DRRC 02-25-16 Meeting Minutes1
DRRC Meeting Summary For 02/25/16
Members present: Greg Unger, Gary Oates, Dwight Shenk, Larry Ambrogi, Jay Banks, Kevin Kenney,
Whit Wagner, Tim Stowe, June Wilmot
Staff: Candice Perkins
Applicant: Dr. Raymond Fish (Item #3)
Item 1: Election of Officers. Greg Unger – Chairman, Kevin Kenney – Vice Chairman
Item 2: Dedication of Public Utility Lots on Rural Preservation Lots. Discussion on revisions to the
Zoning Ordinance to allow the dedication of public utility lots on rural preservation lots.
Staff provided an overview of the requested amendment. The Committee discussed the impact the
amendment could have – and questioned private easements, expansions and who the requested would
need to come from. Staff explained that the proposed amendment would only apply to expansions of
existing VDOT owned roads; it would not apply to private easements and areas for public utility
dedications.
The committee agreed with the proposed changes sent it forward to the Planning Commission.
Item 3: Request to include outdoor Flea Markets as a Conditional Use in the B2 and
B3 Districts. Discussion on a request to include Flea Markets as a Conditional Use in the B2 (Business
General) District and B3 (Industrial Transition) Districts.
Staff stated that a request had been received to include outdoor flea markets as a conditional use in the
B2 (Business General) and B3 (Industrial Transition) Districts. Currently, flea markets operated outdoors
are permitted as a conditional use in the RA (Rural Areas) District through a Conditional Use Permit
(added in 201). Flea markets operated indoors is a permitted use in the B2 District.
The committee expressed concern as to how this use would fit in with existing B2/B3 uses. The DRRC
discussed the reduced standards proposed with this use – such as gravel parking and driving areas. They
stated that if this would be the first use introduced into an area it could bring down the standards
expected in a commercial district. The committee stated that since this is already permitted through a
conditional use permit in the RA District, there isn’t much need to provide an allowance in the
commercial districts. The DRRC also expressed concern about impacting other commercial users that
would be adjacent to a requested flea market.
The Committee stated that they could be supportive of introducing indoor flea markets as a permitted
use in the B3 district, since this is already permitted in the B2. However they felt that if you introduce
the outdoor element, you would be taking a piece of property that could be so much more and allowing
something that could go in the RA. Anything in the commercial districts associated with this use should
be indoors.
The applicant stated that the property they would like to do this on has been for sale for a while and
need to do something with it to produce income. There are no residential properties close to it and it
seems like a good site to allow a flea market type use. The vision would be a series of small sheds where
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everything would be indoors. Vendors could bring their items and lock up everything when they leave
and it’s something that has not been tried before. The applicant further stated that it would be a good
spot that wouldn't bother the neighbors.
The DRRC stated that they need to look at the community as a whole, and what may be good for this
site isn't best for the entire community. It would be fine if only this one property was impacted by the
ordinance amendment, however once you introduce a conditional use permit, anyone has the
opportunity to apply for it.
Due to the amount of available RA land where this use could go, the committee didn’t see the need to
amend the ordinance to include outdoor flea markets in in the B2/B3 District. Ultimately the DRRC
didn’t want to see a precedent for this type of use.
Other:
It was requested that staff look at solar farms in the RA (Rural Areas District as conditional use with
supplementary use standards.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:00pm.