Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

[Music] [Applause] [Music] All right, I'll call the order the October 8th meeting of the planning commission. The code of Virginia requires local governments to have planning commission to have a planning commission. The purpose of which is to advise the board of supervisors on land use and planning issues affecting the county. This responsibility is exercised through the recommendations conveyed by resolution or other official means and our matters of public record. The commission is comprised of seven citizen volunteers appointed by the board with one representative from each voting district and two at large members. Roll call, please.

Mr. Chamberlain here. Mr. Titus here. Mr. Burks here. Mr. Kry here. Mr. Smith here. Mr. Wasman. Mr. King. Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum. Thank you. All right. Please stand for the pledge of

allegiance. All right. All right. The next item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes. Have a motion on the minutes. All right. Roll call, please.

The motion by Mr. Smith is to adopt the minutes of the regular meeting on September 10, 2025. Mr. Titus, yes. Mr. Brooks, yes. Mr. Coriner. Yes. Mr. Smith. Yes. Mr. Chamberlain. Yes. Motion passes.

All right. At this time is the citizen comment period. So, it's a time for anybody who wants to um talk to the commission about anything that's not on tonight's agendas. Any citizen comments? Seeing none, we'll move into application UP 1059-25. All right. Can you all hear me? Okay. Good evening. So, this application submitted by Paw Pet Resort LLC is a request for a special use permit to establish a commercial kennel with outside runs at 1205 Lightfoot Road. The subject's site consists of a 3.1 acre parcel that contains a single family detached home that has been used as a photography studio, a photography stage in the backyard, and an accessory building next to the main structure. There's also a paved driveway with some parking provided for the business and a concrete slab next to the um house for more parking. Most of the parcel is dense uh with vegetation and highly wooded. The site is zoned economic opportunity and is designated EO in the comprehensive plan. West of the property is the Holiday in Club Vacations Williamsburg Resort and an undeveloped lot. North and east are parcels of land owned by the Williamsburg Pottery Factory. Uh most of that is undeveloped. And south across Hommel Parkway on East Roshambo Drive is the CMA's Williamsburg Ford dealership. The applicant is seeking authorization to develop a doggy daycare with outside play areas. Here are a couple of

examples from online so you can see what that would look like. The project will involve remodeling and expanding the existing structure which is highlighted here on the sketch plan that was submitted. The expansion of the back portion will be 60x 65 ft which will provide space for indoor kennels and the special use permit is specifically for the four separate play areas each 400 square f feet in size located outside the expansion. Two will be to the left side of the building and two will be attached to the back side of the building. All the play areas will have artificial turf and all waste will be bagged and disposed of in a dust dumpster on site. Doors will also be attached to the building that allows entry and exit to the outdoor play areas. The proposed business will be in an existing commercial building that will be renovated, therefore matching the surrounding commercial character of the area and designation in the comprehensive plan. The applicant has an existing location for this use in James City County located at the intersection of Airport Road and Morttown Road where they rent a two-story building. Here are some photos of their current business. The applicant has stated that they wish to move their business to the subject property so that they can expand the facility, um, create a better work environment for their employees and have a more welcoming space overall for the dogs. Zoning performance standards for this use require that all animals be kept in pens or other enclosures designed and maintained for secure confinement. This requirement will be met. A site plan must also be submitted to and approved by the Division of Development Services and a condition of approval ensures this will be met. Prior to site plan approval, the applicant must also submit an animal waste management plan and therefore this meeting will also be met.

Parking standards for commercial kennels include one off-street parking space uh required for every 350 square feet of floor area excluding kennel space. According to the applicant's narrative, the total square footage of the building will be 2,650 ft excluding that kennel space. So therefore, there will be a total parking requirement of eight spaces. The site currently has five spaces and one handicap space from the previous photography studio. So therefore, an additional three spaces need to be established to meet this requirement. Next up, the front portion of the property is within the tourist corridor management or TCM overlay district. The existing sign from the previous business um at this location is within the public street rightway and does not conform with the TCM overlay district architectural standards. So therefore, a new freestanding sign for the proposed business must be a ground mounted monument style sign. A condition of approval uh is to ensure that the removal of the existing sign um is out of the right of way and the installation of a new monument sign is in conformance with the TCM standards. Although this use is permute permitted near the adjacent time shares since both uses are commercial uh noise from the dogs playing outside is a consideration. Uh we have so currently along the western property line there is dense mature wooded area about 20 to 25 ft in width. So here is a photo facing northwest towards uh the direction of the time shares from the front of the building uh that shows the mature vegetation. Here is the sideyard where the two outdoor uh areas are proposed facing north to the back of the house. And this is the same area but facing

