Tim's Rivershore update
 

As those in the area know, Tim's Rivershore is one of the best places around to go on the water. His fight with the county is the topic of discussions whenever we are out on the water.

Here's what the Potomac News is reporting this morning on last night's
meeting...

Patti
**************
Supervisors: Opening Tim's Rivershore decks is out

By LILLIAN KAFKA
Wednesday, June 23, 2004


Prince William County elected officials can do nothing to help Tim's
Rivershore, supervisors expressed to a packed board chambers on
Tuesday night.
Reopening the 10-year-old restaurant's 200-plus-seat deck is up to
owner and operator Tim Bauckman, said zoning officials and legal
counsel Tuesday.

He's got to comply with septic, parking and permitting issues before
the deck is open, they said.

And that's what more than 100 Tim's supporters were told after they
testified for an hour and 30 minutes why the restaurant's decks
should be reopened.

Supervisors met for their regular evening session on Tuesday and were
pummeled with pro-Tim's comments during "citizen's time."

Some shared family stories, others shared college dreams deferred if
they can't earn money waiting tables this summer.

They're losing business, it's a community and interstate icon, it's a
family attraction and place for generations to bond, supporters said.

Bauckman said that during a meeting last week county officials
estimated it would take six months to obtain all the permits, site
plans and health department approvals necessary to open his decks
again.

"That puts us into the dead of winter," said Tim's manager Andi
Boyles.

Another manager said that since the decks were closed earlier this
month, 70 of the restaurant's 100 employees have been laid off and 58
percent of the last two week's business was lost.

Tables and a bar inside the restaurant are still open.

After the meeting, discouraged college students who work there said
they would not be attending college in the fall if the restaurant
didn't open.

Bauckman's father, Vern Bauckman, called the supervisor's meeting a
kangaroo court.

"Citizens made valid points and none of it was well taken because
[Supervisor Chairman Sean T.] Connaughton cut off all of the
discussions," said Vern Bauckman. "We got slam dunked tonight because
of a rude chairman of the board."

Connaughton, R-At large, had interrupted Supervisor Corey A. Stewart,
R-Occoquan, when he had asked the county attorney about how long it
would take to get a temporary permit for Tim's Rivershore.

Stewart said that temporary permit would allow the restaurant to be
open for two years until the permitting problems are addressed.

When Hurricane Isabel swept Virginia's coast last September, it
erased the Tim's Rivershore outdoor seating.

Hundreds of volunteers rebuilt the decks in about two weeks.

That's when county inspectors noticed that not only did Bauckman not
have a building permit for the deck, but he didn't have a site plan,
either.

Site plans show how storm water, sewage, environmental, safety and
welfare concerns are addressed.

"We can only resolve those issues if we get those plans and get the
structural issues resolved," said Connaughton. "We have set up
internally in the county a group of staff to move this as quickly as
possible once all the information is in."

He continued: "We as a board can't resolve these issues."

Sharon Pandak, county attorney, said she wanted to dispel a
conspiracy theory that some of Tim's supporters have cited as the
reason county inspectors are coming down so hard on the local
businessman.

Rumors, they reported, are that developer KSI has employed the county
to shut down the crab shack so it can develop a high-scale golf
course, town center and hotel on the Potomac River's bank.

Re: Tim's Rivershore update
 

Part 2

"Tim's Rivershore property is not a part of those plans," said
Pandak. "Everyone I have asked -- and I have asked numerous people --
'Is there any involvement of the county on behalf of KSI?' and the
answer has been no."

KSI's plans include developing land on the north and south of Tim's
Rivershore and Cherry Hill Road.

Tim Bauckman said he's received offers from KSI to purchase his land.

"For them to say there's no interest from KSI -- maybe they should
see the contract," he said. "I have four million reasons [why KSI is
interested.]"

Stewart said he's worried the restaurant will lose all of its summer
business, which Bauckman says gets him financially through the winter
months.

