Auxiliary Dwelling Units, A New Fee, and Outcomes of Liaison Meeting at Town Council Work Session

The Monday, November 3 work session of the Town Council began with housekeeping items, led respectively by Clerk of Council Tina Presley and Finance Director B.J. Wilson. Presley presented a proposed amendment to rescind a portion of Town code pertaining to the Freedom of Information Act, where the presence of FOIA policy, required by law, on the Town website, renders the repetition of state law in the code unnecessary and inadvisable, given that the code is frequently amended, risking violating state law. Wilson presented a proposed budget amendment for FY26 to carry forward unpaid balances as well as the requisite funds. Separately, he addressed a letter of credit for a balance pertaining to the West Main Connector Road.

The Town Council sits for a work session on the evening of Monday, November 3. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

Again, the council considered proposed performance standards pertaining to auxiliary dwelling units, having sent the item back to the Town Planning Commission for further consideration. The substantive changes that were made include a six-hundred-square-foot minimum for ADUs, both internal to the primary dwelling as well as detached. For detached, the maximum is one thousand square feet, but no more than eighty percent of the total square footage. As for the internal ADU, it cannot expand beyond the existing footprint, although in the case that the already existing space is larger than one thousand square feet, such as a basement, it is permitted to exceed the one thousand square foot maximum. Councilman Bruce Rappaport reiterated his concern about the presence of ADUs in the R-1 zoning district, which is low-density and family-oriented in nature. This item, which will define the zones where ADUs are permitted by right, goes to public hearing later this month, although there will be an opportunity for further information to be received and consideration at the November 10 work session.

The Town Council sits for a work session on the evening of Monday, November 3. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

The Town will likely be charging out-of-town residents from Warren County a new fifteen-dollar fee for disposal of yard waste at the Manassas Avenue disposal site. Staff have previously presented information to the council on this issue and recommend an ordinance amendment to facilitate this change. Furthermore, the item was discussed at the October liaison committee meeting between Town and County. Through tipping fees, town residents are taxed additionally to what they pay as county residents, while in the case of Manassas Avenue, out-of-town county residents have been getting something for free. During the work session review of this item, Mayor Lori Cockrell made it explicitly clear that she disapproved of double taxation, while underlining the spirit of fairness on which this new fee would be based.

Planning Director Lauren Kopishke presents proposed performance standards for auxiliary dwelling units as the council revisits them.

The remainder of the discussion focused on tourism, McKay Springs, and economic development, key themes that came out of the liaison meeting. “We’re already doing it,” Cockrell said regarding tourism, highlighting the Town’s role in promoting not only Front Royal’s attractions but out-of-town county attractions as well. The bottom line, clarified in a presentation by Councilman Glenn Wood, is that the Town would welcome funds from the County to advance the marketing strategy. That the County is open to collaboration seemed to be indicated by the warmth of supervisors Butler and Jamieson to a joint venture when it was suggested at the liaison.

As for McKay Springs, a meeting between Town, County, and prospective buyer Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation remains a possibility, if only for the sake of hearing the Foundation’s proposal. As for the County’s invitation to collaborate on economic development, the council could not help but reflect on the fraught history with the EDA, followed by FREDA, and the importance of maintaining Front Royal’s resources before trying anything innovative.

Having completed the business for their open meeting, the council went into a closed meeting to discuss personnel issues pertaining to the Front Royal Economic Development Authority as well as the sale of a vacated portion of North Royal Avenue and the unimproved alley between North Royal Avenue and Virginia Avenue.