CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Cape Charles Planning Commission has tabled a decision on a conditional use permit and rezoning request from the owners of the Fig Street Inn Bed and Breakfast, sparking debate among local residents and officials.
The Fig Street Inn has been operating under a Conditional Use Permit since February 2010, when the Town Council approved the operation of a six-room bed and breakfast. The permit covered five bedrooms in the main house and one in an accessory building, in accordance with the Cape Charles Zoning Ordinance. The ordinance requires that bed and breakfast establishments in Residential-1 (R-1) districts be owner-occupied, maintain a single-family dwelling appearance, and have parking plans that comply with town standards.
The inn’s owners are now seeking to rezone their three parcels from R-1 to Commercial Residential (CR) to expand their business offerings. They have proposed eliminating five by-right uses in the CR district—Athletic Club, Camera Shop, Newsstand, Tobacco Store, and Video Store—in exchange for the ability to operate a bicycle rental business. The bicycle rental service, intended for both bed and breakfast guests and the general public, would not require a physical storefront but would function through an online reservation and payment system.
However, the proposal has faced opposition from nearby residents on Fig, Monroe, and Tazewell Streets, who voiced concerns about increased traffic, parking difficulties, and the potential for declining property values.
Councilman Grossman was the most vocal in his opposition. He expressed reservations about extending the R-1 zoning into a commercial classification. Other members were split between allowing a portion of the application to be fulfilled or approving the entire application to rezone the property.
The Planning Commission’s decision to table the request means the matter will be revisited at a future meeting, giving the applicants and Planning and Zoning a chance to refine the application.
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