Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves 2nd reading to rezone 180 acres on Vincent Lane with developer proffers
Summary
The Charles Town City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance rezoning 180 acres on Vincent Lane from Urban Reserve to Neighborhood Residential. The developer offered proffers including $2,500 per residential unit and dedication of a soccer field and two pickleball courts; the motion passed after an amendment and three nays were recorded.
Charles Town’s council approved a second reading on Dec. 16 to rezone 180 acres on Vincent Lane from Urban Reserve to Neighborhood Residential, incorporating conditions included on packet page 96.
Planner James told the council the property owners and applicant have offered several proffers tied to residential development, including a payment of $2,500 per residential unit at the time of building-permit issuance, dedication of a full-size soccer field and two pickleball courts to the city, and a package of community amenities (pool, bathhouse, shade structures, picnic tables and playground) timed to certain residential thresholds. Council amended the motion to explicitly include the conditions on packet page 96 before the vote. "They offer to pay $2,500, per residential unit," James said when summarizing the proffers.
The ordinance passed after discussion despite three recorded 'nay' votes. During the public-comment period earlier in the meeting, Alice Spickler—speaking for family co-owners of Benton Farm—asked the council to consider the property’s history and the family’s work with the applicant and city staff. "The property has been in our family since the 1840s," Spickler said, describing prior annexation and rezoning efforts and noting ongoing coordination with Elm Street Communities and city planning staff.
Council members said they would continue to monitor implementation of the proffers and referenced the packet conditions as the controlling terms for the rezoning.
