT COSTS.

AND I WISH IT DIDN'T COST THAT, BUT IT DOES.

SO, UM, AND WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO GO INTO THE HOLE.

I MEAN, THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS, OKAY, WELL WE DON'T CHARGE FOR FEE FOR SERVICE, THEN WE JUST JACK OVER EVERYBODY'S TAXES.

NOW, DO WE WANT THAT? NO.

SO THIS IS THE WAY WE OPERATE THAT.

SO ANYWAY.

ANYONE ELSE? YES, YOU MAY.

AND THAT WAS A GOOD EXPLANATION.

UM, OUR ELECTRIC IS AN ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, JUST LIKE WATER, JUST LIKE SEWER, JUST LIKE OUR WASTE.

AND BY OUR CHARTER AND ORDINANCES, WE CANNOT MAKE MONEY IN THESE AREAS.

SO WHEN WE DO A STUDY, UH, AND THIS STUDY SHOWED THAT WE'VE NOT HAD A RATE INCREASE SINCE 2019, AND WE'RE A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE WHOLE.

NOW, I WOULD HOPE MOST OF YOU, ESPECIALLY THOSE AT HOME, WATCH THE WORK SESSION WHERE WE HAVE THE EXPERT COME IN AND PRESENT THIS POWERPOINT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT IS IN THE PACKET ONLINE.

'CAUSE IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

IN, IN PAYING FOR THE POWER, UH, THEY USE A, UM, A VAST, UM, BUNCH OF SUPPLIERS.

SO THEY TRY TO GET US A PORTFOLIO THAT PRODUCES THE POWER AT THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CAUSE FORCE AND THINGS CHANGE.

JUST LIKE IN OUR LIVES, OUR USAGE.

I, I HEARD THE SAME THING.

AND BELIEVE ME, WE'RE FEELING THE PAIN FROM JANUARY OR, UH, DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, THIS COLD MONTHS, THE ELECTRIC BILLS.

I MEAN, I OPEN IT UP AND ALMOST HAVE THE BIG ONE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

BUT THAT'S A FACT OF USAGE.

THAT'S NOT BECAUSE THE TOWN'S STICKING IT TO YOU.

UM, THERE'S ANOTHER THING.

ALL OF OUR ELECTRICITY COMES FROM THE MIDWEST, PRETTY MUCH, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NEGOTIATING TO GET SOME CLOSER NOW.

UM, AND IT HAS TO COME ACROSS TRANSMISSION LINES AND THINK OF THEM AS TOLL ROADS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR ELECTRIC BILL, YES, THOSE HAVE GONE UP.

WE HAVEN'T RAISED IT, BUT JUST LIKE A TOLL ROAD, IF YOU LIVED IN LEESBURG AND YOU TOOK THE TOLL ROAD IN, YOU'D KNOW THAT'S GONE UP AND UP AND UP.

AND WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GONNA DO? WE DON'T HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE FOR GETTING THE ELECTRICITY FROM THE MIDWEST, FROM THE OHIO VALLEY, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, HERE, WHERE WE BUY MOST OF OUR ELECTRICITY.

AND IF YOU LOOKED AT THE, UM, THE CHART IN HERE, YOU SEE THAT WE DO HAVE AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE LOWEST ELECTRIC RATES AROUND, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A RATE TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE, UH, WE'VE GOTTA REPLENISH NOW THE RESERVE THAT WE'VE USED TO, UH, OFFSET

[02:35:01]

THE MILLION DOLLAR LOSS.

SO I, I WANT EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WE'RE JUDICIOUSNESS, WE'RE NOT AS, AS COUNCILMAN WOMAN DEMON PAYNE SAID IT, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO ROB ANYBODY BLIND.

WE, WE ALL LIVE IN THE TOWN.

WE ALL PAY THE BILL, AND WE WOULD DO ANYTHING IN OUR POWER.

AND WE HAVE, WE'VE NEGOTIATED FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN OUR PORTFOLIO, BUT IT, IT'S A FACT OF LIFE.

EVERY YEAR SOMETHING GOES UP, OUR ELECTRIC RATES HAVEN'T, AND, AND WE GOT IN A HOLE.

NOW UNDER MR. PETTY, I'M SURE THAT WE'RE GONNA REVIEW THESE RATES MORE OFTEN AND PROBABLY ADJUSTMENTS, BUT IT, IT'S A FACT OF LIFE.

WE'RE GONNA SEE THAT AS WE DISCUSS WATER AND SEWER.

EVERYTHING'S GONE UP AND, AND WE HAVE TO, IN OUR ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, WE MUST MAINTAIN AT A BREAK EVEN POINT.

AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE BEHIND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

ARE, UM, THAT ARE, ARE, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, FIRST OR SECOND PLACE ARE GONNA BE THERE.

UH, MADAM MAYOR FAMOUS, IF I MAY JUST ADD TO WHAT COUNCILMAN WOOD WAS JUST, UH, ITERATING HERE WITH THE NUMBERS, THIS END OF END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE AT $3 MILLION, JUST OVER $3 MILLION, UH, DEFICIT, UH, FOR WHAT WE'RE RUNNING RIGHT NOW.

AND AT THE END OF 2030, IF WE DON'T INCREASE THIS, IT'LL BE A $15 MILLION DEFICIT DEFICIT.

WHICH YEAH, THAT'S MIND BOGGLING, RIGHT? BUT AS HE WAS SAYING, WE'VE HAD TO DIP INTO OUR RESERVES TO COVER THIS AND NOT RAISING RATES SINCE 2019.

THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENED.

I MEAN, PERHAPS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT SOONER, BUT HOWEVER, HOWEVER, UM, DRIVING COSTS WITH TRANSMISSION AND WITH POWER SOURCES ARE, ARE REALLY WHAT'S, ARE PROBABLY THE TWO BIGGEST FACTORS FROM WHAT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WHAT'S BEING EXPLAINED TO US AS TO WHY OUR RATES ARE INCREASING.

SO IT'S, IT'S A COST THAT, UH, WE'RE HAVING TO PAY.

IT'S, IT'S A SIMPLE COST WE HAVE TO PAY.

UH, EITHER WE PAY IT OR DON'T PAY IT.

IT'S LIKE GAS.

PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT GAS PRICES.

I'M ONE OF THEM.

I'M SURE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM COULD PROBABLY SAY, HEY, GAS PRICES COULD ALWAYS BE LOWER, BUT YOU GOT A CHOICE, PAY IT AND GO.

OR DON'T PAY IT AND DON'T GO.

SO WE'RE REALLY STUCK IN A SITUATION RIGHT HERE, UH, TO WHERE WE'RE GOING.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

AND I, AND I'LL GIVE CREDIT TO OUR, OUR STAFF WITH CARRIE AND HIS TEAM, YOU KNOW, FOR PUTTING THIS PHASED PLAN TOGETHER AND WITH OUR CONSULTANT, UH, TO KIND OF E SOFTEN THE BLOW, IF YOU WILL, WITH THIS.

'CAUSE AS COUNCILWOMAN MONICA PAYNE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS AFFECTS US TOO, MAN.

I LOOKED AT MY BILL AND I'VE, AND, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY I'M JUST, I, I, I LIVE BY MYSELF, MY COMBINED BILL, BUT A LOT OF TIMES BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER IS A HUNDRED DOLLARS.

OKAY? I SAY THAT.

I SHOW IT TO MY FRIENDS AND, AND I SAY, THIS IS WHY WE HAVE CHEAP UTILITIES HERE IN TOWN, AND THIS STILL KEEPS US WITH THESE INCREASED RATES WILL KEEP US AS COUNCIL, AS COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT, UH, ALLUDED TO WITHIN THE, THE TOP THREE LOWEST, UH, UTILITY COSTS IN, IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

SO I JUST WANNA, I'M JUST ADDING TO WHAT'S BEEN PREVIOUSLY SAID, BUT THE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE AND, AND, UH, EITHER WE PAY IT NOW IN PHASES, LIKE WE GOT IT JUST LIKE WE GOT IT ITERATED HERE, OR WE'RE STUCK WITH A $15 MILLION HOLE THAT OKAY, FUTURE COUNSEL, HOW YOU GONNA DEAL WITH THAT? SO I DON'T WANT TO, I PERSONALLY DON'T WANNA BE TARGET ON MY BACK TO SAY WHY, WHY WE KICK THE CAN DOWN ON THAT.

