Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

That's not the ground. Are we ready? Yes. All right, get going here.

Welcome to the Town of Abdin, Virginia Planning Commission regular meeting. We 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 when the chair asks for public comment not on the agenda. The second will come if there is a public hearing once the chairman declares the hearing open for comment. Anybody wishing to address the commission should come to the podium, give your first and last name, and complete physical address. Comment should be limited to three minutes. Uh, roll call. Mr. Austin, present. Mr. Johnson,

present. Mr. Thompson, present. Mr. Pennington, present. Mr. Scrolls, present. Mr. Wilson, present. And Mr. Schuman, present. All right. Next order of visits is approval of minutes. The first group of minutes is from April 28th, 2025. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes from that meeting? If not, is there a motion that the amendments be approved as submitted? I'll move they be approved as submitted. Second. All right. If you would call the role, Mr. Austin, I. Mr. Johnson, I. Mr. Thompson. I. Mr. Pennington. I Mr. Scrolls. Hi. You'll have to abstain. You were absent that one.

That's Yeah, that's for April. April. For April, I was okay. Yeah. I'm sorry. I abstain. Mr. Wilson. Hi, Mr. Schum. I And I abstained because I was not at the meeting. The next minutes are from May 19, 2025 regular meeting. Um, is there uh any additions or corrections to the minutes? If not, um, is there a motion to approve the minutes as submitted? So move. Is there 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. Pennington. Abstain. I was not present. Mr. rules. I Mr. Wilson abstain and Mr. Schuman. Uh, next group of minutes is June 23rd, 2025. Um, I would just like to uh thank the minute taker for noting that my uh interruption of Miss Howard was done politely. I I appreciate that. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes? If not, is there a motion to approve the minutes as submitted? I'll make a motion to approve as presented. Okay. Is there a second?

A second. All right. Any additional discussion? If not, if you would call the role. Mr. Austin, abstain is not being present. Mr. Johnson, I. Mr. Thompson, I. Mr. Pennington, I. Mr. Mr. Rolls abstained as not being present. Mr. Wilson. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi.

Next order of business is public comment for items not on the agenda. Is anybody signed up to make a comment? Is there anybody in the audience that wishes to make a comment for anything not on the agenda? If not, we'll move on to uh the first certificate of appropriateness. Certificate of appropriateness. Stephanie Cox, 253 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210. Applicant JBW Partnership at all, 1 19265 Tripled Crown Drive, Abington, Virginia 24211. Owner Jerry Signs, Inc. 15775 Porterfield Highway, Abington, Virginia 24210. representative certificate of appropriateness for allowance of unapproved non-illuminated projecting wall and door signage located at 253 West Main Street Abington Virginia parenthesis parcel parcel 011-1-86 in parenthesis staff report so Stephanie Cox applicant JBW partnerships at all owner and Jerry Signs Incorporated representative have requested approval of a certificate appropriate for the installation of a non-illuminated projecting sign and the allowance of unapproved non-illuminated wall and door signs located at 253 West Main Street. Uh background, the boutique at Evident Interiors currently occupies 253 West Main Street. Uh staff findings. The applicant proposes and requests the allowance of a non-illuminated double-sided aluminum framed projecting sign with a pre-finished maroon background and gold lettering onto the primary south elevation above the primary entrance as shown in the rendering provided. The projecting sign measures 12 in x 44 in

for a total area of 3.7 square feet. Per the ordinance, the bottom of the projecting sign must be at least 8 feet above the town sidewalk. An unapproved non-illuminated single-sided aluminum framed wall sign with a pre-finish maroon background and gold lettering attached to the east elevation of the building as shown in the rendering provided. The wall sign measures 16 in by 38 1.5 in for a total area of 4.3 ft. An unapproved applied white vinyl graphic door sign onto the primary entrance as shown in the rendering provided. Um so here There we go. This is the projecting sign. This is not uh there yet. This one, this is the wall sign that has been installed. They apply for temporary signage, but then they it went over the 30 days. And so this was actually going to be they've opted for this to be their permanent sign. So that's why it's un unapproved at the moment. And then this is the door sign that is in place. So these two have been installed. This one is not. questions

and the applicant's here to answer any questions you may have. What is the height above the sidewalk for the sign? Uh that the applicant can they they they've checked that but and then all the the proposed projecting sign unapproved wall sign meets the requirements of this district in terms of the size. So we know it's more than 8 ft or more should be. Yeah. Does the applicant wish to make a presentation? You don't have to or you can if you want to.

