Council approves special-use permit allowing two skill games at Roadrunner Market

The Marion Town Council voted to grant a special-use permit allowing up to two Virginia-legal skill games at Roadrunner Market, 1450 N. Main Street, after a public hearing and council discussion.

Todd Long, zoning staff, told council the business had removed machines while completing the permit process and that local code permits up to two legal games per location so long as they remain legal under Virginia law. "The purpose of this is just to restrict them to two games, as long as Virginia deems them legal," Long said.

During public comment Charles Wasson urged the council to treat the devices as gambling, citing community harms and police incidents he associated with similar machines. "Gambling frequently leads to addictions," Wasson said, and argued the devices would not promote the town's health, safety or morals.

Council members debated precedent and the town's obligation to follow state law. One councilor noted the town adopts the Code of Virginia and cannot adopt regulations that conflict with state law; another said the permit limits the number of machines so a building could not host a large bank of devices. A motion to approve the special-use permit was made and seconded; the council voted to approve the permit during the meeting's public-hearing agenda.

The council did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; council members discussed that votes should follow applicable law and confirmed the location's paperwork was in order. The permit will be effective according to the town's normal permitting procedures and remains subject to change if Virginia law changes regarding the legality of the games.