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The Danville Town Council is set to consider an ordinance updating the downtown business district’s land-use designations and regulatory processes, at the ordinance’s second reading Tuesday night.
The council first considered adopting the ordinance at a public hearing on Oct. 3, but after a few additions were made to the draft, it is now returning to the council for a second reading and possible adoption.
The purpose of the ordinance is to revitalize the town’s retail sector, which faces challenges in the form of online competitors and nearby shopping centers, according to town staff. This is the first of two phases of revitalization: Phase 1 focuses on the “downtown core” and Phase 2 on the North Hartz Avenue area.
The ordinance draft from the first October meeting aimed to amend the downtown business district ordinance by simplifying and clarifying use definitions, streamlining permitting processes for parking and outdoor seating and reducing the timeframe to re-establish legal non-conforming uses.
At the Oct. 3 meeting, some modifications were added: for parking determinations, the gross interior floor area will now include the kitchen, bathrooms, storage areas and similar non-public areas; secondly, all businesses will be required to conspicuously post a copy of the town-issued certificate of occupancy.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front Street.
In other business
* Assistant town manager Tai Williams will present a planning and building services report.
* The council will consider adopting a resolution establishing the satisfactory completion of improvements for a subdivision located at Walnut Meadow Lane.
* The council will consider a resolution that would establish a three-hour parking time zone and “All Day Parking By Permit Only” provisions within the Rose Street municipal parking lot.
* A special meeting will be held before the regular one, starting at 6:15 p.m. at the Town Meeting Hall. At this meeting, a basic orientation on local government will be given to members of the Danville Youth Council.
This seems like a bunch of good moves, relaxing restrictions and giving business more flexibility.
I’m surprised there are no comments from those who usually lambaste the council for every action. Maybe there’s confusion about whether to invoke the “cave to developers”, “NIMBY” or “get government off our backs” reflexes.