[00:00:01]
OKAY, WE READY TO GO? OKAY, WE'VE GOT A
[I. CALL TO ORDER]
CALL TO ORDER.I DON'T HAVE THE GAVEL, SO I'LL DO THAT.
THE, UM, FRONT ROYAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR APRIL 15TH, 2026.
MS. MS. POTTER, OR THERE IT IS, WOULD YOU? THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROYAL COMMISSIONER MARSH? HERE.
FOR ADDITIONS OF DELETION, DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OF DELETIONS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD? OKAY.
[IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 18TH, 2026 REGULAR MEETING.HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MINUTES AND IS THERE ANY CHANGES REQUESTED? NO.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FROM JANUARY 21ST, 2025 AND SECOND.
HOW ABOUT FROM MARCH 18TH? I'M SORRY, WHEN WAS THE SECOND? WHOOPS.
MARCH 18TH, YOU I'M THE SECOND.
THAT WAS A TYPO IN THERE, BUT SECOND WAS SECOND.
WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE AGAIN, PLEASE? CONNIE? MS. POTTER, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE AGAIN? PARDON? MAYOR.
WE'RE AT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARING SECTION.
HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO TO SPEAK TONIGHT? IT'S FOR THE WHAT? OKAY.
THERE'S NOTHING SIGNED UP FOR THAT.
DOES ANYONE OUT THERE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS AND NOT RELATED TO ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT? OKAY.
THAT SECTION WE HAVE NO CONSENT TO AGENDA TONIGHT, SO WE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PUBLIC
[VI. PUBLIC HEARING]
HEARINGS.UH, FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION TO ALLOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS DEFINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE SUBMITTED BY ROBERT MELISSA MITCHELL AND LOCATED 1521 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A THREE DASH THREE DASH SIX SIX DASH 21 A.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONE R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
MR. WARE, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION? UH, PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NUMBER ONE.
UH, PERMIT NUMBER 26 0 0 0 5 6 HAS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL AS STATED, LOCATED AT 1521 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE AND THE PROPERTY IS ZONED R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
UH, THERE'S THE AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY OFF OF NORTH ROYAL.
UH, IT DOES SITUATE ON 4.3 ACRES.
UH, THERE'S THE VIEW OF THE HOME FROM THE, UH, REAR, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT PROPERTY.
AND, UH, AN AERIAL VIEW FROM THE BACK OF THE, UH, LOT AND THE HOUSE.
SO IN SHOWING THE DRIVEWAY, THE PAVED PARKING AREA THERE, IT DOES PROVIDE AMPLE PARKING AS REQUIRED BY TOWN CODE.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING SIGN WAS POSTED.
STAFF DID DO AN INSPECTION OF THE HOME.
THE PA UH, HOME DID PASS INSPECTION FOR THE SHORT TERM RENTAL.
THEY MET ALL THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THIS, THE SHORT TERM RENTAL CONDITIONS, UH, PERFORMANCE STANDARDS IN TOWN CODE, AND IT IN, AGAIN, 4.3 ACRES.
WE DISCUSSED THIS AT GREAT LENGTH AT THE WORK SESSION.
UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR TOWN STAFF ON THIS AND THE APPLICANT IS HERE TO SPEAK? NO, I THINK WE COVERED EVERYTHING.
AND THE, THE APPLICANT, WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS MELISSA MITCHELL AND THIS IS VICE, SORRY.
MY NAME IS MELISSA MITCHELL AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND ROBERT, WHO GOES BY MATT.
MY FAMILY AND I ARE OWNERS OF EDGEHILL.
A HISTORIC PROP PROPERTY HERE IN FRONT ROYAL EDGEHILL SITS ATOP RICHARDSON'S HILL ONCE
[00:05:01]
A COLONIAL ORCHARD AND A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT SITE FOR THE BATTLE OF FRONT ROYAL.WE ARE HONORED TO ACCEPT THE BATON OF CARING FOR THIS HISTORIC PROPERTY.
I WANT TO SAY THIS CLEARLY FROM THE START.
THIS IS NOT A DISTANT INVESTMENT FOR US.
OUR PRIMARY HOME IS ABOUT AN HOUR FROM HERE.
WE'VE ALREADY SPENT MEANINGFUL TIME HERE AND OUR LONG-TERM PLAN IS TO RELOCATE PERMANENTLY, ALTHOUGH EDGEHILL WILL SERVE AS A SECOND HOME FOR NOW.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A TRANSITION TOWARD BECOMING FULL-TIME RESIDENTS OF FRONT ROYAL.