I don't have anything else. But yeah, James said, can you introduce yourself? If you would uh give us your name and physical address, please. Daniel Ror. Physical address will be Jerry Signs, 15775 Portfield Highway. Oh, okay. Any questions? If not, is there a motion regarding the signs? Well, I was going to one question. Is it is it like if you hit it, does it swing or is it just

It'll have very little movement. It'll be mounted on eyebolts coming down from the soften. Okay. Uh, I would I will make a motion that we move the certificate of appropriateness as presented. Is there a second? I'll second. All right. You would call the role. Mr. Austin, I, Mr. Johnson. Hi, Mr. Thompson. Hi, Mr. Pennington. Hi, Mr. Sprouls. Hi, Mr. Wilson. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi.

Thank you. All right. The next order of business is certificate of appropriateness. Steve Croggen, 468 East Main Street, Sweet 317 Abington, Virginia 24210. Applicant Johnson Center, Inc. P Box 333 Abington, Virginia 24212. Owner Jerry SCS Inc. 15775 Porterfield Highway, Abington, Virginia. Representative Certificate of appropriateness for the allowance of an unapproved non-illuminated freestanding signage located at 468 East Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210 parenthesis parcel 014-6-1 and parenthesis staff report. So, Hexa South applicant Johnson Center incorporate owner and jury signs incorporated representative have requested approval of a certificate of appropriateness for the allowance of unapproved freestanding signage located at 468 East Main Street. Uh, parcel 014-6-1 is known as the Johnson Center and contains multiple businesses. Uh, staff findings. The applicant requests the allowance of the unapproved non-illuminated 0080 aluminum freestanding sign onto the existing pre-finished black metal freestanding sign structure near the primary western uh western entrance of the property. The unapproved freestanding sign measures 46 in x 60 in for a total layer of 19.2 ft. Uh the unapproved freestanding sign has a dark green background, light green lettering, and black border as seen in the rendering uh provided here. A second unapproved freestanding sign was placed on the existing Johnson Center tenant pre-finish white sign structure. The

unapproved freestanding sign is non-illuminated. 040 aluminum measuring 9 in x 36 in for a total area of 2.25 square ft. The signage has a dark green background and light green lettering uh very similar to the to the other one. And uh typically in the past you have allowed for somebody to have a sign here and the one on the tenant sign as well. Uh but according to our guidelines there's only one per street frange that is allowed as well. So in the past you guys have allowed or the planning commission has allowed for a sign to be here and there but you could also choose just to have it be one or the other. questions

and the applicant is here if you have any questions. Comments uh so how how they just went and put this up. Okay, it is there. Uh that's just their stock photos, but it is there. Both are there. And I presume it's put up by the sign company and the sign company is not aware they need a permit. That's really strange. That's two here tonight. This one was my fault. I will own this one. I thought I'd done it. Remember we started this way back in the past in like March or April.

I went through with the first part of the COA and I did not submit the sign permit with the COA at that time. So I will on that one. This was my fault.

Additional questions, comments. So, both of these signs are up. Yes, that's correct.