south uh to the front of the house. And lastly, uh this is facing west towards the direction of the time shares from behind the house where the other two outdoor areas are proposed. So this wooded buffer um will mitigate any noise. And so as a condition of approval, uh the applicant will be required to maintain a type 25 transitional buffer along the western property line. Also, a proposed condition of approval requires the fence surrounding the dog play areas to be opaque and 8 ft in height. So, in conclusion, the applicant is seeking to relocate their existing business to the proposed site that will create four separate outside play areas, which requires a special use permit. This application presents an opportunity to revitalize a vacant commercial site and offer an existing business an opportunity to grow and thrive in the county. The conditions of approval ensure the zoning performance standards, parking requirements, and the tourist corridor management overlay standards are met and staff does not anticipate disruption to the adjacent time share guests as the fencing and vegetated buffers will mitigate any noise produced from the dogs. Due to these considerations and conclusions, as noted, staff recommends approval of this application subject to the conditions set forth in proposed resolution number PC25-24. Thank you. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have and the applicants um are also here to speak with you as well.

All right. Questions? Uh did you receive any feedback from the Holidayan property or any of Jason properties? Um not to this date. No.

Okay. Thank you. The 20 to 25 ft woodlands dogs bark, have a good time. That just doesn't seem like a lot of footage to and at the same time um to control the sound part of it. But is that that's the standard? Uh yeah, so we considered the noise aspect of things. Um and so that's why we considered what was already there for the wooded um area and with where the time shares are at as well located on their property line. Um to us, it appeared to give a big enough buffer. So that's why we're requiring the 25 foot

because Skip, I think Madison said this earlier, but I'll point out that they're both EO and so there's no requirement for a transitional buffer, but we're requiring it because of the use and the special use permit side of it. But yes, I mean, normally you wouldn't have this between two EO properties, but we felt it was enough, you know, something we should add in there to make sure that some of the noise could be mitigated. All right, this side. Any questions? When you say opaque fence, is that a solid fence or just one you can't see through? I mean, I'm looking for one that's going to block sound as well as v view.

Yeah, I hear you. Um, so I can show you some of the examples online. um that I got kind of give a few different examples of of fencing that is used. Um here's at the current location um that has like some backing. Yeah. So that is a transparent fence which wouldn't stop sound very well. Yeah. So that's not opaque. Um this is opaque and so that would block um noise a lot. And then this one as well. Um, and if it is chain linked fence, you can put material around it to make it opaque and to um, stop the noise as well. It's stopping the noise I'm concerned with. Yeah.

Thank you. Of course. Got to turn my my speaker on. Uh, I know it's on septic and and well, is there any plans in the county to extend water lines down that path down that road or sewer lines? Not to my knowledge. I don't believe so. Okay. It was just a question. I mean, it might should be at the time share at least. Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking. So, I was kind of but I don't know. That's a good question. I'm not sure, but we can do that research. Okay. To find out. I was just That's the question I wanted to ask you and I didn't get the words right.

And the only other thing I had was on the debatement. If we look at Grafton Animal Clinic over here, it's in a residential area right behind him and and McGreder Fab. It's also right in the residential area and all they have is a fence like they have here. And to my knowledge, there's been no complaints. That's all I have. All right. Thank you very much. With that, I'll open the public hearing. And I have one actually two people for the applicant. Um, Kelly Lusk and Maggie Masters.

And if you would state your names and address, please. And you have 10 minutes, but you don't need to use 10 minutes. Okay. Kelly Lusk, 249 Racefield Drive, Toana, Virginia 23168. Maggie Masters, 4000 Bach Road, Barsville, Virginia.

Um, we just kind of wanted to address the noise concern. Um, where we are now, we're at the corner of Airport and Morttown Road, which is a really busy intersection. It's really hard to get in and out of our parking lot. And then we rent from bulcan gravel, concrete, whatever it is that they do, but their gravel pit backs right up to our fence. And so the tractors and the trucks are out there all the time. And then the railroad tracks are within walking distance. And it is very rare that the dogs are barking when they're outside. They're doing their business and they're playing because they're most of the time they're in groups. if they're um boarding dogs, they're go out one at a time or are with the same household dogs, but the play groups, they're out there playing and there's really not as much barking as you're expecting anyway. So, I think that I think it would be if there was barking, it would be like off in the distance it would sound like with the resort.

All right. Any questions for the applicant? I'll start down here again. Yeah. So, how many uh dogs do you anticipate being in the doggy day here at a time? This is going to um our expansion is going to be 60 to 100 kennels. You typically keep them full of We're hoping to hope.

Yeah, we're hoping to. Um right now we Right now we can board how many? Oh, like 45. 45 dogs and we are turning away daycare dogs on a weekly basis because we just we don't have the room and um like during the holidays we will book up like Thanksgiving we are booked for boarding and so we have to stop daycare because we have the boarding dogs are filled have filled our kennels up. So with this expansion we wouldn't have to stop daycare and we would be able to take more more on This will only be operated during daylight hours or

Yeah, we're usually there 6 to 8. And finally, and I'm kind of alluding to the concerns about the materials for the fencing. Can you talk a little bit about the fencing that you have planned or

um we would like I mean currently we have chain link link fence and it's wrapped. Um we would like to do the solid fence. Um, but of course it's going to be cost whatever is cost effective, whatever we have to do to mitigate the sound. Um, if I could touch on the sewer also, we've already had the sewer inspected and it's passed for the use that we we're having and then they're they're developing a plan now to for the waste management. elaborate a little bit on the timing you mentioned. They're are they only outside between 6:00 in the morning and 8 at night?

