The Northampton Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to deny Axios construction’s proposal to put 12 “tourist cottages” on their 48 acre piece of farmland on Seaside Road. The farm also borders the bicycle path that leads to the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge adjacent to Kiptopeke State Park.
During the meeting, Supervisor Coker also made a motion to remove the word “tourist cottage” from County zoning ordinance.
The developers Angelo Manuel and Bill Parr attempted to save the project by reducing the number of tourist cottages to 6 and reducing the size down to about 400+ square feet. The issue with the application was that calling them tourist cottages does not change the fact that they were still dwelling units, at least in the Board of Supervisor’s opinion.
The applicants argued that the cottages were not actual ‘dwelling units’, and pointed to language in the current zoning ordinance. Parr noted that tourist cottages have been allowed by Northampton’s zoning ordinance since at least 2016, and the structures were “nothing new”. Parr told the board that it seemed new only because this was the first time this type of development was applied for.
Supervisor Coker argued that a tourist cottage is a Dwelling Unit. Dixon Leatherbury agreed.
The vote to deny the permit was unanimous; the board also submitted a request for the Northampton planning commission to take up amending the zoning ordinance, removing any text related to “tourist cottage” until they could get a better understanding of what the term actually means.
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Parr and Angelo should have called them affordable housing for workers who are badly needed on the ESVA!
There was never a concrete definition of what a tourist cottage is at the most recent Board of Supervisors meeting. Obviously, if a “tourist cottage” is in the language of the zoning ordinance so there must be a definition that will enlighten all of what the difference between a tourist cottage and a dwelling is. I am making an assumption that a tourist cottage can only be rented for a finite amount of time.
In any event, I do understand the sentiment of the good folks of the ES on keeping the things the way they are but we are a nation of laws and the law will decide the fate of the project. From where I was sitting and what I heard at the meeting the definition of dwelling or tourist cottage seemed to defined by emotion and public sentiment.
I am personally not for or against the project. I am for the letter of the law. I am understanding that the Board is going to eliminate the tourist cottage language from the scrolls. Good for them and good for the county. But where does this leave Axios?
The problem is this. Was Axios treated fairly? Were their rights dismissed unjustly. I personally do not know. Only a court of law can decide the final outcome.
You sound like a true to life Come-Here….
It has come to my attention that Axios has filed suit against the Board of Supervisors/Northampton County on this matter and it will be adjudicated in the court of law.
I personally feel that this a good thing for Axios as well as the opponents of this zoning matter in the sense that it will give us all a clear definition of the zoning laws as they stand in place at this time. Emphasis on the clarification of the meaning of a “Dwelling” as well as a “Tourist Cottage”.
This people is what makes our Nation great. Both the complainant as well as the defendant will be heard by a judge to rule on this matter and where each party to this suit will be represented by a competent attorney who has been admitted by the Virginia State Bar to do the bidding for each of these contestants.
A personal view. I really feel that Axios was in line in their pursuit in obtaining the zoning approval that they sought. The zoning language allowing such a project was in the scrolls for a reason.
In any event, good luck to all who are involved in this matter.
Note: Very good comment.