Council approves conditional use permit for auto-sales at 2500 Valley Avenue with conditions to protect NDD objectives

Winchester — The Winchester City Council voted May 26 to approve CUP-25-235, a conditional use permit allowing an auto-sales and automotive service operation at 2500 Valley Avenue (the former BB&T/Truist building), subject to conditions intended to preserve neighborhood-design-district goals.

Staff presented a conceptual site plan showing display areas screened from the street, customer parking and enclosed garage bays operating from the rear of the former drive-through. The applicant’s representative said the proposal is an adaptive reuse of a long-vacant building and emphasized that planning commission and PED recommended approval with conditions.

Council discussion focused on enforcement mechanics, revocation procedures and the tension between NDD design goals and a site that straddles the NDD core line. One councilor asked that revocation terms and enforcement steps be clearer in the CUP; staff and the city attorney cautioned that inserting specific numeric violation thresholds could inadvertently narrow council’s current enforcement authority under the zoning code. The applicant agreed the site will be screened and that display and service areas will follow the conceptual plan submitted with the CUP.

Councilors also asked detailed questions about vehicle access, circulation and the need to keep display and service activities on the areas shown in the conceptual site plan; staff said significantly different site-plan changes would require council action. After discussion, the council approved the CUP with the conditions as presented.

What happens next: The applicant must complete a site plan consistent with the CUP conditions; zoning-administration enforcement, a 30-day compliance period for any cited violations, and normal zoning remedies would apply if conditions are not met.