Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

appreciate your interest and we encourage public participation in our meeting. Your comments are important to our decision-making process. Please note that there will be two opportunities during the meeting for you to address the commission members. The first will come early in the meeting we when we ask for public comment for items not on the agenda. The second will come when the chairman opens a public hearing for public comment. Anyone wishing to address the commission will approach the podium. Give their first and last name. Your complete physical address. Comments must be limited to three minutes. Uh roll call. Mr. Austin present. Mr. Johnson present. Mr. Thompson present. Mr. Pennington. Mr. Sprouls present. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Schuman present. All right. Um, next order of business would normally be approval of the minutes, but we don't have minutes from the last meeting at this time. Um, next order of business is public comment for items not on the agenda. I don't know if anybody has signed up or there anybody who wants to make a comment for items not on the agenda. All right. If not, the next order of business is the first certificate of appropriateness. Abington Development LLC, 238 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia. Applicant Medstream Properties LLC 76 Peach Tree Road, Sweet 300 Asheville, North Carolina 28803. owner, certificate of appropriateness for updating the Abington Comments Commons, a comprehensive signage plan located at 238 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210, parentheses, parcel 012-1-127 in parenthesis, staff report. Good evening, Caleb Conklin, planner one

with the town. So, if you remember from last time um in the April meeting um the applicant is proposing to amend the um Avenue and Commons uh comprehensive sign plan and then the last meeting you guys approved nine projecting signs then also that monument sign base. Um so they brought and then you guys requested for the window signs to come back um because you guys wanted to see kind of what that design was, what the renderings would be. Um so the applicant has brought us new renderings and that's what you can see in your report. Um, so each of the transom window signs will have a cream colored background and beveled frame design displaying each of the individual business logos located within the abdian comments. And you can see that um on the presentation as well and then the applicant is here to speak if you had any questions. Does anybody have any questions for Caleb? Does anybody have any questions for the applicant? I was not at the last meeting. So um welcome any discussion or any action the uh commission wants to take. Just to refresh the memory and that the minutes are not here is we asked the applicant um to come back um with an example of what they were actually asking for. Um they wanted eight signs along Main Street. Um but I believe the board had reservations in approving something cart blanch without seeing um something more definitive. Um this is what uh was actually recommended. It's a common background with the different logos of each respective business um in it, but it presents somewhat of a uniform design.

Um and it gives uh the commission um you know something to base the approval on. So do you think is that accurate gentlemen? Yeah. Okay. I guess the question would next question would be if this is what uh was asked for at the last meeting. Is there um a motion regarding the uh presentation? Caleb, just one quick question. All of the signage relative to the square footage um complies. Well, actually, it's under the comprehensive sign. Yes. Okay. Yep. So, it can be greater than that 10% that's allowed in the Okay. I think this complies with what was uh advocated last time. Um as such, I'll make a motion. Uh we approve uh the COA as submitted. Is there a second? I'll second. All right. Any additional discussion? If not, if you would call the role. Mr. Austin, I Mr. Johnson. Hi, Mr. Thompson. Hi, Mr. Sprouls. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi. All right. Number two, certificate of appropriateness, Sherry Cavantes, 227 West Main Street, Abington in Virginia, 24210. Applicant owner, certificate of appropriateness for an unapproved roof extension located at 227 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia, 24210. Parenthesis partials parcel 012-1-70 in parenthesis. Okay. So Sher Svantis of Abinant Antiques and More um has requested and

proposed for the allowance of a roof extension onto the rear north elevation of the building connecting the existing rubber membrane roof to the asphalt parking lot. The 4T x 64 ft extension creates an enclosed area to store trash cans. The frame of the roof extension consists of a 2in x 4 in wooden members OSB sheathing clad in rolled asphalt sheets. Then a building permit application has been submitted uh to staff and will be reviewed by the town building official uh to ensure any other necessary Virginia state building code requirements are met if the planning commission approves the proposed allowance. Is this what you're seeing in the pictures? Has that work already been done? Yes, it's already been completed. Yep. Okay. Additional questions, comments. And that is to store trash cans. Yes. So, um, trash cans or maybe other things below, but that is the main purpose was for trash cans. It was just an open space um railing and so there's no screening or anything of that nature other than what's advocated here? Yes. Just the roof. Yep. and everything that they want to like trash cans will be like inside this enclosure that will be That's what you're seeing right there. That's what That's from the inside. Yeah. So from the outside you'd just be looking down. It' be a pretty much an enclosed area because before this was a wall. So this is where the parking lot ended and then this was the building and then this was just kind of an open space before. They're looking to have a space for trash cans and everything. So this way it's not like out in the open and it's kind of out of the way so people So not everybody's

