As construction of housing in the new privately-funded Rush River Commons development in the Town of Washington nears completion, the project’s engineers and designers are already looking ahead to the second phase of the development and what it will look like. Hopefully, in the spring, tenants will begin moving into the one, two and three-bedroom rental housing that is part of phase one. Efforts are underway to find an entrepreneur to open a coffee shop or eatery — a gathering place for the community in the Leggett Lane office building that houses the Department of Social Services and nonprofit Rapp at Home. The Rappahannock Food Pantry opened in June in the adjacent building.

The Rush River Commons development in the Town of Washington has nearly finished its transformation from a pile of dirt to a community gathering space. More than 50 Rappahannock Food Pantry volunteers helped pack Thanksgiving meals for 243 families over the weekend and early this week, according to pantry manager Laura Lucas.

Quick decision after planners’ recommendation The Washington Town Council voted in a brief special meeting Monday to approve the addition of seven parking spaces in the Rush River Commons’ residential area. The approval comes after a sparsely-attended public hearing hosted by the Planning Commission last week, after which the commission voted to recommend approval to the Town Council.

Black Kettle LLC, which owns the Rush River Commons development, is requesting to change its site plan to include seven more residential parking spaces in the apartment units area where an old walnut tree once stood. The tree was examined by an arborist, said project engineer Steve Plescow, who determined that the tree could not be saved and only had a few years left of life. Now, Plescow said they’re seeking much-needed parking to accommodate the residential spaces.

The Rappahannock Food Pantry will open Thursday, June 27, at its new location in the Town of Washington where residents will be able to do their shopping inside the new and improved pantry.

After a public hearing at the Rappahannock County courthouse on Monday, state officials with the Commission on Local Government (CLG) determined that a boundary line adjustment in the Town of Washington will “enhance the commonwealth’s interests.” The commission will make a final decision in July.

State officials from the Commission on Local Government (CLG) will meet with the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors and Washington Town Council on Monday for a public hearing on the town boundary line adjustment. County and town officials will give a joint presentation to the commission at 3 p.m. at the county courthouse before opening the floor for questions from the public. A public hearing to hear comments on the proposed agreement will be held at 7 p.m. at the courthouse.

The Washington Town Council and Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday to refer plans for signage around Rush River Commons to the Architectural Review Board for further review. At the joint meeting, Planning Commission Chair Caroline Anstey said errors made by the Rush River team were found in the signage application that was approved by town staff. Two directory signs should not have been included in the initial proposal because they are part of the residential side of the project, which falls under a different zoning district, according to Anstey.

Developers delete project sign from plan - The Washington Town Council and Planning Commission voted Monday to table a proposal for signage in and around the Rush River Commons’ development near the entrance to the historic town, and will meet jointly later this month for a final vote. The Rush River Commons’ team, known as Black Kettle LLC, submitted an application for a special use permit in order to display signs larger than the 15-square foot maximum per building, as laid out in the town’s Zoning Ordinance.

Town of Washington Mayor Joe Whited met with the Rush River Commons’ team last week and reports that things are moving along. He said the team anticipates having the Food Pantry complete by the end of May, and the office building facing Warren Avenue, the elevator block of which is going up now, finished sometime in October.