SO ANYWAYS, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

SO I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE CITIZENS ACADEMY, UM, EACH MONTH THAT THE TOWN IS HOSTING AND, AND CITIZENS IN FRONT ROYAL, UH, APPLY FOR THE ACADEMY.

AND WE GO TO EACH DEPARTMENT.

AND LAST WEDNESDAY WAS THE ELECTRIC FOR ENERGY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PRESENTED.

AND, UM, I'M JUST GONNA SAY, MR. FELL'S GONNA CORROBORATE FOR ME.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE LOWEST RATES CURRENTLY AND THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE LOWEST ELECTRIC RATES.

SO WHEN I READ THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, AND STUFF LIKE THAT ABOUT HOW TERRIBLE OUR RATES ARE, I JUST, I, I GUESS IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT COMES FROM A PLACE OF PEOPLE NOT, NOT LIVING IN THE OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE HIGHER RATES AND JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT, WHILE THAT MAY LOOK TERRIBLE TO YOU, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE FAR WORSE OFF FOR THAT.

UM, WITH THESE CHANGES, IF COUNSEL SO CHOOSES TO APPROVE THESE RATE CHANGES TONIGHT, WE WILL BE THE THIRD FROM THE LOWEST, RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOT IN THE LOWEST, WE'RE NOT IN SECOND, BUT WE'RE IN THIRD.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE DOING RATE STUDIES, OTHER PLACES ARE DOING RATE STUDIES THAT WE MAY VERY WELL BE BACK TO THE LOWEST WHEN THE OTHER LOCALITIES THAT

[02:40:01]

SO, UM, AND AS EVERYBODY SAID UP HERE, WE TRULY JUST DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE.

WE ARE, WE ARE LITERALLY IN THE RED.

ISN'T THAT WHAT THEY, ISN'T THAT WHAT THEY SAID, MR. WILSON? WE'RE IN THE RED RIGHT NOW AND EVEN BY DOING THIS.

UM, AND WE, THE CONSULTANT ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED THAT WE MAKE A 15% RATE CHANGE AND WE DECIDED THE FIRST YEAR TO GO WITHIN 11%, UM, TO, TO, UH, TO SOFTEN THE BLOW.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SOFTEN THE BLOW.

UM, AND SOME OF THE LARGER, AND, AND WHILE HOUSEHOLD ELECTRIC BILLS ARE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE BY 11%, BUT OUR LARGER UTILITY USERS ARE REALLY GOING TO SEE THE GREATEST INCREASE.

UM, I'M GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO ALL THAT, BUT THEY'RE GONNA EVEN HAVE A LARGER INCREASE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING.

SO IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, ARE YOU GUYS READY TO VOTE? OKAY.

SO MS. ONG.

COUNCILWOMAN D DOPA? YES.

LAST PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE NIGHT, AND THAT'S THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER 72.

COUNCILMAN SEA LOCK? YES.

VICE MAYOR ALS, ABSENT.

OKAY, NEXT UP IS OUR

[7.G. Ordinance Amendment to Town Code Chapter 72 – Special Events Held on Town Streets and Public Property.]

SPECIAL EVENTS HELD ON TOWN STREETS AND PUBLIC PROPERTY COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO MEND AND REENACT TOWN CODE CHAPTER 72, SPECIAL EVENTS HELD ON TOWN STREETS AND PUBLIC PROPERTY HAS PRESENTED THE TOWN, ADOPTED AND UPDATED A SPECIAL EVENTS POLICY IN 2021 THAT SET GUIDELINES FOR EVENTS HELD ON TOWN, PROPERTY, OR STREETS.

IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS, MANY SUCCESSFUL EVENTS HAVE BEEN HELD CREATING NEW ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

DURING THIS TIME, TOWN STAFF HAS ALSO BEEN REVIEWING AND STRATEGIZING THE PROCESS OPERATIONS AND FISCAL IMPACT OF SPECIAL EVENTS.

THE PROVIDED DRAFT AMENDMENT TRANSFORMS A TOWN POLICY INTO TOWN CODE.

IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE TOWN AND EVENT ORGANIZERS, THE CODE IDENTIFIES NEW PROCEDURES THAT MAY ENSURE EVENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL AND SAFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS.

AND, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE WERE GONNA, DID YOU STAFF WANTED TO SAY? YEAH, THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD, UH, MADAM MAYOR COUNCIL IS, UH, THE PROPOSED MOTION CURRENTLY DOES, WELL ONE OF 'EM STATES THAT IT WOULD BE PRESENTED EFFECTIVE UPON ADOPTION.

UM, REMEMBER YOU DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADD A DATE THERE IF YOU WERE TO.

YOU WANNA WAIT, SO I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT JUST IN CASE COUNSEL DIDN'T WANT TO AFFECT THIS IMMEDIATELY, BUT GIVE SOME TIME FOR EVENT ORGANIZERS.

AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. MS. WIL, IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES.

WILLIAM HUCK.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

MADAM MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS WILLIAM HUCK.

I LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL.

I SLEEP IN STRASSBURG.

MY ADDRESS IN FRONT ROYAL WOULD BE 4 0 9 EAST MAIN STREET.

WE'VE CHANGED PROPOSALS AND AMENDMENTS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS IN THIS TOWN.

MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE STOOD AT THIS PODIUM MANY, MANY TIMES.

SOME OF THE COST I SAID FROM DAY ONE NEEDED TO BE PAID WHERE OTHER EVENTS WERE NOT PAYING THEM.

SO I DO NOT AGREE WITH, OR I DO NOT DISAGREE WITH THE COST.

THE PROPOSAL THAT I'M LOOKING AT HERE IS GOING TO TAKE MY FEES FROM ABOUT $450, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW TO ABOUT $2,600 TO GET A PERMIT TO DO AN EVENT FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS COMMUNITY THAT THIS COMMUNITY WANTS.

I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE FOOD FOR THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE.

AT ONE POINT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE 85% OF MAIN STREET AGREE WITH ME TO CONTINUE TO DO THE EVENT THAT I AND MY WIFE BROUGHT TO TOWN, WHICH OPENED THE DOOR FOR ALL OF THESE OTHER EVENTS THAT WE HAVE HERE NOW.

SO I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE LAID SOME GROUNDWORK ON MATT FOR SOME OF THAT I WOULD APOLOGIZE FOR.

AND FOR SOME OF THAT I'M GONNA SAY, WOO-HOO, LET'S KEEP GOING.

BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE EVENTS, OUR TOWN BECOMES STRONGER.

SO THERE SHOULD BE FEES.

I AGREE.

THERE SHOULD BE FEES.

SHOULD THEY BE AS ASTRONOMICAL AS THEY ARE GOING TO BE? NO,

[02:45:01]

I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

I BELIEVE THERE IS A MIDDLE GROUND THAT WE CAN ALL COME TO.

THAT'S, THAT SFI SUFFICES ALL OF US.

SOME DO OUT OF POCKET.

AS MYSELF AND MY WIFE.

MOST OF THIS FOR FAMILY FUND DAY IS DONE OUT OF POCKET.

WE DON'T GO AND DO A LOT OF FUNDRAISING.

WE ARE NOT GONNA RAISE THE FEES FOR ALL OF THE VENDORS THAT ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS THAT ARE PROVIDING FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

SO WHEN THEY PAY A $500 FEE TO BE AT AN EVENT, THEY HAVE TO SELL THEIR WARES FOR A LOT MORE.

FOR THEM TO SPEND $50 TO BE AT AN EVENT, THEY CAN FEED LITTLE SUSIE AND JOHNNY FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY BE TO BE TAKEN CARE OF INSIDE AND OUT.

SO CHANGE THE AMENDMENT, GET US A REASONABLE FEE, AND HOLD IT TO EVERYONE.

TOWN SPONSORED EVENTS THAT ARE RUN BY ANOTHER ORGANIZER SHOULD BE PAYING THESE FEES AS WELL.

SO AT THE END OF THE YEAR, I'M GOING TO SAY I WOULD LIKE TO FOR YOU THE REQUEST OF THE FEES THAT HAVE BEEN PAID AND TO SEE WHERE THIS MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT.

