Town Meetings
The Town of Washington’s Planning Commission will meet on February 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall (485 Gay Street).
The agenda includes:
a) Review of zoning map findings
b) Review of zoning, subdivision, and site plan table of contents
c) Short Term Lodging (STL) code referred to the Town Council
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The Town Council and Planning Commission (PC) will hold a joint meeting on March 11 at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall (485 Gay Street) to discuss the PC’s recommendations regarding capacity limitations on Short Term Lodgings.
The Town Council and Planning Commission will also hold a joint public hearing on March 11 at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall (485 Gay Street), to hear public comment for a Special Use Permit to increase the allowed square footage of signage for the Rush River Commons – Phase 1 development located on Leggett Lane.
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The Town of Washington Economic Development Authority (EDA) has established and is taking applications for the following grant programs to encourage businesses that support the tourist trade.
Grant for the Opening of a New Retail Business:
A grant, up to but no greater than $10,000, may be awarded for FY 23-24 to support the opening of a new retail business engaging in the tourist trade within the Town.
Grant for the Opening a New Food Service Establishment:
A business owner who plans to open a new food service establishment or has opened a new establishment within the Town in the last 6 months may apply to receive a grant equal to the Meals and Lodging Taxes collected from the sale of meals for a period of 12 to 24 months from the date the business officially opened or will open. This grant will be paid on a quarterly basis.
Any business owner who would like to apply to either program should provide a proposed business plan to the EDA via the following e-mail address, eda@washingtonva.gov. Should you have any questions you may submit them to the same address or contact the Chair of the Board, Joe Whited at Joe.Whited@washingtonva.gov to discuss the matter.
To secure the grant the business will be required to sign a performance agreement. In addition, a retail business shall provide expense receipts and obtain the approval of the EDA for the work performed. A copy of the performance agreement is available for review at the Town’s offices or can be emailed to you. Please submit a request to the email address above if you wish to receive a soft copy of the agreement
Please note, in any given year the award of grants is subject to the appropriation of an annual budget for the EDA by the Town of Washington or the securing of other funding through the issuance of bonds or loans by the Board of the EDA.
Deadline for applications is September 20, 2023. The next EDA meeting will be held on September 27, 2023 at Town Hall, 485 Gay Street.
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On the second Monday of every month, at 7:00pm, a group of seven elected town residents who make up the Washington Town Council, meets in the historic Town Hall, circa 1857.
The Town’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) meets on the third Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall.
The Town’s Planning Commission meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at Town hall.