Warren County zoning officer claims he’s ‘caught in silly and political’ situation

FRONT ROYAL – Ever since Warren County’s Board of Supervisors voted against the wishes of a majority of the residents last summer to create a Sanitation District in Lake Front Royal—which took effect Jan. 1, 2017– there appears to be contention amongst some residents and some county employees.

The Royal Examiner was recently contacted by Azlee Bates, the president of the property owner’s association, because of an email she had received from Warren County Planning Department Zoning Officer Charlie Morrison.

Morrison said, in the email, in part, “Can you help me convince Betty to just move her shed? 

When asked Ms. Bates replied, “There is bad blood between the county and the Lake Front Royal Property Owner’s Association (LFRPOA) over the sanitary district and Betty is very vocal about it.  I think it was a punishment-type tactic. I think Charlie is caught in the middle of this.  He had really tried to be helpful and didn’t want to pursue the complaints.”

Planning Director Taryn Logan reponds

The Royal Examiner reached out to County Administrator Douglas P. Stanley and Planning Director Taryn Logan, on Sept. 11 regarding the email shared by Ms. Bates.

Ms. Logan responded in an email, “Thank you for reaching out to me.  I appreciate it.  I read through the e-mails.  Our Department has received complaints regarding sheds placed in the front yards of properties in Lake Front Royal.  We are working to review the sheds in question as to when they were placed and if they were permitted to determine if they met the zoning ordinance requirements at that time.  Some of the sheds may be “grandfathered in” according to the ordinance at that time or they may need to be moved to comply with the current zoning ordinance requirements.  Mr. Morrison’s e-mail does not represent the views of the Planning Department.  We are working to address the complaints we have received and to help the citizens of Lake Front Royal the best we can to find solutions to meet the zoning ordinance requirements.

“I will speak with Emily and get back to you.  Charlie is not in the office today, but I will get with him tomorrow about your FOIA request.”

Mr. Stanley did not respond.

County FOIA Officer, Planning Staff & Attorney: ‘no records exist’

Ms. Mounce replied, on Sept. 12, “After discussions with Zoning Department Staff and the County Attorney, it was determined that in accordance with Section 2.2-3704(B) of the Code of Virginia, no such records exist pursuant to your request. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your time.”

Armed with the information that there were no written complaints regarding sheds, per Ms. Mounce, the zoning department staff and Warren County Attorney Dan Whitten, this reporter spoke with Mr. Morrison on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m. in the hallway of the Warren County Government Center.

Informed that Ms. Mounce had replied to the FOIA request that there were no written complaints to share, Morrison said, “They were all oral.  There were no written complaints.”

Tony Carter may be looking for the logic in numbers as he explains why the results of a County Survey on the opinion of Lake Front Royal property owners is irrelevant to his board’s decision on whether to maintain a Sanitary District designation opponents allege was achieved without their side’s representation. (BOS meeting Aug. 16, 2016.) File photos /Roger Bianchini

Supervisors ignored the will of Lake Front Royal property owners

On Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, the Warren County Board of Supervisors was presented with evidence that when both sides were involved, a clear majority of Lake Front Royal property owners wanted to abolish the Sanitary District created in January.

The result of a Warren County Survey sent out following the July 19 Public Hearing amidst allegations of foul play by both sides was 60-40 percent in favor of dissolving the Sanitary District.

Despite that result, however, the Warren County Supervisors voted 3-2 to ignore the majority will of subdivision property owners. Only Chairman Linda Glavis and Archie Fox voted to follow the survey result.

Archie Fox, second from right, appears unconvinced as Tony Carter, second from left, explains why majority doesn’t rule in the Lake Front Royal subdivision’s inclusion as the newest of Warren County’s Commonwealth-leading number of Sanitary Districts.

“It is obvious and very clear–a majority don’t want it,” Fox said in making a motion the County join the majority in petitioning the Court to dissolve the Lake Front Royal Sanitary District.

However, Tony Carter, Dan Murray and Tom Sayre used various arguments to dismiss the result as ill-informed or irrelevant.

“I understand the will of the people and all of that … but you can look at numbers any way you want,” Carter said in support of maintaining the Sanitary District despite the survey result.

Carter also said some concerns expressed by opponents of the District – such as higher taxes and a centralized water system – were unfounded.

However, the current 2017 Lake Front Royal Sanitary District fee $450. Prior to converting to the sanitary district, the POA per-lot maintenance fee was $300.  The increase was due to a needed bridge repair, part of which is being paid for by the Warren County and the state.

Time to ask tough questions of County staff and elected officials

Questions that Warren County residents should pose of their supervisors, Warren County Zoning staff and Administrator Doug Stanley:

• Is selective enforcement of zoning ordinances occurring in the county?
• Why are FOIA-requested documents said not to exist, when there is proof otherwise?
• Why is there a Sanitary District at Lake Front Royal, when a majority of residents opposed it?

As the details of this story come to light, the Royal Examiner is committed to reporting the facts to its readers.