7 December 9, 2015 Public Hearing

Transcription

1 7 December 9, 2015 Public Hearing APPLICANT: THE UNITARIAN CHURCH OF NORFOLK PROPERTY OWNER: SKANSKA USA CIVIL SOUTHEAST INC. STAFF PLANNER: Jimmy McNamara REQUEST: Conditional Use Permit (Religious Use) ADDRESS / DESCRIPTION: 809 South Military Highway GPIN: ELECTION DISTRICT: KEMPSVILLE SITE SIZE: 9.52 acres AICUZ: Less than 65 db DNL BACKGROUND / DETAILS OF PROPOSAL Background The Unitarian Church of Norfolk was established in The 185-member church plans to relocate from Norfolk to Virginia Beach into a larger facility that will be able to accommodate the church s projected growth of up to 300-plus adult members. Details The 9.5 acre site is currently zoned O-2 Office District and B-1 Business District. The existing, all brick structure was most recently used as an office building. The applicant intends to renovate the building and hold religious services and offer education classes to its members. Services will take place on Sunday mornings. Religious education classes and other church and community meetings will be held on Sunday mornings as well as during the evenings throughout the week. The applicant intends to provide childcare services for its members during Sunday services as well as operate a pre-school/childcare operation during the week. The hours of operation are proposed as 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. A child care education center is a permitted use in the O-2 Office District; therefore, no Conditional Use Permit is required. Page 1

2 The existing site has adequate parking for the proposed 350 seat main auditorium. The applicant is not proposing any significant modifications to the site or to the exterior of the building. Interior renovations and remodeling will occur inside the building. The property is located in the Resource Protection Area of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area and, according to the application, the natural environment and wooded setting attracted the church to this site. EXISTING LAND USE: Vacant building LAND USE AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING: North: Multi-family residential / A-18 Apartment District South: Indian River Road Fuel station and convenient store / B-2 Community Business District East: Military Highway Auto sales and self-storage / B-2 Community Business District West: Elizabeth River Single-family residential / District R-10 Residential District Commercial shopping center Community B-2 Business District NATURAL RESOURCE AND CULTURAL FEATURES: The site is adjacent to the Elizabeth River and is located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. In addition, a majority of the site, including buildings and parking area, is located in the Resource Preservation Area, the most stringently regulated portion of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area. Much of the property is located in the AE flood zone, however no alteration or improvements are proposed in this area. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The Comprehensive Plan identifies this site as being located within Suburban Focus Area 8 - Military Highway Corridor. This area includes both sides of Military Highway. Page 2

3 IMPACT ON CITY SERVICES MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN (MTP) / CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP): No roadway CIP are slated for this area. TRAFFIC: Street Name Present Volume Military Highway 52,934 ADT 1 Indian River Road 30,964 ADT 1 Present Capacity 26,300 ADT 1 (LOS 4 C ) 48,200 ADT 1 (LOS 4 E ) ADT 1 (LOS 4 C ) 48,200 ADT 1 (LOS 4 E ) Generated Traffic Existing Land Use ADT Weekdays and 315 ADT Sunday Proposed Land Use ADT Weekdays and 364 ADT Sunday 1 Average Daily Trips 2 as defined by a 350-seat church 3 as defined by a 350-seat church and a 125 child care business 4 LOS = Level of Service WATER: This site is already connected to City water. SEWER: This site must connect to City sewer. Sewer and pump station analysis for Pump Station #411 is required to determine if future flows can be accommodated. EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION The Conditional Use Permit request for a Religious Use at this site is generally consistent with the Comprehensive Plan s land use policies for the Suburban Area with regard to compatibility with surrounding commercial and industrial uses and the Plan s recommendation to encourage more compatible uses, such as institutional uses, in the corridor. The applicant does not propose any exterior alterations to the existing aesthetically pleasing building. No other site improvements are proposed. The site contains ample parking to satisfy the parking requirements for a Religious Use. The site features an abundance of mature trees, which in Staff s opinion, adds great value to the City s tree canopy. As a result, Staff recommends preserving the tree line along South Military Highway. Page 3

4 Likewise, it is noted in the application that the applicant strongly values the attractive natural environment that the site provides. Staff recommends approval of this request with the conditions below. CONDITIONS 1. Other than dead, dying or diseased trees, to the best extent possible, existing trees in front of the building along South Military Highway should be preserved and properly maintained. 2. The existing parking lot shall be restriped clearly to delineate the parking spaces. In addition, handicap parking spaces shall be installed and shall comply with the requirements of the American s with Disabilities Act (ADA) with regard to the amount required and marking. 3. All necessary permits and a certificate of occupancy shall be obtained before occupancy and use of the building as a church. 4. Any on-site signage shall meet the requirements of the City Zoning Ordinance. A separate sign permit shall be obtained from the Planning Department for the installation of any signage. In addition, any signs that are illuminated must use an external source of light to better integrate with the building s architecture. 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 SITE PLAN Page 6

7 Front of Existing Building Onsite Parking Page 7

8 Onsite Accessory Building Street Frontage Page 8

9 CUP = Conditional Use Permit REZ = Rezoning CRZ = Conditional Rezoning MOD = Modification of Conditions or Proffers NON = Nonconforming Use STC = Street Closure FVR = Floodplain Variance ALT = Alternative Compliance SVR = Subdivision Variance # DATE REQUEST ACTION 1 01/27/1998 CUP (Church and Sunday School) Approved 2 11/27/2007 CUP (Car Wash) Approved 03/13/1999 REZ (I-1 to B-2) Approved 3 03/03/2015 CRZ (I-1 to Conditional B-2) Approved 03/03/2015 CUP (Motor Vehicle Sales and Service) Approved 4 09/12/2000 CUP (Motor Vehicle Sales) Approved 03/14/1995 CUP (Mobile Home Sales) Approved 5 04/27/1993 CUP (Motor Vehicle Rentals) Approved 6 01/31/2006 CRZ (I-1 to Conditional B-2) Approved 01/31/2006 CUP (Motor Vehicle Sales) Approved ZONING HISTORY Page 9

10 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 10

11 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 11

12 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 12

13 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 13

14 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 14

15 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 15