Annexation From 1997 Resurfaces at Town Council Work Session

Because it needed to be formally subdivided, a property on Winchester Road that is partially within the town and partially within the county became the focus of a Town Council work session on July 13. That division occurred under the 1997 annexation, which brought a portion of the property into the Town, upon which it was assigned a tax ID that allowed the owner to pay Town taxes even though the property was never formally subdivided along the boundary line. The property is reached by an access road that the Town also uses to get to its pump station.

The Town Council met for a work session on July 13. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh

What the owner needs from the council is a special exception to the subdivision requirements, particularly regarding the parcel’s size within Town boundaries. Because it is less than 2 acres, it does not meet the 2-acre minimum requirement in the Town code for subdividing a lot parcel, regardless of zoning district classification. The property is zoned R-2, residential, and the portion within Town limits contains a caretaker quarter. The private access road existed before the property was annexed into the town limits. Staff recommends approval. The special exception would allow the owner to formalize a situation that, for all practical purposes, has been in effect.

Planning Director Lauren Kopishke presented to the council a request for a special exception.

A note was made in the agenda packet regarding the title problem the owner experiences because of only a portion of the property being brought within Town limits. “Approving this special exception,” the recommendation reads, “will allow him to separate out the portion of the property with the caretaker’s quarter, while allowing the rest of his parcel to fall under County zoning regulations.” It would make a non-conforming lot parcel a legal existing lot parcel under the code. In a letter to the planning director, the owner also entertained grandfather status as a possibility.

Purchasing Manager Michelle Campbell presented to the council a request for authorization to purchase equipment and installation services for the Water Treatment Plant.

But the council was inclined to grant the special exception, making this an item of new business for the July 27 regular meeting. The meeting lasted approximately 10 minutes, during which the council also addressed outstanding needs for the Water Treatment Plant, to be decided as part of the consent agenda at the end of the month. Having transacted their business in an open meeting, the mayor and the council convened a closed meeting.

Watch the Front Royal Town Council Works Session of  July 13, 2026.