NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
LURAY PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL USE PERMIT REQUEST
NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to § 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, that Luray’s Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing on March 11, 2026, at 7 p.m. The public hearing shall be conducted in the Luray Town Council Chambers located at 45 East Main Street in the Town of Luray, Virginia.
Public comment may also be submitted until 12 noon on March 11, 2026, through any of the following means: Email: bchrisman@townofluray.com; Mail: Luray Town Manager, Post Office Box 629, Luray, Virginia, 22835; Hand delivery: Place in the exterior DROP BOX in the alcove located at the front of the Town’s offices facing Main Street; or Phone: (540)743-5511. All comments must include the commentor’s name and address to be read aloud at the hearing. This hearing will be live streamed on the Town’s Facebook Live page. All normal Rules of Procedure will be followed.
The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comments and to consider the following:
SUP26-001
The applicant, Christopher Potts, has requested a Special Use Permit to operate two (2) lodging house units (short-term rentals) at 102 South Hawksbill Street in the High Density Residential (R-3) Zoning District. The subject structure is approximately 1,416 square feet in size with two (2) apartment units (upper and lower) with one bedroom in each unit and is located on one parcel that is approximately 8,100 square feet total in area. The subject parcel is further identified on Page County Tax Maps as 42A11-7-1. A Special Use Permit is required to operate a lodging house in the R-3 Zoning District per Town Code Appendix A, Article IV, Sec. 403.2(n).
Copies of the Special Use Permit application and the Town’s zoning ordinance are available at the Town of Luray’s Office, 45 East Main Street, Luray, Virginia. These items may be viewed between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday – Friday and may also be found online at the Town’s website www.townofluray.com. Questions may be directed to the Town by calling 540-743-5511, or by emailing bchrisman@townofluray.com.
Another residence converted to a short term rental.
Let’s build up the tourism and get rid of another place a local resident could live. Good job from our Economic Development & Tourism dept.
There needs to be a moratorium on this type of development, at least in residential districts.
furthermore, that’s why the town has changed the rules so that people have to apply for a special use permit to have a short term rental in certain zones. people can speak out against it and the town can deny that use.
That place had been a bed and breakfast for many years. It had one apartment up and one down. So making it a short term rental only seems like the way for new owners to use it after they did extensive remodeling.
don’t blame the buyer, the sellers priced that house so that no long term rental numbers worked to pay the mortgage. they didn’t price it for a local person to buy, a local person to rent. they priced it for a vacation rental income for 2 units. do the numbers.
Towns should prohibit short term rentals in any R zone (R-1, R-2…). No short term rentals in residential. Currently its just prohibited in R-1. No Special Use allowed. This would set the tone for home prices.
Short term rentals make sense in B-1 since its a lodging business.
The county has its own issues. Ultimately the glut of short term rentals will drive out a lot of outside investors who were just hoping for a quick buck.
I completely agree with the previous comments about the impact of short-term rentals on the local housing market here in Luray. However, as someone who travels often for health reasons, I also see how these lodging units sometimes attract medical tourists or remote workers who need specialized care. Speaking of being prepared for travel and staying in such units, does anyone know if local pharmacies are helpful with international prescriptions, or should I rely strictly on tools like https://pillintrip.com to find local equivalents before I arrive? I’m trying to follow the “informed patient” approach mentioned in Dr. Slinkin’s health guides to avoid any issues while staying in the area.
Matt. Maybe this website could help you find what you need?
“Launched in February 2026, TrumpRx.gov is a government website designed to help Americans find discounted, “most-favored-nation” (MFN) prices on certain brand-name prescription drugs. It acts as a search tool for consumers to locate lower prices, often by providing manufacturer coupons for use at pharmacies or directing them to manufacturer websites for cash-pay, non-insured purchases.”