seen trash cans and all that kind of stuff. Okay. So is this on the back side of the building? Is that you would be able to see it from the side? That that was the thing I was having a hard time really understanding how this related to the rest of the building because all the pictures are kind of up close and it's on the back side. So plum alley you might be able to pull up on Google Street View, but there's also on page four of that staff report. You'd be able to see it um on the side looking west. Not the clearest photo, but um that's what would be from seeing from the public right away. And I'm assuming the building official is Are there doors or There was no door. There was no door proposed. I think you would be coming in from the side over by the pepper mill over there. Yes, sir. No, I I mean what I'm saying is doors on the back side of the building in which trash cans would obstruct. Um, and that's the building official. Yeah. You know, that would have to examine that, but and Rick's already taken a look at this, too. Okay. When we saw that was done without approval, Rick and Caleb went out to check it out. And Rick's been looking at it. But yeah, Mr. Thompson, here's a view of the back. Yeah. Yeah. I I can see now where that addition gone. Yeah, there windows back there but no entrance or exit. Okay. Any additional questions? appears to me like not having the trash cans showing

in the alley is a is a good thing. So what what is the pleasure of the commission? Now I understand that if we approve this, it still has to be approved by the building inspector. So yeah, you're just more looking at a design perspective because it's in the entrance corridor and you can see it from the you can see it from from the rightway. So that's fine. But yeah, they've already submitted a building permit. I'm pretty sure red killed. So Rick's looking at that. Rick was just holding off until you guys said it was good in terms of the design and everything. What do we want to do? And the applicant's here if you have any questions for them or anything. Does anybody have any questions for the applicant? Is there a motion by anyone on the commission? Hesitant to do this, but I'm going to move that we approve the uh COA as presented. Is there a second? Yeah, I'll second it. Okay. Additional discussion. I think it looks any worse than what was there. Well, I I think when you don't when you get rid of the

trash cans being in the alley, that seems to me to be an improvement. Um, and I think if you didn't do that, you'd be asking potentially to have some sort of a buffer for the trash cans and and this seems to take care of that issue. Yeah. Or they would just be out on the open. There's an alco, but it's it's wide open for anybody. Yeah. So, all right. Any additional discussion, questions? Not if you would call the role. Mr. Austin, I. Mr. Johnson? I. Mr. Mr. Thompson. I Mr. Sprouls. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi. Next order business. Certificate of appropriateness. John Wood, 266 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210. Applicant Larry Jones, 2438 Walden Road, Abington, Virginia 24211. Owner. Certificate of appropriateness for unapproved window and door signage located at 266 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210, parenthesis parcel 011-8-4 in parenthesis. Uh John Wood, applicant and Larry Jones, the owner, have requested approval of a certificate of properness for the allowance of an unapproved window and door sign on the primary north elevation. Um the candy jar, glass peacock, and the emporium of Abington uh occupy the building. Um the applicant proposes um for the allowance of the unapproved non-illuminated window and door signage on the primary north elevation of the building. There will be two signs for the businesses known as the candy jar and two signs for the businesses for the business known as Emporium of Abington. And additionally, there will be one sign designated for the vendor whimsical wardrobe uh connected to the business um emporium of Abington. And then those sign measurements are listed in the staff report. So the total s square

footage of all of it will be 17.17 square ft. Um window signage is allowed a maximum area of 10% square ft. A total area of all windows and doors on each building facade. Um, and then with that, uh, with all their windows and doors, they're allowed 22.1 square feet. So, they do meet the requirements of the zoning ordinance for all that signage. Questions for Caleb? If not, what is the pleasure of the commission? I move we approve the certificate of appropriateness for these signs. All right. Is there a second? Yeah, I'll second. All right. Any additional discussion? Not if you would call the role. Mr. Austin. I. Mr. Johnson. I. Mr. Thompson. Hi. Mr. Sprouls. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi. All right. Caleb, one last question. on that building. There's been a lot of roof on the a lot of work on the awning. Yeah, that will be discussed later. Yeah. Okay. I'll be bringing that up at the end. All right. Uh next order business is certificate of appropriateness, Holston Mountain Artisans and Dot and Hop Art Studio 280 and 284 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210. Applicant Jerry Signs, Inc. 15775 Porterfield Highway, Abington, Virginia 24211. Representative Certificate of Appropriateness for Wall and Canopy Signage located at 280 and 284 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210, parcel

[Music] 011-8-25 in parenthesis. Uh so both applicants, Holston mount artisans and Don and Hop Art Studio and the jury signs the representative have requested approval of a certificate appropriateness to install wall and canopy signage. Um so within that uh the first floor of that building Wolf Hill Center um is Holston Mountain Artisans and Hop Art Studio. And if you remember in February you guys approved the Holston Mountain Artisans wall sign. Um, so Don Hop uh proposes to install a non-illuminated framed aluminum wall sign with applied vinyl graphics onto the western half of the primary north elevation of the building facing West Main Street. The proposed wall sign will be located in the exact location as the shaked wall sign and will be identical to the approved Holston Mountain Artisans wall sign um that was approved at the February meeting in material size and shape. Colors used for the proposed wall sign include a white background with a black outer border, a thin gold inner border, and a black lettering and album emblem as shown in the rendering provided. The wall sign is proposed to measure 28 in by 90 in or 17.5 square ft. They are allowed um 50 square ft of wall signage per zoning ordinance. Um so that wall sign does meet the standards of the ordinance. Then the applicant proposes to remove the existing directional wall sign um from the primary north elevation left of the entrance door and place it with an identical directional wall sign that matches the existing directional wall sign in material size and shape um that was used by shaked. Um the sign will measure 20 in by 31 in for a size of 4.3 square ft. um Holston mount artisans. They proposed to remove the existing cloth awning from the rear south elevation of the building and replace it with a beige and black color cloth awning with a width of approximately 83 in with a height of approximately 41 in.