I did notice the one, you know, on the on the left when I drove by, but I'm sorry, on the right here when I drove by the other day, but I didn't see the other ones. What what does the commission want to do? This This one is the only one that has both. Correct. I mean, so

yeah, that one's not on that. This one does not have one on the other board, correct? I mean, this is the only one that has two. Yeah, the Premier Productions doesn't have one on the Johnson Center. Okay. Time. Is that a Is that a whole new like hole and bracket or was there something else there before? It was all existing. Previously it was um my country doctor I think because we've done the same setup for him as well. We've done a hanging sign there and the framed aluminum skin on the Johnson City sign. That's why we went back in the same that we took down.

Okay. I remember that. What do we want to do? Is there a motion?

Does the tenant desire to leave both sides? He would like to. Yes. I think the sign, and I'm not prejudging it, but I think the sign, the Johnson Center sign would look a lot better if it were the same color as the other signs that are there instead of the background color and stuff. So, more consistent.

That's no issue. I can have that redone. And I'm a little concerned that we have unapproved signs. May not, you know, hate to have people have to take them down and redo them, but by the same token, we, you know, we do have rules and regulations that we uh need to abide by. But I I agree with you, Mr. Char, it would be better to be consistent and that would have been one of the comments that we would have made had it come before the commission.

What is your preference for color? Would you prefer like dark green text, white background? What's what's your preference?

That appears to be what's there. You've got dark green and then you've also got black and white. Department of Labor and Industry. Tough question to answer, but I mean what wonder what the other tenants think because if they've got two and Shamrock says, "Well, we'd like to have an extra one, too." Then where do we put theirs? Yeah, I was trying to the lower on the left hand side says, you know, suites A and B, lower level. Um, I don't know which one of those actually references, if any, you know, of the ones that are on the main sign. Um, you know, if the Virginia Department of Labor is actually downstairs in suite A or if Abington Psychiatry is in suite B. I I don't know the answer to those. So I

So I mean they come to us and say, "Hey, we want a second sign." What are you going to do at that point? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, now Premier Productions, is that their only sign? Yeah. From what I could see on the site. Yeah. I think it's the one that hangs and then one on the chain link fence in the back, I think. Yeah. I think because you go to lower levels that's kind of helped direct people to their building because if you go behind the John Center as you all know there's other buildings back there but I think the Hexus Health is in that main storefront. I do believe he is on the second floor of that main store.

If it helps to that sign the sweet A and B might be a little old uh Mr. Johnson. But to answer your question about the suite, uh, they applied for, it was 468 East Main Street, sweet 317. If they're on the third floor, what's the significance of the sign on the left versus the main Johnson Center sign? I mean, seemingly the the poll is directing these these are the shops that are on the lower level around back. Yeah. Yeah. I think that's I think that's the intent of the poll. Yeah.

You know, but Hexus Health apparently is on the third floor so the main structure in the front. Yes, sir. So, so is it they could have one or the other or just the small one? So, we're saying you usually get one per street frontage. So, typically this would be you'd have like we'd look at this as like you could have a front and back sign like on the town sign, but you can't have two in two separate areas. So, if the one on the Johnson Center sign went away, they could technically keep Yes. that one sizewise.

That's correct. Yes. But if they want the one on the main sign, then that has to go away. In other words, you could have one or the other, but not both. Which goes back to Mr. Penn's question. Yeah. Well, and I think that's that's the appropriate question. Yes. I mean, what do we do at that point? If we've allowed one Yeah. You know that becomes the D and I think that becomes the questions that we would have raised prior to submission and was being presented. I mean that and the color I think both

well well if if you remove the one on the Johnson Center sign and and make that pole match the colors of the new sign. Well, the the problem with the the pole sign is when you look at the size of that sign versus the size of the other signs, that's a significantly bigger sign than anything on the on the Johnson Center. I mean, unless that they're not scale. No, they they are, but it I will say that either one of these do meet the requirements for a freestanding sign. Okay.

