Town Council says no to Echols request
By Rebecca Maynard
After discussion, Council decided not to pursue any of the requests presented.Echols has lately submitted a number of requests relating to his goal of building additional senior housing on land his company owns, which is zoned Business, near Food Lion in Berryville. Most recently, Echols submitted a request to Council asking them to approve:
Text amendments to the OPR (Older Person Residential) district [where Mary Hardesty House is located] that would place business use into the OPR district and permit multi-family housing by right, as opposed to by special use permit.
Text Amendments to the Business District that would place senior housing as a permitted use in the district regulations.
An amendment of proffers that were accepted by the Board of Supervisors when Mary Hardesty House was approved in 1995, limiting the use to three acres and the number of units to 60.
Echols wants to build, in cooperation with United Methodist Housing, a non-profit organization, another 60 units of senior housing in a facility similar to Mary Hardesty House. He cannot build senior housing while the land is still zoned Business.
Robert Mitchell, the town of Berryville’s attorney, said that because the town and county created OPR zoning specifically for senior housing, the proper way for Echols to accomplish his plan would be to submit a request to have the land rezoned to OPR.
“Older person housing is not currently permitted in the B district, so there is no basis for a text amendment,” Mitchell said.
Echols explained that he thinks OPR zoning is impractical, in part because he believes it would diminish the value of the property and limit what could be done with it. He also said that the cost of the rezoning process would be impractical.
He also has said that now is the time for a building project, before tax credits expire in 2010. This year, he said, a 9 percent tax credit is available for the project, but Echols predicted that that rate will be lower next year, and about 4 percent by 2010.
“Four percent wouldn’t work now,” Echols said.
Mitchell recommended that Council take no action on Echols’ requests, and no action was taken. The members explained again that they are in favor of senior housing, and that they believe Echols’ best option is to take the time to go through the process of submitting a request to rezone the land to OPR.
In other news at the meeting:
Berryville residents expressed their views on proposed increased speeding fines for certain Berryville streets. After the public hearing, Council approved the proposal to increase fines on the residential streets Josephine, South Church and Liberty Street, Mosby and Hermitage Boulevard, and Jackson Drive.
Signs will be posted advising motorists of a maximum punishment of $200 for speeding, in addition to other penalties provided by law. South Church will only be posted south of Swan Avenue, because the additional fines will only be applied in residential areas.
The Town Council has been exploring ways to better control speeds on those streets, and most residents who spoke in the public hearing said they were pleased with the proposal. Some also added points to be considered.
Ted Bishop, a resident of one of the affected roads, said he is in favor of the increased fines, and also hopes that the Berryville Police will enforce the speed limit by patrolling the areas.
“Additional fines are only as effective as the enforcement,” he said.
Roland Clarke, who also lives on one of the affected roads, said he is torn, because although he realizes enforcement is necessary, he is concerned that the fines may prove difficult for poorer residents.
“I’m mostly concerned about the $200, and I would question the severity of the fine,” Clarke said.
After discussion, the Council members unanimously voted to approve the proposal.