Winchester City Council approves series of ordinances, easements and land-use actions

Winchester City Council approved a package of ordinances, easements, zoning changes and bond authorizations during its Sept. 23 meeting, voting by roll call on a series of second readings and companion resolutions that city staff said reflected no substantive changes since prior briefings.

The actions approved included an amendment to the city’s enterprise zone, second readings of easements for a stoop and a trail across city parcels, conditional use approval for an 8‑foot screening fence at the CSX storage yard, a conditional rezoning for properties on Cedar Creek, amendments to subdivision and zoning administrative procedures and authorizations to issue general‑obligation public improvement bonds and refunding bonds.

Why it matters: The measures adjust the city’s land‑use and development rules, clear title/uses on several parcels and set the city’s near‑term borrowing plan. City staff said the bond sale timing and borrowing costs had improved since the previous briefing.

Among the items approved were: - Resolution (2025‑31) to amend the City of Winchester’s enterprise zone program; presented by Jeff Bittner of the Economic Development Authority; motion carried on roll call. (Second reading/public hearing closed; no public speakers.) - Ordinance O‑2025‑24, second reading, granting a stoop easement at 222 South Kent Street to allow construction of a stoop in the city right‑of‑way; presented by Kelly Henshall; council confirmed the easement will not affect Americans with Disabilities Act access; motion carried on roll call. (One public commenter asked about ADA impacts; staff confirmed no impact.) - Ordinance O‑2025‑25, second reading, granting a trail easement to Frederick County across city‑owned parcels at tax map numbers 548‑119, 548‑121 and 548‑122; presented by Kelly Henshall; no public comment; motion carried on roll call. - Ordinance O‑2025‑26, second reading, authorizing the issuance and sale of general obligation public improvement bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $26,000,000 to finance capital projects; presented by Mary Blow; staff updated council that interest cost estimates moved from the prior 4.1–4.3% range into roughly 3.8–4.0% as of the previous day; motion carried on roll call. - Conditional use permit to allow installation of an 8‑foot screening fence in the front yard of the CSX railroad storage yard and two adjacent city‑owned lots on North Kent Street; presented by Sean Benson; the fence will include precast concrete panels and is planned for a community‑designed mural; council approved the CUP on roll call. - O‑2025‑23 / RZ‑25‑3, second reading and approval of a conditional rezoning of approximately 1.32 acres at 616 and 632 Cedar Creek (map numbers provided in staff materials) with use restrictions and signed proffer statement from the applicant; presented by David Stewart; motion carried on roll call. - TA‑25‑1 (O‑2025‑21), second reading to amend the city subdivision ordinance to authorize the planning director and designees to review preliminary and final plats, shorten review periods for certain resubmittals, and update procedures to reflect recent Virginia law; staff noted language allowing an applicant to petition the circuit court if staff does not act within 90 days for a preliminary plat; motion carried on roll call. - TA‑25‑2 (O‑2025‑22), second reading to amend sections 19‑6 and 19‑7 of the Winchester zoning ordinance regarding administrative approval of site plans to reflect Virginia code; motion carried on roll call. - Resolution (regular agenda, 2025‑30) providing for issuance and sale of general obligation public improvement bonds not to exceed $26,500,000 and refunding bonds not to exceed $1,500,000 and related bond details and continuing disclosure; presented by Mary Blow as the companion to prior ordinance actions; motion carried on roll call.

All items were approved on voice or roll‑call votes recorded during the meeting. Councilors who moved or seconded motions on the record included Vice Mayor Tagnisi, Councilor Fox, Councilor Newcomb and Mayor Beach, among others; clerks conducted roll calls for each ordinance and resolution. Staff indicated no substantive changes to the measures since they were last before the relevant committees or prior meetings.

The consent agenda was also approved without items removed. Council concluded the meeting after receiving routine monthly departmental reports.