By Randy Arrington
STANLEY, April 12 — During its meeting on Wednesday, the Stanley Council heard a presentation from Jason Breeden, owner of the Stanley Flower Shoppe, regarding a rezoning that would allow his shop to relocate to Honeyville Avenue.
Breeden would like to move the Stanley Flower Shoppe off Main Street and to the former “His and Hers” building. However, the site is zoned residential, rather than business, along with the surrounding properties along Honeyville Avenue.
The Stanley Council has scheduled a public hearing next month to receive public comment about a proposed “conditional zoning” — or conditional use permit — that would allow the business use in the otherwise residential zone. The public hearing is set for the council’s next meeting on Wednesday, May 10.
Town Manager Terry Pettit said last week that the “conditional zoning” would allow the flower shop and short-term rentals at the site, but no other business use. The conditional zoning, if approved next month, would not convey with the sale of the property.
Pettit also said that the Town opted to pursue a conditional use permit to accommodate the flower shop’s relocation, rather than rezoning the parcel for business use in the middle of a residential area. The conditional use permit better fits the site’s proposed mixed use.
In other zoning issues, Stanley’s Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance to Allen Lucas of Lucas Homes LLC just prior to the Council’s April 12 meeting. Lucas was only five feet short of meeting setback requirements and being able to subdivide a single lot that has two houses on it. Lucas wants to separate the two homes on Reed Lane for potential sale in the future.
In other business at its April 12 meeting, the Stanley Council took the following actions:
• Heard a report that leaks in the Hawksbill Pool have been repaired and the lines that were leaking beneath the liner are now holding water pressure. Over time, the pool had settled and put additional pressure on lines, which resulted in cracks and breaks. In the next year or two, the Town will need to consider either replacing the pool’s liner, or doing away with it altogether and having the pool plastered. The facility is still looking for three additional lifeguards, but should be ready for its annual opening on Memorial Day weekend. Lifeguards are being offered $12 an hour, and the Town will provide training and certification.
• Heard that while Bailey’s Legacy Dog Park opened to the public on April 15, the official ribbon cutting and grand opening in Hawksbill Park is being delayed until May due to final details remaining unfinished. Electricity still needs to be installed, but water fountains are now in. Supply chain issues have plagued the project for the better part of a year. The park is “90 percent complete”, according to Town Manager Terry Pettit, with the electric hook-ups being the main item left on the checklist. While the dedication will wait until May, dog owners may utilize the new dog park now from dusk to dawn. The dog park is divided into two sections, for dogs either above or below 30 pounds.
• Heard that the Trout Day and East Egg Hunt held on April 1 at Hawksbill Park were a huge success, with 99 kids signing up for one or both of the day’s activities. A total of 7,500 eggs were hidden in the park, while more than 300 trout were stocked in the stream. The Town gave away 25 door prizes of toys and gift cards, and 100 of the hidden eggs contained a dollar bill. The event was attended by both the Easter Bunny and Miss Stanley Homecoming.
• Heard a report from the Stanley Police Department that the agency recently received notice of an additional award of $152,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Police departments in Luray and Shenandoah received similar amounts, while the Page County Sheriff’s Office received $415,000 during the same round of funding. The grant is earmarked for equipment and technology. The department must submit a list of what the funds will be used for, which is then subject to approval by the state. Stanley plans to help pay for the recent radio system upgrade, request a new vehicle and other equipment. The department also received a $30,000 grant to upgrade body cameras for officers. Plans are still on target for “Where Angels Play” Foundation volunteers to descend upon the Hawksbill Park May 31 through June 3 to build a playground in memory of fallen police officer Nick Winum. The Stanley department’s March report showed 460 calls for service, with 180 self-initiated and three citations written.
• Set the height of “nuisance” grass at 10 inches. The height is set annually, as the Town sends out warning letters to property owners who let their yards get unsightly. If no action is taken by the property owner, the Town can then mow the grass and charge the property owner. On a related topic, the Council on April 12 opened bids for mowing services at the Town’s three parks — the Little League park, Hawksbill Park, and the Ed Good Memorial Park. The bids came in “twice as high as what we paid last year,” according to Town Manager Terry Pettit. So, the Council took no action on the mowing bids and plans to advertise for a part-time position that would handle the mowing responsibilities.
• Heard a report that Spring Clean Up Week will be held Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 5. Contact the Town Office if you have items to be picked up at (540) 778-3454.
• Heard that the Town plans to begin writing warning letters about inoperable vehicles piling up on certain properties around town. The Town has received a number of complaints from residents on the issue, and so staff has been instructed to enforce the ordinances already in place to deal with inoperable vehicles.
• Heard that a final budget meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26 at Town Hall.
For more information about events and activities in the Town of Stanley,
visit www.townofstanley.com
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