[0:03] Okay, we are now recording and this is
the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on
[0:07] August 24th, 2026 at 6 p.m.
>> And if I could get a motion to approve
[0:16] the minutes that I sent last week from
July 27th, 2026.
[0:22] » So moved.
>> Second. It's been moved and properly
[0:26] second that the minutes from the last
meeting will be accepted and approved.
[0:34] » All in favor? All in favor?
>> I
[0:37] » I
>> thank you. [clears throat]
[0:40] » No nays. All carried. Motion is carried.
[0:45] [clears throat]
Mr.
[0:46] » No.
>> Ladies and gentlemen, we are here
[0:47] tonight to hear a variance request. Uh
the request has come in from a Bobby
[0:52] Carpenter who is in attendance and
toward back.
[0:57] » Mr. Carpenter has a contract to purchase
uh contingent on zoning and and
[1:03] contingent on him being able to do what
he would like to do with the property.
[1:06] Property is being sold. Um I think is it
still in the name of Rosa J?
[1:12] » Jimmy
>> Jimmy
[1:15] um I think we've heard a case similar to
this probably two or three months ago.
[1:19] Somebody wanted to use the lot. It is a
40 foot wide lot,
[1:24] 70 foot deep. By deed, and I've included
the deed description on the back of your
[1:29] council packet or your uh board packet.
>> Yeah,
[1:33] » it's a 40 by 70 lot. Small, it's it is
what it is. Um
[1:40] because it is a non-conforming or
grandfathered lot, we're not here to
[1:43] talk about how small it is. The question
is how big are the setbacks,
[1:48] » right? Okay, that's the question that's
being requested tonight. Uh, typical
[1:53] setbacks in that zoning district would
be 12 feet. If you remember, it used to
[1:58] be 15%. We were finding on these very
small lots. I'm talking about six foot
[2:02] setbacks and that wasn't enough. So, the
rules were changed two years ago uh to
[2:08] either be 15% or 12 feet, whichever is
greater.
[2:12] » Correct.
>> Okay. So the 12 ft is the greater than
[2:17] the 15% and uh Mr. carpenter uh floor
plan which is also included uh is a 20
[2:25] by 20. Did I get that right? 20 by 20
and uh being 40t wide.
[2:33] 20 ft of that would be in house that
would be 10 feet on each side with a 12t
[2:36] required minimum setback in the request
is a variance from two
[2:41] » about two feet per side.
>> Right.
[2:44] » And that's me. That's what we're here
for. And um yeah,
[2:48] » a 16 ft house would be permissible, but
there's not a lot of models of 16 ft
[2:51] wide. This is a 20 foot wide model and
I'll leave it to the PCA and as you know
[2:58] there joint some joint property owners
here and we have people representing the
[3:01] property.
>> Okay. Okay.
[3:06] I hereby open the zone of appears
meeting for anyone for public hearing.
[3:13] Are there anyone present to speak for
this proposal and property?
[3:21] » Mr. carpenter.
[3:25] » Once again, how everybody doing
[3:31] always just wanted to put a small house
for basic seen since 44.
[3:38] That's my goal. Something that anybody
can afford. Not to use, nothing big.
[3:43] Sort of like everybody in the
neighborhood. It's one level, easy to
[3:47] get in and out. Plus, I enjoy doing it.
And I use, you know, basically my own
[3:53] apartment. I found this nice property. I
thought maybe this be nice for somebody
[3:57] neighborhood. They want brand new home,
clean, nice neighborhood already.
[4:03] » You know, not crazy. One level similar
to what they got, just small.
[4:09] » And this is what
And this is in y'all's plan right here.
[4:13] » Okay.
>> Basically, I just couldn't find them. No
[4:16] [clears throat] small. You still want to
get around kitchen. didn't want to make
[4:19] the move.
>> My goal was to make like wire the doors
[4:24] so you can get in case you
>> wheelchair
[4:29] wire the bathroom
doors. The thing the doors would just be
[4:32] a little w and uh the driveway be set
back where you can walk without walking
[4:36] a whole lot to get to the house cuz my
mom had that problem as she got old. We
[4:42] had to find somewhere for her to go
without struggle. That's all I was
[4:46] trying to do, you know, nothing. I put
up a fence in the back and see where
[4:51] they have fence. This one, let's give
everybody a new fence. If they like, you
[4:56] know, that's reason
privacy also cuz everybody like their
[5:00] own privacy, nice club, just things like
that that I want to do basically
[5:06] little by little myself cuz I enjoy
doing it once again and I learned it
[5:10] from my father and he learned from his
father. So that's all I'm asking. It's
[5:15] only two feet this way, but front is
where I [snorts] really probably going
[5:19] to be set back. I think we talked about
that.
[5:22] » Mhm. I I'll address it here in just a
minute because there really are two
[5:25] requests tonight on the setbacks
>> and I didn't do a very good job
[5:29] presenting it. We had the side setbacks
of two feet
[5:32] » and I don't know if we necessarily have
an issue in the front.
