Planning commission recommends approval of CUP to convert ground-floor storefront at 725–727 S. Loudoun St.

The Winchester Planning Commission on Sept. 16 recommended approval of Conditional Use Permit CUP 25-232 to convert the ground-floor commercial spaces at 725–727 South Loudoun Street to a single residential unit covering the entire first floor.

The recommendation follows staff’s summary that the proposal would allow the entire ground floor to become residential. Planning staff member Mr. Stewart said, “This CP if approved would allow for the entire Ground Floor to go residential,” and noted permitting and building-inspection issues that would need to be addressed during the permit process.

Commissioners debated whether first-floor bedrooms would face the public street, the history of a prior conversion on the rear half of the same building, and whether the commission should require changes to the storefront windows and door to make the façade more residential in appearance. Mr. Stewart noted the rear half of the ground floor had received a similar approval in 2020 and showed the submitted floor plan for the proposed two-bedroom layout with living space behind the storefront windows.

Several commissioners expressed concern about privacy and safety if a bedroom faces the sidewalk and discussed options including requiring replacement windows/doors to a residential style or capping the number of bedrooms. Commissioner Christopher Piper said during the public meeting that the presence of bedrooms facing the street was “one of the big things” that made him reluctant to support the request during earlier work-session discussion.

A motion to recommend approval that included findings that the proposal would not adversely affect health, safety or welfare and that approval be subject to conformity with the submitted floor plan and site plan initially resulted in a 3–3 tie and died. Commissioners recorded by name in that roll call included Vice Chair Banfield (no), Commissioner Piper (no), Commissioner Torres (yes), Commissioner Blue (yes), Commissioner Perella (yes) and Commissioner Jerilyn Burnett (no). After further discussion about possible conditions and whether to forward the matter to City Council with additional guidance (for example, capping bedrooms or leaving façade treatment to the property owner or Council), the commission restated the motion and then voted in favor by voice vote.

The planning commission’s recommended approval was expressly tied to conformity with the submitted floor plan and site plan; the record shows commissioners discussed—but did not include in the recorded motion—additional possible conditions such as requiring residential-style windows/doors or a limit on bedrooms. Mr. Stewart cautioned that exterior changes had not been submitted by the property owner and that building-code and permitting issues would have to be resolved as part of the permit process.

The commission’s action is a recommendation to City Council; any change to the façade or a formal cap on bedrooms would need to be included in conditions forwarded to Council or handled during the permitting review.