Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

left.

Let me get let Chad sit down there. Well, that wasn't the plan, but I miss y'all too much.

Welcome to the Town of Abington, 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 commission members. The first will come when I ask for public comment for items not on the agenda. The second will come if there is a public hearing once the chair declares the hearing open for comment. In each case, anyone addressing the commission shall approach the podium, give your first and last name, and your complete physical address. Comments must be limited to three minutes. Roll call.

Mr. Austin, present. Mr. Johnson, present. Mr. Thompson, present. Mr. Pennington, I made it. Present. Sorry. Mr. Sprouls, present. Mr. Wilson, present. Mr. Schuman, present. All right. Uh the next order business is approval of the minutes for the July 28th, 2025 regular meeting. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes? If if not, is there a motion that they approved be approved as submitted? Some moved. 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. Hi, Mr. Pennington. I Mr. Sprouls. Hi, Mr. Wilson. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi. Next order of business is public comment for items not on the agenda. Is there anybody signed up to make public comment? Is there anybody in the audience who would want to make public comment? All right. If not, we'll move on to the first certificate of appropriateness. Um and uh Gabe, do you want to mention what we're the fact that Jerry SCs cannot be here tonight? Sure. Um and

yeah, so uh the applicants did plan on being here, but some medical issues came up and so talking with county, we felt that these were still pretty straightforward applications. So obviously at the board's discretion, the commission's discretion, but uh we felt that, you know, a motion could possibly be made unless you guys have some other additional questions. Uh but yeah, we'll kind of go from there and see what you guys what's the pleasure of the commission. It appeared to that these

potential certificates are pretty much cut and dried. If for some reason there is a disagreement, we can to table it, but otherwise it doesn't appear to me that it would be appropriate to delay for no particular reason. So anyway, the first certificate of appropriateness, Jerry Suns, applicant Jesse L. Owens and Charles O. bird owner certificate of appropriateness for non-illuminated projecting and window signage located at 252 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210 parentheses parcel 012-1-131 in parenthesis staff report.

Yes. All things custom applicant Jesse L. Owens and Charles O. Bird owners and Jerry Signs Incorporated representative have requested approval of a certificate appropus for non-elilluminated projecting and window signage located at 252 West Main Street. Uh this property is located in our central business district B3. Um background uh all things custom currently occupies 252 West Main Street, suite 1. Staff findings. The applicant proposes to install a three foot by three foot non-illuminated double-sided CNC carved HDU projecting sign attached to the primary north elevation using a painted black steel brackets as shown in the rendering provided. So here's the primary facade. Here's what the uh sign would look like and it would be placed approximately here between the second and first stories. It's similar to other kind of projecting sign styles that we have in the entrance corridor. Um, next, the applicant proposes to remove the existing pink vinyl graphics applied to the primary north elevation uh prefinished black aluminum frame commercial window and install a 36 square ft teal vinyl graphics with a 1 and 1/2 in thick teal vinyl graphics border as shown in the ren provided. So again, it's the same size, just the border is the new piece, but they're just looking to remove the pink vinyl that's here, and replace it with a teal one that matches the color scheme of their proposed projecting sign and centering it more on this window here. So, kind of bringing everything a little bit more into uh cohesion in terms of the design. And that's all I have for you. So again, here's the primary elevation. The proposed projecting sign will go approximately here

in this area. And then the next one is again that window signage, removing the pink one, putting the same size, and then just centering it and putting a border around it. If you have any questions for me, I can answer them. If not, anybody on the commission have any questions for Gabe? If I was like it's just going to be the letters, right? And the box. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Let me Sorry. Let me It's not like they're putting a board up there like it looks like that.

No. So, imagine the black is the window. So, it's just the blue and everything. So, this is just a negative. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's the same question I had when I first got the rendering. I said, "You're not putting a full black back uh background on, right?" They go, "No, that's just a negative." So, it'll just be the blue that you see here. Okay. Thank you. Yep. Additional questions. What's the pleasure of the commission? Is there a motion? Yeah, I'd make a motion we accept the application submitted. Okay. Is there a second? Second. All right. Additional discussion? If not, if you would call the role. Mr. Austin, I. Mr. Johnson,

I. Mr. Thompson. Hi, Mr. Mr. Pennington. Hi, Mr. Sprouls. Hi, Mr. Wilson. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi. Next order of business is certificate of appropriateness, Jerry Signs, Inc. applicant, Johnson Center, Inc. owner, certificate of appropriateness for internally illuminated freestanding signage located at 480 East Main Street, Abington, Virginia, 24210. parenthesis parcel014-6-1 [Music] in parenthesis staff report

