Town Planning Commission defers final approval of Comprehensive Plan, approves fee for zoning appeal application

At its very short regular meeting on April 19th, the Front Royal Planning Commission reviewed the status of the nearly complete town Comprehensive Plan that it and the Town Planning Department have been working on since March 2021. The sometimes-tortuous path of multiple public hearings, commission input, obtaining external data such as census and State Transportation data, has led the Planning Department and its consultant, Summit, to a final draft that is undergoing finishing touches. At the prompting of Chairman Darryl Merchant, the commission decided after a public hearing with no speakers to defer its final vote to certify the plan and recommend approval until those finishing touches are formalized, including an updated future land use map, cost estimates, and a transportation improvement schedule.

Planning Director Lauren Kopishke told the Commissioners that once the final updates have been incorporated, hopefully this week, the final draft can be provided for the commissioner’s approval at their next meeting in May. Since the public hearing was conducted at this meeting, the commission can vote on its recommendation next month without another one, so the next public hearing will be at a town council meeting to approve the final plan.

Town Planning Director Lauren Kopishke must be feeling some relief as the process of recreating a Town Comprehensive Plan nears completion. The plan was last rewritten in 2011. Royal Examiner File Photo

The commission’s Consent Agenda was a sure sign that the May Commission meeting will be a full one, with six public hearings approved to advertise for public hearing at that meeting. Those were:

• Vesta Property Management – A request for a Special Use Permit to allow a short-term rental located at 211 South Royal Avenue. The property is zoned C-1, Community Business District and is located in the Historic Overlay District.
• Peter Lemmon and Scott Lloyd – A Special Exception application requesting an exception from the parking requirements of Section 175-151 pursuant to 148-870.18 & 148-211. A.1. for the property located at 15 Chester Street. The property is zoned C-2, Downtown Business District and is located in the Historic Overlay District.
• Cook Realty – A request for a Special Use Permit to allow a short-term rental located at 1125 John Marshall Highway. The property is zoned R-1, Residential District.
• Cook Realty – A request for a Special Use Permit to allow a short-term rental located at 1121 John Marshall Highway. The property is zoned R-1, Residential District.
• Cook Realty – A request for a Special Use Permit to allow a short-term rental located at 1135 John Marshall Highway. The property is zoned R-1, Residential District.
• Cook Realty – A request for a Special Use Permit to allow a 12-to-14 room Nursing Home in the C-1, Community Business District, located at 416 South Royal Avenue. The property is also located in the Entrance Corridor Overlay District.

The only other piece of business considered by the commission was a proposal to amend the Town of Front Royal Zoning Ordinance Chapter 175-137 to add a fee for Local Board of Building Code Appeals Application of $400. Director Kopishke told the commission that the department needs to recover its costs in processing permits and applications and many fees charged are far below the actual cost to administer. This application allows a property owner to file an appeal when a building code violation is issued. On a motion by Commissioner Glenn Wood, seconded by Vice Chairman Daniel Wells, The Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval.  The amendment will now go to the Town Council for final action.

The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.