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Purcellville staff: 740 East Main construction begins; BZA approves interior accessory dwelling unit
Summary
Planning staff reported that the 740 East Main site plan has been approved and foundation work has begun, and that the BZA approved a recent accessory dwelling unit application for a finished basement that contains a full kitchen (a distinction staff said would trigger a special‑use process under the draft ordinance). Several minor BAR approvals were handled administratively.
Staff updated the commission on recent development activity in town, noting that the site plan for 740 East Main (adjacent to Total Pools) has been approved, zoning permits issued and county building permits obtained; foundation work is under way. On the Historic/ BAR (Board of Architectural Review) side, staff said a local restaurant exterior and window replacements at the Pankos Building were approved administratively and that interior remodeling is planned for the Pankos site.
Separately, staff reported a recent minor BZA application for an accessory dwelling unit (an interior, split‑level basement used to house a family member) was approved. Staff explained that the draft ordinance distinguishes between an interior ADU with a full kitchen (stove and oven) — which would be treated as a special‑use permit — and an accessory living space with only a wet bar. "In this case, the distinguishing difference for what we can easily determine as an accessory dwelling unit in just a finished basement is a full kitchen versus a wet bar," a staff speaker said, adding the BZA approved the basement ADU and that the property had adequate parking.
Why it matters: The active building permit and site work at 740 East Main indicate near-term construction activity in town; the ADU approval illustrates how the draft ordinance and BZA practice treat interior units that include full cooking facilities.
Provenance: topic introduction — SEG 709 (site plan approval reported); topic finish — SEG 776 (ADU details and BZA approval).