WE PLAN TO MAKE A HOME HERE TO BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE TOWN.
ALTHOUGH EDGEHILL IS IN TOWN, IT IS A LARGE HISTORIC HOME ON 4.3 ACRES.
IT HAS SIGNIFICANT SETBACKS AND NATURAL BUFFERING FROM ITS NEIGHBORS BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE, COST, AND UPKEEP.
IT'S NOT WELL SUITED FOR TRADITIONAL LONG-TERM RENTAL HOUSING, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE ONGOING INVESTMENT TO MAINTAIN RESPONSIBILITY.
WE'RE NOT APPROACHING THIS AS AN INVESTMENT, BUT A LABOR OF LOVE.
WE EXPECT THE INVESTMENTS WE EXPECT TO INVEST SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY IN MAINTAINING THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE PROPERTY.
AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE VALUE WHAT IT REPRESENTS.
OUR GOAL IS STEWARDSHIP, NOT MA, NOT MAXIMIZATION.
WE ARE AWARE THAT WE COULD HAVE REQUESTED HIGHER OCCUPANCY THAN IT, THAN IS ORDINARILY PERMITTED IN TOWN.
THE SIX BEDROOM, 4,000 SQUARE FOOT PROPERTY COULD JUSTIFY SUCH A REQUEST.
WE HAVE INTENTIONALLY CHOSEN NOT TO PURSUE HIGHER OCCUPANCY BECAUSE THE, BECAUSE WE VIEW THIS FIRST AND FOREMOST AS A SECOND HOME AND HISTORIC PROPERTY, NOT AN INVESTMENT TO BE MAXIMIZED.
WE WANT TO RENT TO PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS OF SUSTAINING THE PROPERTY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL INEVITABLY HAVE CONCERNS AROUND SHORT TERM RENTALS AND WE'VE DESIGNED OUR APPROACH TO ADDRESS THEM DIRECTLY.
FIRST, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE DO NOT INTEND TO ALLOW INSTANT BOOKINGS.
EVERY GUEST WILL BE SCREENED FOR THE RE FOR THE REASONS THEY WILL VISIT, AND THEY MUST TELL US WHO THE, WHO WILL BE STAYING AND WHY.
WE WANT TO TARGET PEOPLE WHO WILL BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND RESPONSIBLE RENTERS WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF AND PRESERVE THE HISTORIC PROPERTY.
SECOND, THERE IS A COTTAGE IN AUXILIARY DWELLING ON SITE.
WE WILL NOT INCLUDE THAT IN THE RENTAL BECAUSE EVEN WHEN THE MAIN HOUSE IS OCCUPIED WITH GUESTS, WE WANT TO RETAIN THE ABILITY TO HAVE AN ONSITE PRESENCE.
THIRD, WE INTEND TO INSTALL NOISE AWARE, A NON-INTRUSIVE DECIBEL METER THAT REPORTS INSTANTLY TO US.
IF OUTDOOR SOUND EXCEEDS A SET THRESHOLD.
THIS DEVICE ALLOWS US TO MONITOR AND ADDRESS ISSUES PROACTIVELY IF OUTDOOR NOISE REACHES AN UNREASONABLE THRESHOLD.
FOURTH, WE HAVE PREPARED A VERY THOROUGH MANAGEMENT PLAN AND WILL ENSURE THAT GUESTS SIGN THAT THEY HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THE TERMS AS A CONDITION OF STAYING IN THE PROPERTY.
THIS PLAN INCLUDES PROHIBITIONS AGAINST PARTIES OR GROUP GATHERINGS.
SET QUIET HOURS IN CLARITY THAT WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO REMOVE GUESTS WHO DO NOT FOLLOW OUR REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS.
FIFTH, WE CAN BE AT THE PROPERTY WITHIN AN HOUR IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LOCAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT THAT CAN BE ONSITE WITHIN MINUTES.
FINALLY, WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORS.
WE WANT THEM TO FEEL COMFORTABLE REACHING OUT DIRECTLY IF ANYTHING ARISES.
OURS IS A CONTROLLED, INTENTIONAL USE, NOT ONE WITHOUT LIMITS.