ONE, IT'S BEEN RECEIVED, BECAUSE I'LL PAY THE BILL.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK MS. WIL PHONE? NO.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS? COME ON DOWN.

MY NAME IS MELANIE THORNBERG.

I'M WITH 1205 HAPPY CREEK ROAD.

I AM COMING TO YOU AS A BUSINESS OWNER WHO SETS UP FREQUENTLY AT THESE EVENTS.

AND AS SOMEBODY WITH A SMALL BUSINESS, THE COST OF SETTING UP WHILE MAY NOT DIRECTLY BE PASSED ONTO THE BUSINESSES, THE VENDORS.

SOMETIMES IT IS AND SOMETIMES IT'S INEVITABLE.

SO I ASK THAT YOU ALSO RECONSIDER THE FEE STRUCTURE SO THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE FOR NOT ONLY THE EVENT COORDINATOR, BUT THAT IT DOESN'T TRICKLE DOWN TO THE VENDORS AND TO EVENTUALLY THE CUSTOMERS.

BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, THE MORE VENDORS THAT SHOW UP, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL AN EVENT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND IF THE VENDORS ARE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THE ENTRANCE FEES, THIS WILL CHANGE IT FROM A $75 FEE TO A $200 FEE ALMOST.

AND THAT CAN BE COST PROHIBITIVE FOR A LOT OF VERY SMALL ARTISAN CRAFTERS AND VENDORS.

AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT IN YOUR RULING, NOT THAT THERE'S NO FEES, EVERYTHING IS GETS MORE EXPENSIVE, WE'RE ALREADY FACED WITH MORE UTILITY FEES, GROCERY FEES, PRODUCTION FEES, ALL OF IT.

UNLESS THERE'S A SPECIFIC REASON TO RAISE THESE FEES IN THIS AMOUNT, I ASK THAT YOU JUST RECONSIDER AND JUST THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY WHAT THIS COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS MAY BE WILL DO, BUT WHAT THE OVERALL IMPACT TO NOT ONLY THE HOST, BUT VENDORS, FUTURE VENDORS THAT MAY NOT WANNA PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THEY JUST CAN'T AFFORD THE ENTRANCE FEE AS WELL.

AFRAID TO HOST EVENTS NOW.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? LOUIS MOTON, 1132 KESSEL ROAD FOR ROYAL VIRGINIA.

UM, SO I'VE BEEN LOOKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, AT THIS, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING ON ALL THE DIFFERENT FEES.

IT'S LIKE, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TOUCH EVEN LOOKING AT AN EVENT WITH HOW MUCH THERE'S GOING ON.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF VAGUE THINGS I'M NOT TOO CERTAIN ABOUT.

UM, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE INSURANCE THING WHERE I KNOW THAT THERE'S ALL ALWAYS LIKE A TIMING THING.

AND SO I'M NOT SURE HOW TO EXPLAIN IT OTHER THAN SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR INSURANCE AND ALREADY HAVE A DATE PLANNED.

BUT THEN IF, IF YOU HAVE TO GET THE APPROVAL FROM THE TOWN FIRST, IT GETS TO BE A BIG MESS.

UM, THERE'S ALSO THE OTHER PART WHERE IT LOOKED LIKE YOU HAVE, YOU CAN'T NOTIFY ANYBODY UNTIL AFTER YOU'RE APPROVED WITH POSTCARDS.

AND THEN, UM, YOU HAVE, YOU CAN NOTIFY EVERYBODY AROUND YOU WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAY BUSINESS DAYS.

I THINK OF IT IS, HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE APPROVED WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAYS OF YOUR EVENT, YOU CAN JUST TELL EVERYBODY AFTER YOUR EVENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE IT A FEW DAYS PRIOR.

UM, I IT, I WAS JUST STARTING TO SPIN IN CIRCLES AND I JUST LOOKED AT JUST BRIEFLY, SO I HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE DETAILS, BUT IT'S A LITTLE, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M AFRAID TO DO, I'M

[02:50:01]

THANK YOU .

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS TOPIC? OKAY, I AM GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GONNA OPEN UP TO COUNCIL.

UM, AND I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF TOO.

THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO ASK THAT.

WELL, MADAM MAYOR, UH, GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE SPEAKERS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS EVENING, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM TWO, YOU KNOW, TWO ORGANIZERS WHO, WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTE TO A VERY POPULAR EVENT HERE IN TOWN.

UH, YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS AND IF, IF WHAT THE NUMBERS THAT THEY'RE GIVING US, UH, ARE ACCURATE, UH, I CAN DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD BE HERE TO, TO SHARE THEIR, TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS, I MEAN, I HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT TAKING ACTION ON THIS TONIGHT JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, I, I DON'T, I WAS HOPING I'D HEAR, WE HEAR FOR MORE, UH, UH, FOLKS, BUT, UH, GIVEN THE RESPECT THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE FOR, FOR A LOT OF THE ORGANIZ ORGANIZERS THAT DO HOLD EVENTS HERE IN TOWN, YOU KNOW, UH, AND I KNOW THAT OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN GIVEN FOR THEM TO SHOW UP, YOU KNOW, AT OUR, AT OUR WORK SESSIONS, FOR INSTANCE.

AND, AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW, UH, THE, I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME ENGAGEMENT WITH, WITH, UH, WITH SOME OF THE ORGANIZ ORGANIZERS BY MY STAFF, BUT I THINK MAYBE WE NEED TO, TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS AND, AND SEE IF WE CAN GET, YOU KNOW, SOME FEEDBACK FROM THEIR END.

BECAUSE I DO AGREE.

I MEAN, THIS WAS BROUGHT UPON FROM A VERY GOOD POINT IN THE SENSE THAT THE TOWN LOOKS AT THE NUMBERS AND IT, IT DOES, THE, THE, IT DOES COST US TO HAVE A LOT, IT COST US A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE THESE EVENTS.

NOW IDEA, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA IS OF COURSE, THAT PEOPLE ARE INVESTING IN OUR OWN BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, SO THE INDIRECT RETURN IS OBVIOUSLY THERE.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FACT THAT WE DRAW A LOT OF VISITORS, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, SENSE OF COMMUNITIES ALL OBVIOUSLY, UM, UH, ARE, ARE POSITIVES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS JUST A WAY OF TRYING TO KEEP IN CHECK OUR, OUR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES, IF YOU WILL, WITH THE POLICE COVERAGE, THE TRASH REMOVAL, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES WORK THAT TAKES PLACE.

SO I, AND I, I SUPPORTED IT DURING THE WORK SESSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD THUS FAR, AND I UNDERSTAND THE MEANING BEHIND IT.

BUT AGAIN, I I, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD, UH, DIRECTLY FROM PROMO, YOU KNOW, FROM ORGANIZERS THAT ARE, THAT ARE SHARING ME THEIR CONCERNS.

AND I, AND I HAVE LEGITIMATE, I I I HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD, IT DOES SEEM DRAMATIC.

SO, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, MADAM MAYOR? SO, UM, WELL ACTUALLY THAT WAS NOT ACCURATE.

WE CAN'T HAVE A DISCUSSION 'CAUSE NOBODY MADE A MOTION.

OH, OKAY.

SO NOBODY MADE, THAT'S SO YOU, YOU WERE TALKING, BUT YOU, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA MAKE A MOTION, BUT THEN I'M THAT'S OKAY.

I, I JUST, IT'S NO, I KNOW.

IT'S, IT, IT HAS BEEN A LONG ONE.

I'LL, I'LL GIVE EVERYBODY SOME GRACE ON THAT TONIGHT, WON'T WE? SO, BUT IN ORDER TO HAVE ANY KIND OF A DISCUSSION ON THIS, THERE HAS TO BE A MOTION.

UM, I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER QUESTION.

IF WE HAD A MOTION TO KEEP THE MEETING PUBLIC HEARING OPEN, WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE, INSTEAD OF A SECOND READING, HAVING A MOTION TO KEEP IT OPEN.

CAN WE HAVE, THAT'S A PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION.

YOU CAN, BUT YOU HAVE TO STATE WHEN THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL, WHEN IT WILL BE CONTINUED TO CORRECT MR. SON.

YOU HAVE TO PICK THE DATE OF WHEN IT WOULD BE.