[5:36] » 35 down to 30. It's supposed to be 35,
but you're allowed [snorts] to build
[5:41] build in the in line with an adjacent
home. So, Miss Williams's house
[5:47] » where your line your house comes out
towards Freeman, he would logically be
[5:51] allowed to build [clears throat] in line
with that. And I don't know what exactly
[5:54] what that measurement is, but for lack
of knowing exactly what that measurement
[5:59] is, I advertise it. So, there is a
two-prong variance. It may not be
[6:04] necessary because if it stays in line
with the front of his proposed house
[6:08] were to stay in line when the sideline
of your house on a Freeman Street side,
[6:12] he would be within
the guidelines of the the zoning
[6:16] warrants. I don't know if how far
exactly yours is back. [snorts] So,
[6:21] because I didn't know I did advertise,
okay, but it may not be necessary, but I
[6:26] it is advertised as a as a setback
variance in the front as well. So, do we
[6:31] need to address both variance?
>> I think you need to do them
[6:34] individually. Yes, ma'am.
>> Well, that turn sideway.
[6:38] » It's in a different orientation. Miss
Williams is on face of second street.
[6:41] The property that you have the front is
on street.
[6:44] » Usually, you line that house up with the
end of that to keep the look.
[6:47] » And you are allowed to do that in
Blackstone if it's within 50 ft of the
[6:51] property line that you can
>> Yeah, you can line up with her side. So
[6:58] it keeps the houses looking like
>> they all came out.
[7:02] » You try to set it.
>> Give him that 16 foot frontage.
[7:06] » So assuming that
it doesn't line up with the adjacent
[7:12] property. He's got a 70 foot deep lot.
>> Mhm.
[7:15] » He's got 20 foot in house supposed to
have 25 in the back. 55 he would only
[7:21] logically have 15 ft in the front. So I
advertise a front setback variance. So
[7:29] to maintain 25, 20 ft for the house is
45. That would leave you what? 25 ft
[7:36] instead of 35.
But if once
[7:42] a decision is made to move forward or
granted or not granted, then we could go
[7:46] in there and and line up to see how much
if any front setback variance would be
[7:51] required. But I don't have [snorts]
>> Is this your first project like this?
[7:56] » No.
[7:59] » Sizewise.
>> Sizewise.
[8:02] » No, usually do uh 24 by 24.
>> Okay.
[8:05] » It's as small as I can get.
Uh 20x4 [snorts]
[8:09] by 24 usually give you a washer and
dryer. Here you really got a space for
[8:15] » Okay. So,
>> you know, you might can squeeze it, but
[8:18] you got to change the plan that stuff.
This is your first project of this size.
[8:23] » That's small.
>> Okay.
[8:25] » Yeah, that's small.
>> Okay.
[8:28] » Cuz the light is so small. [snorts]
>> And was this and then a 20 by 20? Is
[8:32] that one bedroom?
>> One bedroom. Okay. Bath, kitchen. Um,
[8:41] did I get the plan for that?
>> I saw the outside plans but not the
[8:45] inside floor plan.
I think we need
[8:48] » I think we included the
>> just just this one was included.
[8:52] » Yeah, the experience.
>> Oh, I didn't give it.
[8:54] » Do you have the other
>> I don't have the file. Okay,
[8:57] » but it's one bedroom, one bath.
Fortunately, there's no back door on the
[9:04] front because the bedrooms [snorts]
[9:08] » unless as you go to find a way to make a
back door, it's going to be hard.
[9:14] Would that be a safety feature?
>> No back door
[9:17] » unless unless you put it in there and
them plans is not. So I have to change
[9:21] it as I go.
>> He asked me about the plans. The plans
[9:25] don't show it. But I have to put it in
there as I go cuz on the plans it don't
[9:29] show it,
>> right?
[9:30] » But as you build it yourself, you can
>> you can but is that your plan to put it?
[9:36] » More than likely it will be. I normally
do.
[9:39] » More than likely. I mean, I can't just
if they let me get a [snorts] bill, you
[9:42] know, you got to submit that to the not
just the board. I got to take it to the
[9:48] » fire probably would probably wouldn't
allow it there.
[9:51] » Yeah, I got to take it to the, you know,
>> Yeah,
[9:54] » you got to take it to the planning zone
somewhere different when you start your
[9:57] bill permit.
So, I had to make that change on my bill
[10:01] permit before I submit.
>> This all I can come up with right now
[10:05] cuz [cough]
[clears throat]
[10:07] » Mr.
Normally we have back doors. We have a
[10:10] little back porch.
>> Yeah.
[10:11] » On the houses out here.
>> Mr. [clears throat] Carpenter.
[10:14] » So, look,
>> I understand your business
[10:18] and I want to thank you for that. Thank
you for choosing Blackstone. But I've
[10:23] been looking at this. I I personally
find that kind of hard. I was sitting in
[10:28] my living room today looking at I'm like
my living room is about 20 by 20
[10:34] and I'm former military. I used to live
in a tent.