THE SHORT TERM RENTAL OPTION ALLOWS US TO SUSTAIN AND PRESERVE A HISTORIC PROPERTY, SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH VISITORS WHO ENGAGE WITH FRONT ROYALS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY, AND PREPARE FOR A TRANSITION TO BECOME PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE AREA.
EDGE HILL HAS STOOD ON RICHARD'S HILL SINCE 1880.
WE'RE ASKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARE FOR IT IN A WAY THAT HONORS ITS HISTORY, RESPECTS ITS NEIGHBORS, AND CONTRIBUTES TO WHAT MAKES FRONT ROYAL SPECIAL.
WE HOPE IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A POINT OF PRIDE FOR FRONT ROYAL FOR MANY MORE GENERATIONS TO COME.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA POINT TO O OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK NOW? I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE B? I MOVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 6 0 0 0 5 6 FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 1 5 2 1 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP TWO ZERO A THREE DASH
[00:10:01]
THREE DASH SIX SIX DASH 21 A FOR ROBERT AND MELISSA MITCHELL.OKAY, ANY DISCUSSION? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, EVERYTHING THE APPLICANTS HAD TO SAY.
IT'S VERY NICE TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, SUCH CONCRETE GOALS WITH THE PROPERTY AND THAT THIS IS SUCH AN INTENTIONAL USE.
AND MS. POTTER, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? COMMISSIONER MARNER AYE.
SO MOVING ON TO THE NEXT TEXT AMENDMENT OR ZONING AMENDMENT IS 2 6 0 0 1 3 4 ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE 1 7 5 DASH THREE TO REDEFINE URBAN AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS.
TEXT AMENDMENT TO DEFINE FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT, FIREARMS MANUFACTURING AND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE AND AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE NINE TO PERMIT FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS BY WRIGHT IN THE C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT DISTRICT AND TO TOWN CODE 1 75 0.39 POINT B TO EMIT FIREARMS MANUFACTURING BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
MR. WARE, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR THIS PLEASE? JUST A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE NEXT ITEM.
UH, PERMIT NUMBER 26 0 0 1 0 5.
THAT'S A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT.
SO THAT IS ASKING FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE 1 75 3.
THAT IS THE C ONE BY RIGHT USE AND 1 75 39 B.
THAT IS FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT WITHIN THE C ONE DISTRICT.
UH, SO 1 75 3, UH, THAT ESTABLISHES THE DEFINITION FOR THE TWO UH, CATEGORIES HERE.
FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT, ANY BUSINESS ENGAGED IN THE SALE MANUFACTURE FOR SALE OR REPAIR OF FIREARMS WERE THE ASSEMBLY OF FIREARMS ACCOUNTS FOR LESS THAN 35% OF THE RETAIL AREA.
THAT WOULD BE BY RIGHT IN THE C ONE FIREARMS MANUFACTURING AS DEFINED THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION, FABRICATION, ASSEMBLY OR PROCESSING OF FIREARMS INCLUDING FRAMES, RECEIVERS AND COMPONENT PARTS FOR SALE, TRANSFORM OR DISTRIBUTION.
THIS USE DOES NOT INCLUDE MINOR GUNSMITHING REPAIR OR CUSTOMIZATION CONDUCTED AS ACCESSORY USE TO THE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT.
THAT WOULD BE BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE C ONE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE, UH, THE INFORMATION IS BEFORE YOU, UH, TO ADD THESE TO THE DEFINITIONS OF 1 75 3 FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT.
AND THAT WOULD BE BY RIGHT IN THE C ONE.
FIREARMS MANUFACTURING DEFINITION FOR THOSE USES WOULD REQUIRE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE C ONE DISTRICT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR TOWN STAFF? NO.
AND IS THE APPLICANT HERE IN WHICH TO SPEAK PLEASE COME FORWARD, BE SO KIND TO STATE YOUR NAME AND GOOD EVENING.
UM, IF YOU COULD NOT TELL BY ME AND MY CHEERLEADERS HERE, THIS IS IN REGARD TO US.
UM, WHAT GO ABOUT MY ABOUT ME IS MY NAME IS DAVID KRESSEL.
UM, I AM THE PROUD OWNER OF JACK LIP ARMS AND TACTICAL.
THAT IS MOVING INTO, UH, EIGHT 40 JOHN MARSHALL OVER THERE, UH, NEXT TO THE OLD WHITE ERT REALTOR'S OFFICE.