The awning will project 42 in from the building. Uh veance will be 8 in in height and have 132 in in width. The height from the ground level to the bottom of the awning is greater than 8 ft meeting the height requirements of the canopy signage. And then canopy signs is proposed to measure 2 and a half inches in height for a total area of 1.4 1.45 square feet. And then canopy signs are allowed a maximum area of 0.5 square ft for every linear foot. Um so they would be allowed a maximum maximum area of 5.5 square feet of canopy signage. So that's canopy signage does meet the zoning ordinance requirement. Any questions for Caleb? If not, what is the pleasure of the commission? I would make a motion that we approve the certificate of appropriateness as presented. All right. Is there a second? Second. All right. Any additional discussion? If not, if you would call the role. Mr. Austin. I Mr. Johnson. I Mr. Thompson. I Mr. Sprouls. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi. Next order of business. Certificate of appropriateness. Mark Kaiser, 619 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210. Applicant owner certificate of appropriateness for fencing located at 619 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia. 24210 parentheses parcel018-3-15 in parenthesis. So Mark Kaiser, owner and applicant has requested approval of certificate appropriateness for the allowance of an unapproved fencing in front of the primary south elevation of the building. Um kind of furniture company currently

occupies that building. Um staff issued a stop work order on May 6, 2025 when we noticed fencing was being installed. Uh the applicant proposes for the allowance of the unapproved fencing in the parking lot positioned at the western end of the primary south elevation. Fencing will be installed seasonally during the months April through September used to store outdoor furniture and allow for an entrance and exit from one of the showrooms. The fencing will be 5 ft tall, black aluminum extending from the building 22 feet and following parallel to the building 83 feet. Um, according to the ordinance, uh, 44-8-2-9, walls and fences, no fence or wall between a street and a front building line shall be more than 4t in height. Staff recommend that the proposed fencing meet the 4-foot requirement of the zoning ordinance regardless of temporary seasonal installation. Uh the unapproved fencing will remove nine parking spaces from the business. And according to the ordinance chapter 44, table 8.39, minimum off streetet parking requirements, a retail store requires one parking space for each 250 ft of floor area. Um according to the Washington County Land Card, the building has a floor area of 24,000 square ft, uh requiring the business to have 97 off- streetet parking spaces. The existing number of parking spaces on the premise is 50. Due to the change in reduction in spaces of the non-conforming parking lot prior to the ordinance requirement being established, the parking lot would need to conform to the current standards of the ordinance meeting the requirement of 97 parking spaces. However, as stated in chapter 44-8-3-6 holding historic district and entrance corridor parking or un loading waiver, the applicant can request alternative parking requirements with the approval of the planning commission and town council as a waiver. The request will require public and surrounding property owner notification. If the unapproved fencing is approved by the planning commission, the applicant will attend the next planning commission

meeting on June 23rd uh for the approval of that parking waiver. So, they're asking for the fencing and then also that parking waiver. Um that parking waiver we could not get advertised in time because of the um short notice. We um did the stop work order on the 6 of this month. Um so, they will have to come back for that parking waiver if you guys see this fit. So what's going to happen is there are 50 parking spaces. You're going to eliminate nine to leave 41. But if we if we just followed the the general rule should have 97. Yep. You're going to have less than half of the number of parking spaces. Yep. And that's what you would uh discuss with the applicant. Um what their proposal is. Um it's what you see fit. I mean, it's just based off the size of the building. Um, doesn't mean they're pulling in 97 customers every hour or something like that. And this this parking lot, everything was developed prior to 2023, so before ordinance update. So, if you see, like Caleb said, if it's appropriate where, yeah, it requires 97 spots because the building's this big, but really in all actuality, there's not many, you know, not many not 97 people visit that area one time. You can kind of see as you see fit with that. Um but yeah. So So what happens if we approve the fencing but then deny the amendment the parking? Do they have to take the fencing down? Um yes. Unless they uh they can go for a variance at that point. Um, but that's another thing is why we brought it for you today is because if they don't if you if they don't if you don't want that, then you might as well just not even approve the fencing at this point. Um, because it would kind of let them know to not go through with the public advertisement. Yes, sir. Does it make more sense perhaps to consider both of those at the

