[CALL TO ORDER ]
[00:00:02]
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER THE 28TH, 2023.
>> NOW, IF YOU'LL JOIN WITH ME IN THE INVOCATION.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO BE FOLLOWED WITH MS. CANEPA. LET US PRAY.
DEAR LORD, GIVE US WISDOM AND COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITIZENS OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
WE ARE HERE TO REPRESENT AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVE.
BLESS THE SICK AND THE BEREAVED AND BRING US SAFE AT HOME.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ADOPTION OF AGENDA]
>> ANY MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE GIVEN AGENDA?
>> AT THIS TIME, IF THERE IS ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
SEEING NO ONE COMING FORWARD, I WILL PAUSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE.
THERE'S A TIME FOR COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS.
NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEW TECHNICIAN, MADISON SOBCZAK.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE SAME.
[ORDER OF BUSINESS]
THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE ADOPTION OF THE WORK SESSION MINUTE MEETING.>> NOW, I NEED AN ADOPTION OF THE BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES FOR JULY 27TH.
>> MR. BROCKWELL. ABSENT, AND MS. ANDERSON, ABSENT.
[PUBLIC HEARINGS]
>> NOW WE COME TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
MR. GRAVES, WOULD YOU PLEASE PRESENT THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.
[00:05:15]
[NOISE]GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, ELDER, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, AND THIS IS UNDER YOUR TAB 4 IF YOU NEED TO LOOK AT ANYTHING HERE.
THIS IS A ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REQUEST TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE COUNTY OF PRINCE GEORGE TO PERMIT TATTOO PARLORS AND BODY PIERCINGS SALONS IN THE GENERAL BUSINESS B-1 ZONING DISTRICT BY AMENDING SECTION 90-392, USES INSTRUCTORS PERMITTED BY RIGHT.
THE APPLICANT'S GOAL IS TO OPEN A TATTOO AND BODY PIERCINGS SHOP IN THE CROSSINGS SHOPPING CENTER.
THE APPLICANT IS STEPHANIE WINNER, WHO IS A TATTOO ARTIST, AND SHE'S REQUESTED TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THIS LAND USE IN THE BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICT.
SHE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE PROPERTY OWNER IN THE CROSSINGS SHOPPING CENTER WHERE THEY WANT TO OPEN THIS SHOP.
BUT THIS IS A REQUEST THAT WOULD APPLY TO THE WHOLE COUNTY IN TERMS OF THE BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICT, THIS WOULD ADD A NEW PERMITTED USE FOR TATTOO PARLORS AND BODY PIERCINGS SHOPS.
THE ACTION FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD BE TO CONSIDER THIS REQUEST AND THEN RECOMMEND APPROVAL OR RECOMMEND DENIAL AND FORWARD IT ON THE BOARD.
OR IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES THAT YOU THINK ARE APPROPRIATE AND YOU COULD POSTPONE IT AND ASK STEPH TO DO SOMETHING.
WE HAVE PROVIDED A DRAFT ORDINANCE IN YOUR STAFF REPORT PACKAGE THERE AND IT JUST MODIFIES THAT ONE CODE SECTION AND JUST ADDS A NEW PERMITTED USE.
CAN WE DO THE NEXT SLIDE? STAFF COMMENTS FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING OFFICE ARE THAT THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE REGULATED BY THE STATE CODE, THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, AND THAT'S ENFORCED BY A STATE DEPARTMENT CALLED THE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL REGULATION UNDER LICENSES THAT REQUIRE EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE REVIEWS FOR THE PEOPLE RUNNING THESE BUSINESSES.
THE CODE OF VIRGINIA DEFINES THE TERMS BODY PIERCINGS SALON AND TATTOO PARLOR, AND ALLOWS LOCALITIES THE OPTION TO REGULATE THE SANITARY CONDITIONS OF SUCH ESTABLISHMENT.
PLANNING STAFF FOR PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY RECOMMEND STAYING CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE CODE DEFINITIONS AND NOT REGULATING ABOVE AND BEYOND THOSE REQUIREMENTS THAT ALREADY ARE ENFORCED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL REGULATION.
THIS LAND USE IS APPROPRIATE, IN STAFF'S OPINION AS A BY-RIGHT LAND USE IN A B-1 ZONING DISTRICT, AND BY-RIGHT MEANS THAT IT WOULD NOT COME BACK BEFORE YOU FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TO REQUEST A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
IT'D BE ALLOWED BY-RIGHT AS LONG AS THE PROPERTY IS ZONED BUSINESS.
THEIR WORK STAFF COMMENTS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS, JUST CONFIRMING WHAT REGULATIONS APPLY.
