Washington Town Council tables application
The Washington Town Council accepted the Planning Commission’s recommendation to table an application for the second development phase of Rush River Commons (RRC) until the commission’s meeting later this month.
The Planning Commission had laid out concerns about the development, chiefly its size and purpose, at its meeting last month.
“This application is currently under review by the Planning Commission. While we can discuss it this evening, I’d rather move … that we table it until after the Planning Commission’s next meeting, and we will take it up for action based on the Planning Commission’s recommendations,” Mayor Joe Whited said.
Representatives from Black Kettle LLC, the company overseeing the second phase of the RRC project, had presented plans to the commission for a community center and office building, and parking for both. Members of the commission and the public voiced concerns about the size of the buildings and their necessity in the community.
The commission ultimately voted to table the application to allow Black Kettle to return with revised plans.
Vice Mayor Fred Catlin (left) said he has concerns about aspects of the Planning Commission’s review of plans for the next phase of the Rush RIver Commons development. “I’m a little concerned about the scope of what they’re looking at,” he said at Tuesday’s meeting. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)
Vice Mayor Fred Catlin said at Tuesday’s meeting that he is worried the Planning Commission may have overstepped its bounds in commenting on the architecture and the size of the buildings. He said other large buildings have been recently approved by the commission.
“I really appreciate their due diligence and their study but … I’m a little concerned about the scope of what they’re looking at,” Catlin said.
Planning Commission Chair Caroline Antsey responded to Catlin’s concerns and said the commission did not make comments about architectural design, but did comment on the size and use of the proposed structures and how they fit into the town’s Comprehensive Plan. “Everything we commented on — landscaping, viewshed, size — is quite legitimate,” she said.
During public comment, town resident Judy DeSarno asked that the council remember that “this is a town people live in.”
“It’s charming and it’s lovely. But we also have to remember that we need buildings that serve people,” she added.
No one representing the RRC project was present at the meeting.
The Planning Commission meets Oct. 27 to approve or deny the application. The Town Council will take up the matter at its meeting on Nov. 10.
Other Town Council actions:
- The council unanimously approved a special use permit application for a building at 603 Mt. Salem Avenue to allow it to be renovated from office space to two apartments.
- The council unanimously approved an application from the Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community (RAAC) to rezone a parcel of land behind the Little Washington Theatre from village residential to village service. The nonprofit is planning a $2 million renovation project to expand the theater.
- Mayor Whited reported he has been in contact with developer Jim Abdo, and plans for renovation of the Packing Shed on the corner of Porter and Gay streets and two other buildings are close to final approvals for county permits.
- Town resident Deborah Harris, chair of the Architectural Review Board (ARB), was selected in a 3-1 vote as the interim town treasurer over new resident Maria Darie — who council member Brad Schneider voted for. Harris’ husband, Drew Beard, also serves on the council and recused himself from the vote, along with council member Jean Goodine. Harris will now have to step down from her position on the ARB.