[10:38] And if you got a sixman or five men in
your platoon or or or squad, back in the
[10:46] day when I was in, they would give you
one half
[10:49] » of your tent.
If there's only five, all I have is a
[10:56] half a tent and I can't stay there. But
we got six, we give out six shelter
[11:02] half. But in essence,
I'm finding that hard to accept. And
[11:09] then
I've never been to jail, but I've seen
[11:13] plenty of jails say, and it looked like
that was going to be incarceration to
[11:18] me.
>> I live in a 24 by 24. I built it for my
[11:21] first step. I was 21 years old.
>> Okay. [clears throat]
[11:25] » I live in one of them.
>> Kind of hard for me to accept. The best
[11:28] thing ever happened to me because I
ain't have no [clears throat] lot of
[11:32] electric bill. I ain't had no lot of
water bill. I had no gas bill,
[11:35] » right?
>> I ain't had no kids.
[11:39] All I needed was about 20. But that was
a two bedroom real somebody come. But
[11:45] you [snorts] talking about 4 feet. I
actually
[11:49] in Orange County, Virginia.
>> Okay. Been there many years.
[11:54] real reason and affordable and once
again it probably be $800 a month if I
[12:00] was to pay the rent $7 $800 cuz don't
cost a lot to do. Only thing I would
[12:04] have to do like you said is find a way
to put a back door
[12:08] and but you have to do that as you go.
[snorts] You know what I mean? When I
[12:12] submit the build permit I will have to
make changes which I got to architect
[12:15] it. I think I show you that that design
but he'll charge me a lot more money
[12:20] to do that right now and I haven't even
got it.
[12:24] I I can't spend $2,000 I might not get.
That's what he charged me to change them
[12:30] blueprints.
>> Okay.
[12:33] » So,
>> but that's the only [clears throat]
[12:34] that's the only thing I can see that I
can do different.
[12:38] » So, is the whole plant [cough] all open?
>> Is it all open or is there is it walled
[12:44] off for like the bathroom and the
>> Oh, no. It just showing on the
[12:47] blueprints where it show you got the
ceiling fans, you got the kitchen, you
[12:50] got
>> bathroom would have to be [snorts]
[12:54] bedroom, too. I think
>> Oh, you got a separate door for your
[12:56] bathroom. Oh, yeah. Yeah. [snorts]
>> It's a little house.
[13:01] » All that's going to be up. Okay.
>> Is there parking on the street or will
[13:04] he have room to put a
>> code requires off streetet parking? So,
[13:07] you'd [snorts] have to put him
on the street, but there has to be
[13:13] accommodation for
>> they got enough
[13:15] » off streetet parking
>> because of the setback. Like say the
[13:18] neighbor the house is back [snorts]
pretty deep and the average car is w cuz
[13:23] we got Lincoln or something might be a
problem but you got a regular car like I
[13:28] got you can fit in it. Mhm.
>> I mean, I [snorts] don't know how much
[13:32] space one person would really need
[clears throat] what I how many people,
[13:37] you know,
most people just need a nice living
[13:41] room, nice kitchen,
bathroom, something to call their own,
[13:46] but I don't know.
>> And you're renting this, right?
[13:49] » I was planning on renting, like I said,
too. Affordable is affordable for a
[13:54] senior sense or a first time person.
[14:02] » [snorts]
>> That's the only thing you can do cuz if
[14:03] you got this much room now you got to
figure out a way to cut a little bit
[14:07] just for that door
house to stay the same size but now you
[14:12] when you walking into your
walkway.
[14:17] You know what I'm saying? You got to cut
a hole out right there. That's where you
[14:19] have to put your put your back door.
Much safer to have a back door. I agree.
[14:25] But I got to draw into the plans and and
that cause all I can do is
[14:30] » well not only safer. I mean I'm not I'm
not sure but it it might be something to
[14:35] do with fire code as well having a rear
exit.
[14:37] » Well my first thing if an architect drew
it [snorts] you're paying for that
[14:43] code knowledge. So it may not be
required. I can't imagine an architect
[14:48] would prepare a set of drawings that
were no not code compliant. So my first
[14:52] thought is maybe because of the size of
the house, one bedroom, whatever reason,
[14:56] you don't have to have a back door. But
if you wanted to put one, I think that
[15:01] this body would certainly
>> Right. Right. Right. Change the plans.
[15:05] They're on there right away.
>> Yeah. I can't imagine he would buy a set
[15:09] of plans,
>> you know, that were publicly made
[15:12] available that weren't compliant. I have
to think it was.
[15:15] » Okay.
>> But I did get the drawing from I see
[15:18] that drawing where they put down the
driveway. I think that's on the front
[15:20] page that you looking at
>> uh right there [clears throat]
[15:27] at the setbacks.