So that Yeah. So e whatever one you're looking at individually, they both meet uh the requirements for a freestanding sign. Okay. Individually, but not collectively. They still could if you added them all up because you could have 60 square feet of freestanding signage. But again, that's two signs that you're allowing. Well, I mean, can we table it and tell us which one they want or tell them one or

Yeah, you could you can make an emotion. either one or the other needs to be chosen. Then in their signed permit, that's what they would submit in terms of their square footage. This way they don't have to come back for another meeting. You could just stay in your motion. If that is the pleasure of the commission is just to say you can have one. It is up to the applicant to decide which one they would like. Then then they don't have to come back for another meeting and wait a whole another month. Is there a motion?

I'll make a motion to present or to approve as presented with stipulation. They'll choose one or the other. Okay. Is there a second? Who was first? Either way, caller I'll go with Wilson. Okay. Okay. There's a motion in a second. Any additional discussion? Um relative to the main sign, any reservations relative to the color and it having to match the background? And that's what we've done at having the comments and other areas.

Well, I mean, I think it if you could amend the motion to say one or the other, but not both. uh and have a a color to match the addition of the other signs on the on the Johnson on the Johnson. Yeah. Yeah. If that's the one that shows the Yes, sir. I'll I'll make that amend. Make that amendment. Mr. Wilson, do you amend your second? I'll amend my second. Any additional discussion? Not if you would call the role. Mr. Austin,

make sure that I understand. We're saying one or the other. And if they choose the smaller sign, it has to be the background has to be changed on it, but the background does not have to be changed on the larger one. Is that what we're saying? That's correct. Okay. Right. All right. Thank you. Thank you for that question. You said I I Okay, Mr. Johnson. I Mr. Thompson. Hi, Mr. Pennington. Hi, Mr. Sprouls. Hi, Mr. Wilson. Hi. And Mr. Mr. Schuman.

Hi. Next order of business is certificate of appropriateness G&G Assets LLC 21357 Azure Lane Abington Virginia 24211 applicant owner Tally Sign Company 1 1908 Chamberlain Avenue Richmond Virginia 23222 representative certificate of appropriateness for externally illuminated freestanding signage located at 408 East Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210. Parcel Z I'm I'm sorry, parenthesis parcel 014-1-11 in parentheses. Staff report.

So G&G Assets LLC owner/licant and tally sign company representative have requested approval of receivance for the refacing of two freestanding sign panels located at 408 East Main Street. Virginia Lottery currently occupies 408 East Main Street. Uh the applicant proposes to reface the existing externally illuminated pre-finished brown aluminum freestanding sign panels near the East Main Street entrance with externally illuminated pre-finish black aluminum panels with quarter inch thick green and white acrylic lettering and logo as shown in the rendering provided. The proposed panels will match the existing panels dimensions 9 ft by 3 and 1/2 ft for a total area of 31.5 square ft. The base of the freestanding sign will be left prefinished brown and will not match the proposed freestanding black panels. Uh the proposed freestanding sign meets the requirements of the zoning ordinance for parcels in the B2 district. So there's here's the existing sign. It's brown all around. That's what they're proposing. So it's going to be uh black. The lettering and the color kind of stay the same. This was green before. It's just been faded out. Um, but it's just a different shape and everything. And here's the lights for it being externally illuminated. So, uh, I did talk to the, uh, sign company just to mention, hey, you know, you're proposing that the top's going to be black, but then the bottom's going to stay brown. Planning commission might have something to say about that. Again, that's up to the commission's pleasure to if you want it all to be black or you don't mind the mismatching, that's up to you uh, to make that motion. But again, here's the existing and then there's the proposed. If you have any questions for me, I can answer them. If not, the applicants are here to uh answer any questions you may have or they can fill in anything. Sure.

Clear it up. Salman sign company. And um we are going to paint the base black to match the background of the sign. And Virginia Lottery actually does want it black. Okay. So they agreed to that and we're going to do that already to match. Any any questions? Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. It's the pleasure of the commission. I'd make a motion that we approve the certificate of appropriateness as presented with the black base noted. Second.

