The following is a summary of minutes converted from .PDF. Text may contain typos not present in the original version. To view the original document, please visit the Town of Luray Meeting Minutes webpage.
The Luray Town Council met in regular session on Monday, February 10, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Luray Town Council Chambers located at 45 East Main Street, Luray, Virginia at which time there were present the following:
Presiding: Mayor Stephanie Lillard. Council Present: Ron Vickers, Jerry Dofflemyer, Alex White, Jason Pettit, Chuck Butler. Council Absent: Joey Sours
Also Present: Bryan Chrisman, Town Manager; Michael Coffelt, Assistant Town Manager ; Danielle Babb, Clerk Treasurer ; Danielle Alger, Deputy Clerk Treasurer; Chief Bow Cook, Luray Police Department; Leah George, Luray Police Department; Brooke Fox, Planning and Zoning Town Attorney; Jason Botkins, Litten & Sipe; Jackie Elliott, Luray Downtown Initiative; Paula Kibler, Luray Downtown Initiative; Scotty Brill, Town Citizen; Mary Beth Jourden, Town Citizen; Aaron Dofflemyer, Special Use Permit Applicant; Ralph Dofflemyer, Special Use Permit Applicant; Caroline Suddith, Town Citizen.
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GENERAL CITIZEN COMMENTS
Mary Beth Jourden – Luray
Ms. Jourden wanted to inform Council of an incident that occurred with the fireworks display at the Mimslyn on New Year’s Eve. She stated that her husband was standing across the street from the display, and was hit by one of the fireworks.
Ms. Jourden added that she is aware they are displayed by professionals, but once fireworks leave the launch pad, you don’t know where they are going to land.
Ms. Jourden stated that she is concerned about the fireworks hitting another citizen or a vehicle in the future.
Scotty Brill – Luray
Mr. Brill stated that he was the one that was hit by one of the fireworks at the Mimslyn New Years Celebration.
He added that he was doing a “Facebook live” and was filming when the incident occurred.
Mr. Brill is concerned that the middle of town isn’t the safest place for the fireworks to be held. Mr. Brill also inquired about the approval process to conduct this event.
Council Response
Mayor Lillard asked Mr. Chrisman or Chief Cook to answer Mr. Brill’s question.
Chief Cook stated that the firework vendor must fill out a special use permit with the town, then the permit gets forwarded to the State Fire Marshall’s Office.
Chief Cook stated that the fire marshal had been to the site of the fireworks prior to the display to do a site visit and approval.
Chief Cook stated that it could be possible to block a portion of the street in the future. However, Mr. Cook stated that all procedures were followed and unfortunately this was an unforeseen accident.
Both Councilman Vickers and Doffiemyer inquired who obtains coverage of the insurance. Chief Cook stated that Pyrotecnico is the one who obtains the insurance.
Mayor Lillard and council members agreed to work with the fire marshal’s office on the surrounding area for the future display.
Citizen Caroline Suddith suggested that the town block of the road in the future to prevent something like this occurring again.
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Luray Downtown Initiative
Jackie Fox, LDI Director, stated that the Business Fair with the Virginia Tourism Council was very successful and well attended by the public. Ms. Jackie Fox, Director, added that she had been in Richmond for a Directors Retreat and Governor Youngkin was in attendance.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Dofflemyer Subdivision Draft Exhibit
Town Manager Bryan Chrisman requested Council discuss a proposed subdivision draft exhibit submitted by Aaron Dofflemyer.
The property is zoned B-1 Business and is located at the corner of US 211 East and Wallace Avenue.
The property currently has a Mixed-Use building on it-part residential housing and part commercial garage.
The mixed-use structure must maintain a business license. The owner/applicant wants to construct a new commercial garage and auto-sales structure closer to the corner. The second structure should be on its own lot and have its own water and sewer connection with the town.
The proposed layout creates an unusual new lot configuration with one lot in behind two others. Construction of suitable entrances for three southern lots may be challenging given the topography near Wallace Avenue.
The subdivision will come back to the Commission and Council once the applicant makes formal submission. This is an informal review request to gather ideas and feedback.
Councilman Pettit inquired about the driveway entrance on US HWY 211.
Aaron Dofflemyer stated that it has been VDOT inspected and approved. He added that it’s a unique piece of property and not many businesses need 18 acres. Mr. Dofflemyer stated that the property has the potential for five businesses.
NOTE: Minutes for each meeting are not approved until the following month’s meeting. For example, January’s meeting minutes were approved in February. February’s meeting minutes were approved on March 10.
UP NEXT: Special Meeting of the Town Council – March 25, 2025. The agenda may be viewed HERE.