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Council approves two downtown special‑use permits after mixed public comments
Summary
Staunton Council approved special‑use permits allowing first‑floor residential conversion at 950 West Beverly and 5 East Frederick Street. Planning staff recommended conditions limiting each site to one ground‑floor dwelling and requiring building permits for change of use; one nearby property owner warned the conversions could hinder downtown business revival.
Staunton City Council held public hearings and approved two special‑use permits at its Aug. 28 meeting, allowing ground‑floor residential use at 950 West Beverly Street and at 5 East Frederick Street under existing business zoning.
Tim Hartless, the city’s planning manager, told council the 950 West Beverly property (developed as Anne Hathaway Cottage in 2008) is in B‑1 local business zoning and that residential use on the ground floor requires a special‑use permit. Planning staff described surrounding uses, noted the city comprehensive plan’s neighborhood‑residential designation and reported that the Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval with two conditions: (1) limit the property to one single‑family dwelling and (2) require a building permit and compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code for any change in use. Applicants John and Juliet Swanson were present and supported the request. Council adopted the resolution and approved the SUP by unanimous roll call.
The council then considered a request by SEBMEB LLC (represented by David Bottenfield) to permit a single residential unit on the first floor at 5 East Frederick Street in B‑2 general business zoning. Hartless said the block has limited on‑street parking, that the parcel is within the downtown Central Business District parking‑exempt area, and that staff again recommended approval with two conditions mirroring the prior item.
Conrad Dandridge, owner of nearby properties on East Frederick, called in and objected. He said he is preparing to reopen a Frederick Street café and is working with partners to bring a Maytag‑sponsored laundromat to the block; he argued that first‑floor residential conversions would reduce business opportunities, ‘‘open Pandora’s box’’ for further conversions and could harm downtown revival. David Bottenfield and two local property owners responded, saying downtown living on ground floors can increase foot traffic and support businesses; another speaker said first‑floor units can draw older residents seeking level access.
After the public comments and applicant rebuttal, council voted to adopt the resolution and approve the special‑use permit for 5 East Frederick Street with the Planning Commission’s recommended conditions (unanimous vote). Council members recorded no amendments to the conditions during the meeting.
Both approvals preserve the underlying zoning (B‑1 and B‑2 respectively); Hartless and staff noted that future owners could revert the spaces to business uses under existing zoning rules, subject to building‑code requirements.
