[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6583995,"mediaKeyId","3093067-46099f3b44ddffa2b505243f15c141cc","parentId",3093067,"title","Votes at a glance: Winchester council actions on easement, appointments, appeals, and budgets","audioSeconds",4064,"startMs",63000,"endMs",4127000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093067-46099f3b44ddffa2b505243f15c141cc&start=63&end=4127","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093067-46099f3b44ddffa2b505243f15c141cc/thumbnail_63000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6583995/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-Winchester-council-actions-on-easement-appointments-appeals-and-budgets","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583995-f817ad0c7f557b0ad4eb3940c0015fe2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175467&Signature=Qqrm1eywr-lmNTgQYg~RAPCTu-vIdd0f5meFgXpCVcGtX3gB0jpsrFA6x02y4p0Zu-XBKPyRGRy1lrr1aX05fNOJ0hWtc1371Yn26zhlVMVP6Z3BvntQu8zQTN1-Gc3pnNqluii-fV2H3cJ3WDCJoyCWhKblcNy8-8czuY67TsNjYlZ2ZFudvoWV31Mvn2KlcaW-Sm1yTi~K~1CZFQ2UvnU82ZgQdR-Z9fxe6ETyjeVHvw3UU7Yw4KXvGz8T9Tb2wtQg66IUkhhzjCvVdUG75RRnbdyXfuBzeEokTEOuA0yOOIEMmPxNs01TVrFHrCIl8kam0btaBgDK-JSFOAumJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winchester","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","The following is a summary of formal actions taken during the Winchester City Council meeting:

- O-2025-7 (second reading): Ordinance vacating a pedestrian access easement on property owned by Abrams Crossing LLC at 601 West Jubal Early Drive — Passed on second reading.

- O-2025-4 / TA-5-47 (second reading): Text amendment to define humanitarian service facilities, establish zoning districts and performance standards, and repeal philanthropic/charitable institutions as a permitted land use — Council voted to table the second reading and referred the item back to the Planning, Economic Development and (PED) committee for additional nonprofit consultation and revision.

- R-2025-19: Resolution of sorrow recognizing the service of John G. J. Russell III — Adopted by council.

- Appointment (agenda item 12.2): Beau Corral appointed to the Planning Commission for an unexpired term ending Jan. 16, 2027 — Motion adopted.

- BAR Appeal (VAR-24-333): Council upheld the Board of Architectural Review ruling denying vinyl windows installed without BAR approval and approved a draft resolution allowing the property owner to replace the windows with Marvin solid wood windows consistent with BAR guidelines — Motion carried.

- R-2025-17: Performance agreement among the city, the EDA and Winchester Acquisition Partners (Ward Plaza), to support Cedar Valley Neighborhood Design District infrastructure — Adopted by council; the transcript records one recorded 'no' and one abstention during the voice vote.

- R-2025-16: Resolution authorizing financial assistance and authorizing the bond issuance package for district infrastructure (taxable and tax-exempt series) — Adopted by council.

- O-2025-10: First reading of the fiscal year appropriation ordinance for FY 2026 — Presented; council proceeded with discussion of budget priorities and left final action for second reading on May 13.

Why this matters: The council approved a mix of routine and high-impact items. The economic development and bond resolutions enable a major district-level infrastructure financing and catalyst development; the zoning text amendment was paused to allow more nonprofit input; and several procedural items (appointments, appeals, a second-reading easement vacation) were concluded.