UM, AND YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH MY SHOP AND ME, UH, AND THE OTHERS MAY NOT BE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR CR SIGNAGE OR NOT.
BUT, UM, I AM LOCAL FRONT ROYAL AND I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2011.
UH, I WENT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL HERE AND I GRADUATED FROM SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2017.
UM, SO I AM NO STRANGER TO FRONT ROW AND THE FRONT ROW WAY OF LIFE, WHICH I THOROUGHLY ENJOY AS AN AVID SHOOTER AND HUNTER.
UM, I STARTED THIS VISION OF MINE IN THE, FOR THE SHOP MY SOPHOMORE YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND NOW WE'RE ALMOST HERE JUST ABOUT 10 YEARS LATER.
OUR GUN SHOP OFFERS MORE THAN FIREARMS. IT OFFERS A PLACE TO PRACTICE, PREACH AND UPHOLD THE VERY CONSTITUTION.
THEY GET TRAMPLED ON DAILY BY POLITICS.
WE OFFER FIREARM REPAIRS, SALES, AND A COMFORTABLE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A FAMILY.
WE ASK TO AMEND THE CURRENT TOWN CODE AS IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN FOR THE ZONING OF OUR INDUSTRY.
NOT ONLY DOES IT AC DOES IT NOT ACCURATELY DEPICT
[00:15:01]
THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE AND ALMOST LIMITS AND IT ALSO LIMITS THE THE SAME SERVICES I'VE MENTIONED THE CODE AS IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.THE CODAS IS CURLY WRITTEN, PROHIBITS THE DISASSEMBLY, REASSEMBLY AND LIGHT MANUFACTURING FIREARMS, WHICH IS A QUARTER IF NOT MORE, OF OUR INDUSTRY.
UH, AND, AND OUR BUSINESS SPECIFICALLY.
WE AREN'T MOVING A BREAD, A FACTORY IN AND, UH, AND JUST A, JUST A PLACE TO SERVICE ALL THE NEEDS AND HOBBIES OF FRONT ROYALS FINEST.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON PROVIDING FIREARM MAINTENANCE SERVICES CLEANINGS AND MORE FOR OUR OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HERE IN FRONT ROYAL TO ENSURE THEIR WEAPONS ARE UP TO PAR AND TO THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE.
WITH THIS CURRENT CODE, WE CAN'T EVEN PROVIDE THESE SERVICES TO OUR OFFICERS AND OUR DEPUTIES, LET ALONE OUR LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL.
AND WE ASK YOU TODAY TO CONSIDER CHANGING THIS CODE TO ALLOW US TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES UNDER OUR COMMERCIAL ZONING.
WE ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY, WE'RE FIREARM FRIENDLY, AND WE MORE IMPORTANTLY ARE COMMUNITY FRIENDLY.
WE OFFER THE EMPLOYMENT AND MY MANAGER HERE, MR. ANORA, IS A RETIRED MARINE COMBAT VETERAN AND LET ALONE A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AS WELL.
AND HE HAS BEEN MY BACKBONE FROM THIS WHOLE START TO FINISH THE PROCESS ALONG WITH MY OTHER EMPLOYEE MARCUS AND MY LOVELY FIANCE.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR THIS TO ASK YOU GUYS TO DO THIS FOR US AND WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND, UH, SO NOW WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING SESSION OF THIS AND I THINK YOU WERE THE ONLY ONES YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING SAYS YOU DON'T WANT, WANNA SPEAK IN, I ASSUME YOU WANT ME TO? NO, NO.
SO IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S NOT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THE PUBLIC HEARING? THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GO FOR A MOTION IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE B, I MOVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL TO THE TOWN COUNCIL TO APPROVE A TEXT AMENDMENT TO DEFINE FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT AND FIREARMS MANUFACTURING AND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE AND AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE NINE A TO PERMIT FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS BY RIGHT IN THE C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT AND TO AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 0.39 B TO PERMIT FIREARMS MANUFACTURING BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
YOU, YOU JUST WANTED TO SAY, I'M EXCITED FOR THIS.
YEAH, WE DISCUSSED THIS PRETTY THOROUGHLY IN OUR WORK SESSION AND EVERYBODY'S HAPPY WITH THIS DISPOSITION.
