Residents urge Purcellville council to keep tourism zone; council asks for more research

Residents and business leaders pressed the Purcellville Town Council on Jan. 13 to retain the towns tourism-zone ordinance, saying it is a flexible, low-cost tool to attract investment to underused parcels on 21st Street.

The council opened a public hearing on a proposed repeal of Chapter 18, Article 5 of the town code, which would remove the tourism-zone designation and associated incentives. No staff presentation was given; the mayor outlined the ordinance sections targeted for repeal and said the council would receive comments before any final action.

"I urge the town council to keep the tourism zone ordinance," resident Stephanie Marut said, noting the law does not require grants and that incentives would require council approval on a case-by-case basis. "Removing the ordinance wont change what can be built on the property. That's determined by the C-4 zoning code, but it would cost taxpayers money to eliminate it."

Other speakers echoed that view. Paul McCrae told the council the tourism zone is one of the tools available to attract reasonable development to an empty stretch of 21st Street and noted that other Virginia localities use tourism zones to support downtown revitalization. Joan Lehi, who said she was on council when the ordinance was adopted, described the ordinances original, intentionally flexible design and urged the council to seek input from planning and local business groups before removing it.

Supporters emphasized that the ordinance so far has not led to any incentives being granted and said removing it could foreclose future options. "Its premature to eliminate something that you haven't even had an opportunity to have a conversation about," property manager Casey Chapman said.

Several council members said they were inclined to keep or study ways to expand and improve the zone. Council member Raynor described outreach to Leesburg and said the town there cited tourism grants and local marketing benefits as reasons to adopt a tourism zone. Council member Wright said the council should consider expanding the zone's boundaries and better using it to support downtown businesses.

Council asked staff and the town attorney to research Leesburgs use of a tourism zone and return relevant history and application examples to the council before the matter is scheduled for action, with an anticipated follow-up in about four weeks.

The public hearing closed after council questions and direction to staff.

The council did not repeal the ordinance at the meeting; members instructed staff to report back with additional information for deliberation.