All right. Any addition any additional discussion? If not, if you would call the role. Mr. Austin, I Mr. Johnson. I Mr. Thompson. I Mr. Pennington. I Mr. Sprouls. I Mr. Wilson. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi. Uh, next order business certificate of appropriateness, Freda Deusk, 251 Morningside Drive, Abington, Virginia 24210. Applicant owner certificate of appropriateness for exterior changes located at 270 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210. Parenthesis parcel 011-8-3 in parenthesis staff report.

So, they are going to be tableabling this one. There's a few uh last there's a few other items they they kind of I mean they need to work out and everything. Okay. So they're going to be coming to you at the August um okay plan commission meeting. So that will be tabled. So I just need a motion. Do what? I just need a motion. Motion table. Yeah. Is there I'll second. Is that a motion, sir? Yes, sir. Okay. Is there a second? I'll second. All right. Any additional discussion? Not if you would call the role. Mr. Austin. Hi, Mr. Johnson. Hi, Mr. Thompson. Hi, Mr. Pennington. Hi, Mr. Scroll. Hi, Mr. Wilson. Hi, Mr. Schuman. Hi.

Um, next order of business, certificate of appropriateness.

Um, Kelly Garcia, 1842, John Ashley Drive, Abington, Virginia 24211. Applicant Medstream Properties LLC 76 Peach Street Road Sweet 300 Asheville, North Carolina 28803. Owner certificate of appropriateness for concession window installation. Um, externally illuminated wall signage and MEP screening located at 231 Grimsburg Drive, Abington, Virginia 24210. uh partial 012-1-127 in parenthesis staff report. So Kelly Garcia applicant and Medstream Properties LLC owner have requested approval of a stigative appropus for the installation of a concession window, externally illuminated wall sign and MEP screening located 231 Rimsburg Drive. Uh Kell's Corner currently occupies 231 Rimsburg Drive. And this is the um the bank what used when it was the bank there. This used to be the

drive-thru building. The applicant proposed to install a 3 and 1/2 ft x 4t prefinished white aluminum concession window into the southeast elevation of the building facing Rimsburg Drive. The bottom of the concession window will be 4 feet from the base of the building. Uh so here's the where it will be kind of there's the concession window four feet above it. Uh second above the proposed concession window which is right here. Uh the applicant proposed to install a 4ft x 5 foot externally illuminated there's the light uh with applied vinyl graphics wall sign as shown in the rendering. The proposed wall sign location dimensions was previously approved by the planning commission through the evident comprehensive uh sign plan. So again, this is just to incorporate into this just say their signs already been approved through the comprehensive sign plan. It's just for you. You're just seeing what it would actually look like. Now um lastly, the applicant proposes to install a 4ft tall painted white wooden picket fence around the existing HVAC and to be and to be installed CO2 tank on the northern half of the southeast elevation. So, here's the existing HVAC. And then they will be installing a CO2 tank in this approximate area as well. And so, they're going to be putting a a wooden a painted white wooden fence, which is typical of what we kind of have in that area too to screen the map system uh from public view. Uh so again you'll have a concession window approximately here the sign which has already been approved through the comprehensive sign plan for the commons here and then you'll have the the white picket fencing wooden screening the existing HVAC and then the eventual CO2 tank that they that they'll be installing and they have uh they do have building permits on file. They're just making their way through the process with Rick on those.

So, it'll be a walk up concession window that and they'll also have a drive-thru, I believe, on the other side. So, and the applicant's here to kind of fill in any gaps I may have missed or anything you would like to fill in, but the drive-thru will be on this side, but this will also be a walk up to the concession. So, the is that one that's drive-thru, is that existing now? Okay. So, the lanes are there and everything and but they're going to be using as a drive-thru as well for the applicants here to fill in any of those gaps.

Yeah, Kelly Garcia. But yeah, we um we're working on making it a drive-thru again on the other side, but um eventually we would like to put in a window on that side because during farmers market hours, we're closing the drive-thru and it'll just be walk up only. So there isn't extra traffic for cars there. So that's why we want to put in a session outside. Questions? Uh, I don't mean to be too picky, but the drawing showing the window has it on the side that's not the gable end where it's going to go.