He did draw that out for me, but I
[15:32] didn't go further. He wanted to
[snorts] just have to hold out to make
[15:38] changes.
>> Okay.
[15:42] Is there any
other statements that you could make for
[15:47] this project?
>> Um, it would it would definitely help. I
[15:52] would get people in in the neighborhood
work if they want. I need people. I'm
[15:57] like, I'm far away.
>> Okay.
[15:58] » I think I met one gentleman that cut
grass. I already asked him if I get it,
[16:02] would he be willing to work to help me
maintain it until I can do something. He
[16:07] said, "Sure." And I [snorts] keep him
going if he'd like. So, I'm already
[16:13] trying to, you know,
keep on.
[16:18] » So, when you say that, are you
referencing as you build it, you're
[16:21] going to get people locally to help you
build it? Is that what you're Okay.
[16:25] » Exactly.
>> Okay.
[16:27] » Exactly. I got it.
>> Yeah.
[16:30] » You need somebody to help trim the
trees. I have to hire somebody from
[16:33] around here.
>> Mhm.
[16:34] » Brick, everything. Um, the hardware
store. I have to find out where the one
[16:38] at
sell roof trust. [snorts] You got to
[16:41] find out who do what, who do plumbing,
who do quick, who do
[16:45] » escavation.
Uh
[16:48] » you have to do everything that below
because it wouldn't make sense to come
[16:53] so far with my own team and it's just
me.
[16:56] » I don't even know if they let you pull
your own permission.
[16:59] [cough]
>> Excuse me.
[17:02] » Almost.
And and when is this set to start?
[17:07] » When [clears throat] are to buy the
property first? He's only going to buy
[17:10] the property if he can get approval.
>> Right. I mean, this is all I'm saying.
[17:13] These all the steps. [cough]
Got to get Mr. Utility involved. You got
[17:17] to [snorts]
>> see, you know, who the neighborhood sell
[17:22] the roof. You got to submit the plans to
him so he can order the right stuff.
[17:25] It's a lot involved,
especially when you're doing it
[17:30] by yourself. You got to hire people that
got license for everything. electric,
[17:34] the plumbing, the AC. That way you know
it ain't going to be and you got a
[17:38] spectctor. So if not right, he not going
to let it go through anyway.
[17:42] So it's going to be done right
and fair and
[17:48] that's all I was trying to do. [snorts]
[17:52] Is that all?
>> Yes, sir.
[17:53] » Appreciate your time.
>> Thank you. I was uh Mr. Bagley. I was
[17:57] just looking up that uh corner Virginia
V Virginia V Virginia residential uh
[18:02] code [snorts] does only require one
hinged exterior door
[18:08] » on a building.
>> Irregardless of size.
[18:12] » Yeah,
>> I wouldn't get that. But I I would have
[18:15] been shocked if a set of publicly
available plans were not co-compliant. I
[18:21] really thought that would be [snorts]
>> okay.
[18:23] » I had a severe issue with that, but it's
>> okay.
[18:27] » It passes code. It passes code. I I I
actually have another house that's
[18:33] supposedly it has two doors. I have a
front door and then right across
[18:38] maybe 10 ft away on the kitchen side. A
side door. There is no door in the back
[18:42] for four bedrooms. And yeah.
>> So, we're going to open up our
[18:46] opposition.
>> Are we going to open it up?
[18:50] me. But
>> are there anybody else?
[18:53] » No.
>> Um, to speak for this project before I
[18:58] close the public hearing.
>> Yes, ma'am.
[19:01] » For
>> for
[19:02] » for the pro Yeah.
>> Okay. [snorts]
[19:08] » Good evening.
>> Good evening.
[19:09] » Good evening.
>> My name is Jan. I'm here representing
[19:13] the owner of the lot, Mr. Lawson. I'm
with Turnkey Real Estate um in Newport
[19:19] News. Um, Mr. Lawson hired me
approximately about uh almost a year now
[19:26] to sell this lot um for him. Um, him and
his wife um who is deceased at this
[19:32] point um had purchased the lot. Um they
had um planned it at that time. Um the
[19:39] lot is small as we all have said. Um but
there was a house on this lot at one
[19:45] time and this gentleman actually had I
think a little side um building which
[19:49] was his barberh shop at that time right
>> um after Mr. Lawson White had passed um
[19:56] about [snorts] two years ago he decided
that he was not going to do anything
[19:59] with this man and so that's why he
contracted me. Um, I'm here because this
[20:05] is the second time this request have
come up um for variance. Um, and the
[20:12] reality is I want to advocate for it
because I have pictures
[20:19] of what's going on with the lot now.
That's a nice picture in your packet
[20:23] there, but a nice the lot is nice and
empty, but this is what's going on with
[20:28] the lot. Now, I have a gentleman that
rides by the lot. um just checks things
[20:34] out, make sure that it's pretty I mean
it was a for sale sign on it so it got
[20:39] to look like it's for sale. Sometime you
have trash bottles or whatever. It's not
[20:45] over the top but we know people are
sitting there. Um currently if nobody
[20:50] have moved them there are chairs sitting
there. So pretty much people just kind
[20:54] of just hang out there at that spot. Um
the gentleman that kind of checked
[20:59] things out for me, he posted a no
trespassing sign because it's for sale.