UM, THANK YOU.

SO THIS IS NOT A LAND USE ISSUE.

OKAY? THIS IS WHAT I, I THINK OF AS JUST A ROUTINE ORDINANCE, RIGHT? CHANGE.

UM, SO IF IT'S THE CONSENSUS TO, FOR INSTANCE, SEND IT BACK TO A WORK, WORK SESSION, UH, TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, POSSIBLY REDRAFT, IT COMES BACK, UH, ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.

THERE'S, THERE'S REALLY NO REASON TO LEAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN IF THAT IS THE SENSE OF COUNSEL.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO VOTE IT UP OR VOTE IT DOWN.

A THIRD POSSIBILITY IS TO REFER IT BACK TO JUST, OH, A WORK SESSION.

AND IF THAT MOTION IS MADE, UH, CAN WE HAVE DISCUSSION THEN? YES, OF COURSE.

TO A WORK SESSION FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

THEN I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, REFER THIS BACK

[02:55:01]

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

THERE'S A MOTION.

AND SECOND, NOW DISCUSSION.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS PROPER.

SO, UM, STAFF HAS DONE A, A, A LOT OF WORK ON THIS, AND I KNOW THAT MS. LEWIS IN THE BACK HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.

WE'VE LOOKED FOR INPUT.

AND TONIGHT AS I THINK, UM, COUNCILMAN, UM, INGRAM SAID, I'M HAVING DIFFICULTY, I GUESS, UM, WE'VE HEARD NO FEEDBACK.

SO SILENCE IS CONSENT.

UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, MR. PETTY PUT A LOT OF WORK IN THIS, AND I WILL JUST GO ON RECORD SAYING WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO RECOVER SOME OF THE EXPENSES BECAUSE WHEN WE DO THIS, THE TAXPAYER'S PAYING FOR THE, OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND, THE POLICE TO HAVE OVERTIME PEOPLE THERE, THE, TO HAVE THE ELECTRICIAN THERE IN CASE YOU NEED ELECTRICITY OR THE EVENT NEEDS ELECTRICITY AND A F BLOWS AND, AND, UM, OUR TRASH PEOPLE PICK UP.

SO ANYWAY, UH, NO INTENTION TO GOUGE ANYBODY, I CAN ASSURE YOU OF THAT.

UH, AGAIN, ONE OF THESE THINGS IN TOUGH PHYSICAL TIMES, WHICH I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU TWO COMING OUT TALKING ABOUT IT, IS HOW, HOW DO WE FIND A HAPPY MEETING? SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU ALL TO GET TOGETHER WITH OTHER FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS AND, AND CONTACT MR. PETTY AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS.

AND THEN, DO WE HAVE TO SET A DATE TONIGHT, MR. SONIC? I DON'T BELIEVE, I DON'T THINK SO.

NO, THANK YOU.

SO WATCH THE NOTICE.

THE, THE WORK SESSIONS ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST AND SECOND MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, BARRING A HOLIDAY.

AND, UM, WE WILL, UH, THE MAYOR WILL WORK WITH MR. PETTY AND GET THAT ON THERE.

SO, UH, I HOPE WE CAN ALL COME TO SOMETHING THAT, THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

UH, MADAM MAYOR, UH, YES, I, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO COUNCILMAN WOODS AND, UH, COUNCILMAN INGRAM'S, UH, COMMENTS.

UH, YEAH, I FEEL THAT LEAVING IT OPEN, UH, IS THE PROPER APPROACH.

UH, WE, I THINK WHAT WE, WE NEED TO DO IS, UH, STAFF AS WELL AS GETTING INPUT FROM, UH, A LOT OF THE ORGANIZERS, UH, TO VET THE DATA AGAIN.

UH, 'CAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ASK A, A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS WE DIDN'T ASK ENOUGH QUESTIONS TO SAY, YOU ASK SEVEN QUESTIONS AND YOU GET THE ANSWER.

UM, SO, UH, IT'S LIKE THE FISH DIAGRAM.

SO, UM, I'M IN, I'M IN FAVOR OF, UH, LEAVING IT OPEN AND TAKING IT BACK TO A WORK SESSION.

UM, ANY HELP THAT WE CAN GET OUT OF STAFF AND THE PUBLIC WOULD BE HELPFUL.

IT'S NOT GOING TO, THEY STILL WON'T FULLY COVER THE COST OF WHAT COMES OUT OF THE TOWN FUNDS, UH, FOR THESE EVENTS.

UM, MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL THAT WE, HOWEVER, DO ADDRESS THIS PRIOR TO JUNE 30TH, I WOULD LIKE US TO VOTE ON THIS BEFORE JUNE 30TH, SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR WITH WHATEVER FEE STRUCTURE IS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT OUR BUDGET.

UM, AND I ALSO WANNA REITERATE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS A REALITY OF, OF ALL THE BACKGROUND EXPENSES THAT WE DO HAVE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, WE HAVE TO RECOUP THAT REVENUE SOMEHOW, AND WE'RE NOT, WE DON'T GET THE MONEY FROM THE EVENTS, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE, WE ARE PROVIDING A SERVICE.

UM, AND WE HOPE THAT IT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ALSO, UM, COGNIZANT OF THE COST AND REALISTIC THAT, YOU KNOW, ON WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE.

SO ANYWAY, UM, BUT I, I DO REQUEST THAT WE, WE VOTE ON THIS PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

SO, YEAH.

MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY, I JUST WANNA, AGAIN, I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR SPEAKING OUT OF ORDER THERE.

I'M PRETTY ADAMANT ABOUT TRYING TO KEEP, KEEP IN LINE WITH EVERYTHING, SO YOU'RE GOOD.

UH, I THINK THAT'S HOPEFULLY MY ONE MULLIGAN THERE FOR, FOR THE YEAR.

BUT ANYWAYS, UH, JUST TO AGAIN, REITERATE WHAT WAS SAYING THAT, UH, THESE FEES, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE INTENDED TO, TO NOT NEC AND WELL, LEMME START BY SAYING THIS.

I GUESS THESE WERE, YOU KNOW, THESE NUMBERS WERE GENERATED WITH THE THOUGHT THAT

[03:00:01]

SO IT, THE UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE TOWN WOULD STILL BE COURSE SUBSIDIZING IT, WHICH I THINK FROM THE, YOU KNOW, THE SENSE THAT I GOT FROM THE, FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND WHEN OUR WORK, UH, SESSIONS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE OBVIOUSLY, UH, FINE WITH THAT.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT THE INTENT IS NOT NECESSARILY TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT SPOT ON TO COVER EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE COUNCIL OR THE TOWN SPENDING.

IT'S JUST, UH, TO TRY TO RECOUP OR I GUESS THE TERM TO USE OR TO, TO USE THE TERM, TO OFFSET OR TO SOFTEN THE BLOW, I GUESS TO OUR, TO OUR COFFERS A LITTLE BIT.

SO, UH, BUT I, I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT, UH, WE COULD WORK WITH THESE ORGANIZ ORGANIZERS AND COME, COME TO SOME, SOME MIDDLE GROUND BECAUSE WE, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE EVENTS HERE THAT, THAT DRAW FOLKS, UH, SEASONALLY ON, ON, ON A REGULAR BASIS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, UH, WE OBVIOUSLY WANNA KEEP THOSE INTACT.

SO, UH, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE SHOULD BE FAIR WITH THIS AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO ALSO MENTION THAT THERE WERE SOME OTHER PARTS OF THIS THAT WERE BEING ADDRESSED, SUCH AS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ORGANIZER TO ALERT PEOPLE.

WE'VE HAD SOME SITUATIONS THIS YEAR WHERE, UM, WE CLOSED THE STREET AND SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS WEREN'T EVEN AWARE THAT WE WERE CLOSING THE STREET, AND THAT FRUSTRATES THEM, UNDERSTANDABLY SO.

UM, AND SO SOME OF THIS IS COMING OUT OF LOTS OF PLACES AND LOTS OF CONCERNS.

I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE COUNCIL WHEN THIS FIRST, UM, WHEN SOME OF THE MAJOR CHANGES HAPPENED IN 2020.

UM, AND, AND IT TOOK US FOREVER TO GET, TO EVEN GET SOMETHING THAT WAS CLOSE TO BEING RIGHT.

