Staunton City Council voted unanimously on April 24 to amend the city’s professional (P-1) zoning rules to allow florist shops as a use permitted on review, and then approved a special-use permit authorizing Melissa Swan to operate Honeybees Florist at 2010 North Augusta Street.

Planning Manager Tim Hartless explained the code change was limited to allowing “florist shops” as a use permitted on review rather than making the use permitted by right. Hartless said some P-1 districts are appropriate for retail uses while others — largely residential P-1 areas — are not, and the special-use permit (SUP) process lets the city consider each application on its merits and location. Planning Commission held a public hearing on March 20 and unanimously recommended the amendment.

The ordinance amending Staunton City Code Title 18 (P-1 professional district) was adopted by a unanimous roll call vote. Council then considered a special-use permit request from Melissa Swan to operate Honeybees Florist at 2010 North Augusta Street, a P-1-zoned property adjacent to other professional offices, shopping and residential areas and located in the North Augusta entrance corridor overlay district. Hartless noted exterior work and new signage would require corridor review.

Swan told council she has operated Honeybees for 20 years, described plans to renovate the former optometry clinic to house the florist on the upper floor and a rented 1-bedroom apartment below, and said two massage therapists were interested in leasing adjacent upstairs space. She said contractors are lined up and she hoped to open before the wedding season; she has ordered specialty equipment including a cooler but had limited renovations pending approvals.

Planning Commission recommended approval of the SUP with a condition that any building alteration comply with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code as determined by the Staunton Building Official and zoning provisions as determined by the zoning administrator. Council approved the SUP by unanimous vote. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearings; supporters and customers addressed the council in favor.

Why it matters: The zoning amendment establishes a predictable path for florist and similar low‑footprint retail uses in appropriate professional corridors, and the SUP allows Honeybees Florist to reuse an existing building subject to building and corridor review.