[21:05] So we constantly have people riding
through people calling me. They're going
[21:08] out and looking. And so basically people
are sitting around. They're like,
[21:12] "Really? Is it for sale?" Um even with
my sign. So one day he came by and the
[21:17] new trespassing sign was gone because
they somebody ripped the sign down.
[21:21] » And so he went and he put another one
up. People were sitting there. He didn't
[21:25] say anything to them. Um then all of a
sudden my sign go missing, my real
[21:30] estate sign. And I think I called
actually Miss Lim being the neighbor. I
[21:35] know she's there. And I said, "Okay." I
said, "The sign is gone. This is a
[21:39] mystery." He went out, he couldn't find
it. Mr. Lawson one day went out and he
[21:44] found it in some brush in the backside
of the lot. I'm glad because I don't
[21:48] know how to how I'm going to explain it
to my broker. Um, so the reality is it's
[21:54] a lot of sitting there and I think the
taxes on it is probably about I think
[21:59] last time I looked it was $29 a year. if
you all would grant the variance.
[22:06] For me, I'm I'm real estate, so I'm not
really specializing in the variance, but
[22:11] the two feet set back the five from the
front.
[22:17] To me, it's not an unreasonable request
because the reality is $29 a year versus
[22:26] $29 plus every month for utilities,
water, trash, um, electricity,
[22:35] um, property taxes. Once something goes
on the lot, it's going to increase the
[22:39] value of it. And so you will, the town
will be benefiting. It would be
[22:44] benefiting for you all, but then it'll
be benefiting for us not to have to
[22:49] worry about it as being a hangout spot
there in the neighborhood. Um, we don't
[22:55] want to use town resources calling every
single time somebody's in our lot,
[22:59] they're trespassing because there no
trespassing on, but they're still
[23:02] sitting there. Then it's some nice
houses in that community, beautiful
[23:06] [clears throat] houses in the community.
So when you have that type of activity,
[23:11] anybody [snorts] else that goes to sell
in the neighborhood, do they really want
[23:14] to come? I see it all the time with real
estate. People are constantly looking at
[23:18] the neighborhood. And so if they feel
like that it's not a neighborhood that's
[23:22] kept up and people are not hanging
around, it devalues [snorts]
[23:25] the neighborhood. So I think Mr.
Coffler's request is really exciting
[23:33] to Mr. Lawson. We would love to see this
land being used for something more
[23:38] beneficial [snorts]
and that will benefit him
[23:40] [clears throat]
as the seller and also the town because
[23:43] of the [snorts] revenue that you offer.
Any questions for me?
[23:50] » Thank you. [snorts]
[23:57] » Do we have any questions? Anybody
else present want to speak for this
[24:04] project?
[snorts]
[24:07] » So I hereby close the public hearing and
open it for is there anyone present want
[24:13] to speak against this project? [snorts]
>> Yes ma'am.
[24:28] This is the first time I ever been to a
town council meeting.
[24:32] » Speak your mic.
>> Thank you.
[24:34] » Can you hear me?
>> And provide your name so we can
[24:40] name the news.
>> My name is [clears throat] Patricia H
[24:45] and I live in this area.
I live on Second Street,
[24:51] but I also
[snorts]
[24:55] u pretty much if you want to call it.
I've been living there for almost gosh
[25:02] about 10 or 15 years. [snorts] I enjoy
the area. There's never been no trouble.
[25:10] And another disrespect to you to build a
house there.
[25:17] It wouldn't
fit on a small property.
[25:23] First, he said there would no be a back
door.
[25:27] That's not That's supposed to be safety
if you get a back door.
[25:34] [snorts] Why would you have a front
door? Don't have a back door. But yet
[25:38] you going to wait. You get all your
contract and everything together. You
[25:43] should have had this from the beginning
before you want this property.
[25:48] This is a nice area.
This area is for the [snorts] kids that
[25:53] run around.
>> [clears throat]
[25:56] » and play.
Why would you want to take that away
[25:59] from them?
I mean, some of the people that sit on
[26:03] this property is Mr. Lawson and friend.
So, he have no right to say
[26:12] all kind of people is sitting on the
property. Sometimes first you got to
[26:16] look at yourself before you talk about
anybody else.
[26:19] But to build a house there right now, it
will take away the view. It is a nice
[26:25] area. We all get along. [snorts] But not
to have a back door. If you got a elder
[26:32] person in there [cough]
in a wheelchair, can't get out, you
[26:37] better not be able to get out the front
door.
[26:41] So what you supposed to do? You ain't
got no back door, so you can't go
[26:45] nowhere else.
Your room,
[26:49] I don't know. I'm not familiar with side
of the rooms or anything. I just know.