same time? They're not going to be able to Well, I guess they could put the fencing up, start storing furniture between now and the June 23rd meeting. But then if we you potentially then would have to take down the Right. The fencing is partially up right now. So, they do have the materials out there and it is a temporary fencing. So, they've already had plans to remove it after the September month. Um so it is already a temporary thing. It's not it's not um in there um permanently. So and I get when we use the word temporary it means 30 days. So that's why temporary seasonally but that's why it's coming before you is because it's more than 30 days. So that's why it's come before you there in that sense. Um but the reason why to Mr. Rosson's point what uh why we couldn't look at the waiver in the same time was because we missed the public noticing deadline for that. That's why if that if that was the ca if we could meet that publication that publication notice we would have had both come before you uh together. I mean I would I would not like or if we approve the fencing and then they had to come and take it out. But it seems like if we approve this fencing, we're almost saying we're going to approve the parking there. Exactly. And that's assuming that they would be agreeing to the modification from 5T to four feet. So yeah, and assuming we don't get objections from neighboring property owners and things, there's a lot to in that equation. That would be my biggest concern is when you limit the number of parking spaces that you know I would think that it might be likely that you would have opposition

from the neighboring folks if you did that would matter in our decision and if you didn't that would matter in our decision. Yes. So I personally would rather see us do all of it at one time. um and hear from the because that would matter to me what the what the adjacent property owners had to say. Yes, sir. Yeah. Sure. So, is the idea perhaps we table this tonight until the June 23rd meeting, give consideration to all of it at that time. That's you can table it if you want. You're just more looking at the the fence itself and the design of it in a sense and the parking thing. You know, you could look at it separately or together, but we don't want them. But yeah, you don't without any more money, anything of this nature and then all of a sudden come back if there's an issue with the parking and just like Mr. Austin stated. Um, if we approve this, then essence we're also acquiescing to the modification of variance in the parking lot department. Whether or not we do that or or don't do it, a lot of other factors come into play. And if you table this too, we wouldn't, you know, there would be no additional charge for or not even if they came before you in June, we wouldn't charge again for the weight for the COA. It would just be for the public noticing that we would have to do per Virginia state law. So, so it's kind of up to up to the board to decide if you would like to see it all at once. This was just the part that we thought that maybe you would want to see it prior and then if you felt it was all right, you would. If not, you're more than in your right to table it and see the full thing in they're grandfathered in as it is right now. Yes, that's correct. Modify something then in actually actuality we need to see everything at the same time. It is my opinion. That's

fine. Is that the form of a motion? Yes, sir. I'll second that. Yeah. Is the motion that we table this? Yes. Okay. We've got a motion to second additional discussion. If not, if you would call the role. Mr. Austin. I. Mr. Johnson. I. Mr. Thompson. I. Mr. Scrolls. I. And Mr. Schuman. I. All right. Uh, the next order of business is a public hearing. Um, special use permit. Michael and Lorie Nunesner, 792 Ball Lane, Abington, Virginia 24210. Applicant owner, special use permit for a dwelling multif family in the general business district direct district B2 located at 792 Ball Lane, Abington, Virginia 24210. Parenthesis parcel 106A2-11-2 in parenthesis. Uh Michael Nuncaster, a owner, has requested approval of special use permit to allow a multif family dwelling in the general business district B2. Uh currently there are five usable commercial spaces within the building. There is one space occupied by the commercial business of the hair closet which is a personal service use. Four of the spaces are vacant. Um the applicant proposes to allow a multif family dwelling within the general business district B2. The ordinance defines a multif family dwelling as a building or portion thereof arranged or designed to contain three or more dwelling units. A multif family dwelling is only allowed in the general business district with the approval of a special use permit. Um for parking, the minimum of three parking requirements for a multif family dwelling are two parking spaces for each dwelling. There are uh 16 existing stripe parking spaces for the entire building allowing for maximum of eight units with the given parking standards. Uh the parking lot has been recently resurfaced and restriped. Um and then

some of the special use permit findings um as follows. Currently there are five usable commercial spaces within the building. There's one space occupied by the commercial business, the hair closet which is a byite used as a personal service in the general uh business district. Four of the spaces are vacant. Each of these can be converted to a dwelling unit and would need to adhere to the Virginia uniform statewide building code. Properties addressed 780, 784, and 820 Ball Lane located on the south side of Ball Lane are single family uses located in the B2 district. Adjacent properties addressed 777, 781, and 795 Ball Lane located on the north side of Ball Lane are a religious assembly use, multif family use, and a single family use respectively. There's currently no vegetative screening on the property due to the building setbacks in the B2 district. However, there are existing vegetative buff buffers on the north and west adjacent properties. And then the planning commission can discuss with the applicant and make conditions within the motion for the special use permit. And if if seen fit, um we staff uh came up with some conditions that you can incorporate. Um the current commercial business within the building may be removed before any multif family tenants occupy the building. This requirement will be satisfied within the staff's building department for a change of occupancy. No signage has been proposed by the applicant. All proposed signage to be installed must be submitted with a signed permit application um into staff and be issued a signed permit before any installation of signage can occur. And then if signage is proposed, the height and size requirements shall follow the standards of the zoning ordinance in table 8- or 8.4.6B, highdensity residential R3 district non-residential uses and neighborhood signs. And then these are the sign um even though it's in the B2, these are what we use um as the ordinance for signs and multif family developments when if there is ever a new development.