"The county has really given an impossible task," said Stewart. "I
disagree with Mrs. [Hilda] Barg and Mr. Connaughton. There's two
things we can do."

He said the board could ask the county attorney and zoning officials
questions on how to expedite Bauckman's permitting process.

Or, he said, the board could direct county staff to issue a non-
conforming use permit, which would allow Tim's to open for another 24
months on a temporary basis.

Patriccq Love, a former 10-month county employee, agreed that a
temporary permit can be done if officials push it.

"[Bauckman's] done a majority of the things that were asked of him,"
said Love. "I don't believe there's been a comprehensive list of all
the things he needs to do."

Engineer Harry Ervin has certified Tim's Rivershore's outdoor seating
is safe.

The "decks meet all safety standards" according to Virginia code,
states a signed letter stapled next to a county violation notice on
the deck.

"I have not been satisfied by county staff that there is an imminent
danger of health and safety of patrons of Tim's Rivershore," Stewart
said. "I'm hearing about this from everybody. I'd really hate to see
a real landmark disappear."

Re: Tim's Rivershore update
 

This was an e-mail sent to a NOVA boater from the Chairman:

(From the Chairman)


Thanks for the e-mail. Inspectors from the County visited Tim's on
Friday, June 4, in response to continuing reports that it had re-built
structures previously identified as being in violation of the zoning
ordinance and that it had been expanded the restaurant operation onto
the adjoining property zoned M-1, Heavy Industrial.

The Inspectors found a number of structures that were built without
approval by zoning or building development, and a number of
significant
violations of building and electrical codes as well as the zoning
ordinance. Some of the zoning violations were discussed with the
owner,
Tim Bauchman and his attorney last year, before they were re-built.
Others are completely new expansions.

The restaurant suffered hurricane damage late last summer during
Isabel.
Reconstruction was started without permits and building code
enforcement
stopped work. When the restaurant came in for permits, zoning found
that he had expanded the restaurant by 150 seats or more by placing
seats and tables outside on decks and in two "cabana-like" structures
(all built without permits and the required site plan approvals). In
October and November of 2003, County staff met with Mr. Bauchman and
explained zoning requirements and what would be necessary to secure
permits. County staff emphasized that sewage treatment for a
restaurant
of 300 or more people would be the most important environmental issue,
but flood hazard and ChesBay would requirements would also be
substantial environmental issues to be resolved. Parking was also
discussed as a major issue because only 30 spaces are available
without
either parking in the railroad right-of-way, or at location requiring
pedestrians to cross the railroad. The overflow parking areas are
also
in violation of the zoning ordinance and raise very serious safety
concerns.

The County is currently trying to work with Mr. Bauchman to rectify
these issues. The restaurant is open but the decks are still closed.
Mr. Bauchman supplied some plans and the staff is working with him to
get the necessary reviews and approvals. I will continue to monitor
developments.

Best regards, Sean

Re: Tim's Rivershore update
 

WHAT A MESS! :mad:

Re: Tim's Rivershore update
 

Bill/Patti, check your PM box.

Sorry to hear about the probs with Tim's, I love the place but haven't yet been down there this year. It doesn't sound good.

Re: Tim's Rivershore update
 

RED TAPE Bullsh** :blaster:

Re: Tim's Rivershore update
 

Man this really blows.

Re: Tim's Rivershore update
 

Any update on Fireworks for this weekend?

Re: Tim's Rivershore update
 

As far as we know, they are still happening.

Re: Tim's Rivershore update
 

Heard today that the property was just sold to the KSI group planning to develop the waterfront. I suppose he was given 4 million reasons to sell. Apparently the plan is to stay open for some unspecified time until it's finally closed for good. Unclear on permit status, but I would suspect there isn't any motivating factor for the county to expedite a temporary permit.

Sorry to hear about this, Tim's has always been a great place to hang out down there. Once can only hope the new developer has plans to add some commercial establishments with boating access.