AND JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, YOU, AS TIME GOES ON, YOU REALIZE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LOTS OF EXPENSES THAT PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF AND JUST TIME, I MEAN, I, I WON'T EVEN ESTIMATE, I BET MR. PETTY COULD GIMME AN IDEA, BUT WE'RE TALKING HOURS TO CLEAN UP THE STREET AFTER THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IF YOU WALK DOWN THE STREETS AFTER THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, JUST THE AMOUNT OF TRASH AND THINGS THAT, UM, HAVE TO BE PICKED UP.

AND WHEN THOSE THINGS AREN'T DONE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, NINE TO FIVE, THEN THAT'S OVERTIME FOR FOLKS.

SO THERE ARE EXPENSES AND, AND AS EVERYBODY'S SET UP HERE, NOBODY'S TRYING TO DISCOURAGE ANYBODY FROM HOLDING EVENTS BECAUSE, UM, THAT WAS ACTUALLY A GOAL OF THE, THE FIRST COUNCIL I WAS ON, WAS TO JUST DO MORE THINGS FOR OUR LOCAL PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS ABOUT TOURISM, BUT LIKE, LET'S MAKE QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE HERE TOO.

AND SO THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS KIND OF THE IMPETUS OF, YOU KNOW, HIRING A SPECIAL EVENTS PERSON AND, AND, OR, YOU KNOW, ALL NOT SPECIAL EVENTS, BUT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, LIKE, THERE, THERE WAS SOME, UH, SOME EFFORT MADE THERE, BUT AGAIN, JUST TWEAKING THIS TO MAKE IT WORK.

UM, BUT FOR IT NOT TO BREAK THE BUDGET, TRYING TO, UM, HOLD EVERYTHING AND AGAIN, TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY BACK ON THE ORGANIZERS THAT ARE, UM, PLANNING THESE EVENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PUTTING IN EFFORT INTO GROWING THAT SPECIAL EVENT.

UM, THAT'S WHY THERE WERE, WE USED TO CALL IT A MATRIX, LIKE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING AND WHAT IS IT, HOW IS IT BENEFITING, UM, THE TOWN AND THE BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA SHUT DOWN THE STREET AND NOBODY BENEFITS FROM IT AT ALL, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT, UM, IN, IN THE END IT ACTUALLY HURTS FOLKS.

SO, UH, WE WILL BRING THIS UP AT THE WORK SESSION.

WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT APRIL 6TH IS.

AFTER YOU ALL VOTE TO, TO LEAVE IT OPEN.

RIGHT? DOES THAT TAKE A VOTE? IT DOESN'T TAKE A VOTE TO LEAVE IT OPEN.

NO.

TAKE IT BACK TO WORK.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.

THERE'S NO REASON TO, AND WE'LL DECIDE FORMALLY LEAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN.

JUST BRING IT BACK AND HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'LL DECIDE WHICH WORK SESSION TO BRING IT BACK TO, DEPENDING ON WHEN WE HAVE TIME FOR STAFF TO GATHER DATA.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS COUNCIL TO, UH, LET STAFF KNOW WHICH THINGS YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON SINCE SO, SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THE CONCERNS ARE, AND OBVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE TOO, IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL US AND TELL US YOUR CONCERNS.

ROLL CALL.

[03:05:01]

COMMON PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

AND BEFORE WE GO TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I DO WANNA SAY, UM, MR. ZUCKERMAN HAD JOINED THE CROWD AND MY INTENTION WAS TO, UM, RECOGNIZE HIM SINCE HE WASN'T HERE WHEN WE DID THE RECOGNITION AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS, BUT I THINK THE SEVEN PUBLIC HEARINGS DID HIM IN TOO.

AND SO HE GOT UP AND LEFT, AND I APOLOGIZE, I WOULD'VE, WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO DO THAT.

BEFORE WE START THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, MS. ONG, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES.

ONE.

OKAY, THEN NEVERMIND, THEN I'M GONNA READ MY PART.

I WAS GONNA, I'M HESITANT.

WE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC

[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS ]

IT IS THE DUTY OF THE MAYOR TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING IN AN ORDERLY MANNER.

PERSONS ADDRESSING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE ASKED TO LIMIT THE REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

NO PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE THE REMARKS, EXCEPT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CLERK OF COUNCIL.

UPON RECOGNITION BY THE MAYOR, THE CLERK COUNCIL, THE SPEAKER SHALL STATE THEIR NAME, ADDRESS, AND INDICATE IF THEY'RE A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF ROYAL DIRECT.

THEIR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL NOT ADDRESS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD DURING THE SAME MEETING.

STAY WITHIN THE ALLOTTED THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

AFTER THAT TIME IS EXPIRED, THE MICRO FRAME WILL BE CUT OFF OR REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT, INCLUDING OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING.

THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE WARNED TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THE MIRROR, WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO ASK THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP OR CLEAR THE ROOM SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN.

MS. ONG, WHO IS OUR FIRST SPEAKER? LOUIS MOTON.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR TOWN COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON FROM THE NORTH UP FROM 1132 KESSLER ROAD.

I'M USED TO SPEAKING TO A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE, .

UM, I'VE ONLY COME HERE ACTUALLY TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE BLIGHT, AND ALL I HAVE TO DO IS MENTION SIXTH STREET AND YOU WILL ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I AM SPEAKING ABOUT.

UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE, WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, BUT I DID NOTICE, UH, A, A GROUP CALLED I GREW UP IN VIRGINIA OVER, UM, 100 COMMENTS WAS POSTED ON A PICTURE OF, UM, SIXTH STREET OF THE HOUSE SAYING, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL WITH MANY PEOPLE COMMENTING.

UM, PEOPLE JUST SEE THE PHOTO AND THAT'S WHAT THEY SEE OUTSIDE OF TOWN, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'VE COME TO BE KNOWN AS.

IT'S HIGHLY VISIBLE, IT'S PROMINENT ON A VERY MAIN THOROUGHFARE.

UM, THERE'S, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO HEADWAY OR ACTION ON THIS ITEM.

UH, IT'S BEEN BOARDED UP LONG TERM.

THERE'S NO TRESPASSING SIGNS ALL OVER.

EVEN THE, THE PANELING IS BECOMING BLIGHT IN ITSELF.

IT'S JUST AGING.

UH, THERE'S MULTIPLE SHINGLES ON, ON THE SIDE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ASBESTOS IN THOSE SHINGLES AND WHAT, WHAT KIND OF EFFECT THAT CAN HAVE IN JUST THE WIND BLOWING AROUND.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN FOR SALE FOR MANY YEARS.

THE PERSON CAN'T EVEN SELL.

I EVEN, I EVEN LOOKED OVER THERE TODAY, AND THEIR, THEIR SIGNS EVEN DETERIORATED.

SO YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE WHO, WHO'S ACTUALLY TRYING TO SELL THE THING.

UM, I KNOW IT'S NOT SIMPLE TO RESOLVE IT.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS PROPERTY.

THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S NO PROGRESS THERE.

WE KNOW IT'S GONNA BE FOR SALE FOR DECADES.

NOTHING'S GONNA BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

UM, WE NEED SOMETHING TO BE DONE.

IT'S AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY IMAGE.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WHO POTENTIALLY COULD TOUR HERE, THEY'RE SEEING WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS SAYING.

UM, BUT YEAH, THIS, THIS ISN'T JUST US, BUT IT'S THE MOST PROMINENT THING HERE, AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT.

A SAFE SIDEWALK FROM THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING? UH, GOOD EVENING.

JAY MCCARTY, CLIFTON, VIRGINIA, REGARDING THE, THE SQUIRREL HILL DEVELOPMENT UP ON WEST MAIN.

I HADN'T REALLY PLANNED ON SPEAKING, BUT IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT, UH, JOE AND LAUREN, UM, BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THE TOWN IS MAYBE MORE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING, UH,

[03:10:01]

I DON'T WANNA MIS MISREPRESENT THIS, BUT I, I UNDERSTAND FROM THE DOWNTOWN AREA OUT TO THE, UH, THE PARK ALL THE WAY WEST MAINE.