Liberty Tax applicant Johnson Center Incorporated owner and Jerry Signs Incorporated representative have requested approval of a certificate of purpose for internally illuminated freestanding signage located at 480 East Main Street. The property is located within a general business district B2. Uh, some background. Parcel014-6-1 is known as the Johnson Center and contains multiple businesses. You've seen many signs in this past couple weeks come for different businesses that are located on that same parcel. Uh, staff findings. Dapkin proposes to install a uh two install two 6 ft x 5 ft 30 square ft internally illuminated acrylic with applied vinyl graphics panel set within the existing painted blue steel cabinet as shown in the rendering provided. The existing painted black iron post uh from which the painted blue steel cabinet is hung will remain unchanged. So again, here's the view of the primary elevation of the building and here's the existing um freestanding sign and cabinet. Uh it has the existing business's uh sign in there, but that will be removed obviously. Again, existing sign on its own. This is what it will look like. So really, it's just switching out the faces. Nothing else is changing.

Questions for Gabe? That's the only sign that's being presented, right? No other. Yes, that's the only one. Yep. Yep. And then they're allowed to have this right here. They don't need a permit. Just they take it in and out as for business hours and everything. So that's the only one that they're changing. What's the pleasure of the commission? Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to pro to approve as presented. All right. Is there a second? I'll second. Okay. Any additional discussion? If not, Gabe, if you would call the role. Mr. Austin, I. Mr. Johnson, I. Mr. Thompson. I. Mr. Pennington. Hi.

Mr. Sprouls. Hi. Mr. Wilson. Hi. And Mr. Schuman. Hi.

Next order of business, certificate of appropriateness. Freda Deusk, applicant owner, certificate of appropriateness for exterior changes located at 270 West Main Street, Abington, Virginia 24210. parenthesis parcel011-8-3 in parenthesis staff report debusk owner/applicant has requested approval of a certificate of purpose for exterior changes to the primary north elevation of the building located at 270 and 272 west main street. Excuse me. It's located in our central business district B3. Uh some background on the site itself. According to Places and Time volume 2, written by Nancy C. King. Charles Fert, a nephew of WW Hurt, acquired the property in 1906. A dwelling was located on the property upon Charles F. Charles Furd's acquisition, but was damaged in the 1914 fire and subsequently repaired. In 1935, the dwelling was removed and the lot was subdivided. Lincoln Theaters Corporation of Marian, Virginia, acquired three lots in 1939 and built the Zephr Theater. The Zephr Theater was Evan's first modern movie theater, although moving pictures have been shown for some years at the Opera House, now known as the Barter Theater, the Dixie Theater, and Sawyer's West End Moving Pictures Theater. In the 1940s, a fire damaged the interior and exterior of the building, but was repaired and opened to the public. Uh, soon after the Zephr Theater closed, the circa 1963, and the property was purchased by BF Dusk in 1967. The theater building was occupied by Debusk furniture store and now serves as an antique store and a uh barber shop. Uh staff findings. The applicant proposes to undertake the following items. So as you see here, this is the existing primary elevation of the building. Remove the existing painted

wooden sheathing from the north uh northern elevation. So you can see that the paint is peeling off in various sections and the wood sheathing's seen here. Repair the damaged CMU block wall with a Portland based cement as needed. Uh paint a thicker border around 270 and 272 West Main Street using uh paint known by Black Bean as shown in the rendering provided. Paint the area Woodland Stone within the thick border painted black bean as shown in the rendering provided. Here's the rendering that I'm speaking of. uh paint existing uh paint existing painted green U-pel awning roof cladding uh black again as shown in the render provided. So right here and then reattach the existing red and white Zephr Antiques wall sign uh within this section right here. Uh the only staff recommendation uh because this will have to be an encroachment to actually get the wood sheathing off and repair the block and everything is that staff is recommending the encroachment period for the ECCOA request should not extend beyond 3 weeks in total. So and I think I've been told by the applicant that they might do this in phases. Phase one will be taking down the sheathing and looking at it, assessing it what needs to be repaired. the encroachment would be taken away and then put back once they're ready to mobilize again and repair and paint. So like week and a half here, week and a half there kind of thing. So again, here's the existing and this is what they like to do uh moving forward. Questions for Gabe?

