4 August 14, 2013 Public Hearing APPLICANT:

Transcription

1 4 August 14, 2013 Public Hearing APPLICANT: VIRGINIA BEACH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PROPERTY OWNER: COLONIAL BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF PLANNER: Carolyn A.K. Smith REQUEST: Modification of a Conditional Use Permit for a religious facility (approved by the City Council on September 13, 1982 and last modified on September 14, 2004) to allow signs beyond the maximum permitted by the Zoning Ordinance ADDRESS / DESCRIPTION: 2221 Centerville Turnpike GPIN: ELECTION DISTRICT: CENTERVILLE SITE SIZE: 10 acres AICUZ: Less than 65 db DNL BACKGROUND / DETAILS OF PROPOSAL The request is a modification to the existing Conditional Use Permit, originally approved by City Council on September 13, Additions to the building were subsequently approved in December 1985, January 1995, and September The Virginia Beach Theological Seminary, which also operates on the property, proposes to erect a sign for the seminary. The Zoning Ordinance, which regulates signs for religious uses, provides that such signs shall be permitted in accordance with the regulations of the district in which the use is located; provided, however, that in residential districts, religious uses shall be allowed one sign per entrance not to exceed 24 square feet per face or such other signage as may be specified in the conditional use permit. No such sign shall have more than two faces (Section 230(c)). Colonial Baptist Church, also on the site, presently has signage at each roadway entrance; therefore, for the seminary to add a sign, resulting in each entity having its own sign, a Modification to the Conditional Use Permit is required to specifically allow more than the number of signs specified by the Zoning Ordinance. Page 1

2 LAND USE AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN EXISTING LAND USE: Church and seminary SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING: North: Centerville Elementary School / R-5D Residential District South: Single-family homes / R-5D Residential District City of Chesapeake East: Centerville Turnpike Single-family homes / R-7.5 Residential District West: Single-family homes / R-5D Residential District NATURAL RESOURCE AND CULTURAL FEATURES: The site does not appear to have any significant environmental or cultural features as the undeveloped portions of the property exist as grassed areas. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The Comprehensive Plan designates this area of the City as Suburban Area. The general planning principles for the Suburban Area focus on preserving and protecting the overall character, economic value, and aesthetic quality of stable neighborhoods. Three key planning principles have been established in the Comprehensive Plan to promote this stability: preserve neighborhood quality, create and protect open spaces, and connect suburban mobility. Achieving these goals requires that all land use activities either maintain or enhance the existing neighborhoods through compatibility with surroundings, quality and attractiveness of site and buildings, improved mobility, environmental responsibility, livability, and effective buffering with respect to type, size, intensity and relationship to the surrounding uses. Religious uses are consistent with these principles subject to quality site and building design as provided for by the Comprehensive Plan s Suburban Area Development Guidelines. IMPACT ON CITY SERVICES There will be no impact to City services as a result of the installation of the proposed sign. EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION The Zoning Ordinance sets limits on signage for religious uses and states signs shall be permitted in accordance with the regulations of the district in which the use is located; provided, however, that in residential districts, religious uses shall be allowed one sign per entrance not to exceed 24 square feet per face or such other signage as may be specified in the conditional use permit. No such sign shall have more than two faces. Since the Virginia Beach Theological Seminary operates on the same property as Colonial Baptist Church, and the church already has a sign at the same roadway entrance as the seminary, an additional Page 2

3 sign for the seminary can be allowed only through a modification to the church s Conditional Use Permit. It is staff s finding that the proposed addition of the additional sign will not aesthetically degrade the site, as the large, ten-acre site has ample length along the Centerville Turnpike right-of-way to accommodate both a sign for the church and a sign for the seminary. There is not an abundance of signage in the immediate vicinity; therefore, staff also finds that the addition of this second sign will not be intrusive or incompatible with the surrounding land uses, which are primarily residential. Additionally, the submitted elevation drawing for the monument sign depicts a high quality of design and materials, which will consist of brick and granite. The Comprehensive Plan recognizes that certain non-residential uses are compatible adjacent to or within the Suburban Area. Such is often the case with churches in or near residentially zoned properties. The site s layout and the high quality design of the existing structures, including the quality of the proposed sign, are all consistent with the Plan s recommendations for non-residential uses within the Suburban Area. It should be noted, however, that this segment of Centerville Turnpike, referred to as Centerville Turnpike Phase 3 in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) has been identified for widening, with partial funding approved in the FY2014 CIP in Year 5 (2018). As the ultimate alignment of this future widening has not been set, staff is recommending a condition requiring the sign be located as far away from the existing right-of-way as possible. Staff recommends approval of this requested modification, as conditioned below. CONDITIONS 1. A sign for the Virginia Beach Theological Seminary is permitted on the site provided that the sign, when constructed, shall be as depicted on the elevation entitled, Virginia Beach Theological Seminary, prepared by Pen Sign, which has been exhibited to the Virginia Beach City Council and is on file in the Planning Department. The westernmost footing of said sign shall be located no farther than one (1) foot from the back of the curb of the existing parking lot, unless deemed otherwise by Zoning or Permits & Inspections Staff. If the Seminary vacates the property, said sign shall be removed. 2. All conditions attached to the Modification of the Conditional Use Permit granted by the City Council on September 13, 2004 shall remain in effect: a. The additions and future buildings on the church s property shall be located and constructed in substantial conformance with the concept plan entitled EXHIBIT A, COLONIAL BAPTIST CHURCH, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, prepared by Hoggard/Eure Associates, P.C., which has been exhibited to the City of Virginia Beach City Council and is on file in the Virginia Beach Planning Department. b. All new structures identified on the concept plan described in condition #1 above, shall be constructed with brick exterior to match that of the existing church and shall be in substantial conformance with the elevations entitled NEW FACILITY, COLONIAL BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW OFFICE BUILDING, dated June 17, 2004, prepared by Barnes Design Group Architecture, which has been exhibited to the City of Virginia Beach City Council and is on file in the Virginia Beach Planning Department. All elevations shall be submitted to the Planning Director for final review and approval Page 3

4 prior to the issuance of the building permit. c. The existing solid, six (6) foot high privacy fence along the western property line shall be maintained in good condition at all times. All grassed areas along the fence line shall also be mowed and maintained free of vines and weeds at all times. NOTE: Further conditions may be required during the administration of applicable City Ordinances and Standards. Any site plan submitted with this application may require revision during detailed site plan review to meet all applicable City Codes and Standards. All applicable permits required by the City Code, including those administered by the Department of Planning / Development Services Center and Department of Planning / Permits and Inspections Division, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, are required before any uses allowed by this Use Permit are valid. The applicant is encouraged to contact and work with the Crime Prevention Office within the Police Department for crime prevention techniques and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) concepts and strategies as they pertain to this site. Page 4

5 AERIAL OF SITE LOCATION Page 5

6 PROPOSED SIGN ELEVATION Page 6

7 Proposed Location of Sign PROPOSED SIGN LOCATION Page 7

8 1 2 ZONING HISTORY # DATE REQUEST ACTION 1 09/14/04 01/01/95 06/10/85 09/13/82 Modification of Conditional Use Permit (church expansion) Modification of Conditional Use Permit (church expansion) Change of Zoning (R-8 Residential to B-1 Business) Conditional Use Permit (church) Granted Granted Withdrawn Granted 2 03/03/86 Conditional Use Permit (day care) Granted Page 8

9 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 9

10 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 10