So the the actual modifications would have to be approved by by building permit. Is that correct? Yes. For change of occupation. Yes. So, all we're doing is saying you can basically use that building for multifamily dwellings. Okay. Y and it and it there's like Caleb said, there's multifamily in that area as well. There's R3 right across the street. Um, so it's it's there's comparable uses right across the street and next door and everything. So, it's not like it's a use that's not even in the area. There's uses multif family within that area, too. Any questions for Caleb? All right. Does the applicant wish to make up presentation? Okay. Okay. Um All right. In that case, the next thing I I need to do is open the public hearing, which I will do, and see if there is any public comment. Uh I don't see anybody from the public who might want to comment. In that case, I'm going to close the public hearing and u see what the commission wants to do. If there are questions for the applicant or additional questions for Caleb. If not, is there a motion regarding the uh special use permit? Now, this would have to come before the town council, too, right? Yeah. you got it would go before them at their next town council. So like Mr. Schuman like you said it's just you're just approving the use to be a multif family since that's a special use but the use can be with restrictions or conditions. Yeah. So that's as well I mean the mixed use that you specified um where did where did that suggestion come from?

Um so what that condition is is because technically in the B2 you can't um for the mixed use is what we define it as is commercial space in front and residential in the back of the building or commercial on the bottom. Second level is residential. So this is why we're not going down the mixeduse route. Um that's why we're going for multifamily. Um if we would have did mixed use then they would technically be able to have that business in there but because now um the applicant is proposing whole multifamily development for that is when we can have multif family. So the applicant is actually agreeing to the multif family. That is what's uh yeah was stated to us and then the applicant can come up here to confirm that they'd like to. All right. That's where we in our condition we said may have it just because it is a grandfathered use. So we don't want to, you know, the the the property owner would have the option if they want it just to be multif family, if they want to have that used theirs still, they can, but when they leave, then it can be converted. Yeah. But not until then. Yeah. So it's just for that case since this way it gives the property owner the option if they want to convert it all to multif family, they can, but if they want to keep that hair salon that's in there now, then they can. It says main, so doesn't it's not a shall it's just a main. So it's up the property, but it would need to be one or the other. One if they change commercial or multi if they change it. Yeah. Yeah. If the hair salon went out, right? Yeah. It's just because that hair salons there is grandfathered. So and we checked all the parking on the parking and everything. Yeah. But you're saying the the maximum number of units be eight units. Yeah. Within just a parking standard existing parking. Yeah. But they've only got five. Is that right? Yep. It depends. Um I mean I haven't been inside the building and then they'll have to go through the change of occupancy with our building department. They could have more. They might have to add more parking. It just depends. They could

they could redevelop it and break it down differently. Yeah. And they do have more space to do more parking. They're just not striped at the mall. Well, they do have ample room to do more parking along the side and the back. So Commission want to do. Is there a motion? No. I'll make a motion that uh the special use permit for multif family uh be approved uh with the condition that uh the one commercial tenant be removed before any of the multif family occupancy. All right. Is there a second to that motion? I'll second it. All right. Additional discussion if you call the role. Mr. Austin I. Mr. Johnson I. Mr. Thompson I. Mr. Sprouls. Hi. And Mr. Schumer. Hi. All right. Next order of business is old business matters not on the agenda. Piggly wiggly alley alley revitalization project. So I got Isaiah Thomas, our economic development specialist here to talk to you. So again, this is this isn't something that's on a parcel that's in the EC, but sort of in in the area. So we figured we'd just kind of show an update on the project. Okay. Afternoon, gentlemen. So, uh, like Gabe was saying, we just thought we'd bring it before you, let you see what was going on. I'm sure everybody's seen all the construction going on on West Main Street or heard about somebody that's had to deal with it. Um, so I don't know what order these are in. If you guys, if you're familiar with it, this is the um alleyway that's between what is now Holston Artisans and Potter's Optitians. Uh it has historically been a pretty terrible alleyway for people entering Main Street and has been the cause of several uh pedestrian runins and causes of a couple fender benders. Um but when

we were looking at it from that aspect uh in an effort to try to generate some more um cross uh you call it um transplanting people from the farmers market because we generate tremendous amount of population there on Saturdays. They don't necessarily activate the rest of Main Street and the business down that way. Um, we've been trying to think of ways to get people to uh walk Main Street a little bit more and head not just towards this side of Main Street, but also that way. Um, we thought we could put some things down there that would activate people to go and look in one of those and when you go to other places, they have these beautiful alleyways that put murals in people walk down them. And this is this one lends itself. It's got a great name and it also uh prevents some of the accidents we've been seeing. Um, so this is what it's going to be. It's brick on sand. Um, all this brick is the brick that we took up from the uh sidewalk repairs on Valley Street. So, when they redid all the brick out there, we've been keeping it out of Wolf Creek and they reused it here. It's going to have um vegetative uh islands down the side. Um not sure what they're going to put in there, but Laney will probably pick out something nice, some flowers. Uh we've almost came to an agreement with both property owners. We're getting pretty close and they're going to allow us to get an easement for um putting anchors on both buildings. I've talked to Gabe. It will be in the mortar. It will not be in the brick. So, all the anchors will be in the mortar. Um but it'll have nice lights strung across it. And then at some point, um depending how it goes and if it needs to be coming before you guys, we can talk that as well. We would like to preserve the WMC mural that's on the side of the building there, but also maybe do some rotating art in the alleyway from some of our local artisans just to activate the alleyway and get people to walk down there, which is Holston mount artisans is now there. We have a new art gallery opening just approved our sign which is Dot and Hop