[26:55] But suppose this person got a room, her
bedroom, got a telephone in it. She
[27:01] comes out, there's a fire going on. She
can't make it back to her phone. Can't
[27:07] make it to the front door.
What door is she going?
[27:13] What door is she going?
And like I [snorts] said, this is a nice
[27:18] area. We all together help each other
out. Even help the elders out. I do.
[27:27] I've been in nursing for
years and I walked it worked in that
[27:33] area. But for to build something right
now, no, I don't think so. I think it it
[27:40] is the wrong time.
[27:45] Where you going to park at?
[27:50] You suppose somebody might want to come
visit you your friends or family. What
[27:55] they supposed to do? Park out in the
street or take one car park in that
[27:59] area.
You never know when a car will come by
[28:02] and hit this car parked halfway in the
street.
[28:07] I mean, I know he did his work and
everything, but sometime you got to
[28:12] thank.
[28:15] So that's all I'm just saying what I
wanted to say.
[28:19] » Thank you very much.
>> I have I have a question. So the
[28:24] property
owner is the one that wants to sell the
[28:29] property.
>> Yes.
[28:31] » So with that being said, it is the
property owner's right,
[28:38] » right,
>> to sell his property, right? And I
[28:41] understand that maybe people have been
enjoying it and kids have been playing
[28:45] on it.
>> Also, he been on
[28:47] » but it's his property.
>> I understand. [laughter]
[28:50] » So his property he gets to dictate
whether or not he wants to sell it or
[28:56] not sell it.
>> Right.
[28:58] » Um the part of the door that was brought
up according to the code and I looked it
[29:03] up legally
there only have to be one door legally.
[29:10] So whether we agree or disagree, legally
it's allowed,
[29:15] » but technically you're supposed to have
two doors
[29:17] » legally by the code of building
>> it. The state of Virginia, I understand.
[29:24] I've never lived in a house with one
door. I get what you're saying and I was
[29:28] the one that originally said it, but I
had to look it up. And so to be correct
[29:34] and to be legally and according to the
code, it is allowed. [cough]
[29:38] Whether we like it or not, it's it's
allowed. Um, and so I hear what you're
[29:45] saying. You live in the neighborhood.
You know, y'all enjoy the area, but
[29:50] what is your reason
other than you living in the
[29:55] neighborhood,
the kids enjoying it, the door, what
[30:01] would be a reason for this property to
not be sold? If the owner himself is
[30:08] saying he wants to sell it, can you give
me a reason?
[30:13] » Um, no, not really. But like I said,
>> why would you want to build a house with
[30:19] one door?
>> Cuz it's a
[30:24] » is a person [snorts] a elder person that
cannot get out the house, cannot even
[30:29] get out the front door. That's illegal.
>> It's legal.
[30:33] » It's legal.
>> It's legal.
[30:35] » The state of Virginia,
>> but it need to be corrected
[30:40] [laughter]
here.
[30:41] » It does, but we cannot do that. I don't
understand. [laughter]
[30:47] » But um
right now
[30:52] I don't
>> That's just your feelings. That's right.
[30:55] » You Okay.
>> I don't think that it should be right
[30:58] now. No.
>> Okay.
[31:01] » Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[31:02] » Thank you so much.
>> Is there anyone else present that like
[31:06] to speak against
this project?
[31:12] [snorts]
[31:14] Philip, can I ask you a question?
>> The last time this property came before
[31:19] us, was this the one that wanted to
build a twotory
[31:22] » twotory hub?
>> I thought so. Okay.
[31:24] » Last time.
>> Yeah.
[31:27] » Hello.
>> Hello.
[31:31] » I'm against it because like Miss Holmes
said,
[31:35] not [snorts] what I don't think is right
at this time.
[31:41] Then where you going have your parking
at
[31:45] and where you going to have your
driveway coming in?
[31:51] Right now all that is the right time.
[32:00] » Anyone else? [clears throat]
[32:03] » Good evening everyone.
>> Good evening.
[32:05] » Good evening.
My name is Carolyn Williams. I live
[32:08] right in the back of the um the lot and
I've been there for over 40 years. It's
[32:16] hard to believe, but when the current
owner was there, it was a small house.
[32:21] It was like a two or three bedroom
house. And Mr. Badley did have a back
[32:26] door. And I knew that because I used to
go over there and frequent him. He was
[32:29] um our neighbor and stuff. Um and I
didn't know anything about a back door
[32:33] until he said it. I was concerned about
the makeup of it because I know the last
[32:36] time we was here was a twotory and now
this is a one story. Um I'm really
[32:41] concerned about the parking issue in the
10 ft versus the 12 ft because as you
[32:46] know that's a lot of um traffic on that
second what is that Freeman and second
[32:52] we have the Monoya green right there in
front of it. A lot of those residents
[32:55] walk over and catch the bus there
because the bus stop right there at that
[33:00] tree. They have a little area that they
stand up, but the but they have to walk
[33:03] over it and get on the bus right there.
