Did Staunton Council vote end talks about placing JDR Court on Hardy Lot? No, says city attorney
STAUNTON — When Vice Mayor Amy Darby made a motion Thursday night directing city staff to locate an alternative site to the Hardy Parking Lot for the new Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court facility, the rest of Staunton City Council couldn't second it fast enough. So many members said "second" that the clerk had to ask for clarification on who actually said it first. Michele Edwards eventually got the credit.
After a unanimous vote to approve the motion, applause broke out in the council chambers. Those in attendance may have wanted to hold their applause, at least for now. City Attorney John Blair said it wasn't quite as simple as a vote by council to remove the Hardy Lot from consideration.
A little background. Staunton currently operates its J&DR District Court in a consolidated facility with Augusta County on East Johnson Street, property owned by the County. In November, voters in Augusta approved a referendum to relocate the County's courts to Verona, meaning Staunton had to find a new location.
After what the city termed an "exhaustive search," Staunton City staff determined that the Hardy Parking Lot at 1 North Market St. was the preferred location.
However, many residents and business owners in Staunton opposed that location for several reasons, including losing the only open-air parking lot Beverley Street and risking the city's historical skyline and pedestrian accessibility.
Using the Hardy Lot for the new courthouse "has not been something that I think our citizens are pleased with. It's not something that I've been pleased with," Darby said before making her motion.
After the vote, Terah Cox, who owns Words Matter, a gift shop just down the block from the Hardy Parking Lot, wasn't clear on what had just been approved. She asked city council members, who directed her to Blair.
"The parking lot is not completely taken off the table at this time," Blair said following the meeting. "There remains a court order. The Hardy Lot is listed as the city's site for the proposed Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court."
Blair said that, although the request for proposals (RFP) is still active, the vote directs staff to try to find an alternative site.
"Clearly the council nor the city is going to simply violate a court order and say we're not doing anything with the Hardy Lot, that the Hardy Lot is off the table right now," Blair said. "There's an active court order that has the Hardy Lot listed."
If an alternative location is identified, Blair said the city could go to the attorney general's office and work on amending the order.
"Tonight's action is a directive to staff to find an alternative to the Hardy Lot," Blair said.
Staff had already started to actively look for another location following public outcry about the Hardy Lot, Blair said. Council members and citizens of Staunton have given staff ideas of alternatives, all of which are being looked at. Some aren't for sale at this point.
"What's the old saying, you can't beat something with nothing," Blair said. "Ultimately you have to identify a site that, clearly, the public, council, state are all comfortable with."
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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton Council vote doesn't end proposal to use Hardy Lot for JDR court