YEAH, THAT'S, AND THIS, IT, THIS, THE CURRENT CODE CREATES A KIND OF A FUNCTIONAL DIS DISCONNECT ON HOW THIS IS SET UP BETWEEN INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL TYPES.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, THIS BUSINESS IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT IN A COMMERCIAL AREA THAN A BICYCLE MANUFAC, A BICYCLE ASSEMBLY PLACE, OR A JEWELRY STORE.
SO I, I THINK THIS IS, UM, KIND OF RIGHT SIZING FOR THIS, FOR THIS APPLICATION.
WOULD YOU, UM, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MS. POTTER? VICE CHAIRMAN MARRAZZO? YES.
OKAY, WE'RE ONTO THE LAST ONE, WHICH IS A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE TO DEFINE URBAN AR, AGRICULTURAL AND AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS AND AMENDMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS CONTAINED IN TOWN.
CODE 1 75 DASH ONE 10 DASH FIVE TO CLARIFY LOT SIZES AND PERMITTED ANIMALS.
MR. WARE, YOU'RE UP AGAIN AS USUAL.
COULD YOU ADVANCE THE SLIDE, DWAYNE, PLEASE? UH, SO THE THIRD ITEM, PUBLIC HEARING ITEM IS 26 0 0 1 3 4.
THAT'S A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TOWN CODE 1 75.
THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF SECTION OF TOWN CODE TO REDEFINE URBAN AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS AND AN AMENDMENT TO THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND TOWN CODE 1 75.
UH, SO THESE ARE THE TWO DEFINITIONS THAT WE ARE PROPO.
UH, WE ARE PROPOSING FOR THE REWRITE IN 1 75 3 FOR DEFINITIONS UNDER URBAN AGRICULTURAL THAT WILL NOW BE DEFINED AS ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED AS ACCESSORY USE ON RESIDENTIAL ZONED LOTS
[00:20:01]
INCLUDING CROP PRODUCTION, GARDENING, HORTICULTURE, HYDROPONICS, AQUACULTURE, AQUACULTURE AND KEEPING CHICKENS AND RABBITS, SUBJECT TO A TIER TO ACREAGE RE REGULATIONS AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS OF ONE OF SECTION 1 75, 1 10 0.5.UH, THAT DEFINITION THERE, UH, CHANGES A LITTLE BIT.
SO THAT'S THE TILLING, THE SOIL RAISING OF CROPS, HORTICULTURE, AGRICULTURE, HYDROPONICS, FORESTRY, GARDENING, AQUACULTURE, LIVESTOCK AND F KEATING AND BREEDING FARM WINERIES.
ROADSIDE STANDS, TENANT HOUSING NECESSARY FOR AN OPERATION OF THE FARM AND PRODUCTION OF NATURAL PRODUCTS WITH RESOURCES PRIMARILY DERIVED FROM THE LAND UPON WHICH IS PRODUCED.
AND IT GOES ON TO SAY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT GREAT LENGTH AT THE WORK SESSION FOR THESE TWO DEFINITIONS.
UH, SO THIS WILL BE A TIERED SYSTEM, UH, PERTAINING TO URBAN AG FOR CHICKENS, BEES, AND RABBITS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS TIER ONE THAT IS FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONED LOTS, SINGLE FAMILY ON PARCELS LESS THAN ONE ACRE.
THEY COULD KEEP UP TO SIX HENS.
UH, THEY COULD ALSO KEEP UP TO SIX CHI UH, RABBITS AND SIX BEEHIVES.
THEY NEED TO BE 10 FEET FROM THE SIDE MIRROR.
UH, THERE IS ALSO HOUSING AND CARE FOR THE CHICKENS, UH, THE RABBITS AND THE BEES AND THE, THE RUNS, THE HUTCHES AND THE BEEHIVES.
UH, THEY DO REQUIRE A ZONING PERMIT THAT GETS RENEWED OR THEY CAN APPLY TO HAVE IT RENEWED ANNUALLY.
AND WE ARE EXPANDING THE, UH, EXPANSION THERE.
FOR CHICKENS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR BREEDING PURPOSES, THEY COULD KEEP UP TO 12, A NUMBER OF 12, BUT ONLY FOR, UH, 12 WEEKS.
SO IF HATCHING EGGS, THEY CAN HAVE SIX HENS THERE HATCH OUT EGGS, BUT THEY CAN ONLY HAVE A TOTAL OF 12 THAT'S IN THE TIER ONE, LESS THAN ONE ACRE.
