Yorktown Guesthouse Up for Discussion

By Desiree Parker Wednesday, May 12, 2010

At their Wednesday evening meeting at York Hall, York County planning commissioners will consider a special use permit for a tourist home in Yorktown, though the owners already have been operating it as such for a year.

Robert and Sheri Mann have owned the former Nancy Thomas studio on Lafayette Road near the Coast Guard Station since 1999. The Manns live in the main house on the property and requested a special use permit (SUP) in 2001 to use the old studio as a bed and breakfast. Supervisors denied the request at the time.

In 2006, the Manns proceeded to renovate the building, adding a ground-floor full bathroom, which meant the structure had been turned into an accessory apartment without authorization. The applicants said they didn’t know they needed a permit. In spring 2009, they began using the building as a tourist home without an SUP and had a total of seven guests. They also hadn’t yet gotten a business license or discussed transient occupancy tax obligations with the Commissioner of the Revenue.

The Manns have currently stopped accepting guests until the SUP application is decided. They have turned down several guests so far, according to a written statement they submitted along with their application.

Staff recommends approval of the permit.

Other business
Commissioners will also discuss an amendment to the master plan for Yorkshire Downs Planned Development. More than 10 years ago, representatives of the development asked the county about removing or relocating a picnic area/ tot lot because they were concerned that it wasn’t being used as intended and had become a teen hangout.

Removal of the area required an amendment to the development’s master plan since it was included in the original plan. The area and play equipment was removed anyway, and the county cited both the Condo Association and the Master Association for zoning violations. After squabbling over which group had responsibility for the area, both associations are applying jointly to amend the master plan to remove the area.

Staff recommends approval.