Sex shop regulations now in place in both James City and York counties
Good morning! Today we'll tell you about steps local counties took to prevent a legal challenge to regulating adult entertainment, and the WJCC school board discussion on when to buy new school buses.
Corrected version — we incorrectly reported that the Dominion power lease vote was unanimous.
There are no sexually oriented businesses in James City County today, and the board of supervisors took steps to make sure they could control them in the future without running into legal challenges.
Following a similar move by York County, James City County supervisors unanimously approved a change to the zoning ordinances to define what a sexually oriented business is, limit them to specific business and industrial areas, and require a special use permit.
York County Chair Sheila S. Noll told Williamsburg Watch the county acted to get ahead of a business they believed was planning to ask permission to open in York to use as a test case, challenging the county in court if they were denied permission..
A sexually oriented business is now described in both counties as one that airs sexually oriented motion pictures, has strippers (described in the ordinance as adult entertainers), offers sexual acts or sells sexually explicit items or pornography.
Banning such businesses outright would probably violate U.S. Supreme Court rulings on the first amendment, Zoning Administrator Christy Parrish told the James City County supervisors.
But state law allows local governments to regulate what premises may be used for adult entertainment, she said. Providing specific standards and requiring special use permits in designated zoning districts would shield the county from legal challenges, she said.
York County’s zoning regulations specify how far a business must be from areas like schools where children congregate, limits hours of operation and requires approval of all signage. James City’s zoning classifications provide similar controls, we were told by Planning Commission Chair Jack Haldeman.
In other actions Tuesday, the supervisors approved a lease allowing Dominion Resources to explore using part of the county landfill at Jolly Pond for a solar farm. Stonehouse District representative Barbara E. Null voted against the measure.
The utility would lease about 60 acres of the 545 acres the county owns off Jolly Pond Road. The landfill has been capped, and there is also a police firing range and a convenience station for garbage on the property, which would remain in operation.
The lease gives the utility one year to conduct a feasibility study, and up to five years to develop the solar farm. Dominion will then operate the solar farm for 35 years, with a starting rent of $1,000 per acre, increasing by 1% a year, according to the lease approved Tuesday.
There are two phases to the agreement: The first phase allows Dominion access to the land to explore feasible sites and conduct environmental studies. If the utility decides to proceed, it would still have to obtain a special use permit from the county to build the solar farm.
$1.4 million question: When is a school bus too old?
When is a school bus too old to use?
Virginia recommends replacing buses when they are 15 years old or roll up 150,000 miles, the Williamsburg-James City County school board was told at its work session Tuesday.
The board was told they would be asked to approve spending $1.4 million to buy nine new buses when they meet in regular session next month.
But in response to a question from a board member, Senior Director of Operations Marcellus Snipes said the 135 operational buses that are currently in the school fleet could still be used safely.
Stonehouse District Representative Michael T. Hosang said it might be financially prudent to hold off on buying new buses as a “fiscal responsibility issue, especially since we’ve had issues with both our funding partners this past year.”
“There is nothing wrong with the buses that we couldn’t use them again next year?” Hosang asked.
“You are absolutely correct,” Snipes responded. He explained that older buses require more maintenance.
The school system has 150 buses, Snipes said, of which 135 are operational and the rest area kept for spare parts. The school system needs about 120-125 buses during the school year, and keeps extras to fill in if a bus breaks down.
School superintendent Daniel Keever told the board that the $1.4 million going to the buses is part of the school system’s capital budget, and the money could not automatically be moved to the school operating budget for daily expenses.
State law would require approval from the localities that fund the school system –Williamsburg and James City County – to move money out of the capital budget.
Oceans and Ale cuts blue ribbon on new location
The popular Oceans and Ale seafood restaurant celebrated its new location with a blue ribbon cutting with the chamber of commerce and county officials Wednesday afternoon.
The restaurant moved from its former location at the Williamsburg Premium Outlets on Richmond Road to the building formerly occupied by Ruby Tuesday at 4700 Monticello Avenue.
The old Oceans and Ale space will now host a Longboards restaurant, which specializes in burgers, wings and seafood.
Oceans and Ale owner John Wagner said their new space is 50% larger than the old location, which seated 129 people.
The restaurant held its grand opening July 2.
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100 years ago, Roanoke was ‘the Black Hollywood.’
Next week’s government meetings
James City County
Economic Development Authority, July 15, 4 p.m. 101 Mounts Bay Road Bldg D Conference Room.
Williamsburg
Planning Commission, July 16, 3:30 p.m. Stryker Center, 412 N. Boundary St.
York County
Board of Supervisors, July 15, 6 p.m. York Hall, 301 Main Street.
Passings
Philip Stephen Murphy III, 79, July 7.
Linda Melvina Dickson, 68, July 6.
JCC really doesn't need these kinds of businesses, so I pray that the zoning ordinances are super strict and if locations are zoned for this, they should be placed out in the middle of nowhere so we do not have to see them. There is nothing redeemable about such places.