Yes, that is uh my mistake. Uh, I was trying to put it all together. So, just kind of picture of it, but where uh Gabriel specified, that's where we will there be any type of canopy over that walk up eventually. That is the plan. We have not submitted that yet. Yeah, there's a there's a exhaust they need as well for some things that they need in there and then a canopy which we talked about, but because the packet already went out,

then we couldn't add it to this one. So, they'll they'll be coming in August or soon whenever they have those materials in there to finish up kind of the the refurbishing of the site. So, basically all we're approving since the sign was approved as part of the overall property. Really, all we're approving is the uh window and the fencing around the HVAC. That's correct.

Additional questions or comments? What do we want to do? That's fairly straightforward. I'll make a motion we approve the COA as submitted. Okay. Is there a second? Second. All right. Any additional discussion? If not, if you would call the role. Mr. Austin. I. Mr. Johnson? Hi, Mr. Thompson. Hi, Mr. Pennington. Hi, Mr. Sprouls. Hi, Mr. Wilson. Hi.

And Mr. Schuman. Hi. All right. Next order of business, old business, not on the agenda. Discussion concerning planning commission member comprehensive plan chapter selection. So, just open it up here. So, as you know, we've kind of talked about when's the the appropriate time to do an update to our comprehensive sign plan. So, usually it's around five years that you always want to do an update. we're at that fiveyear mark since the last one was done in 2020. And so we uh to kind of kickstart in a sense uh asked uh you know and it could be either just one or a couple people from the plan commission to kind of spearhead each chapter. So you would meet with the appropriate board. So let's say for example economic development you know the plan commission member or members that want to do that chapter uh would meet with the EDA economic development and then they would kind of report back so it's kind of their own chapter in a sense and uh we would be hiring a uh a firm to also bring it all together. So, it's a good document that we have as a base, but it just needs to be updated because, you know, things have changed in the last 5 years. Uh, new ideas have come up and so that's what we're looking to do. I know, uh, Mr. Schuman, you you forwarded the introduction, I believe, arts, culture, and history, and I think there was another one.

Yeah. I'm pretty open.

Yeah. Um I mean I you know I think um one thing I would say and I think Scott your your term ends about the same time mine ends. Um that would um having uh losing two planning commission members during doing the uh comprehensive plan is is is going to be I think a challenge because um some experience with having done those is worthwhile. Um you know uh and I think um you know that there have been some changes in the past five years that really do require us to put some time in. you know, when you look at u in in the past five years what's going on with William King and the amount of you know that they're that they have gotten the development of the sports complex um you know just the growth of different areas of the town um and you know one of the issues that we had a few years ago that was unfortunately and I was on the commission then so I'll take take some blame is we we really made a mistake um in not showing the um the Meadows area as slated for development because there was a lot of discussion prior to the um Meadows development about developing that area and it it did not show as an area for development in the last comprehensive plan. So, you know, when you're starting to look at areas to develop and and infrastructure that you're going to want to develop, that's particularly important as a uh as a as a as a guide. It's, you know, it's a living document. You can change it, but uh it certainly if it's not done well,

certainly puts the pressure on the town council, which we would not want to do. And I just say that as a an idea. I think what's your timeline for finishing the project? So, we'd want to get it done probably with within a year or so in terms of everything, maybe year and a half. It really depends on the RFP when we put it on the firms that we feel are the best for it. Uh because in this budget season, we did budget out for it to be part of our budget to hire a firm to undertake this update.

