The Town of Washington’s Planning Commission voted to recommend the division of a lot near The Washington School, restoring a boundary line lost during the school’s renovation 20 years ago.
The property on Mt. Salem Avenue is adjacent to The Washington School and includes two buildings, a small house and a former school auxiliary Future Farmers of America (FFA) building, which has since been converted into office space.
James “Jimmie” V. DeBergh, owner of the property, said he wished to divide the plot to separate the house and the former FFA building so that they could be rented and sold separately, creating 603 and 615 Mt. Salem Ave. He said prior to 2004, there was a boundary line that separated the land into two parcels, but during the school’s development and restoration, the line “disappeared” in records.
The new proposed boundary line is slightly different from the historical line. Commission member David Pennington asked why the line’s placement is being changed. Zoning Administrator Steve Gyurisin said the old line ran right along the side of the FFA building, and the new line was adjusted to create a buffer between the buildings.
“I don’t have any particular problems with this. This is just to take care of an existing situation,” Gyurisin said. “We’re making it a little bit better than it was before.”
All four present members of the commission voted in favor of the subdivision, and its recommendation will be presented to the Town Council. Chairperson Caroline Anstey was not present.
The commission will meet next on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. to hear a presentation on new concept plans for the Rush River Commons project and to consider a change of zoning from rural village to village mixed use for the Foster Harris House on Main Street.
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