AND, UH, TO THAT END, IF, IF, IF THE TOWN DEEMS THAT THE SIDEWALK ALONG OUR DEVELOPMENT WERE BETTER SERVED OR SAFER OR WHATEVER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WEST MAINE AS OPPOSED TO THE SOUTH SIDE, OUR SIDE, UH, WE WOULD CERTAINLY, UM, YOU KNOW, ENTERTAIN OR, OR, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA WORK WITH THE TOWN.

SO I'M JUST FLOATING THE IDEA THAT, UM, WE WANT TO HEAR MORE.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY.

ALRIGHT, SO, UH, THE NEXT SECTION

[9.A. Report of Town Manager ]

THEN IS OUR REPORTS.

AND SO WE'LL START OFF WITH THE REPORTS OF THE TOWN MANAGER.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

COUNSEL, I'M GONNA BE VERY BRIEF, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE A FEW QUICK NOTICES THAT RECYCLING WILL BE CANCELED AGAIN TOMORROW.

WE'RE HAVING SOME EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS. WE HOPE TO GET THOSE PARTS IN SOON AND GET THAT REPAIRED.

REGULAR TRASH WILL BE PICKED UP.

PROSPECT STREET WILL ALSO HAVE A CLOSURE TOMORROW FOR A WATERLINE REPAIR.

AND THEN TOWN HALL OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD.

SO, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M GONNA START

[9.B. Report of Councilmembers ]

UP HERE.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN DE DOPA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA OFFER? UM, I JUST, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I REPORTED LAST TIME, BUT I, I, UM, DID PARTICIPATE IN FFA BINGO AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

UM, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE HAVING A REALLY, A REVIVAL OF THAT GROUP.

UM, EVERYBODY'S, UH, INTERESTED IN AGRICULTURE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS NICE.

UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE HIKE KIDS, UH, ANNUAL MEETING LUNCHEON.

THEY'RE DOING A LOT FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK THEM UP AND LOOK AT ALL THE PROGRAMS THEY'VE GOT GOING ON.

THANKS.

COUNCILMAN WOOD.

BRIEFLY, UM, ES S KNIGHT OF THE, UH, YEAR WALK, UM, BY THE HEART SHELTER.

THE GOAL WAS 50,000 TO DATE.

THEY BREACHED 43,000 THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT.

MALCOLM BARR CELEBRATED HIS 93RD BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK.

AND IN RESPONSE OF THAT, THE GIFTS GIVEN WERE ALL ANIMAL FOOD, TOYS AND PRODUCTS FOR OUR SHELTER.

WE LOST A GREAT LOCAL CITIZEN LAST WEEK.

WELL, NOW IT'S BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS.

DAVID MCDANIEL DAVID WAS, UH, PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, PAST PRESIDENT OF THE FRONT ROYAL ROTARY CLUB.

HIM AND RHONDA HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THAT.

OUR SALVATION ARMY ANNUAL BANQUET'S COMING EARLY THIS YEAR.

THAT'S GONNA BE NEXT MONTH.

UH, I THINK IT'S FRIDAY THE 17TH.

AND I ATTENDED THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE THE OTHER DAY AND NO VDOT SHOWED.

SO I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT FOR THAT.

ANYTHING UNTIL NEXT? OKAY.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? NO, I'LL JUST BE REAL QUICK.

MADAM MAYOR.

UH, I HAVEN'T, UH, THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT I WAS SCHEDULED TO ATTEND THERE BETWEEN, UH, THIS PAST MEETING AND THIS MEETING.

BUT, UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE, UH, COMING THIS WEEK, I THINK NEXT WEEK.

BUT ANYWAYS, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, UH, AS A WHOLE FOR OUR WHOLE COMMONWEALTH AND EVEN FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE, BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND TOWN, YOU KNOW, UH, BEING SPRINGTIME, UH, I SEE A LOT OF EVENTS COMING UP FOR, FOR, UH, UH, VIRGINIA 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, US, US CAN'T EVEN SPEAK RIGHT NOW.

UNITED STATES 250TH BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR.

SO, UH, A LOT OF EVENTS ARE GONNA BE STARTING TO, UH, TAKE PLACE THIS TIME OF YEAR THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR.

SO I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO, UH, GET INVOLVED, UH, NOT ONLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WITH ALSO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, UH, PARTICULARLY HERE IN SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

COUNCIL MEMBER RAPPAPORT.

I'LL TRY TO BE SOMEWHAT BRIEF TONIGHT SINCE YOU GAVE ME THE TRIFECTA EARLIER.

TWO MUL.

IT'S LIKE GOLF.

I GET LIKE THREE MULLIGANS.

COME ON, GET ON WITH IT.

COME ON, BRUCE.

UH, HE, UH, PASSED AWAY, UH, LATE, UH, FEBRUARY.

SO, UM, I WANTED TO ADD ABOUT, UH, DAVID MCDANIEL SUCH A, A GREAT GUY AND A CITIZEN OF FRONT ROYAL, UM, HEAD INSURANCE BUSINESS, UH, FOR YEARS, UH, OVER TOP OF MCDANIEL'S.

UM, AND, UM, AND HIS TIME SPENT WITH, UH, ROTARY, UH, WAS SO UNSELFISH, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, THEY WILL BE MISSED.

UH, ALSO, WE, WE LOST, UH, ANOTHER CITIZEN, UH, A STEVE SILL.

[03:15:01]

UH, HE WAS, UH, PRESIDENT DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.

HE HELPED ORGANIZE THE, UH, CHRIS KENDALL MART ON MAIN STREET, WHICH RAN FOR 14 YEARS.

UM, HE WAS A 21 YEAR VETERAN WITH, UH, AIR FORCE.

AND, UH, THEY HAD A SHOP ON MAIN STREET.

IN FACT, IT WAS IN THE MC MCDANIEL'S WAS THE JEWELRY STORE.

JEWELRY STORE.

UM, IT WAS A CHRISTIAN, UH, BOOKSTORE, UH, WITH HIS WIFE, UH, MAGGIE.

AND MY, UH, CONDOLENCES AND HEART GOES OUT TO HER.

UM, AND HE ALSO, AFTER HE RETIRED FROM GOVERNMENT SERVICE, HE WAS A CIVIL SERVANT.

UM, HE OPENED UP A BUSINESS CALLED AMERICANA SIGNS.

AND MY RECOLLECTION IS HE PUT THE FIRST SIGNS OUT ON ROUTE 55 EAST.

UH, UH, I BELIEVE THOSE WERE HIS SIGNS, IF MY RECOLLECTION IS CORRECT.

UM, ALSO, UH, I'M SORRY, MARTY, UH, KERMAN LEFT EARLY.

UH, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON A LONG RUN.

AND, UH, IT WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED ZUCKERMAN STEEL.

UH, MY BROTHER WORKED THERE, LEARNED HOW TO OPERATE A CRANE, UM, BACK IN THE DAY THEY USED TO CRUSH CARS THERE.

UH, AMAZING FEET TO WATCH THIS VEHICLE JUST TURN INTO THIS LITTLE BOX.

UH, OTHER THAN THAT, MAYOR, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

OF FEBRUARY, I ATTENDED THE FIRST FIRE AND ICE GOLF TOURNAMENT HELD BY THE KIDS FOUNDATION.

SO AT THE END

[9.C. Report of the Mayor ]

AND I ALSO, THIS PAST FRIDAY, ATTENDED THE LUNCHEON THAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DE DOMENICO PAYNE WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, FOR THE HEIGHT KIDS.

AND I, I WILL SAY THAT THEY RELEASED SOME SERIOUS DATA THAT DAY REGARDING ALL THE GOOD THEY'VE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S REALLY QUITE AMAZING WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN THEIR FIRST YEAR.

SPEAKING OF BEING ON A BOARD, OH, I, I, I SHOULD HAVE ADDED THAT PART.

I'M NOW ON THE HI KIDS BOARD.

THAT'S, SO, ALSO, SPEAKING OF BEING ON THE BOARD, I RECENTLY JOINED THE YOUNG LIFE BOARD HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN BRINGING THE WORDS TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT, TWO NIGHTS FROM NOW IS THEIR ANNUAL WING SITE COMPETITION, AND IT'S BEING HELD AT ONE Q.

SO IF YOU ENJOY WINGS, PLEASE JOIN THE EVENT FOR SOME GOOD FOOD, FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF COMPETITION.

