Two more lodging house permits approved, no new applications for short-term rentals to be considered for 90 days while new guidelines considered
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Dec. 9 — At the conclusion of a two-hour meeting on Monday night, Mayor Jerry Dofflemyer and Councilman Ligon Webb said their goodbyes, as they step down from council after fulfilling four-year terms. Webb’s seat will be filled in January by Luray attorney Chuck Butler, while fellow council member Stephanie Lillard will wield the gavel as the next mayor. After her swearing in next month, the council will have 45 days to fill Lillard’s seat on council.
“I want to thank the council…ya’ll have been wonderful to work with,” Mayor Dofflemyer stated just before the close of Monday’s meeting. “You’ve always acted as ladies and gentlemen…we have a whole team here…you’ve always worked together through these meetings…”
Dofflemyer, a lifelong resident of the town, has served on the Luray Council since 2015, when he was appointed to fill Pam Flasch’s unexpired term. After winning a special election to fill the remainder of that term, he won election to a full four-year term in 2018. He ran for mayor successfully in 2020.
Earlier in the meeting, the council unanimously adopted a resolution honoring nearly 19 years of service by Webb, who worked as Luray’s first planner for nearly 11 years prior to filling a seat on the Board of Zoning Appeals for a few years, and then being elected to a four-year term on the Luray Council.
“…as an elected official, he played a pivotal role in advancing key projects that strengthened and enhanced Luray’s position as a vibrant and viable community…he has been a steadfast advocate for Town employees, championing support, fair compensation, and improved benefits throughout his term on Council,” the resolution reads. “…he has demonstrated unwavering dedication to Luray as a committed citizen, skilled employee, and respected elected representative.”
Webb briefly told the story of his first visit to interview for the newly-created position of Town Planner in 2006, when he interviewed with then-Town Manager Jerry Schiro and sought advice from then-local newspaper editor Jeb Caudill, who was also a childhood friend.
“He just told me there’s some really good folks here in Luray, and I think you’re going to like it…I thought it would last a couple of years, maybe three, and that was almost 19 years ago…I came for a job, and found a home…and most importantly, it’s the only home my kids have ever known, and it’s been a very good home,” Webb told the council on Monday. “I couldn’t imagine a life not knowing the people I’ve met here in Luray, including the people in this room…to my fellow council members, and staff, and to the citizens, serving is an honor. It’s been an honor for almost 19 years being a part of making Luray a special place to be.”
In other business at its Dec. 9 meeting, the Luray Council took the following actions:
• Approved a special use permit to operate a lodging house at 131 North Hawksbill Street by a 4-2 vote, with council members Jason Pettit and Alex White dissenting. There were no speakers at the public hearing, and the Luray Planning Commission recommended approval last month by a 4-2 vote as well.
• Approved a special use permit to operate a lodging house at 505 Mechanic Street by a 4-2 vote, with council members Jason Pettit and Alex White dissenting. There were no speakers at the public hearing, and the Luray Planning Commission recommended approval last month by a 4-2 vote as well.
• Discussed and reviewed plans presented by Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jen Jenkins to potentially place booths at Lake Arrowhead to collect fees and better manage shelter rentals and swimmers at the beach. No action was taken.
• Entered into Closed Session during the meeting to discuss the performance and employment of the three Council appointees – the Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Town Clerk/Treasurer. Also, for consulting with legal counsel regarding specific legal matters concerning Special Use Permit processing.
• Unanimously awarded a $208,210.50 contract to Valley Automation for upgrading the Influent Pump Station and the SCADA hardware and software for the wastewater treatment plant.
• Unanimously approved a $32,227 proposal by Mosca Design for new Christmas decorations and pole-mounted wreaths along Main Street.
• Unanimously adopted two motions related to short-term rentals and lodging house permits — one, to reconsider action taken at the Nov. 12, 2024 meeting placing a three-month moratorium on the acceptance of Special Use Permit applications for lodging houses; and second, to postpone further consideration by staff of Special Use Permit applications for lodging houses until March 11, 2025, pending Council’s consideration of new decision-making criteria for those applications.
• Unanimously agreed to pay $5,149.45 for a Consent Order fine issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality based on issues with reporting and testing in late 2023 and early 2024 at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Unanimously approved the final spending and allocations for ARPA funds. The federal money must be allocated by Dec. 31, 2024 and all expenditures final by Dec. 31, 2026.
For more information on the Town of Luray,
visit https://www.townofluray.com/
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