They're just painting uh the sheathing, right? So, they're going to take off the sheathing totally and then paint the block. They're going to paint the block. Okay. Uh but they need to repair the block because from historical research, this building when it was a theater used to have uh steel panels on it that would be reflective. And then after the panels got removed, some wood cladding got put on. So, the block probably has some holes in it. Uh and so, uh before they paint it, they want to repair any holes or any damage to the block that occurred, uh from those previous claddings, and then they would just paint it.

Okay. Additional questions? Um the applicant, you're you're welcome to make a presentation if you want to, but you you're not certainly not required to. Um I think you did a great job. I just want just want to make sure you knew that you had the opportunity.

I appreciate that. I just want to thank questions or discussion. Is there is there a motion? I'd make a motion that we approve the change as presented.

Okay. Appropriateness. Is there a second? I'll second. Okay. 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. Hi, Mr. Wilson. Hi. Mr. Schuman. Hi. And I think you wanted to have a discussion with um about the facade improvement with Isaiah.

Yep. So, I have Isaiah Thomas here. So, this uh this ECCOA request is will also be part of a facade grant program. So, just to give a review to the applicant of what's required for that program, but also gives us the opportunity to hear more about the facade grant program. whoever else would be interested in updating their facade.

Absolutely. So, I think you guys have seen quite a few of these over the years. Um the facade grant program is something we do um to incentivize on our enterprise zone. That's a state zone that we set. It's we're a main street town. Pretty much all of our business is along Main Street. So, our entire main street corridor along with Common Street is in what we call an enterprise zone and allows you to um get some grant or they're actually reimbursements, but they call them a grant for either capital improvement within that zone or for um job creation in that zone. In order for us to offer that and get access to those funds, we have to have some of our own incentives. And one of those is the facade grant. Previously, we've changed it this year. previously was based upon square footage and they had three brackets which was 2500 um 5,000 and 10,000 and then based upon your square footage you could get up to those with certain amounts. We've changed it this year and we just have two $10,000 grants and two $5,000 grants um because that $2,500 really just doesn't go far in today's society. So um the way that it works is it's a reimbursement. So, they cover the total costs, keep the receipts, and then once the project's completed to the town's liking and everything's been signed off on and all the permits are pulled like they wanted them to, then we'll reimburse them for the amount. Um, and it's a 50 50/50 matching grant. So, if you apply for the the $10,000 grant, it's $20,000 in total improvement and they're covering 50%. Now, they can obviously pay more than go over that if they want, but they have to at least match their 50% match with us. Um the overall goal of this is to increase the street scrape of Abington to you know we kind of target properties. We ask everybody that probably would want to but there are some in that I go out and try to recruit that are a little bit um in disrepair. And this one was one that you know I reached out to Mr. us last

year and just wasn't on the cards for it last year, but she seems motivated to do it this year. And um not going to throw off on on the building, but it could could use some some rubbing and some massaging. Um I think a piece of that has actually fallen on the street before some type of building. So um but yeah, the saw grant is uh I think it it does a lot for our streetscape, especially in buildings that um deserve to look uh like having looks. So, this is one of them. We're going to have a couple more probably come before you that, uh, I think will help, especially in this area. Um, the building right next to it, which is the optitians building that they both came before last time, I think 10 years ago, was part of a Main Street grant. Um, which was not a town thing. It was just a affiliate of the town. So, we go again. But, yeah, that's the facade grant. Pretty clean. And, um, we're happy to do it. And when they submit stuff to you, they have to keep track of all their receipts. Correct.

Yep. So the the biggest thing on the facade grants are is we want compliance. So we're not trying to sidestep anything we would require otherwise. So um all building permits that might be required. Any COAs um that would be required that have to go for. All our signage has to be approved. Um one thing we did change recently is we used to uh continue to charge for the permits they may need to get. we kind of started doing the pro if you're part of a facade grant then you wave the permit fees and that's just because it doesn't make sense for us to give them money then take it right back in the permit fees we want as much as it to go to the improvement of the property um so we do wave the fees if you apply for it um yeah that you know be in compliance with all other rules and regulations the town has but we like it and oh I forgot to talk what qualifies so any uh exterior improvements qualify signage can also qualify. They can get their facade grant for signage. That's actually why we bumped it up and got rid of that square footage requirement because most um tenant spaces in town are 1,500 square feet and less. So, it was like $2,500 max, 5,000 total. And signage today is what pretty much what signage goes for. It would max out the budget. We were just getting signs and signs don't they look better when they're fixed, but the overall facade of the building is what we were trying to aim it towards. So, exterior of the building, facades, um, anything that has to do with landscaping or streetscape. The only thing it won't really qualify for is we we're not going to improve parking lots and we won't improve mechanical equipment. Um, just not what it's intended for.

