Staff Identifies for Town Council the Need to Fill Two Vacancies on Local Board of Building Code Appeals

The town of Front Royal has vacancies to fill. In a presentation before the Front Royal Town Council on Monday, June 10, at a work session that began at 7 p.m. in the Front Royal Town Hall on 102 East Main Street, Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Lauren Kopishke shed light on the Local Board of Building Code Appeals (LBBCA) which currently has two vacancies and is therefore inoperative, at the expense of processes that must continue in the Town’s daily business.

Town Council meets on the evening of Monday, June 10. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Lauren Kopishke presents to the council the need to fill two vacancies on the Local Board of Building Code Appeals (LBBCA).

Established in January 2023, the LBBCA provides a means by which an aggrieved party can appeal the determination of the Property Maintenance Official through an application with a $400 fee. As Mayor Lori Cockrell pointed out during the council’s discussion with Kopishke, the $400 fee is a deterrent since many citation recipients will likely find it easier to comply with the regulations than go through the costly appeals process. However, as Kopishke pointed out, even that $400 fee does not cover the cost of the meeting appointed to address that appeal. At any rate, in the interim, until those two vacancies are filled, Kopishke’s department can still issue zoning citations. Still, it cannot issue property maintenance citations as each has different codes.

Lisa Schwartz of the Beautification Committee of Front Royal gave a presentation to the council on the benefits of what the committee is doing and some of its current goals.

Thus, there are these two vacancies for which the Town accepts applications and two positions for alternates if there is an absence. Cockrell admitted that she thought there would be more of a response. However, on June 22 from noon to 3 p.m. near the Gazebo on Main Street, where the Town is holding an open house, there will be an opportunity for any interested parties to approach the planning and zoning table and learn more about these LBBCA positions. All members must live in Warren County, and three must live in the town. To quote the Town code, “At least three members shall have no less than five years’ knowledge and experience in the construction industry. Members that do not have knowledge and experience in the construction industry shall have an equivalent experience in the real estate, law, architecture, or engineering professions.” The code says that no employee or official of the Town may serve as a board member.

Manager of Infrastructure Steve Scheulen from Public Works informs the council regarding what is before them, a “blanket resolution” for a project funding commitment for projects under agreement with VDOT. If the council votes in favor of the resolution at their June 24 regular meeting, the Happy Creek Road Phase II project can proceed.

In an extreme case, in which the vacancies have not been filled, the town manager could arrange with another locality for an appeal to be heard. Given the overall sense at the meeting on Monday evening that this issue is being expedited, that extreme scenario likely will not occur.