Williamsburg Notebook: Council to Discuss Goals Saturday

By Amber Lester Kennedy Friday, August 26, 2011

The Williamsburg City Council is planning to meet for a retreat Saturday morning. Early next month, they’ll decide whether to change the city’s regulations for room rentals in owner-occupied homes. Read below for more details.

Council Plans Retreat for Saturday

City Council will meet for a retreat at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the second floor conference room of the Municipal Building.

Their agenda includes discussing 10 big goals: community engagement; character of the city; economic vitality; neighborhoods and housing; transportation; public safety; education and human services, including the school contract renewal; recreation and culture; environmental sustainability; and city organizational leadership.

To view the agenda and a copy of the Goals, Initiatives and Outcomes document, click here.

Council to Host Public Hearing on Room Rentals, Proposed Development

City Council will host two public hearings at its Sept. 8 meeting.

The first public hearing will be to consider whether the city should amend its zoning regulations pertaining to room rentals in owner-occupied single-family homes. Council will consider three possible alternatives: 1) No change to existing regulations; 2) Allow the rental of one bedroom to one roomer by right and the rental of bedroom(s) to two roomers with administrative approval; and 3) Allow the rental of one bedroom to one roomer by right, the rental of bedroom(s) to two roomers with administrative approval by the Zoning Administrator, and the rental of bedrooms to three or four roomers with Board of Zoning Appeals approval.

The Planning Commission voted Aug. 18 to recommend no changes to the existing regulations, reversing an earlier decision that recommended the second option. At the last meeting, the commissioners expressed doubts the Council would approve their recommendation to make no changes. Read more about the issue here.

The second public hearing will be to review a special use permit request of Carlton Holdings, LLC to construct a mixed-used development at 301 Second Street and 320 Penniman Road. The development would include a commercial building and 29 condo units. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the SUP request, but recommended City Manager Jack Tuttle try to get the speed limit lowered from 35 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour near the proposed entrance to the complex.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. in the Stryker Building.