Yeah. You have any questions? I'd be happy to answer. Now, this is through the opasses of the economic development authority. Is that correct? Yeah. Well, um, so the economic dem partners the town. So, this comes out of the town's budget. It's budgeted every year um in the general fund and goes to the economic development department. The EDA has covered some facade grants. So, in years past, there's been a couple years where we've had more applicants than there was enough in the funds to do so, and we've partnered with EDA to cover a couple of those. And then there have been some applicants that aren't in that enterprise zone. They're outside of it, but still, you know, in the relative scheme of things in town, you're you're pretty much still on Main Street. and the EDA has been able to cover those even though it didn't qualify for our footprint.

And again, just to questions clarify just because I think there were some questions last time one came you the plan commission is the first step they would go through to make sure that that project that they're applying to Isaiah for is approved uh because like Isaiah mentioned they have to be in compliance with or signage if they need a COA all that building all that kind of stuff. So, just to kind of clarify that because I remember maybe two meetings ago there was some question about that. But yeah, any any questions for Isaiah? Thank you. Thank you guys. Thanks.

All right. Uh, next order of business is old business matters not on the agenda. Excuse me. Discussion concerning planning commission member comprehensive plan chapter selection. So you guys have had some time to kind of go through what chapters or chapter that you would like to kind of spearhead. Um we can either kind of go down the line or whoever wants to kind of go first and say you know what you would be interested in spearheading. Uh the next step would probably be um once we've got, you know, at max two two board two commission members to a chapter would be to uh schedule a time when that board or whoever's kind of involved with that kind of section of that chapter. Uh to have you guys go to one of their meetings just as an introductory kind of start just to be like, hey, we're here just to listen to what you guys have heard, what's needed, what could we improve upon in the comp plan. it's better to probably start with the intro meeting than you guys just showing up to one of their meets and going, "Hey, we're here now, but you know, this is what we're going to do." So, just a way to form that bridge, form that partnership that we I've seen in the comp plan. Some chapter some chapters are welldeveloped, some are a little less. So it's again that might maybe just been how things were coordinated before but our overall goal is to have an updated comprehensive plan where every chapter's uh up to the standard that Abidan deserves and so that we make sure that we plan for the next five years adequately in all aspects. So

now do you have a list of volunteers for the different sections? I mean could because I think can you share that with us or should we should you share it before the next meeting or how do you want to do that? So I was just going to go I've got a list here and I'm going to share the list once we've assigned them tonight and everything. Uh but I know Kenny you brought up introduction before. Um Mr. Wilson I know you gave me two last week. I can't remember what they were but I think one utilities and economic development. Mr. Thompson, you also I think said, did you say tourism was one? Economic development and tourism. Yeah.

I'm I'm pretty flexible. So, if you've got a chapter that nobody volunteered for, I I'm happy to be assigned that. Okay. I'll get I'll put you down for introduction first and we'll see what else people want to do. Uh yes, Mr. Pennington, did you have any in mind that you No, I I'll be completely flexible in terms of being able to fill in or again nothing that one way or the other. I don't happy to be whatever is needed. Okay. Mr. Scholes, you have anything kind of the same sentiment. You can kind of plug me in where where as needed. Okay.

Go over those again. Uh, so we've got introduction, people, neighborhoods, and land use, transportation, economic development has two people so far, so we're kind of at our max with that. Parks, recreation, and open space. Um, given your experience on the HBO B, there's arts, culture, and history. Uh, tourism, environmental, and quality of life, public util, public utilities, facilities, and services. And then depending on if we get more money or something, we're we're thinking about maybe or kind of kicking around the idea of like a downtown specific area, like a downtown specific chapter that we would develop. So

to be honest with you, wherever you want to plug me. Okay. Mr. Austin, do you have preference? I have no pre Well, I did write down parks. Parks. Okay. Excuse me. Parks. on that. Uh you you said there's two. Is there enough? Like how many do we need to be on? Do we need to be on two? Do we need to be on three? What do how many you can be on? How many you want? Because if you've got two to I mean how many how many do you have in that list? And how many? So I've got one, two, got 10.

