Summary

Council approves EDA agreement, advances zoning items

WinchesterJun 9, 20263 min read

At a glance

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Council approved the minutes from May 26 and passed R-2026-31, authorizing an agreement between the City, the Economic Development Authority, and Zeropak Owner LLC. Council held first readings for a Tourism Zone ordinance, a Comprehensive Plan amendment to include the Berryville Avenue Neighborhood Design District (introduced, no final action), and a zoning text amendment affecting ground-floor residential conversions in the B-1 district. The council recessed into and reconvened from a closed session on nonprofit tax payment agreements (one councilor recused), heard public comments focused on the Berryville Avenue NDD, and reviewed the April 2026 finance report. The City Manager also noted a photo red light program at E. Jubal Early Drive/S. Pleasant Valley Road and upcoming Juneteenth facility closures.

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What this means

The council approved an economic development agreement with the local Economic Development Authority and Zeropak Owner LLC, which is an administrative action the City authorized at this meeting. Several zoning and tourism-related changes were introduced or read for the first time but were not finalized; they will return for further consideration before any final change takes effect. A closed-session discussion was held about agreements with nonprofits related to local tax payments, and the City shared a finance report for April. Residents who use the E. Jubal Early Drive/S. Pleasant Valley Road intersection should note the City discussed a photo red light program, and some City facilities will be closed for Juneteenth.

Key decisions

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Approved minutes of the May 26, 2026 regular meeting
Approved R-2026-31: authorization of an agreement between the City, the Economic Development Authority of the City of Winchester, and Zeropak Owner LLC
Conducted first reading of O-2026-22: ordinance enacting a Tourism Zone (first reading; not final)
Introduced R-2026-14: resolution to amend the 2022 Comprehensive Plan to include the Berryville Avenue Neighborhood Design District (introduced; no final action)
Conducted first reading of O-2026-24 (TA-26-4): zoning text amendment revising conditional use permit requirements for ground-floor residential conversions in the B-1 district (first reading; not final)
Recessed into and reconvened from a closed session to consult with the City Attorney about nonprofit agreements related to payment of local taxes (Councilor Herbstritt voluntarily recused from the closed session)
Certified in open session that only lawfully exempt matters were discussed in the closed meeting
Reviewed the April 2026 Finance Report

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Meeting information

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City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM - Jun 09 2026

Jun 9, 2026, 6:00 PMcompleted

Agenda

Minutes of the City Council - Regular Meeting on May 26, 2026. City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM - May 26 2026 - Minutes - Pdf 3 - 10
4.1
Decision: APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Public comments received online prior to deadline. Public Comments for June 09 2026 Council Meeting 11 - 25
9.1
Decision: PUBLIC COMMENTS
R-2026-31: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, AND ZEROPAK OWNER LLC Presenter: Councilor Bell, Chair of Finance Committee / Jeff Buettner, EDA Executive Director Council Action Memo - A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHOR - Pdf 26 - 38
10.1
Decision: AGENDA
First Reading of O-2026-22: AN ORDINANCE ENACTING CHAPTER 8.2, TOURISM ZONE, OF THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA Presenter: Councilor Bell, Chair of Finance Committee / Jeff Buettner, EDA Executive Director Council Action Memo - AN ORDINANCE ENACTING CHAPTER 8.2, TOURISM ZONE, OF THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA - Pdf 39 - 53
10.2
Decision: AGENDA
First Reading of R-2026-14: A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE CITY OF WINCHESTER 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INCLUDE THE BERRYVILLE AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN DISTRICT. (No action.) Presenter: Councilor Windle, Chair of Planning & Economic Development Committee / Sean Benson, Planner II Council Action Memo - A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE CITY OF WINCHESTER 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INCLUDE THE BERRYVILLE AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN DISTRI - Pdf 54 - 131
10.3
Decision: AGENDA
First Reading of O-2026-24: TA-26-4 A ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT INITIATED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINCHESTER TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-1 AND 9-2 OF THE WINCHESTER ZONING ORDINANCE TO REVISE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUND-FLOOR RESIDENTIAL USE CONVERSIONS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS (B-1) DISTRICT. Presenter: Councilor Windle, Chair of Planning & Economic Development Committee / David Stewart, Planning Director Council Action Memo - O-2026-24: TA-26-4 A ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT INITIATED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINCHESTER TO AMEND SEC - Pdf 132 - 143
10.4
Decision: AGENDA
Motion to recess into a closed meeting in order to consult with the City Attorney regarding agreements with non-profits relating to the payment of local taxes requiring the provision of legal advice, as authorized by section 2.2-3711(A)(8) of the Va. Code.
11.1
Decision: EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion to reconvene into open session and to certify that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act were discussed during the closed meeting, and that only those public business matters identified in the motion which convened during the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered during the closed meeting.
12.1
Decision: RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION
April 2026 Finance Report April 2026 Finance Report 144 - 266
13.1
Decision: MONTHLY REPORTS