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Commission approves SUP 2601 for ADU, requires 10‑foot rear setback based on town‑attorney opinion
Summary
The Purcellville Planning Commission approved Special Use Permit SUP 2601 for an accessory dwelling unit at 330 West Main Street and imposed a condition that the ADU be located no closer than 10 feet to the rear lot line consistent with a town‑attorney opinion dated 06/04/2026.
The Planning Commission voted to approve Special Use Permit SUP 2601 for an accessory dwelling unit at 330 West Main Street and attached a condition setting a 10‑foot minimum rear‑yard setback. Staff reviewed parking capacity and zoning definitions; commissioners debated whether the R2 setback standard (which allows a 5‑foot proximity for certain accessory structures) or the accessory‑dwelling standard in Section 3.4 (which specifies a 10‑foot rear yard) governs.
Commissioners reviewed a written town‑attorney opinion dated 06/04/2026 concluding that Section 3.4 applies and governs this case. The presiding officer moved to approve SUP 2601 "subject to the conditions in the staff report, except that the accessory dwelling unit shall be located no closer than 10 feet to the rear lot line consistent with the town attorney's written opinion dated 06/04/2026, finding that section 3 dot 4 governs." The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
During discussion staff and commissioners noted ambiguity in zoning definitions (references to accessory structures vs. accessory dwellings) and recommended clarifying the ordinance text in a future amendment. Commissioner concerns included privacy between adjacent ADUs and potential buffering or landscaping as future mitigation measures.