And so, we would put out an RFP and see how see what their timelines were proposed. Some have some I've seen propose six months, some propose a year and a half. Kind of depends on who you get and how detailed they want to be. Um I don't think it would take an extraneous amount of time because it is just an update. You know, we we have a good base, but again, you want to make sure you hire somebody that's going to take the time and effort, which we would make sure, you know, when we're going through the evaluation that we get somebody like that. Um what was the name of the firm that we hired last time for this one? I know the Berkeley group did our uh what was that name? The Berkeley Group did our uh zoning update, but

that's what I'm thinking about. Well, I don't see anything about who did this. I can look into it, but I'm just seeing comprehensive plan steering committee and that was a combination of uh staff and uh local stakeholder holders kind of put together. Now the the one the last one was done the 2020 one I think was done with a vendor. The one prior to that was not okay. Yeah. for something they didn't put in

and it that was very problematic to have done it without a vendor. I um again I was involved in that so I'm not trying to blame somebody else but I think having a vendor is is very important.

Yeah. and they would be heading up the project. So coordinating with us and you know the planning commission members as well. The goal I was looking for for you know each of you or each of you would have your own or you could have or multiple people if you're really interested in two topics you you know two people can be on that chapter and it be their their kind of chapter that they would spearhead and they would meet with the different boards commission stakeholders or whatever and the and the uh firm whoever we decide and then they would come and report back to the planning commission during our regular meetings and say hey you know we're going to go over chapter uh you know we're going to go over the transportation chapter. Here's what we talked about in one of our meetings with so and so. And so, uh, just kind of going through them here, we've got introduction, people, neighborhoods, and land use, transportation, economic development, parks, recreation, and open use, arts, culture, and history, tourism, environmental and quality of life, public utilities, facilities, and services. And then we're thinking about maybe a downtown specific section.

That's a good idea.

So, uh, we're looking at other avenues of funding for that one that we could maybe get to for that specific chapter because that would be a whole rewrite, but the ones that are existing as from introduction to public utilities, facilities, and services at the moment. Is there anybody here tonight? Again, you can think about some more. I'm just kind of kickstart into here so we can start drafting the RFP and kind of get that that part of it rolling. Uh, is there anybody here that really likes one specific chapter that they would like to be part of that or if there's multiple I can kind of jot it down now. Um what I'm what I'm going to suggest is that uh prior to the next um planning commission meeting, the members of the commission review the um current comprehensive plan and get back to Gabe with areas they would like to be involved in. I've I've done that. Um and then I think we ought to at the next make those um assignments, okay, at the next planning commission meeting so we can start to take a look at that. And I think um just the idea of what the uh you know what the how we would approach that so we're all doing basically the same thing.

Yep. And like the overall goal is to you know you guys would have your own your meeting with the people of that specific one then you come back and kind of uh report to the other members that are maybe not on the commission. Then in that regular meeting, the other plan commission, the other planning commission members could suggest, you know, have you looked at this, have you looked at that? So everybody's involved in a sense, but it gives that one specific member or that or those two to really focus on that one chapter instead of spreading everybody a little bit thin and then you're trying to look at everything. So, uh, I was going to say, I don't know if you're aware, but the, you know, Wellspring is paying for that big comprehensive sewer study countywide,

and that will also cover economic development for every local county. And so, that might be a good thing to draw from information from that study. And that's being procured right now. Yeah, should be underway in September.

Yeah. And part of our thing would be sharing, you know, this and any we would kind of search for any other studies that are currently being done or are done recently that can be implemented into this. And again, the comprehensive plan is not to be like, oh, we're going to do this project in 2027. It's just supposed to be a guiding principle about be like we're looking to, you know, preserve the history, promote the arts, uh increase our affordable housing, you know, that kind of stuff. um it's just supposed to be a guiding principle document, not like a here's the projects we're going to do in the next five years because now some of those um at least had um action items.

Yeah. Um and I think you know you want to continue to have at least but again timelines you don't have if you go back and look and I can't remember which one it was before some of the things that that have happened was maintain the hospital in town different things that have that you can't control that have changed. I think the uh one of the things is and I say this about the introduction but also each one it kind of lays out what the you know what the town is looking to do

and what the town wants to be. One of the things that um I think would be important too is once we decide that it would be good to go to some of the different civic clubs, Rotary, Kuanas, people like that um and start to talk about what what the project is and what the timeline is to complete it and how people can be in involved if they choose to be.

