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Council gives first readings to Berryville Avenue design district and city tourism‑zone ordinance
Summary
At a first reading, council reviewed a proposed Berryville Avenue Neighborhood Design District (NDD) and an ordinance to establish tourism zones in Winchester that staff said would unlock state tourism grants; local gas‑station owners urged keeping car washes and drive‑throughs permitted and staff said zoning text amendments will follow.
Winchester City Council reviewed two related first‑reading items Tuesday that staff and the Economic Development Authority said are intended to spur redevelopment along the Berryville Avenue corridor and make some projects eligible for state tourism grants.
Planning and EDA staff presented a draft Berryville Avenue Neighborhood Design District (NDD) and an ordinance to create tourism zones that would initially mirror the NDDs. "Tourism zones ... are a prerequisite to access Virginia tourism grants," the EDA representative said, noting the designation is intended to attract hotels, lodging and convention‑type uses and to stack with other incentives such as enterprise‑zone benefits.
Why it matters: Staff said the Berryville Avenue plan is intended to encourage infill, improve pedestrian and bicycle connections, and make redevelopment of aging commercial properties feasible through tools such as targeted zoning standards and potential TIF public improvements.
Business owners who addressed council urged preservation of existing commercial uses. "Our clients are generally not opposed to the creation of the district but they are concerned about how their businesses could be negatively impacted," attorney Jenny Kitloss told the council on behalf of several gas‑station and convenience‑store owners, urging changes so property owners can expand pumps or points of sale without development barriers. Commercial agent Julian Greenfield said a planned "high‑end auto spa" would not move forward if car washes are excluded.
Staff response and next steps: Planning staff said the comprehensive plan amendment is only the first step; a text amendment and rezoning will follow with public hearings. "We're not going to move forward with the zoning until the comprehensive plan is in place," planning staff said, adding that zoning changes are likely to come back in August or September and will explicitly address permitted uses raised by stakeholders.
Council reaction: Several councilors supported adding the tool to the city's economic toolbox but pressed staff on outreach and flexibility. One councilor asked whether lodging was eligible; staff confirmed lodging and convention‑oriented uses are part of the tourism‑zone definition.
What happens next: Because this was a first reading, no vote was required. Staff will return with a text amendment and rezoning proposals, public hearings and updated notice materials to address property‑owner concerns.