AND THE PERSON THAT EATS THE MOST WINGS, AND I THINK THEY SAID, SOMEBODY DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS, I THINK THEY SAID LAST YEAR SOMEBODY ATE LIKE 128 WINGS.

I DON'T EVEN LIKE WINGS.

BUT, UM, ANYWAY, IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING.

UM, ON MARCH 13TH, I ATTENDED THE MARTINS GROCERY STORE'S GRAND REOPENING.

UM, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THERE LATELY, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE A LOTS OF REMODELING AND SHIFTING.

UM, IT'S ALWAYS CHALLENGING TO ME WHEN THE GROCERY STORE CHANGES AISLES.

I WILL SAY THAT IT DOES LOOK VERY NICE AND PROVIDES A MORE EFFICIENT GROCERY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO LIKE THE, UM, THE VICE PRESIDENT.

UM, HE WAS VISITING HERE FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

THEY, THE WHOLE STORE WAS FULL OF PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER TO LOOK AT THE CHANGES AND STUFF.

SO, UM, MARCH 13TH ALSO GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SKYLINE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM SENDOFF.

AND I WAS PROUD THEN TO HEAD THE NEXT DAY TO RICHMOND WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHERYL COLORS.

WE WENT TO WATCH THOSE LADIES COMPETE IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND WHILE THE OUTCOME MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WHAT THEY WERE HOPING FOR, THEY DID HAVE AN AMAZING SEASON.

AND IF YOU COULD HAVE SEEN HOW PACKED GUIDELINES CHEERING SECTION WAS FOR THAT GAME, AND THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY THAT WAS THERE MADE AN OVER TWO HOUR TREK TO SUPPORT THESE GIRLS REMINDS ME HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO LIVE SUCH A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY.

I'M SURE YOU SAW THE TOWN MANAGER'S PICTURE IN THE PAPER WHEN HE WAS ARGUING A CALL, WHICH HE WAS RIGHTFULLY SO TO DO.

UM, MARCH 18TH, I ATTENDED THE CITIZENS ACADEMY, LIKE I SAID EARLIER TODAY, UM, OR TONIGHT AND ENERGY SERVICES.

I JUST WANNA SAY AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR THAT NEXT YEAR, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

I'VE SERVED THREE YEARS ON TOWN COUNCIL AND NOW THREE

[03:20:01]

YEARS AS MAYOR, AND I STILL LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY TIME I GO TO ONE OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

UM, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY WORTHWHILE.

UH, THIS PAST FRIDAY I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONALS SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND THEIR PASSIONS.

UM, AT HA B'S SECOND CAREER DAY, THERE WERE 40 DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS GOING ON AROUND THE BUILDING FOR CHILDREN FROM PRE-K ALL THE WAY TO FIFTH GRADE.

OUR PD WAS THERE, OUR ENERGY SERVICES WAS THERE, AND OUR TOWN MANAGER ALSO PRESENTED.

SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND YESTERDAY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF JOINING THE PEACE WALK IN DOWNTOWN FRONT, ROYAL, PEACE, COMPASSION, MINDFULNESS, AND UNITY.

I CANNOT THINK OF A MORE IMPORTANT FOCUS OF OUR TIME AND OUR ENERGY.

SO THANK YOU TO RUBY YOKA FOR ORGANIZING THE EVENT AND TO ALL THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORTED IT.

AGENDA ITEMS. ITEMS. AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

THAT'S THE END OF THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR.

NEXT IS OUR CONSENT

[10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ]

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

MOTION SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? PAYROLL CALL COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN DEAM COPA? YES.

VICE MAYORALS ABSENT.

BUSINESS ITEM AND ITS REQUEST FROM PAUL RUSH TO VACATE AN UNIMPROVED PORTION OF LOW LANE LOCATED OFF TON ROAD.

ITEM 11 A IS A

[11.A. Request from Paul Rush to Vacate an Unimproved Portion of Lowe Lane located off Braxton Road. ]

ON FEBRUARY 23RD, COUNSEL RECEIVED INPUT ON A REQUEST FROM PAUL RUSH OWNERS PAUL AND SHEILA RUSH TO ADDITIONALLY VACATE BY ORDINANCE CERTAIN PUBLIC RIGHTS AWAY, UH, 6,211 SQUARE FOOT PORTION OF THE UNAPPROVED LOW LANE LOCATED BETWEEN BRAXTON ROAD AND LOT 27 A.

AT THAT MEETING, COUNSEL APPOINTED A COMMITTEE OF VIEWERS TO REPORT ANY INCONVENIENCES TO THE PUBLIC THAT WAS RESOLVED FROM THE DISCONTINUANCE OF THE SAID RIGHT AWAY.

YOUR REPORT IS ATTACHED AND COUNSEL'S REQUESTED EITHER ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED, APPROVING CONDITIONAL VACATION AND SALE REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT, OR DENY THE VACATION APPLICATION.

SO COUNSEL, IT'S UP TO YOU.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SO IS THERE NOT GOING TO BE A MOTION ? MY COMPUTER IS UPDATING, SO I CAN'T SEE ANY, EVERYBODY.

YEAH, MYS TOO.

DOES ANYBODY WISH? I, I I I YOU GOT BRUCE ALL? YEAH, I MOVE THE COUNSEL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT'S PRESENTED APPROVING THE CONDITIONAL VACATION AND SALE REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT.

THERE A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL DO.

I'M ANXIOUS.

I'LL JUST SAY WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

'CAUSE I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY AND I'M STILL JUST NOT EVEN SURE HOW THEY'RE GONNA BUILD SOMETHING BACK IN THERE.

UH, BUT DID YOU, DID YOU READ THE UH, YEP, I DID REPORTS.

NO, I READ THE REPORTS THERE.

SEWER LINES GOING THROUGH.

THERE'S SEW GOING THROUGH.

YEP.

YEP, YEP, YEP, YEP, YEP.

SO, YEP.

UM, WE'RE IN THE DISCUSSION.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

SO, SO MY LOSS HERE PROBABLY TO VACATE THE ALLEY OR ARE WE SELLING THE, THAT'S THE CONFUSION ON THE .

IT'S A CONDITIONAL YES.

THE MOTION WAS A CONDITIONAL VACATION AND SALE REQUEST.

SO THE COUNSEL WILL BE ASKING TO VACATE THE ALLEY TODAY.

WE WILL NEGOTIATE THE PRICE.

THEY WILL COME BACK FOR ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING IF THERE'S THE SALE.

WE GOOD? YES.

UH, ALSO, UH, IF, IF MY RECOLLECTION IS CORRECT, THE ABUT BEDDING, ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, IN THE PROPERTY AS WELL, CORRECTING THAT, THAT WILL FALL UNDER OUR NEW POLICY THAT WE HAVE.

THEY WILL BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY IF, IF ABLE.

SO, AND THE VIEWING COMMITTEE SAID IT SHOULD BE ONLY USED FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS AND NO CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE ALLOWED.

UH, I'M JUST ASKING TO, DOES CONSTRUCTION OF A DRIVEWAY, WOULD THAT, IS THAT CONSTRUCTION OF A DRIVEWAY? BECAUSE ISN'T THAT WHAT THEY WANTED IT FOR? THAT'S YOUR, THEY'RE INGRESS.

EGRESS.

THEY'RE NOT BUILDING IN THAT STRIP.

THAT'S FOR THE DRIVEWAY.

SO WHEN THEY SAY NO CONSTRUCTION, THEY MEAN NO CON LIKE A, LIKE A, A HOUSE.

THEY CAN'T PUT A HOUSE OR A, A SHED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THE DRIVEWAY IS STILL, IT IS JUST FOR THE DRIVEWAY.

THEY CAN'T BUILD ANYTHING ELSE THERE.

IT'S JUST ODD HOW THAT SAYS THAT.

'CAUSE I THINK OF PEOPLE SAY CONSTRUCTING A DRIVEWAY.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD.

NO, YOU TOOK YOU, IS THAT THE QUESTION? YEAH.

[03:25:01]

YOU SAID EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

I JUST WANNA ALLUDE TO THAT AS WELL.

JUST SAY YOU YEAH.

HOW, YEAH.

WHAT'S BEEN INSTRUCTION.

