Purcellville PC to hold special meeting Sept. 9

As of press time, the Purcellville Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting on Thursday, Sept. 9, at 7pm. in Council Chambers at Town Hall, 221 S. Nursery Ave. to discuss the Zoning Code Text Amendment 2021-05 – Inclusion of Certain Historic Properties in a New Historic Overlay District.  This meeting is to fulfill a promise to the citizens to hold a follow-up public meeting to the public hearing held in July. 

This District is meant to protect the Town’s architectural and historical character, protect and preserve buildings, and ensure that new development is in keeping with Purcellville’s small-town character.  

The commission is expected to discuss including only main structures in the proposed ordinance.  There is also a proposed portion of the ordinance that would prevent an owner from allowing a main structure from deteriorating due to total willful neglect – which is called demolition by neglect. 

There is currently no protection against unfettered demolition, but in the HCOD, no one would be able to destroy a structure for a year, and either the Town or anyone else would have the opportunity to buy the property at market value. If nobody buys the property, then it could be torn down.

This would bring attention to a property owner who might want to build multiple houses on a lot or tear down a property to put up a large building in a neighborhood of single-family homes.

The same rules that currently apply would not change. There would be no restrictions on additions, painting, changing windows, or roof replacement, for example.

The Town of Purcellville will recommend all persons attending the meeting, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face masks while inside Town Hall, in a renewed effort to reduce levels of community transmission of COVID-19. 

The meeting will also be livestreamed, however the Town is offering GoTo Meeting for anyone wishing to participate remotely.  

The login information for the special meeting is as follows:  join My Meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone, https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/637694685, you can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (872) 240-3212, one-touch: tel:+18722403212, 637694685#,

Access Code: 637-694-685. The email for the Planning Commission is PlanningCommission@purcellvilleva.gov.