and then you have Arts Depot. And between that and the um uh redevelopment of the train depot, I think we're going to create a a nice redevelopment plan as a whole on the West Main Street portion and activate people walking down that street. That's how it stands today. Just took that photo on the right there this this afternoon. It's looking really nice. Looks much different than uh than the alley before. The the best part about it is if you remember there was a pretty significant crown in this alley and cause a lot of sheet flow coming out of there. Um they were able to grade that down about a foot and a half. So it's much easier to walk. It's going to be a lot easier for handicap accessibility. Now um part of this this is not part of the main street um sidewalk improvements that came out of a different fund but it will it is aligning well with them. Right. Uh if you guys see this photo right here, uh they started working on that today. So they're going to completely cut out that entrance apron and it'll be all flat sidewalk now. So there's no reason cars should try to turn there anymore. That's why it doesn't have ballards on that end. Um but this and then the the crosswalk in front of what is brisket and bourbon now used to be the hardware or was bone fire. It's going to have bumpouts. So it's a two-part measure. It'll have traffic calming because it'll be a little bit tighter. People usually slow down when they feel like they're about to hit something. but also it'll allow pedestrians to be closer to the street so they can actually get seen and cross. But between this and that, I think we're going to have a a much uh more pedestrian friendly West Main Street. That's kind of the the plan right now. And then if it goes well and I can find some more funding, I've got some some grander ideas for fixing that parking lot in the back that looks terrible that we don't own. That was a question. I mean, does the easement where does the easement go to? Uh so that is a town-owned alley. That is the only alley we own on West Main Street. The easement that we're getting on these two buildings is only for the lighting,

electrical fixtures. Those are easements to attach the lighting to the correct. But the easement itself or the alley, excuse me. Where does that dead end? It will now. So you right where these ballards are at. Um that is the backside of National Bank. Um I don't know Gab Street for you. the National Bank comes out and they were having an issue with people going backwards down that alley and then they would get there and they couldn't figure out how to get out and they would turn right because there's a curb cut and go backwards through their drive-thru. So, it was creating a whole bunch of issues. Anyways, um that is a public rideway that we all the way back to Rimsburg. All the way back to Rimsburg. Okay. So, we um and I can um at some point we're hoping to redevelop this whole parking scheme. These are all privately owned lots. All the town owns is that public rideway up to the alleyway, the back of the Holy Mountain Artisan building. Eventually, we would like to have a common plan of parking and an easement, a maintenance easement across all these parking lots and to make it a common parking so that if you look if you go out there, it's very confusing how to get to any of these. So, this is actually where you're looking where this equinox is. That's the bank's parking lot. And to get to it, you have to go up Piggy Wigs alley and then you turn right into it. This is not actually an exit where this ambulance is at. That is the entrance to the brisket and bourbon parking lot, but it does not come over there even though you can and people do it all the time. There's, you know, six inches of asphalt you have to climb up to to do it. So, if you're in a low profile car, we suggest not doing it. That's their only parking lot. And then it goes over to Mr. Bird and Mr. Owens building um even further down. It's just they're not they don't cross flow very well. Um, and also when we have festivals, you can see that this photo is not updated, but each one of these entrances now currently has ballards that we have removable ballards in all these entrances so that we can easily close Rimsburg down for festivals. The town would like to keep

having festivals, but when we do close the street, it adversely affects all these businesses because they no longer can access their parking lots. So, we're currently working on trying to source funding and trying to get an agreement from all these owners that we could develop a common plan of parking that would allow them to exit through the bank's parking lot on Wall Street. So, you would have access to all these parking, everybody would still have parking during the festival, but the street would be closed and everybody would be safe on the street. So, the Piggly Wiggly Alley is kind of the kickoff point to show what could be possible. um it was the only portion that we technically own that we can do that on. And then we're going to use that to leverage to show people that um just by doing some few things that's not a super big impact with what's there, you can greatly uh influence the direction of pedestrians in business. Plus, it would look a lot better. Right now, it doesn't look so great back there. That's where we're at with that. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you. Looks good. And I would just like to commend Isaiah on all the hard work. It's taken a lot of work just to get that all together. So he's done a lot of hard work on, you know, just like you said, the pig weekly alley is the kickoff and hopefully we have that kind of area well received and you know, we can help connect Rumsburg to West Main after. Isaiah, some of the older brick that came up in the sidewalks and what have you. Are you storing that at Wolf Creek as well? Yeah, there's uh we still got a lot. I think we had 14. I mean, that's some of the newer, so to speak. Um, the real old brick. You got it. They've kept all the brick. Now, I'm sure you guys know when you have homes constructed of it though, we're always I'm always looking

