By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Dec. 11 — During Monday night’s meeting, the Luray Council recognized retiring Parks and Recreation Crew Supervisor David Sours for 31 years of service to the Town, as well as outgoing Town Manager Steve Burke. Sours is retiring at the end of the year, while Burke is headed back to Manassas after Jan. 1 to fill his former role as Director of Public Works.
The Council unanimously adopted a proclamation honoring Sours’ three decades of service on Monday.
“WHEREAS, Mr. Sours has managed and overseen construction and improvements of several Park projects
including construction of the Hawksbill Greenway, Imagination Station Playground, and numerous Park
shelters;” reads the proclamation. “[And] WHEREAS, Mr. Sours designed and built the information kiosks, the Ruffner Plaza stage, the Oscar Sours footbridge, and the covered Greenway bridge beneath the train trestle along Virginia Avenue, and, WHEREAS, Mr. Sours has assisted in training many of the Parks & Recreation staff through his patient teaching method that has allowed the Department staff to construct numerous projects with Park staff…”
Sours began his career with Luray’s Parks and Recreation Department on March 30, 1992. He has served in various positions with Parks & Rec, ultimately being promoted to Crew Leader. Sours served as Acting Superintendent for the Parks & Recreation Department in 2020 due to Coronavirus-related leave within the Department. His last day will be Dec. 31, 2023.
“…NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Members of Town Council of the Town
of Luray hereby express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for Mr. Sours’s dedication and commitment
to the Town of Luray, congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement, and wish him the best and
continued success in his retirement and future endeavors.”
Outgoing Town Manager Steve Burke also received a similar note of recognition at his final council meeting. Mayor Jerry Dofflemyer again read the resolution and presented the honoree with a plaque. After nearly six years as Luray’s town manager, he recently interviewed with previous co-workers and spoke about projects he helped initiate during his previous time as Director of Public Works in Manassas. Burke’s resignation is effective Jan. 1.
The Luray Council unanimously approved a request to allow both departing employees to keep their Town-issued iPhone 14.
During Monday’s meeting, the Council unanimously named assistant town manager Bryan Chrisman as Interim Town Manager for Luray.
In other business at its Dec. 11 meeting, the Luray Council took the following actions:
• Approved a request for a special use permit submitted by Rekha Parameswaran to operate a lodging house at 131 Baker Drive in the Planned Neighborhood Development (PND) zoning district at Luray Landing. The dwelling is about1,500 square feet with two bedrooms and located on one parcel of roughly 0.04 acres. Guest stays may not exceed 14 days, and the permit does not transfer upon sale. The Luray Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the application at its Nov. 15 meeting. There were no speakers at the Dec. 11 public hearing before council.
• Approved a request for a special use permit submitted by Wei Jiang (dba River Winds Management, LLC) to operate a lodging house at 161 Baker Drive in the Planned Neighborhood Development (PND) zoning district at Luray Landing. The dwelling is about1,500 square feet with two bedrooms and located on one parcel of roughly 0.09 acres. Guest stays may not exceed 14 days, and the permit does not transfer upon sale. The Luray Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the application at its Nov. 15 meeting. There were no speakers at the Dec. 11 public hearing before council.
• Unanimously approved an amendment to the Master Land Use Plan for Luray Landing in the Planned Neighborhood Development (PND) zoning district to reintroduce 42 duplex units to replace townhome development, provide minor adjustments to proposed road layout, utilities and stormwater facilities and establish a total density oif 5.25 units per acre. The request submitted by Baker Development and Landmark Atlantic Holdings Company, LLC designates the units as single-family dwellings, which will not be eligible for short-term rentals. As proposed, the Luray Landing development would include 186 townhomes, 44 villas (duplexes), and 41 single-family dwellings. The Luray Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the application at its Nov. 15 meeting. There were no speakers at the Dec. 11 public hearing before council.
• Unanimously approved a resolution requesting the removal of Williams Street from the Town’s Urban Maintenance Program, as the Town does not own the right-of-way (as previously thought). The request must be accepted by VDOT and will reduce the annual maintenance funding from the State by about $1,000 per year.
• Unanimously approved a request from the Page County Heritage Association for the donation of a portable stage being stored by the Parks and Recreation Department. The Town previously utilized the stage for concerts at Inn Lawn park, but had not used the stage in the last four years.
• Unanimously approved a request from Forward For Christ Baptist Church at 169 Hinton Road to connect to Town water and sewer facilities through their construction of about 600 feet of water and sewer mains to join existing infrastructure on Collins Avenue. Town staff indicated the public utility had the capacity to provide the connection.
• Unanimously approved a request by Page One to install a 15-minute parking space in front of their thrift store at 42 West Main Street to allow for loading delivery vehicles and pick-up of larger items.
• Unanimously approved updates to the Tree and Beautification Committee Bylaws adopted by the Committee at its Oct. 18 meeting. The Committee was established by the Council on Sept. 12, 2000 with the adoption of an ordinance.
• Unanimously approved a $500 Christmas bonus for all full-time and full-time/part-time employees for 2023. A $150 bonus was originally included in the budget, and the increase up to $500 — costing an additional $18,900 — will be taken from anticipated surpluses in several departments and a miscellaneous expenses line item for council.
• Unanimously approved an addendum to the sales contract for 121 North Hawksbill Street to allow the current tenant, Luray Auto Body LLC, to continue using the property until Jan. 8, 2024. The tenant needed additional time to complete work in progress after the property sale closed, and the Town Manager still has an additional 15 days that could be extended if good cause is shown. However, after that time a $100 per day fine could be levied on the tenant for not vacating the property.
• Unanimously approved a request by Luray Moose Lodge Family Center at 257 Dry Run Road to connect to Town water facilities through their construction of about 200 feet of water main to connect to the existing infrastructure on Dry Run Road. Town staff stated the public infrastructure has the capacity to handled the request.
For more information about the Town of Luray,
visit https://www.townofluray.com/
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