So, I'll be concerned about that also
[33:08] and that is a high traffic area. So, all
of those things was on my mind when I
[33:12] came here today. I'm glad it's
affordable because I'm always preaching
[33:15] affordable housing. However, I would
like to make sure that it's affordable
[33:19] safe house, especially if we're going to
put a elderly person there. Um, want to
[33:25] make sure they can get in and out
whether you have one door or two door.
[33:28] As I said, I didn't know the plans
didn't have any back door, but it is a
[33:32] message from Virginia. Shame on
Virginia. Um, I'm not here to make any
[33:36] new rules or anything like that, but I
think we have to take everything that
[33:39] was said in consideration um today.
And I did talk to some of my neighbors
[33:44] like I did last time, my neighbors in
the apartment and on the side of me, and
[33:49] they said that they would not like to
see a tiny house put in our area at this
[33:54] time.
>> Thank you.
[33:57] » Thank you.
[34:01] anything from the committee.
>> What What are the dimensions of a tiny
[34:05] house? Cuz this is not considered a tiny
house, right?
[34:08] » It hadn't been presented to me as a tiny
house. And our ordinances don't have a
[34:11] definition. You may be able to find it
online, but I don't know if a tiny house
[34:15] actually has a minimum or a maximum
square foot.
[34:18] » Yeah, there's different sizes of tiny of
tiny.
[34:21] » Well, we do know it's going to be
[snorts] small. A kitchen, a bathroom.
[34:23] » It'll be a 20 by 20.
>> We have to be realistic. We have to
[34:27] realize that's small. So we just I just
take all that in consideration.
[34:32] » But it's lovable.
>> Yeah, I understand that. Um but then I
[34:37] also know that the prices of rental
houses around here, the average person
[34:42] can't afford it. So if this becomes
something that people actually can
[34:46] afford.
>> No, that's true. My aunt
[34:49] » My aunt just moved here from uh
California and she's living with my
[34:53] grandmother cuz she can't afford the
rent.
[34:55] » Can't afford it. cost around here.
>> Yeah. I mean, it's ridiculous what the
[34:58] cost.
>> She's a she's a school teacher,
[35:01] » you know, here in town and uh
>> cannot
[35:04] » can't afford to rent.
>> Person cannot afford to rent these
[35:08] houses that have been allowed to be put
here.
[35:13] » I need to close the public hearing.
>> He has
[35:18] I just want to count on some of the uh
things they were saying.
[35:21] » All right.
>> In case they don't, you know, didn't
[35:23] know. But as I was saying, there will be
enough room for a car park. I wouldn't
[35:29] put my car. The tree will have to go.
First thing, that big old tree have to
[35:34] be gone. And I get permission from them
for that. That's enough room to park the
[35:38] car. The second thing I would try to put
[cough]
[35:41] I wouldn't want my mother not to be able
to get out, but I got to get blueprints
[35:45] for that,
>> right? Which cause I wasn't going to
[35:47] send that cuz this the only thing I
could get for now. But I got architect
[35:52] to draw up where the driveway go. Did
you get that?
[35:55] » I did not.
>> I got
[35:58] better for me today if I had a picture.
I did not. That's why I was shocked when
[36:03] I heard that.
>> Yeah. I just have some drawings
[36:06] » which I did pay for to show uh I think
you said you're in the back. Yeah, sure.
[36:15] Whoever in the back
got on there for that person
[36:24] to show on there. I got where the
driveway go
[36:26] » say [clears throat]
[36:31] ain't no car that long.
I'mma get two. [clears throat]
[36:36] That's what y'all not looking at. That
tree got to be gone. Got to level it
[36:38] out. It's ways and they do got parking
on our side.
[36:43] » Well, in your statement, you did say
remove large tree at
[36:48] » I mean, you got to put the house there.
>> I got my statement
[36:51] » and I think you're saying that you
haven't gotten the full drawings because
[36:53] you don't know if you're going to get
permission
[36:56] or not going to buy the property.
>> Yeah. So,
[36:59] » you can't give an architect [cough]
until after
[37:05] fix that the back door. And I didn't say
it has to be elderly. I said affordable.
[37:10] » Right?
>> You get what I'm saying? I ain't say I
[37:13] mean 21 years old people got jobs at
Walmart.
[37:20] » But I'm making it for either.
>> So I'm about to do it twice.
[37:24] » That that's all. So it won't be like
outdoor. And I wouldn't care if the kids
[37:29] still come play there until I do it
because it can't be done overnight. It's
[37:34] a big project. You know, I got nieces
and nephew, brothers and sisters. I
[37:39] don't have a problem with [snorts] that.
[37:44] » Count the ceiling tiles.
>> Okay.
[37:46] » And that'll tell me how far 20 ft.
>> I was looking at the room trying to
[37:50] [laughter] What are the dimensions of
this room?