for Yeah. additional brick out there. Well, yeah, I may need it. Some of it they took it up very yeah I view that as the newer so to speak kry you know the old was not and that's the reason for parocity so yes sir tons out there And if and if you're interested, feel free to call um public works and just ask for Kevin Worley and he should be able to help you out. That goes for I guess anybody that has a historic home. If you're looking for breaks and match your uh house, feel free to call and see what see what we can do. Yeah. So, we just want to give you an update on that since now it's kind of been a little off the ground and we want to get in front of you guys just to kind of update you and so this way you know what's kind of going on. Um, now to the other last piece of uh I guess business I have that's not on the agenda. Mr. Johnson kind of brought it up in a sense uh for the 266 West Main Street that same building where the candy jar is and all these other ones. Um, in 2023 they were approved to do the whole paint scheme like you see here and to replace the canopy roof. The canopy roof cladding was a tin roof crimped standing seam with no striations. I've included the staff report for you and also the minutes, but uh from the minutes it was said that let me find it here real quick. says that uh the board voted to approve the COA as presented with the roofing

being standing seat with no striations. And so when we got out there, I think it was th last Thursday or so. And uh we knew they were doing the roofing, but we didn't see till 5 p.m. really that they started putting the cladding on. And instead of it being standing seam with no striations, it has striations. So you can see there you can see kind of the ridges in between the standing seams and then that's a better picture of what the old roof looked like. This was the crimped and then this has the striations in it. Um so I contacted the applicant you know they are aware of that saying you know it's doesn't match for what you were approved for before. So instead of having him come on here last minute, I was just bringing it before you all to get a determination if you would like to let it go or if you would want it to come before or if you would wanted to get it taken off and put back with a standing seam, no striations as you approved in 2023, I would have the applicant come here and make their case uh in front of you in front of you. I think so. is just more of a if you say no, I want the applicant to be here and we can talk about it, I can we can schedule for June or if you see that it's uh not needed, then I we can just let it go. Uh the reason for the norations was I think I listened to the minutes today was that is because uh Mr. Johnson was saying it's a historic building. It had the crimp roof before. So that's why they were looking that's why in 2023 it was looked at to have that same profile. uh is the building was built in uh 1937. Yeah. They didn't have the technology didn't exist at that time for the striations, you know, and later it was developed as a way to try to strengthen but also go thinner, um so if you're historically correct, then that's the reason for the standing

seam, no striations, and that's what HPRB has adopted. Yeah, that's the one. Yeah. Yeah. In the in the O, it's he would know stri issues because that's what historically was there. Uh we do make the con um concession that because we're in an area that they're we're pretty much one of the few in the area that have a wealth of historic buildings uh that we make the concession for it to be standing seam and it's not doesn't have to be crimped. They can just interlock which this one interlocks. It's just a matter of the striations in between the standing seams. So again, without having the applicant rush here and everything, short notice, more bringing it before you all to get, I guess, an opinion or marching orders to say as if you want just to approve it as is and let it go or um have or make to say, you know, no, we want it how we approved it in 2023. And then I would have the applicant come here and they can state their case and everything. What do you have any understanding of why the mistake was made? The applicant did not give the letters or staff report or anything to uh the contractor contractor and the contractor again most of the time it's because when people think of that type of roof it's the modern one not without the striations much cheaper and uh it's cost yeah it's a cost issue. I learned that a lesson I guess about 15 years ago on 187 Valley Street and I learned it the hard way. And even the contractor said this was what just he said on site was that um they're about the same price but it's just a matter of availability but the O has no problem getting it. It's just a matter of wanting to put it on I guess in some respect. But yeah, kind of bringing it before you and whatever you ask staff to do, uh, we will

do. That's what that certainly will go along with what the commission recommends, but my opinion hadn't changed. One of my concerns and I guess it it's this building and then we talked about the situation with Kaisers and even with the uh antique shop is that we seem to have situations where work gets done and then we're dealing with it after the fact. And you know, personally, you know, I would hate to have them have to take off the roof and redo the whole thing, but at the same time, at some point, you know, we we tend to, I think, end up uh begging for forgiveness after the fact. Some of that to me, like with the uh, you know, with with the addition to the back of the antique shop made some sense. Mhm. Um, but I'm I'm troubled by what happened at Kaiser's and I'm troubled by this because the work started and then it's there. I will say the distinction between this one is this one was approved previously Kaiser and the sign and everything was not. So that that's just exactly beforehand but it was approved in a way that it wasn't done the same way. That's it. But I mean this isn't the only time that that's happened either. No sir. you know, so I mean, you know, part of it is if we just constantly let people slide and do something that wasn't approved, then I mean, what's the sense of even going through the motions and, you know, putting those, you know, requests in here and getting approval on anything? I mean, if they're going to do something different, we're just going to let them do it. I neither neither will sway your opinion. I just wanted to give you a background on this project. They when they got approved, they got approved for