IF WE GO TO TIER TWO, THAT'S FOR LAND GREATER THAN ONE, BUT LESS THAN FIVE ACRES.
AGAIN, ZONED RESIDENTIAL, THEY COULD KEEP UP, KEEP UP TO 12 CHICKENS, UP TO 12 RABBITS AND SIX BEEHIVES.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CHI, UH, THE COOP AND THE RUN AREA FOR BOTH THE CHICKENS AND THE HUTCH AREA FOR THE RABBITS AND THE BEEHIVES.
WITH SETBACKS WITH THAT, AGAIN, WITH THAT ONE ON TIER TWO THEY COULD DOUBLE THE NUMBER.
UH, THEY COULD GO, UH, THEY COULD DOUBLE THE NUMBER THAT THEY HAVE, BUT THAT CAN ONLY BE FOR A 12 WEEK PERIOD IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO FOR AN EXPANSION, THEY WOULD HAVE TO KEEP A LOG WHEN THE RABBITS OR THE CHICKENS WERE BORN.
AND THEY CANNOT KEEP THOSE MORE THAN 12 WEEKS.
THE THIRD TIER IS GREATER THAN FIVE ACRES.
AGAIN, ONLY RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PARCELS GREATER THAN FIVE ACRES.
THOSE GREATER THAN FIVE ACRES.
UH, THEY COULD KEEP UP TO 18 CHICKENS, FOR EXAMPLE.
THEY COULD HAVE A ROOSTER, BUT THE ROOSTER COUNTS IN THE TOTAL NUMBER.
THEY COULD KEEP UP TO 18 RABBITS.
AND WE WOULD EXPAND THE BEEHIVES FOR GREATER THAN FIVE ACRES TO 12 BEEHIVES.
UM, THEY ALSO HAVE TO PUT A SIGN UP FOR THE BEEHIVES.
UH, THERE ALSO THEY HAVE TO INSTALL A FENCE AROUND THE BEEHIVES.
THAT'S FOR ANY OF THE TIERS ON THE BEEHIVES.
AND THERE'S MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HOUSING AND CARE OF THE RABBITS AND THE CHICKENS.
SO EACH CHICKEN NEEDS TO HAVE FOUR SQUARE FOOT IN THE, UH, COOP AREA AND EIGHT SQUARE FOOT IN THE RUN.
UH, THE RABBITS, THEY NEED TO HAVE FOUR SQUARE FOOT FOR THE RABBIT, BUT IN THE RUN AREA THEY NEED TO HAVE 16 SQUARE FOOT FOR THE RUNS.
UH, AND THOSE PERMITS, THEY NEED TO HAVE AN URBAN AG PERMIT ISSUED FROM THE TOWN.
AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING WITH THE MANAGEMENT PLAN, UH, IF THEY'RE GOING TO EXPAND MORE THAN THE SIX, 12 OR THE 18 IN THEIR TIERED SYSTEM, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO, WE DO AN INSPECTION AND THAT WOULD RENEW, BE RENEWED ANNUALLY FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE.
UH, WHEN THEY SUBMIT THE MANAGEMENT PLAN, THOSE MANAGEMENT PLANS DO GET SENT TO THE VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGENT.
THEY REVIEW THE MANAGEMENT PLAN TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE THE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
IF THEY DISAPPROVE THEM, THEN THE APPLICANT HAS TO MAKE CHANGES THAT WOULD ADHERE TO THE CODE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
SO THEY COME BACK AND IT'S ONLY FOR ONE
[00:25:01]
YEAR WITH AN INSPECTION AND RENEWAL.IF THEY VIOLATE ANY PART OF THE, UH, PART THAT'S IN THE SUMMARY TABLE, THEIR PERMIT WOULD BE REVOKED.
SO WE DO CURRENTLY DO, WE DO, UH, RABBIT B AND CHICKEN INSPECTIONS, UH, NOW FOR PEOPLE THAT RENEW 'EM.
BUT THIS IS AGAIN, FOR ONE YEAR A PERMIT FOR ONE YEAR FOR EACH OF THESE, ONLY FOR RABBITS, BEES, AND CHICKENS.
WE DISCUSSED THIS AT GREAT LENGTH.
THERE'S A GOOD BIT OF A PACKET IN THERE.
UH, WE THOUGHT WE'D PUT IT IN THE SUMMARY TABLE, UH, THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE CODE.
UM, AND WE DID REACH OUT AGAIN TO THE EXTENSION AGENCY.
