Minutes 09/28/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28° 1993 the full text of which is attached to these minutes as Appendix A. 363 Gloria Hylton, 402 Second Street, and William W. Edwards, 703 Second Street, questioned members of Council as to what further actions would be taken regarding this matter and also requested Council seek a second legal opinion regarding the City Attorney's interpretation of "immediately adjacent." Mayor McClain stated that, the Ordinance having been adopted, the City Administration would be charged with enforcing it should it be determined to be applicable in this circumstance. Vice-Mayor Adams reemphasized concerns regarding other aspects of the Ordinance (as noted in Mayor McClain's statement) such as the determination of a "clear and present threat to the health and safety" which must be made before a termination of the nonconforming use could be ordered. Several members of Council noted that many of the problems in the legislation which enabled the Council to adopt the Ordinance resulted from amendments made to the legislation after it was introduced by local representatives in the General Assembly and suggested that Council ask area legislators to introduce legislation which would allow Council to adopt a more broad Ordinance. Bruce Dallas, 211 Massey Street, suggested that any legislation introduced by local representatives would likely be "watered down" by special interests from "northern Virginia." Upon motion, duly seconded and by unanimous vote, Council directed that area legislators be asked to seek an Attorney General's opinion on the City Attorney's interpretation of the wording "immediately adjacent" in the Ordinance and that they be requested to introduce new legislation which would be designed to allow Council to strengthen the Ordinance. In response to comments from several citizens that Council "had not done anything", Councilman Draper reminded those present that Council had voted unanimously at two