Short-Term Rental, Rezoning, Retaining Wall, ADUs, and Special Events at Town Council Work Session

The Town Council’s work session of March 2 began with the appointment of Hillary Wilfong to the position of Temporary Deputy Clerk of Council. This responsibility comes in addition to her duties as Executive Administrative Assistant to the Town Manager and is contingent upon the administration of an oath of office by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The council then briefly reviewed ordinance amendments to electric rates and listened for the better part of an hour as Director of Finance B.J. Wilson presented a review of the proposed FY27 budget.

The Town Council gathers for a work session on March 2. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

Director of Finance B.J. Wilson guides the council through a review of the proposed budget for FY27.

After discussing the merits of an application for a short-term rental at 214 Lee Street, the council reflected upon a rezoning application for two vacant lots on Grand Avenue. The applicant is requesting rezoning from R-1 to R-3, which is, theoretically, a significant change in density, although Vice-Mayor Amber Veitenthal pointed out that the duplexes he would then be able to build might not increase the density any more than the single-family dwellings, characteristic of R-1, would, if they were built and occupied at full capacity. Planning Director Lauren Kopishke, in her presentation of this item, noted that the rezoning could be in harmony with the comprehensive plan, although the Town Planning Commission identified nuances that led them to recommend denial. She encouraged the council members to drive through the neighborhood and watch the video of the commission’s February 18 meeting, in which residents of Grand Avenue and surrounding streets spoke against the rezoning.

Director of Energy Services Carey Saffelle answers questions from the council about proposed ordinance amendments pertaining to electric rates.

Planning Director Lauren Kopishke presents several items for the council’s consideration.

After addressing a request from the Squirrel Hill development for an exception to retaining wall height, Kopishke presented the performance standards for a proposed ordinance on auxiliary dwelling units. Having seen this item several times before and having sent it back to the commission for further review, the council’s discussion focused on enforcement mechanisms that would allow an applicant for an ADU to be processed administratively, with the understanding that inspections will continue. Finally, before convening a closed meeting, the council heard from Town Manager Joseph Petty about something he has been working on: a new special events committee that would operate under rules designed to tighten the process for events held on Town streets and public property. He reported that he has not received pushback on the added expense this new process would incur, and also said that, although he does not desire to erect a barrier to worthy events, he hopes this will make applicants more efficient.

Click here to watch the Front Royal Town Council Work Session of March 2, 2026.