Yeah. And obviously during those meetings we would have on the agenda you know discussion about you know let's just say it's the transportation chapter that time reporting from you know let's just say Mr. Wilson Mr. Pennington let's just you know they would report and then people could attend the meeting to know what was talked about in those kind discussions and everything. So, is it everybody okay with getting back to Gade between now and the next meeting with their choices on the different chapters they would like to be involved in? Like I say, I've done that, but I think um put me on economic development. Okay. Can you send that list out to each other?

Yeah, I'll send the list out. Like I said, you can either email me separately or we can just wait till the uh next meeting and we can go over one.

Yeah. But like we can either have one or two. It's when we kind of get three, that's when it starts to be three are in the same room. But if we keep it at least, you know, two is the max for each one. Or if we just have one, that's fine, too. And we're in a good spot. But that was kind of my thinking is, you know, you guys would have your own individual chapters you could spearhead and meet with each group because it's going to be a lot involved. And then uh at the end we hopefully have a great document where we can plan out the the next five years. Well and and again I think the more we advertise it the more we avoid issues like what happened with the net the nets. And that would be part of the

your point is a very very valid point in that we have to have guidance and insight from the town

as to what is the town marketing towards you know are we marketing towards a historic town wanting to preserve this or tell us what the goal is you know because that's how the comprehensive plan plays into it. Well, the the introduction and and I say this because this was a a fairly lengthy discussion um previously is um your introduction is going to say for example in one time because there was a lot of discussion about you know the town being historic and and wanting tourism and and and at time one time leaving out the idea that you want a certain amount of economic development. You've got to have certain number of businesses, offices, and that type of thing. And we are um a regional area for that type of situation, whether it be the federal court um for the different areas that we're looking at in terms of, you know, Wi-Fi and built and infrastructure for regional offices, that type of thing. I mean, that's that's those are things that we're going to decide, but and and the town would have input into that, but it's, you know, it's it's difficult because you're you're putting a lot of different things together. Yeah. You want to keep your historical preservation and you want to certainly make it a town that tourists want to go to, but at some point you also have to have business to support that. And and I mean it's a you know it's kind of a high wire rack to some extent.

Well having them in this history has been a service industry. I mean it's that's whether it's legal right whether it's pedal what have you from a manufacturing standpoint businesses around there. It's extremely difficult to do business in this area. you know, drawing employees, affordable housing. That's one Wellspring focus. You know, our employees are from Castlewood, Lebanon, and what have you because they can't afford to live locally

and see, and I had the same same experience with the people that worked for me, you know, with the office that I ran is that they we had maybe I have been the only person in the office that lived in the town limits maybe one other but you know that's you're going to end up with a certain amount of that and the other thing is I think at one time people talked about manufacturing within the town limits and that's probably going to be limited I mean you know if that's there's no place for it even if you just look at the zoning overlay

yeah if parcels of all of that. But when you start to, you know, to make clear that you're looking at um trying to attract other service type industries, um the business that I was in, um we were third party administrators for workers comp and general liability claims and pretty much nobody knew we were here. We had 20 employees and served people across the state of Virginia and Tennessee. And those are the types of things you want to know about and try to attract people because one thing is there's a lot of empty office space in town. So, if that's your goal, that's that's what this plan is for. Because then if the town wants to do anything in terms of, you know, enticements, the plan will tell you that that might be something that would be appropriate and it just doesn't come out of the blue. And I think that's what we're trying to get to.

Yeah. I'll send out that list uh to you and then either you can if you really are dead set on one after you can email me and say, "Hey, I want to be on this one." Or if you want to wait till the next plan commission meeting, that's fine, too. And we can kind of rattle off the list. Other than that, that's that's all I got for you. So, with that, is there a motion to adjurnn? Is there a second? I'll second. All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? We attracted some business at one time.