For more detail: See individual meeting minutes or the staff reports for each agenda item for motions, seconders and any recorded roll-call votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Winchester - City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM - Apr 22 2025 - Apr 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved several routine and substantive items, including a pedestrian-easement vacation and appointments, upheld a Board of Architectural Review ruling, tabled a zoning text amendment for humanitarian service facilities, and approved economic development financing resolutions.","taxTitle","Winchester City, Frederick County, Virginia","taxId",5107,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6584000,"Council approves EDA performance agreement and financing plan for Cedar Valley/Ward Plaza project",553,2547000,3100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093067-46099f3b44ddffa2b505243f15c141cc&start=2547&end=3100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093067-46099f3b44ddffa2b505243f15c141cc/thumbnail_2547000.jpg","/articles/6584000/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Council-approves-EDA-performance-agreement-and-financing-plan-for-Cedar-ValleyWard-Plaza-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584000-9b0e616b02d25fb10ab3b7e0588e48e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175467&Signature=BtVDdRVjw-mkCt3F5jzcokC9EvEHPxRLjrdGTKHi7-Th79SvIc0joFfwXsotcw6hEeO2DTvSh5DRynnGmLiH8a1oDc3i7YraDZA4HM0-pLx489N9G10-ESTf0Eg59KRvrxL9yTpebltdn2O6B5EuniUTUHVsl-ldz4mgPXwt4BsUUuZZxbM~lC7gcCa~Tw5-i8hhrnPAq0XaLZP2Iv~Sfo9lxGeu9pYPQnpVG9okH81q1Z03iI4ZNju-oAdVUXYnzas-0Scuyp0Ju6URl365R3fQBC6fETowakWv~FpxYpU-PBcPxGp3tIwXmhUL2wK5brALdE2g~pVm7SwaHwlJ5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Winchester City Council voted to approve a performance agreement among the city, the Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Winchester Acquisition Partners LLC (Ward Plaza developer) to support redevelopment in the Cedar Valley Neighborhood Design District, including the Ward Plaza catalyst project.

City and EDA staff said the agreement sets roles and obligations for the EDA, city and developer, and underpins a bundled financing plan that the city will sell as appropriation-style bonds (two series: taxable and tax-exempt) to fund roughly $27–30 million in infrastructure improvements across the district. Staff said about $13 million of the bond proceeds will be invested directly on the Ward Plaza site, with the remainder funding sidewalks, road realignments, stormwater, a nearly four-acre public park on Bridal Road and other district-wide public infrastructure.

EDA Director Jeff Bittner described the long review process for the district and the conservative financial modeling used to underwrite the bonds. He said the project received a double-A-plus credit rating from S&P and that outside financial advisers (Fourth Economy, PFM) and the city’s bond counsel reviewed assumptions and stress-tested outcomes. Bittner said the analysis included a conservative “what if nothing else happens” scenario in which only the Ward Plaza development is built; the Ward Plaza project alone, he said, still generates sufficient revenue to service the debt and would produce an estimated surplus for the general fund at the end of the 20-year horizon.

Councilors asked about developer commitments and downside risk. Staff said developer principals have personal guarantees covering roughly $14 million and noted bonds are structured as appropriation bonds—meaning annual appropriation decisions will be part of debt service coverage if district revenue were to fall short. Finance staff said a $450,000 placeholder already exists in the city budget for EDA loan support; they said the city does not expect to use general-fund dollars to meet debt service under the current baseline projections.

Council discussion focused on the long lead time and the project’s catalytic role. Supporters noted community outreach, planning and multiple approvals preceding the performance agreement. Several council members emphasized that the district investment is intended to catalyze further redevelopment citywide, not only to serve the Ward Plaza site. Opponents and one abstaining council member voiced concern about long-term obligations and the use of forecasting in bond underwriting.

The council adopted the performance agreement and related resolutions authorizing financial assistance and the bond issuance; staff said the formal sale will be timed to market conditions and that the city plans to capitalize interest and schedule first debt payments to align with projected revenue timing. The city will account for the district in a separate fund and provide periodic updates on progress and bond performance.