And so the max we can have because then we have to publicize it is two is two commission members. If it's three, then we have to publicize and we don't want to have to do that. um or have that always be like a thing where you're going to a meeting for EDA or the HBRV or whatever. You going to have to post it every time. Um Mr. Johnson, is it okay if I put you on the history arts and culture since you've been on the HBRV before? So, you kind of have a lay of the land with that. I'm I'm very cultural. Okay. Let's see here. Lisa would crack up.

Transportation. Uh, that's fine. Absolutely. Yeah.

Mr. Sprouls, do you want to do environmental quality of life? And again, you just be going to these meetings more to the point of you going going to these meetings more just to listen and hear what those staff or that specific board has seen what they what we need and possibly and then relaying it back here and kind of being that bridge to the planning commission. So if you're and and each of these have regular schedule I mean we're talking Yeah. Yeah.

Like Yeah. So the EDA is on a regular schedule and so we wouldn't have you go to every meeting in a sense, but it'd be like when we think it's appropriate, we would do kind of that schedule, that first initial introduction. Then once we really get going into the updating, I would be in contact with you or our firm that we hire and they would make sure that everything's coordinated. So you guys would know well in advance, hey, there's a meeting this day if you could attend just to be kind of that bridge in here. And then every planning commission uh we would kind of go over like what's been talked about at that meeting. So one month you know Mr. Thompson might have something to say about uh tourism and then maybe the next month uh Mr. Wilson might have something to say about u the public utilities and facilities. So it won't be like every month everybody's saying something might be a little bit different. So would you like me to put you down for environmental and quality of life or is there another one that you maybe are thinking more about? probably do the parks and recre

Okay, so I've got Austin and SP for parks and wreck. I still need one for people, neighborhoods, and land use.

I don't mind doing that along with the introduction. Okay. And then I just need one for environmental and quality of life. That's the last one. Wilson's already done two. Schuman's already done two. So, is there anybody else that's really

I'll do I mean that's fine. Okay. And then if we have if we end up getting more money for a downtown specific version, I can reach out and then whoever's maybe interested in doing that part can help on that one. So, uh, for the remaining ones, just to have a backup to, I'll assign Mr. and I'll sign you another one if that's okay. Yes, sir. Do you have a preference on like what kind of realm of I had a complete list but the dog ate it before I got the dog at your No, sir. It doesn't matter. Whatever's convenient.

Okay. Uh Mr. Thompson, I think you've given me two. So, you're set. Uh Mr. Johnson, I'll look for one more unless land use. Land land use. Okay. Okay. And then Mr. Scroll, same thing. I'll look for uh Yeah. Uh let me see. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Chad's on that one. So I can put you on that one.

Mr. Austin, how would you feel about um public utilities facilities and services? How would you feel? I think we're all set for right now. You You want to when we do the agenda for the next meeting, you want to share all that? So, yes. Yeah. I'll also be sending out an email just like with the list and just saying who's with what. So, this way you've got a reference as well. Yeah, that'd be great.

Yep. So, I'll send an email out uh tomorrow and we'll just have this list and who's assigned to what and then um our next step is to well for me to draft the RFP to get our firm. Again, we're not looking to do a full rewrite because we have a good base. It's just more of an update because times change, projects change, our focus changes and then um drafting the RFP, get a firm to update it and run the public meetings and everything. And then uh but your guys's next step would be which I would which I will coordinate will be with just meeting with those boards or the staff and just as a more of an introductory piece just to say hey we're going to be in some meetings with you. Uh we're just really here to listen and be a bridge to the plan commission as we go ahead and update our our chapters because this way each chapter is up to the standard that it should be and that uh we're ready for the next five years. So, uh, that's all I've got, uh, for you. Aside from there is one COA waiver. Um, they've already gotten building permits. It's for a, uh, a building that had a cargo through it. Um,

that's a disgruntled client with Philip Pearl. Yep. So, that's that's the reason why the plywood's up and everything. So, they're working on it. Uh, they've pulled Was that just one car hit that? Yeah. man actually took it. Hit it hard. Yeah. So, but other than that, it was just that one waiver and then picking out these chapters. And so, uh that's all I have for you. If you have any questions for me, more than happy to answer. If not. Questions for Gabe? If not, is there a motion to adjurnn? So, moved. Is there a second? Second.

All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? We're adjourned.