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Owner of 218 West Main says duplex planned; council told renting garage bays would require rezoning
Summary
Sheri Woodruff told the Cecilton Mayor and Council she plans to build a duplex on an adjacent lot and will place a small shed for personal storage after Planning and Zoning flagged that renting bays in a proposed four-bay structure would be a business not allowed in R-1 zoning without rezoning.
Sheri Woodruff, owner of 218 West Main Street, told the Cecilton Mayor and Council on Jan. 20 she intends to rebuild housing on an adjacent lot and will not pursue a pole-barn business while she proceeds with a duplex plan.
Woodruff said the house and garage at 218 West Main have been demolished and that she initially sought approval to rebuild a four- or five-bay garage. That approval covered only the original footprint for personal use; Planning and Zoning raised a concern that renting bays to third parties would constitute a business and is not permitted in the towns R-1 residential zone without rezoning. "If the structure spaces were leased to the tenants, then it could be permitted since it would be part of the dwelling," the council recorded; "renting out space for storage not related to the dwelling would be a business."
Woodruff told the council she prefers to lease both sides of the planned duplex and would use one bay herself. She said she will instead place a smaller shed on the existing pad for personal equipment and move forward with the duplex on the adjoining lot. "I know that I had the right to hook up with the lot," she said. When she asked whether a duplex requires two water hookups, Administrator Cooper replied, "Yes, she does since each side would have its own hookup," and noted that if the hookup must cross the road the owner would be responsible for the cost of extending the line.
The council and Woodruff discussed setbacks and tree preservation; the transcript notes the duplex would meet setbacks and work around existing trees. Council members commended Woodruff for cleaning and maintaining the lots and asked that any commercial use be pursued only through the appropriate rezoning process, to avoid creating a precedent that would allow similar rental-storage operations in other R-1 areas.
Next steps: Woodruff committed to prioritize a personal shed and the duplex application; any future plan to rent storage bays would require a formal rezoning application and Planning and Zoning review. The council did not take formal action on the property at this meeting.