Why this matters: The agreement and bond resolutions commit the city to a district-level financing strategy to fund public infrastructure intended to unlock private redevelopment. If redevelopment produces projected tax growth, the district would pay debt service and deliver incremental revenue to the general fund; if revenues fall short, council would face appropriation decisions and existing contractual guarantees and covenants would guide remedies.","Council adopted a performance agreement with the Economic Development Authority and approved related financial assistance and bond resolutions to fund infrastructure for the Cedar Valley Neighborhood Design District and the Ward Plaza catalyst project; council also authorized a bond issuance package for district infrastructure.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6584005,"Winchester council tables ordinance on humanitarian service facilities after nonprofit concerns",55,138000,193000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093067-46099f3b44ddffa2b505243f15c141cc&start=138&end=193","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093067-46099f3b44ddffa2b505243f15c141cc/thumbnail_138000.jpg","/articles/6584005/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Winchester-council-tables-ordinance-on-humanitarian-service-facilities-after-nonprofit-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584005-bb9d667944e72a7cb62975d91063e687/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175467&Signature=F00ilBShqZ7pGOWY8y-TycYSqS~qbd4JLkB5qyU501yrSKopiOUGc6B5E3kySGNKWmvb0MujJFSNHmEX-GuXjW3YKBJs4RkautdbpU3KRG7g2HId1gHBfeB3xjqm8CO6XOllz936S0l9XeK2fpr--7qpbpTw5FQ4Cgg1jtRputTNcrCbfYroMNBBKkzXBx8rNP4eKFKlxfJlzkZ9UX14H0z67koj~23uW2zHFbGrTV7G3pnmMuZxaeRJYktMq53-DRl8Yh01fHuM31D2C4Y1Z2lq7otLyUz9siZ~wRE3FX5usHGA9gb5JRo~uPykmNMtUXmcmTGTHV0lmf5TSjvgiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Winchester City Council on second reading voted to table O-2025-4 (TA-5-47), a text amendment to define \"humanitarian service facilities\" and set zoning and performance standards, and referred the item back to the Planning, Economic Development and (PED) committee for further work.

Councilors and staff said they received input from local service providers and that staff will hold a public meeting with nonprofits before PED considers the amendment again. The staff presentation noted no textual changes had been made to the draft since the first reading; the recommendation presented to council was to receive public comment and then send the amendment back to PED to consider incorporating provider feedback.

The amendment would remove “philanthropic and charitable institutions” as a permitted land use and instead establish a distinct category for humanitarian service facilities with performance standards and conditional-use limitations. Nonprofits at the public hearing urged more time and consultation. Pastor Kent Woodward of Hopogen Care Center said, “If the label of nonconforming is placed on us, this leads the city government as well as the community to believe that we're not in good standing, and this verbiage is misleading.”

Faith Power, executive director of Laurel Center, told council that one provision would require agencies to keep a guest list that conflicts with federal confidentiality requirements governing shelters. “We operate under a federal requirement through the Violence Against Women Act that would prevent us from ever disclosing who is in our shelter, so we would never be in compliance with this... ordinance as a result,” she said.

Other providers raised operational concerns: Andrea Cousins, executive director of CCAP, said demand has grown and facility operators need flexibility to expand capacity, noting the food pantry she runs has seen a roughly 15% increase over five years and is “filled to the gills.” Clay Perry, vice president of Watts Ford and a volunteer at Olive Branch Food Pantry, asked the council to avoid zoning approaches that would require conditional-use approvals for shelters because that could create uncertainty when groups identify property for transitional housing: “If we're gonna do the zoning... we shouldn't have to have that further uncertainty.”

Council members and staff framed the next steps as additional outreach and technical refinement. Councilor Windle, speaking in favor of the referral, apologized for any communication failures and asked the full council to give PED direction about whether food banks and pantries should be included in the definition. Staff said they will convene a public meeting with nonprofit providers before PED’s next meeting; PED will not discuss the amendment at its upcoming published agenda but will consider it at the final Thursday in May meeting.

The motion to table and send the amendment back to PED carried; council conducted the procedural vote immediately after public comment.

Why this matters: The text amendment would change where and how shelters, meal programs and related services may operate in Winchester and would reclassify long-standing nonprofit uses. Providers say the changes could affect privacy, funding needs and the practical ability to run low-barrier shelters and food programs. Council and staff said they will use further meetings with providers to refine the ordinance before returning it to PED and council for additional consideration.","City council voted to table a second-reading text amendment that would define and regulate \"humanitarian service facilities,\" referring the matter back to the Planning, Economic Development and (PED) committee after nonprofits raised privacy, capacity and permitting concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Winchester council actions on easement, appointments, appeals, and budgets

Council approves EDA performance agreement and financing plan for Cedar Valley/Ward Plaza project

Winchester council tables ordinance on humanitarian service facilities after nonprofit concerns