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By Gerald Ochs
Rappahannock News Writer
Plans by the Rappahannock National Bank for improvements to its Washington facility created a rumble whose early echoes were heard at the April meeting of the Washington Town Council. The bank had applied to the Town’s Architectural Review Board for Historic Resources (ARB) on April 4 for a Certificate of Appropriateness for certain proposed improvements, among which are a single lane drivethrough, additional parking, and handicapped access to the bank, and an ARB hearing had been scheduled for April 12.
The ARB, however, cannot determine whether a proposed improvement is permissible, but only whether the improvements are appropriate and properly reflect the character of the Town. At the March meeting of the Town Planning Commission, Wendy Weinberg asked that the Planning Commission consider that Town ordinances be amended to require a special use permit for commercial drive-in facilities, and the commission referred Mrs. Weinberg to the April meeting of the Town Council for deliberation of her suggestion.
Mrs. Weinberg introduced the subject to the Town Council, and the council and attendees discussed he*’ suggestion and the lack of power of the ARB to do other than consider the appearance of the proposed bank improvements, and Mayor Willis suggested that the Planning Commission consider Mrs. Weinberg’s suggestion and forward recommendations back to the Town Council.
Town Attorney John Bennett noted that the appearance of change of intensity of use in an application would make it subject to the new ordinance, implying that the bank’s proposed improvements might require a Special Use permit, which in turn would require a public hearing before the Town Council.
The Mayor also announced that the ARB hearing on the bank’s application was postponed, and information after the Town Council meeting indicated that the Tow n Council will consider a Special Use Permit application by the bank at the May meeting (May 9) of the council, and that the ARB will consider the Certificate
See COUNCIL, Page A8
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