THE BUILDING OFFICE CONFIRM THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS OTHER THAN STANDARD PROCESSES THAT WERE APPLIED TO ANYONE WHO'S CHANGING THE USE OF A STRUCTURE.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR VIRGINIA LOCAL OFFICE SAID NO ADDITIONAL HEALTH CODE REQUIREMENTS APPLY OTHER THAN THOSE REGULATED BY DPOR, THE STATE DEPARTMENT REGULATION.
THE DRAFT ORDINANCE CHANGES AS ARE IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AND IN THE STAFF REPORT.
ARE THIS SIMPLY, AGAIN, TO UPDATE THIS ONE CODE SECTION IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE INSIDE OF THE B-1 ZONING DISTRICT THAT LISTS ALL OF THE USES THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THAT ZONING DISTRICT, AND IT'S JUST ADDING, THAT WAY THAT STEPH DRAFTED THIS,
[00:10:04]
ADDING ONE NEW LINE THERE TO SAY WHAT YOU SEE IN BOLD, WHICH IS THAT TATTOO PARLORS AND BODY PIERCING SALONS, AS DEFINED IN THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, WOULD BE ALLOWED IN THE B-1 ZONING DISTRICT.STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVAL OF THIS DRAFT ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS DRAFTED BY STAFF IN RESPONSE TO COUNTY'S PROPERTY OWNERS REQUEST TO ALLOW THIS SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTY.
THE STAFF HAS FURTHER PROVIDE A BASIS FOR A RECOMMENDATION THAT THESE TYPES OF ESTABLISHMENTS ARE KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD ACTIVITIES WHICH BY STATE LAW, MUST BE ALLOWED SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTY.
THE B-1 ZONING DISTRICT IS THE ONLY BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY.
THEREFORE, IT'S THE MOST APPROPRIATE ZONING DISTRICT.
THIS IS REASONABLY REGULATED BY THE STATE CODE AND THEREFORE, IT'S APPROPRIATE AS A BY-RIGHT LAND USE.
THERE WAS NO NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE ADVERTISED THIS IN THE NEWSPAPER.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS.
WE DO HAVE THE APPLICANT, STEPHANIE WINNER, IS HERE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT LAND USE, THAT IS PROPOSED TO BE ALLOWED IN THE B-1 ZONING DISTRICT, AND OF COURSE, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR STEPH.
AND THIS CODE OF REQUIREMENTS, IT SAYS G&D LOCALITIES REQUIRE REGULATION OF TATTOO PARLORS AND PIERCING SALON ABOUT ORDINANCE SHALL INCLUDE IN SUCH ORDINANCE AUTHORIZATION FOR UNANNOUNCED INSPECTION BY A BROKER PERSONNEL OF THE LOCALITY. SO THAT WOULD BE IN THERE?
>> NO, SO THAT SECTION OF THE STATE CODE SAYS THAT LOCALITIES REQUIRING REGULATION OF THOSE BUSINESSES BY ORDINANCE.
SO IF WE HAD SOMETHING IN THIS DRAFT ORDINANCE SAYING THAT THE COUNTY WILL REGULATE THAT, THEN IF WE DID HAVE THAT LANGUAGE, THEN WE MUST ALSO INCLUDE LANGUAGE SAYING THAT UNANNOUNCED INSPECTIONS ARE AUTHORIZED.
BUT SINCE WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY LANGUAGE TO REGULATE THAT, THERE WOULD BE NOTHING OR ANYONE FROM THE COUNTY TO VISIT AND INSPECT ANYTHING.
THERE'S NO COUNTY DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE.
>> THERE SHOULD BE VISITATION FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT TOO.
SO ONCE THIS ORDINANCE IS PUT IN, THEN A TATTOO OR A PIERCING WHATEVER, CAN GO ANYWHERE IN THE B-1 WITHOUT COMING BEFORE US.
DO THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE TO GET THE REQUIREMENT OR CAN THEY JUST DO IT?
>> THEY HAVE TO BE LICENSED FOR WHATEVER SERVICES THEY ARE PROVIDING IN REGARDS TO TATTOO OR BODY PIERCING.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE LICENSED FIRST AND THAT'S CHECKED FOR DURING THE BUSINESS LICENSE PROCESS.
IF ZONING DOESN'T CHECK FOR IT, THEN THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE OFFICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE STATE LICENSES THEY NEED FOR A LOCAL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LOCAL LICENSE.
>> ARE YOU CURRENTLY RUNNING AND TRIED TO POWER ANYWHERE ELSE?
>> I'LL JUST LET THE APPLICANT COME ON UP AND SO SHE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
NO, SIR. NOT NOT AT THE MOMENT.
PRINCE GEORGE IS REALLY OUR, THAT'S WHERE OUR HEART IS, THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO BE BASED, SO WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS HERE FIRST.
IF THIS DIDN'T GO THROUGH, THEN WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, WE'RE REALLY SET ON THE CROSSINGS, WE'D LIKE TO BE IN PRINCE GEORGE AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE BASE. SO YEAH.
