Marlow-Silek proffer change request put on hold; Shen Valley Golf Club expansion to river uses approved – software hack closed session topic

Two proposals impacting the future shape of Warren County’s northside – commercially and recreationally – highlighted a broad agenda of the Warren County Board of Supervisors Tuesday evening, March 16.

Tuesday’s meeting kicked off with an acknowledgment of past impacts of two retiring County Fire & Rescue personnel, Captains Wayne D. Dodson, above, and Richard M. Fletcher. Resolutions recognizing their positive impacts on the department over 22 and 20-year careers, respectively, were read into the meeting record by the board clerk to appreciative applause by a strong contingent of the department and other citizens present. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

The first of those two items opening a six-public hearing portion of the meeting was developer Marlow-Silek Investment LLC’s request for an amendment to their proffer package on a 7.16-acre commercial parcel adjacent to the Crooked Run Commercial Center’s north side. A primary portion of the request would reduce the originally proffered 60-foot right of way for a north-south collector road funneling some anticipated traffic away from the major Route 340/522 North intersection into both the Crooked Run and Riverton Commons Shopping Centers by half, to a 30-foot right of way.

That request is to help facilitate the development of a three-acre parcel of their property sold to an “enclosed storage business” for recreational vehicles and cars. Another part of the developer’s request is an amendment to add RV and car storage to the originally proffered seven commercial uses allowed on the property.

It was noted by both planning staff and developer attorney David Crump that Marlow-Silek Investment has owned the property for 17 years, dating to its original rezoning and proffer offers to late 2004 and 2005. Much has changed on the commercial landscape since then, including delays in the development of the alternate exit collector road utilizing existing feeder roads under VDOT jurisdiction. In fact, Happy Creek supervisor Tony Carter pointed out that over the 17 years Marlow-Silek has owned the property, much of the brick-and-mortar retail aspect originally envisioned for the area had been co-opted by an increasing trend toward online retail sales and shipping.

Above, John Marlow addresses his development company’s request based on changing circumstances over nearly two decades of ownership of a 7.16-acre commercial property in the Rt. 340/522 N. Commercial Corridor. Below, Crooked Run Center representative Ed Murphy suggested uncertainty about potential impacts on the development of a collector road through the adjacent Marlow-Silek property from the ROW reduction aspect of the request bore further examination – the board agreed.

The developer’s cooperation over the years, including the development of the Rural Farms parcel at the head of their property at the entrance to the Crooked Run Commercial Center, was noted as well.

And while sympathetic to a solution beneficial to all sides, questions about the impact of reducing the collector road right-of-way’s width through the property on the eventual development of that north-south collector road led the board to defer a decision on the request. Delores Oates amended a motion, seconded by Walt Mabe, to table a decision on the matter to the board’s second meeting of April passed unanimously.

SVGC seeks adjustment to the “new normal”

The other major adjustment to existing permitting on the county’s northside before the board involved traffic of a different kind – recreational river traffic. Current Shenandoah Valley Golf Club owner Richard Runyon explained his desire to expand the recreational amenities he offers customers, tourists, and locals alike, as an adjustment to significant revenue losses due to COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic restrictions impacts on the club’s existing services. Those negatively impacted services primarily revolve around indoor, clubhouse rental events like wedding receptions, banquets, birthday parties, and the like.

SVGC’s Richard Runyon explains his plan to expand to river trip amenities and the ability to accommodate that plan with minimal if any impacts on neighbors and the community.

“We want to add amenities to stay in business,” Runyon told the board. Runyon’s amended Conditional Use Permit request would see him offer canoe, kayak, and tubing river trips. They would launch at the new park area at Morgan Ford Bridge with destinations and return trip service from both the Farms Riverview Road boat landing and Berry’s Boat Ramp off Route 50 in Clarke County. According to the planning staff summary of the request, existing facilities in a barn and the club parking lot will accommodate the additional equipment and vehicular traffic to the origin and return point at the club off Rockland Road in the Shenandoah District.

After Runyon made his case and no one appeared to speak at the public hearing, Shenandoah District Supervisor Mabe’s motion to approve the request, seconded by the Fork District’s Archie Fox, passed unanimously.

Bond decisions, tourism signs, other business

Also, on the board’s plate were an update on market conditions impacting the approaching group bond refinancing opportunity next month; a staff report on new signage coming to both the County and Town from its long-standing Wayfinding signage designed to direct tourists to the community’s myriad river, park and mountain destinations; and approval of the 2020 Audit Report presented at the last meeting.

The board decided to raise the minimum savings from participation in the bond refinancing through the Virginia Public School Authority/Virginia Retirement System to 4% from 3%. As Davenport & Company bond consultant Ted Cole explained, that will give the County more latitude in a final decision as the April 20 bond sales date approaches. The audit report was approved unanimously, and the board was assured by staff that funding the County’s portion of the Wayfinding signage was available through it tourism-committed “transient occupancy tax” collections.

The County’s share of costs was cited by staff at $84,900, with the Town’s at $149,500. A Memorandum of Agreement between the two municipalities was approved unanimously.

Above, Ted Cole reviews market fluctuations and bond refinancing decisions approaching; below, Deputy County Administrator Taryn Logan briefs board on Wayfinding signage, among other topics including the County Annual Report, as Zoning Administrator Joe Petty awaits his turn on a series of short-term rental Conditional Use Permit application variables.

See these discussions and other county business, including a resolution targeting unexpected horror/sci-fi story allegations from halfway around the globe; the county’s inclusion in a broader software server hack reported by Interim County Administrator Ed Daley that led to a suspension of the board and staff email usage that was to be a topic of closed session conversation; and an emotional plea for funding to bring E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School’s auditorium and other amenities up to par with other system schools, in the linked County meeting video.

Royal Examiner will explore the three above referenced software, international, Chinese-based horror, and closer to home “why can’t EWM get some financial love too” stories in more detail in coming stories on Tuesday’s meeting.

Watch the March 16th Board of Supervisors meeting here.