a facade grant to the town which helps cover some of the cost of this. They had a really hard time getting their encroachment approved because they wanted to shut the sidewalk down and we have a certain standards that we have to uphold and they couldn't get any of the roofing companies to do the encroachment properly. They'd have to redirect traffic around it. Um, so they actually forewent even doing the roof. Whenever we did our sidewalk closure to do the sidewalk improvements, I reached back out to them and said, "Hey, while this is closed, if you would want to go forward, you still got about a couple months left before the POD grant has to be submitted for dis reispersement. You can do it at that time and you wouldn't have to do an encroachment." So then they went and did it. They didn't do it correctly, but I don't think they did it in mouse. I think they were just rushing to get it done in the same time period. So I don't think it was that. I think they probably just forgot where it's been so long that it was supposed to be flat pan. But just I just want to add it wasn't in malice based on price which I think they probably forgot. Yeah. Did did the facade grant pay for part of the roof or was that something else? So when they applied the facade grants based upon your as a total application. So the when they first painted it like a eight months ago, that was part of it. And then when they repainted the trim and then this a roof was part of it. So it's a one to one match. We put up half of it. Um and it probably honestly cost more to do this, but they just have to match at least one to one what we give. Um I think their total application was more than uh what the I think this one was $2,500 application. That doesn't go very far. So I think it was far more than what um they applied for. But yeah, it help pay for some portion of this project. We paid for or help pay for it, Isaiah. With the town still, is the project still going on at Biscuit and Bourbon? Uh, no. Uh, they um opened it up uh Wednesday. It is they're still out

there, but they've closed down the portion in front of the Piggly Wiggly Alley now. Yes, sir. Trying to keep them as tight as we can from closing sidewalks out there. Can you work with the folks? Yeah. Yeah, we can make that work for them. Um, and then honestly, when they did it, they didn't close down as much as we thought they would. Um, because they move they they put that up in almost a day. So, it was pretty it was a lot quicker than we thought it would be than whenever they first proposed it. So, if they needed to redo it, they could do it pretty I would think I'm not I'm not the guys on the roof, but I think they could do it pretty quick. They had three guys working on it. Yeah. Yeah. And they were walking back and forth across the street. Yeah. So, I didn't pay attention to the the roofing material. Yeah. But I saw them going back and forth. I believe Gabe caught it on the first panel. So, yeah. The contractor asked what, you know, how long have you been at the office for? And I said, "Well, they just put up the first panel at 5:00 p.m. when I got out there." So, yeah, they just start they just started putting on the cladding when we caught it, but they shured up and put the underllayment and everything. They prepped it all, but the first panel didn't go on till we saw it. And instead of having it exposed to the elements because we don't want to have the wood canopy and everything exposed in that sense, we allow him to put on this cladding just to protect the building at the moment, which given the events of Friday and Saturday was a very good foresight. Yeah. Because we don't want to even if it's done not how it was approved, you know, if it's going to cause more damage, we don't want that to happen either. Sure. So, yeah. So noticed that on Thursday or Friday there gave the applicant a call and he and I said, you know, I'll bring it before you. Uh you can make the determination and then uh we go from there. Well, do we want to hear from the applicant? I think that's the question, isn't it? It's pretty much it. I do for one would like to. Yes.

I mean, I think I think we should I mean, I think um you know, we may ultimately say okay, but I don't think we ought to say okay without sense having some additional discussion. Well, again, this was different from the other matters that we've uh reviewed today. For example, this was approved. This came before us approved, right? Here's the here's the standard just like Mr. Thompson stated, you know. you come in, you you get something um approved and then all of a sudden you change it and you come back and you ask for forgiveness. Yeah, we had that situation at the Summers building. Um both on the HPB and here um and it just seems to be, you know, more and more frequent. Um and it's not that the commission doesn't want to work for folks at all, but there's a reason those decisions were made that way to begin with. So, if you guys would like the applicants to come, then you know, we'll have them keep the roof on as as as is right now, and then they will come in June uh to make their case to you and then that's when you can make a determination whether it for stay or for them to do something. I think that would be the minimum we should do is to have them in my mind. If everybody's fine, if everybody's in agreement, then that's how I'll proceed then. Okay. I will give them a call tomorrow and uh we'll get them on the June agenda. Other than that, that is all I had for you guys. If you have any questions for me, more than happy to answer them. If not, any questions, any additional discussion, is there a motion to adjurnn? Let me uh say very quickly, I will not be here on June 23rd. So for purposes of the quorum determination, I wanted you to know that

early on. Okay. I don't know if everyone else can be here, but I will not be. Okay. Thank you for letting us know. Yes, sir. Does anybody else know that they might not at that time? All right. Um All right. Is there a motion to adjourn? So move. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? Good see.