Notes and Votes June 18, 2025

This is Krista Brown with Notes and Votes

To kick the meeting off, Town Manager Natasha Tucker provided a quick North Beach update.  The town has not heard from the Governor’s Office regarding the Department of Conservation and Recreation grant.  In the meantime, staff are strategizing potential other solutions if the funding isn’t granted.

Duke Dodson from Dodson Development Group spoke to council about Phase 4 of the Dodson project.  Currently Phase 3B has started between the public baths and Beach Shop, it is expected to be completed within 12 months.  It will include retail and condos.

Phase 4 was planned as a 155- room boutique hotel.  Mr. Dodson advised he no longer believes a boutique-hotel would be best as there are an abundance of short term rentals and a large hotel could hurt our small privately owned hotels, motels, and inns.

Mr. Dodson proposed using ½ of the land for additional 4,000 to 8,000 square feet of retail and 10 to 35 condos.  Mr. Dodson said he is ready to close on the parcel and has serious investors ready for the project.  He said he would allow the town to use the other ½ of the parcel for parking for one year.

Mr. Dodson said the deal would benefit the town because the town would begin to receive taxes for that property and currently does not.  In addition, Mr. Dodson stated he has a relationship with the town, has restored historic buildings, and provided jobs for over 50 residents.    Dodson gave two possible options.  He said they would pay a lesser amount but they would have a year to design it and two years to build.  Or he proposed paying the higher amount with no terms in the agreement on when to start building.

Minimal discussion ensued amongst members and I would assume it will be discussed further at the next meeting.

Next up was Lease and Pier agreements public hearing.  Under the new lease proposal, if the town determines there is a material risk to erosion on the shoreline, the town can require the lessee of the land to be responsible shoreline maintenance.  This would be the case for new existing and new pier land leases.  Also included is increasing the lease amount to $2000 over five years rather than the existing $1250.

Ms. Odom advised Westmoreland County – Erosion and Sediment Control conducts inspections but there would still need to be a new hire to follow up on complaints, issues, and coordinate with the Westmoreland County.  Mayor Schick stated since the town does not have the staff to fill that requirement, it should be removed from the amendment.  Mr. Larson disagreed with the Mayor and believed the language should be included in the lease.  Mr. Williams and Mr. Wood appeared to be in alignment with the Mayor.

Incentives for lessees were also discussed.  For example, if a lessee submits a plan for shoreline maintenance conducted by an engineer and implements the plan, there would be an incentive to do so.  Council appeared to agree on incentivizing and giving lessees a percentage off of the 5-year lease fee.

With the proposed updates to this amendment also included is upon sale of a home with a current lease with the town, the town shall transfer a lease from a previous homeowner to the new homeowner. However, the new owner will be asked to sign a document to keep the existing lease and assume liabilities and obligations of the previous owner.  If a new owner won’t sign, the recourse is they no longer have a right to the pier, and it would become town property.

Next up was discussion about the increase in the cost leases.  The increase from $1250 to $2000 for 5 years is a $400 increase for each year. Mr. Williams said he is against an increase in of $400 and would rather an increase of $300.  Mr. Woods said in the spirt of compromise he would go to $350 a year.  Ms. Sandford said she believed it should be increased “because everything is being increased.”

Attorney Duggan will make the changes proposed by council and a vote will ensue in the near future.

Darla Odom, Interim Director of Community Development and Zoning presented Town Council with a brief overview of the recently discussed increase in Floor to Area Ratio (FAR).  The proposed Zoning Text Amendment would add a definition to FAR to article 20.  It would also amend the definition of “private garage” for clarity and to align with the proposed amendment.  Local builders have been in favor of this amendment and have spoken publicly.  A vote ensued and council voted unanimously to support the amendment.

Next up, council voted unanimously to have Taxing Authority Consulting Services (TACS) extend their contract to include Personal Property Tax delinquent collection.  Currently TACS conducts the towns Real Estate Tax delinquent collection.

To wrap up the meeting, council voted unanimously to move a reimbursement of funds from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to the towns ARPA account.

Lastly, a vote was needed to amend and appropriate $500,000 of funds to the Wastewater Treatment fund to ensure its safe operation for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Mr. Williams advised it was the first he has heard of the shortfalls.  Mayor Schick and Chief Financial Officer Oakes advised Mr. Williams they were addressed openly at the April and May meetings.  Mr. Wood advised council knew they would be having this expenditure.  A vote ensued, with all members voting yes with the exception of Ms. Grandstaff and Mr. Williams voting no.

That’s it from Notes & Votes and enjoy another day in paradise!