[37:52] » Look at those ceiling tiles. I think
they're two foot each. They are to give
[37:55] you perspective.
>> 10 of those tiles would be about 20 ft.
[38:00] » Correct.
>> 14 16. So
[38:04] » where from where to here would tell me
where to start.
[38:06] » So let's just say if you start at the
front
[38:08] » but you know all right 2 4 6 8 14
>> that row of lights right there.
[38:15] » So
>> yeah right there when you get right up
[38:18] there this and this
>> 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 and two more
[38:24] feet.
>> Okay wide. So, it'll be a little wider
[38:27] than this room, but it'll be from here.
>> A little bit wider. A couple feet wider.
[38:30] And and approximately
>> to right here.
[38:32] » Yeah. Not quite to the wall because
there's that little screen
[38:36] that that thing.
>> Okay.
[38:40] » My thing is [cough]
[38:44] I I think I know a person or so that
>> kind of sleep in the post office.
[38:50] » They would love to have a 20 by 20 house
to live in versus having to stay in the
[38:54] post office at night.
>> [snorts]
[38:59] » And there's several people
>> in this community.
[39:03] » They don't have places to live. So to
have an affordable place, even if it was
[39:08] a 20 by 20, I think they' take a 20 by
20 versus sleeping in the post office.
[39:13] » Yes.
>> And and also um
[39:15] » Yes.
>> Okay.
[39:16] » If truly we know somebody's sleeping in
the post office, we need to be proactive
[39:20] in doing something. Don't wait till a
house get built all of a sudden because
[39:24] we're not against that. We just talking
about the traffic and what our neighbors
[39:28] wanted. That's the whole purpose of us
coming forward because as I said before,
[39:32] I'm all for affordability. I've been
saying this since day one since I've
[39:36] been on the council.
>> But we're talking about apples and
[39:40] oranges. One doesn't go with the other.
We may know somebody who's sleeping in
[39:44] the parking lot. I mean, it pulls up.
That's that's horrible.
[39:48] » But we're talking about building a house
on that property.
[39:52] » I'm talking about affordability is what
I'm
[39:57] I I am a and have always been uh a
advocate of if it's your property and
[40:05] it's within the law, you do what you
want on your property.
[40:09] » If you ain't breaking the law and it's
your property, you do what you want with
[40:12] it.
>> I don't want somebody telling me what to
[40:14] do with my house in my yard, in my
property. That's why I don't live in a
[40:19] HOA.
>> I have a question for that. I mean, we
[40:23] can go on all day with this and that's
not [snorts] my intent because I just
[40:26] can't.
>> If that was the case, if we have all of
[40:30] these concerns that you guys have good
proposals and your your thoughts, why
[40:35] wasn't it so the first time when all
these concerns came out about the 10 ft
[40:40] versus 12 feet? We wouldn't be here
today.
[40:42] » I vote I voted I voted to to do it the
first time.
[40:45] » I was I was outvoted.
>> Said no. So, we wouldn't be here today
[40:49] to that story.
could have been sold
[40:52] » that was not going to conform to the
neighborhood is the reason why
[40:56] » because the the biggest thing that I
recall from that meeting was the parking
[41:01] and if it was permissible then certainly
we wouldn't be here today.
[41:06] » Okay.
>> So I'm just saying that
[41:08] » okay
>> thank all of you for your candid
[41:12] statements. So the public hearing is
closed.
[41:19] [snorts]
So I will accept a motion for or against
[41:24] this particular project at this time.
Um I make a motion to accept the
[41:32] variance request for the 10 ft on either
side
[41:38] and the also the variance requests for
the frontage. Um,
[41:45] » I'll make that.
>> Okay.
[41:48] » Second.
>> Okay.
[41:49] » Been moved and probably second by Mr.
Quick
[41:53] » Queen. Yeah.
>> Mr. Queen, excuse me. That the variance
[41:58] for the 10 foot on the side be received
and accepted and the 30 foot on the
[42:05] front will be received and accepted. It
would be down to 25 ft from 35 to 25 or
[42:11] in line with the adjacent house if
that's even closer.
[42:15] » Okay.
>> In line with the adjacent house. Yeah.
[42:18] » Would be in line with the adjacent
house. All in favor of said motion
[42:24] » say I.
>> I.
[42:25] » I.
>> I.
[42:27] All opposed.
None opposed. Motion carried.
[42:34] » Thank you.
Do you have anything else built?
[42:38] » I don't have anything else unless y'all
have any questions of me.
[42:40] » Okay.
>> Now question
[42:45] » on the final drawing. Will we get to see
that again to see if that
[42:51] » Well, I guess it's not that important
there about that door, but that is a big
[42:56] concern. get you a copy.
Said he [clears throat] would try
[43:00] » consider. He said it was legally
required,
[43:05] » but anybody with a heart would make sure
that there was safe.
[43:08] » Any questions?
>> All good.
[43:10] » All good. So, we will adjourn and it is
6:47.