>> AND YOU CURRENTLY HAVE ALL THE LICENSES THAT IS NECESSARY?
>> WE JUST COMPLETED SCHOOLING TO GET THE LICENSES, BUT AGAIN, IT'S PRICEY, SO WE WERE WAITING UNTIL WE KNEW THAT THE ZONING WAS GOING TO BE ALLOWED.
BUT WE'VE COMPLETED THE SCHOOLING, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TAKE THE TEST, GET THE LICENSE FROM THE STATE.
[00:15:02]
THE PARLOR HAS TO HAVE A LICENSE AND THEN ANY ARTIST OR PIERCER THAT WORKS IN THE SALON ALSO HAS TO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL LICENSE.>> HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WILL YOU?
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO TATTOOERS TO START.
ULTIMATELY, MAYBE FOUR TATTOOERS AND A COUPLE PIERCERS, SO MAYBE SIX-ISH.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING THE TATTOOING ALSO.
>> AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IT?
>> I JUST COMPLETED SCHOOLING. I'VE BEEN TRAINING FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STEPH BEFORE WE DO A PUBLIC HEARING?
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN FOR ANYONE WHO HAS ANY COMMENTS FOR OR AGAINST.
IF YOU COME TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I WILL TURN IT BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS YOUR DESIRE.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO FORWARD REQUEST 0A-23-01 TO THE BOARD WITH RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AND A REASON FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION IS IT WOULD RESULT IN A ZONING ORDINATES CLEARLY ADDRESSED IN HOW AND WHERE THIS PARTICULAR LAND USE IS PERMITTED IN THE COUNTY.
[COMMUNICATIONS]
>> MR. GRAVES, IF YOU CAN GIVE US THE COMMUNICATION.
>> SO JUST TO RECAP, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS JUST HELD IN THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL, SO THAT'LL GO TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR A DECISION TENTATIVELY ON OCTOBER 24TH.
YOU CAN CONTACT ME AND I'LL SEND YOU ALL THE DETAILS.
ALL RIGHT. SO COMMUNICATIONS, WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY? SO REGARDING ACTIONS OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, THERE WERE NONE IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER MEETINGS WERE CANCELED.
OCTOBER MEETING, OF COURSE, BEING UPCOMING, BUT THAT'S CANCELED.
SO THERE'S NO CASE IS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING OF WHAT THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, SO NOTHING TO REPORT ON THERE.
REGARDING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF ACTIVITIES SINCE WE LAST MET AND THE RECAPS ARE PROVIDED IN YOUR PACKET.
BUT ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, THE BOARD APPROVED THE REZONING AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR THE BUSINESS REZONING AND THE MINI STORAGE FACILITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF WEST QUAKER ROAD AND PRINCE GEORGE DRIVE.
IF YOU REMEMBER THOSE TWO CASES, AND THEY APPROVE THE REZONING OF A PROPERTY ON 460 FOR STORAGE BUILDING SALES LOT AND THEY APPROVED THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY SPECIAL EXCEPTION REQUEST AT THE FORMER SUNFLOWER GARDENS BUILDING UP NEAR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL LIMITS.
AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON SEPTEMBER 26TH APPROVED STAFF TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR COST-SHARING GRANT TO GET SOME MONEY FOR THE ROUNDABOUT PROJECT AT THE INTERSECTION OF MIDDLE ROAD AND JEFFERSON PARK.
PLANNING STAFF IS WORKING ON APPLYING FOR GRANT FUNDING FOR THAT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY.
AND ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, THIS PAST TUESDAY, THEY ALSO APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE COMP PLAN, SO THAT PROCESS WILL BEGIN VERY SOON.
THEY APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND THAT PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO TAKE TWO YEARS,
[00:20:03]
SO WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK FOR THE LAST AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF THAT CONTRACT.AND OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR BOB BALDWIN WENT AT THE SAME MEETING, GAVE A PRESENTATION ON LAND USE AND COMP PLAN AND PRIVATE ROADS, SO IT'S WORTH A WATCH.
YOU CAN GO BACK AND LISTEN OR WATCH THAT ONLINE AT THE RECORDED MEETINGS.
AND THEN WE HAVE UPCOMING CASES FOR OCTOBER 2023.
WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE MORE THAN THAT, BUT WE COULD HAVE LESS THAN THAT, WE'LL SEE.
BUT THOSE ARE TWO SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS AND ONE SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD DETERMINATION FOR A SOLAR FACILITY, SO THE FIRST HALF OF A SOLAR FACILITY REVIEW.
WE'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFO NEXT MONTH.
A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT REQUESTS TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION FOR A PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
SO ALL THAT INFO IS COMING NEXT MONTH ASSUMING ALL FOUR OF THOSE CASES REMAIN ON THE AGENDA.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS OF STAFF?
>> THERE IS NOTHING ELSE. WE ENTERTAIN NOW THE MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> YES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.