WE DID A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ON URBAN AGRICULTURE.
WE CONSULTED WITH THE EXTENSION AGENT.
THEY DID COME, WE DID HAVE A MEETING STAFF DID WITH THEM HERE IN THE MONTH OF MARCH WHERE WE DID MAKE SOME CHANGES BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS? DO DO YOU MIND CONTRASTING WHAT WE HAVE NOW AGAINST WHAT THIS, THIS WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT.
'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE NOW IN, IN THE URBAN AG, UH, CONCERNING URBAN AGRICULTURE, THEY CAN'T KEEP SIX CHICKENS, UH, SIX RABBITS AND SIX BEEHIVES ON RESIDENTIALLY ZONED LOTS LESS THAN ONE ACRE, UH, OVER ONE ACRE.
UH, THE CODE DID NOT, DOES NOT SPECIFY ON THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF BEES, CHICKEN RABBITS THEY COULD HAVE ON LAND RESIDENTIAL ZONE LOTS GREATER THAN ONE ACRE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS KIND OF TRYING TO POINT OUT.
THIS IS BRINGING, UM, UNDER CONTROL FOR ALL THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.
IT WAS, IT WAS AN OPEN, OPEN AREA ABOVE ONE ACRE.
THIS IS, THERE IS NO PERSON TO COME SPEAK THAT WROTE THE, THIS IS INTERNAL.
SO I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND NO ONE SIGNED UP.
ANYBODY WISH TO SIGN ANY OF THE CHAIRS OUT THERE? WISH TO TALK.
ANYWAY, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE B, I MOVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL TO THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE TO REDEFINE URBAN AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS.
AN AMENDMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE, 10.5 TO CLARIFY LOT SIZES AND PERMITTED ANIMALS.
JUST MENTION, UM, THE SIMPLEST APPROACH TO ALL THIS WOULD JUST SAY WOULD BE JUST SAY NO.
BUT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A BALANCE FOR, UM, TO ALLOW URBAN AGRICULTURE TO OCCUR WITHIN TOWN.
SO TRYING TO FIND THAT BALANCE IS IN AN IMPERFECT WORLD.
BUT THIS IS, WE'RE TRYING TO STRIKE THAT HERE.
UM, THAT'S ALL I'M SAY, UH, MS. POTTER, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE VOTE? COMMISSIONER FEDERICA? YES.
OKAY, WE'RE TO THE COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO BRING ANYTHING UP TONIGHT? I DON'T ANYTHING SAY EITHER.
[VIII. PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT]
ON TO, UH, THE MARCH PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT FOR MARCH.SO FOR MARCH WE HAVE ISSUED, UH, 24 ZONING PERMITS.
WE HAD ZERO NEW DWELLING UNITS THAT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PRETTY SOON.
UM, WE OPENED UP SEVEN NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES, CLOSED OUT ONE OF 'EM AND DID SIX INSPECTIONS.
UM, WE ISSUED 16 BUSINESS LICENSES, SEVEN SIGNED PERMITS, AND THEN HAD, UM, THREE ITEMS FOR, UM, WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, THE BIG THING FOR THIS MONTH COMING UP IS THAT ON APRIL 29TH, YOU'RE HAVING YOUR SPECIAL MEETING, UM, FOR THE ENTRANCE CORRIDOR, UH, STUDY THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING TO JUST LOOK AT WHAT, UH, CODE CHANGES WE CAN MAKE TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THAT CORRIDOR.
AND THEN ALSO OUR CONSULTANT WILL BE COMING UP AND HANDING OFF THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
[00:30:01]
AN EXTENSIVE REWRITE.THIS, UH, THE INTENTION WITH THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE WAS TO BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH STATE CODE.
SO, UH, THERE WERE CERTAIN SECTIONS THAT JUST HAD NOT BEEN UPDATED, UM, AS OFTEN AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
AND THERE WERE JUST DEFINITIONS AND WAIVERS THAT JUST DO NOT ALIGN WITH STATE CODE THAT WE NEEDED TO RECTIFY.
UM, SO YOU WILL GET THIS DOCUMENT.
UH, IT WILL ALSO BE PLACED ONLINE IF IT HASN'T BEEN ALREADY FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW, AND WE CAN START WORKING ON THAT ONE.
I GUESS WE'RE AT THE END OF THE LINE HERE.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? I MOVE TO ADJOURN.