ROLL CALL.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT.

COUNCILMAN DEMAN COPA? YES.

VICE MAYOR AL IS ABSENT.

IS A REQUEST FROM WEST BROWN TO VACATE A PORTION OF THE UNAPPROVED ALLEY BETWEEN WEST 13TH STREET AND WEST 14TH STREET.

MOTION PASSES.

11 B

[11.B. Request from West Brown to Vacate a Portion of the Unimproved Alley Between W. 13th and 14th Streets. ]

AND ON FEBRUARY 23RD, COUNCIL RECEIVED PUBLIC INPUT ON A REQUEST FROM WEST BROWN AND CONDITIONALLY VACATE BY ORDINANCE CERTAIN PUBLIC RIGHTS WAY, AN 1800 SQUARE FOOT PORTION OF THE UNRU ALLEY LOCATED BETWEEN WEST 13TH STREET AND WEST 14TH STREET.

AT THAT MEETING, COUNCIL APPOINTED A COMMITTEE OF VIEWERS TO COURT ANY INCONVENIENCES TO THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THE DISCONTINUANCE OF THE SAID RIGHT AWAY.

THE VIEWERS REPORT IS ATTACHED.

COUNSEL HAS REQUESTED EITHER ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED, APPROVING THE CONDITIONAL VACATION AND SALE REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT, OR DENIED.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE COUNSEL, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED, APPROVING THE CONDITIONAL VACATION AND SALE REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT.

ANY DISCUSSION? THE, THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I, THAT I HAVE FOR STAFF IS, WILL, WILL THE UM, THE OWNER HAVE ACCESS TO THE ALLEY? THE ALLEY IN THE BACK OF THAT THAT RUNS AROUND OUT TO 14TH STREET? YEAH.

THE, WILL THEY HAVE ACCESS THE, OR WILL THEY ACCESS JUST GO OUT TO 13TH STREET? AREN'T THEY BUILDING A BERM THERE? THE, OKAY.

THE ALLEY, THE ALLEY WILL BE IF IT IS VACATED AND PURCHASED BY THE ABUDDING PROPERTY AND WILL BE COMBINED INTO THE LOT, IT WILL BE PART OF THE PROPERTY.

THE ALLEY WILL NO LONGER EXIST.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS BOTH 13TH STREET AS THEY DO TODAY AND THE ALLEY IN THE BACK AS THEY ALSO DO TODAY.

IT WILL NOT CHANGE.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A BERM RIGHT THERE.

THERE IS.

FINE.

IT'S ALL ONE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I KNOW YOU GENTLEMEN ARE ASKING EACH OTHER QUESTIONS.

DID YOU WANNA ASK STAFF ANYTHING? I HAD MY COMPUTER UP.

I WAS JUST SHOWING COUNCILMAN THE PICTURE OF IT.

SO GO AHEAD.

SO THE, THE PUB, THE PUBLIC WILL NOT FROM THE ALLEY BEHIND THE, LET'S SAY THE MELTING POT, THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CUT THROUGH TO 13TH STREET THAT BE UP TO THE APPLICANT WHO THEN OWNS THE LAND.

THE, THE ALLEY GOES AWAY.

THE, THE ALLEY BECOMES PART OF THE LOT ON 13TH STREET AND IT, AND WHOEVER PURCHASES IT, THE, THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO USE IT IS GONE IF IT'S VACATED AND THEN PURCHASED THE LOT.

THE ALLEY BEHIND MELTING POT IN FORMER SEVEN 11 IS STILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE SECTION THAT CUTS NEXT TO THE FORMER 7 11 2 14TH STREET WILL STILL REMAIN OPEN.

AND AS I RECALL THE APPLICANT, ONE OF THEIR CONCERNS WAS THEY WERE ACTUALLY TRYING TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING A THOROUGH AFFAIR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY.

SO I DOUBT THEY'RE GONNA WANNA KEEP THAT OPEN.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL.

COUNCILWOMAN DEAM COPA? YES.

COUNCILMAN OCK? YES.

VICE MAYOR BEAL'S ABSENT.

BREAK INUNDATION ZONE ANALYSIS.

UM, SO COUNT THE TOWN MANAGER PETTY WILL WORK WITH BOTH OF THOSE SITUATIONS ABOUT THE UH, OKAY.

[11.C. Resolution for Water Reservoir Dam Funding Application – Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis ]

LET SEE.

RESOLUTION FOR WATER RESERVOIR DAM FUNDING APPLICATION DAM BREAK INUNDATION ZONE ANALYSIS.

THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION RECREATION DAM SAFETY, FLOOD PREVENTION AND PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE FUND REQUIRES COUNSEL TO PROVE A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW THE TOWN TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO POTENTIAL RECEIVE HOW BET THAT SPECIFIC TO POTENTIALLY RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE PROGRAM.

FOR A DAM BREAK, INUNDATION ZONE ANALYSIS COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE TOWN TO SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR THE PROGRAM.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE TOWN TO SUBMIT APPLICATION TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION DAM SAFETY, FLOOD PREVENTION AND PROTECTION ASSISTANCE FUND TO SEEK POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR A DAM.

THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? A ROLL CALL.

COUNCILWOMAN DEAM COANE.

RESOLUTION FOR WATER RESERVOIR DAM FUNDING APPLICATION GEOTECHNICAL REPORT.

VICE MAYOR ALS.

ABSENT.

MOTION PASSES ITEM 11

[03:30:01]

[11.D. Resolution for Water Reservoir Dam Funding Application – Geotechnical Report]

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION RECREATION DAM SAFETY, FLOOD PREVENTION AND PROTECTION ASSISTANCE LINE REQUIRES COUNCIL TO APPROVE RESOLUTION TO ALLOW THE TOWN TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO POTENTIALLY RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE PROGRAM.

FOR A GEOTECHNICAL REPORT COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION, ALLOWING THE TOWN TO SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR THE PROGRAM.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I'M MADAM MAYOR.

I MOVE THE COUNCIL APPROVE A RESOLUTION, ALLOWING THE TOWN TO SUBMIT APPLICATION TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION RECREATION DAM SAFETY, FLOOD PREVENTION AND PROTECTION ASSISTANCE FUND TO SEEK POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR A GEOTECHNICAL REPORT.

OKAY, THERE'S MOTION.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.

ROLL CALL.

COUNCILWOMAN DEMAN COPA? YES.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT HAS A COMPUTER THAT IS STILL WORKING THAT CAN READ US INTO CLOSE? 'CAUSE IT'S A LONG ONE AND I CAN'T READ US INTO CLOSE.

SO, OKAY.

MADAM MAYOR, I'LL MOVE THAT TOWN.

COUNCIL CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2.2 DASH 37 11 AND 2.2 DASH 37 12 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES.

ONE, PURSUANT, PURSUANT TO TWO DASH TWO 2.2 DASH 37 11 A THREE.

THE CODE OF VIRGINIA DISCUSSION OF CONSIDERATION OF THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR OF THE DISPOSITION OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

REAL PROPERTY WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION NEGOTIATION STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE SALE OF VACATED 6,235 SQUARE FOOT PORTION, THE UNIMPROVED RANDOLPH AVENUE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AVENUE AND LOT FIVE AND TWO, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2.2 DASH 30 11.

A EIGHT OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED ARE RETAINED BY A PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE.

BUT SUCH COUNSEL, CO COUNSEL MORE SPECIFICALLY THE AMENDMENT TO THE VOLUNTARY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF WARREN, VIRGINIA AND THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA REGARDING THE COMPROMISE FOR PILOT FEES AND LODGING TAXES ENTERED INTO THE APRIL 11TH, 2018.

AND THREE, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2.2 DASH 37 11 A SEVEN CODE OF VIRGINIA CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF MEMBERS OF CON CONSULTANTS PERTAINING TO ACTUAL OR PROBABLE LITIGATION WHERE SUCH CONSULTATION OR BRIEFING AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT NEGOTIATING OR LITIGATING POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY.

MORE SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND COUNTY OF WARREN, VIRGINIA, UNITED BANK, FIRST BANK AND TRUST AND THE TOWN.

MOTION.

ANY DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL.

COUNCIL COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MEDO.

MANCO PAYNE? YES.