by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
WHITE STONE—By unanimous vote, 4-0, the White Stone Town Council last Thursday rezoned the former White Stone Volunteer Fire Department (WSVFD) firehouse at 578 Chesapeake Drive.
The fire department, which recently moved into its new firehouse at 579 Chesapeake Drive, requested a zoning change at its old 1.95-acre location from recreational to commercial. The request was recommended for approval by the planning commission with no opposition from the public. No one spoke for or against the change at council’s public hearing.
Blair Kenyon made the motion to approve the request and Irving Brittingham offered a second. Councilman Ran Reeves, who is an active member of the department, abstained from voting. Although councilman Paul Elbourn is a life member of WSVFD, he read a statement prior to the public hearing, saying he was not an active member and did not believe his relationship with the department would interfere with his ability to make a fair decision.
Voting in favor of the change were Kenyon, Brittingham, Elbourn and Drew Hubbard. Councilmen William Hubbard and Kelli Sullivan were absent.
Following unrelated hearings, council also unanimously approved two changes to the zoning ordinance regarding off-street parking limitations. There was minimal discussion during the hearings.
Council changed the required parking for retail stores from one spot for each 100 square feet of business floor space to one spot for each 250 square feet of floor space. The second change was also from one space for every 100 square feet to one for every 250 square feet but related to all other commercial buildings…
