Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan Adjustment, and Denial of a Special Exception Request at Town Planning Commission Meeting

Under the leadership of Chairman Connie Marshner, the Front Royal Planning Commission met for a regular meeting on the evening of Wednesday, December 18, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center at 220 North Commerce Avenue, in which at least one decision the commissioners found heartbreaking and another somewhat difficult.

Front Royal Planning Commission sits in anticipation of its monthly regular meeting on the evening of Wednesday, December 19. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

In order to conduct their affairs at a location on West 11^th Street that seemed feasible, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1860, would need to acquire a special exception from existing Town code parking requirements, and this is an item that was previously postponed by the commission so that the applicant could explore possible avenues for mitigating the effect to the surrounding area that the VFW presence would have. One such avenue would have been to come to an understanding and agreement with the Nazarene church, whereby, by sharing the burden of parking, the VFW might be able to satisfy the Town’s expectations for that area. Whether the church refused or the available provision simply was not enough is unclear, but a VFW representative at the meeting on Wednesday night told the commission: “We don’t have good news.” Against the three who could see no way around it, Commissioner Megan Marrazzo expressed how she felt that the VFW had done everything within its power to mitigate the effects of their presence on that street and that, constituting a hardship, it would be appropriate to extend relief. As saddening as it was to make the decision and as much as all the commissioners would like to see a continued VFW presence in the community, a motion was passed to forward the application to the Town Council with a recommendation for denial. Marshner reminded the applicant that the council can override the commission’s recommendation if it is their pleasure.

Deputy Zoning Administrator John Ware presents relevant material in relation to several items before the commission.

Prior to this heartburn, the commission passed a motion to forward a proposed ordinance for the regulation of tobacco, smoke, or vaping to the council with a recommendation for approval. Likewise standing in the minority, Marrazzo expressed that the regulatory combination of by-right and special-use permit is at least unnecessary as the regulation of gas stations that by-right will entail, along with any other establishment that sells such products in any quantity whatsoever, will not truly mitigate concern about safety, health, and welfare, as in her mind an establishment like a gas station is unlikely to appeal to children in the same way that your average vape shop would. Thus, the special-use permit alone, based on floor space and incorporating the by-right performance standards in terms of proximity to a daycare or school, would, in Marrazzo’s opinion, be most appropriate. However, the majority favored both regulatory mechanisms. This has been a source of passionate conversation for the commission in past meetings, especially as recently retired Gary Gillispie at one time expressed that both mechanisms were distasteful to him insofar as it would only seem consistent, based on safety, health, and welfare, to make similar regulations for alcohol. The commission must carry the cross of recommending to the council the most intelligent regulations possible, hopefully doing for Front Royal what Margaret Thatcher did for England.

Also on the agenda was a comprehensive plan adjustment, reimagining an area adjacent to Strasburg Road as residential instead of commercial. Originally residential before it was rezoned commercial in the eighties, this area has exhibited no facility for commercial use. It appears it will not do so in the future, especially as residential use has appeared there despite the commercial zoning. This item was recommended to the council for approval, unanimously. Having earlier approved the consent agenda to advertise for a public hearing and also approving under new business a final subdivision plat as well as a sign permit application, there was an election of officers in which Commissioner Allen Neel was provisionally appointed vice chairman, the commission heard a report from Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Lauren Kopishke, and having transacted the meeting in roughly thirty minutes, they adjourned.

Click here to watch the Front Royal Planning Commission Meeting of December 18, 2024.