The the dogs are taken out. Um whenever the dogs are taken out, they're they are put on leads and they are walked out and they're supervised. Whenever they're outside, we take them out five to six times a day. But after 8:00, what are they all inside all night? Yeah, they're all inside. Thank you.

Okay. I have one comment for the the board. Um I went out to the side. It is very very heavily wooded and a tremendous amount of underbrush. Um there you can't see anything from from the side. I was a little bit nervous even driving in there because it's like you can't see anything. So all right. Thank you very much.

Thank you. That's the only person I have that signed up. Anybody else wish to speak to this topic. With that, I'll close the public hearing. And what's the pleasure of the board? I'll get us started. My my main concern is the noise. And I think um with the amount of vegetation there, the distance, and the timing, I you know, we'll be approving it. However, I I remind everybody that this is some on the other side of that fence is somebody who just bought this time share is paying top dollar to be able to sit out there and vacation, you know, so more concerned about the sound than normal for that.

I really had no concerns. I thought it was a great proposal and I'm all for it. I I I had the same concerns and that's why I asked if the u if that organization had voiced any concerns which speaks volumes to me and and you know most time shares you're there overnight you're not necessarily there throughout the day because you're in Williamsburg we hope county but I'm very optimistic and I I appreciate the opportunity to um move your business into York County and I think it'll be a good addition for a currently vacant commercial property. So, I'll be in support of it. I hope they can get the solid fence versus the chain link fence. I think that's important for the for the sound perspective of things. Uh, and you know, I do agree this is a good thing for York County as well. I think they answered the the questions about the sound satisfactory and of course Earl reminded me of the 25 foot edition. So I'm going to be

and I I think it's a great proposal as well. So with that I'll ask for a motion. I move PC25-24. Roll call, please. The motion by Mr. Brooks is to adopt resolution PC25-24 to recommend approval of a special use permit to establish a commercial kennel with outside runs at 1205 Whitewood Road. Mr. Brooks, yes. Mr. Kryer, yes. Mr. Smith, yes. Mr. Titus, yes. Mr. Chamberlain, yes. Motion passes.

Thank you. Um, let's see. Any old business? No, sir.

New business staff reports. All right. So, I will uh start at the development activity report. So, first page um the most recent approvals by the board of supervisors include the uh recreation requirements for planned uh developments that was adopted along with the new cluster u section which reduced the acreage from 10 acres down to five acres. now. So, u we'll open that up a little bit for people who uh were looking to use that technique on smaller properties. Additionally, they approved the Jaclyn Marks um special use permit for fortune telling and they also approved the amendments to the zoning ordinance and subdivision. Those housekeeping amendments we had brought to you that kind of fix some of those things. Um, other things of note, your next agenda, you'll have a special use permit application which is looking to increase the occupants in an existing group home by five. Um, so we'll have more information for you at your November meeting for that. And then as far as site plans I uh that have interest for you on page uh two down near the bottom we have the Dutch Brothers drive-thru coffee shop which is going in um down where the new Waw Wa is closer to Victory Boulevard. Um across from your Dunkin Donuts going to be a little competition there for your Dunkin Donuts, Mr. Titus. Sorry. Um but yeah, they they well it's not a special use permit but it is a uh a site plan that was submitted they they submitted for their first use in September. And then we also got back in the Chipotle there in Grafton um has come back in. So that's under review now also. Um and then on the back page, uh you just of note, one of the land disturbing activities was the Kroger. And if you've been down in that area and seen what's going on, they, you know, are putting in their new vegetable now. Autozone is

doing a lot of work there on the other end of there. So, um if you're seeing development there, that's what it's coming from. It's from those two new uses going into that shopping center. Uh the other announcement I'd like to make tonight is uh tonight we have um Mr. Dwire with us. He is a uh TAB high school student and he is going to be mentoring uh with the planning division um over this next school year. So you may see him at future meetings and u we w have you welcome him when you uh get a chance. Uh he's a junior, right? A senior. He's a senior. Sorry. Senior. Congratulations.

I know. I know I demoted you. I'm sorry. Um yes, a senior. Uh but looking to get some understanding about planning. he's got some interest in planning and u you know get some real world experience with us. Um so we're looking forward to having him join us and uh spend some time with us doing doing a variety of different things. And that's all. All right. Thanks and welcome. Um we have no committee reports, no commission reports. And with that we will stand adjourned. [Music]