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STAFF' S
REQUEST ANALYSIS
AND
RECOMMENDATION
l OSN0266
Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield
Midlothian Magisterial District
13801 Westfield Road
September 22, 2010 BS
RE VEST: Conditional use to permit a private school in a Residential (R-7) District.
PROPOSED LAND USE:
A member-supported private school for senior adults has operated on the request
property since 2003 without the requisite conditional use. Continued operation of the
school is planned.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMEND APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS ON PAGE 2.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval for the following reasons:
A. The school has operated on the request property since 2003 without any apparent
adverse impact on area properties. As conditioned, the school should continue to be
compatible with adjacent residential development.
B. Through the conditional use permit process and the imposition of the recommended
conditions, the residential character of the area will be maintained.
C. The school will have a similar impact on the surrounding area as the public school
facility that previously existed on the property.
(NOTE: CONDITIONS MAY BE IMPOSED OR THE PROPERTY OWNER(S) MAY
PROFFER CONDITIONS. CONDITIONS NOTED WITH STAFF/CPC WERE AGREED
UPON BY BOTH STAFF AND THE COMMISSION.)
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
CONDITIONS
(STAFF/CPC) 1. This conditional use shall be granted to the Lifelong Learning
Institute in Chesterfield, exclusively, and shall not be transferable or
run with the land. (P)
(STAFF/CPC) 2. There will be no exterior additions or alterations to the existing
structure to accommodate this use. (P)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location:
The request property is located on the south line of Westfield Road, west of Railroad
Avenue and is better known as 13801 Westfield Road. Tax ID 728-709-2614.
Existin.~ Zoning:
R-7
Size:
6.1 acres
Existin Land Use:
Private school and public/semi-public use (public school & park use)
Adjacent Zoning and Land Use:
North and West - R-7; Public/semi-public (church), residential or vacant
South - 0-2 and C-2; Commercial, office or vacant
East - C-2; Commercial, office or vacant
T TTTT TTTFC
Public Water System:
There is an existing eight (8) inch water line along Westfield Road. The existing structure is
connected to the public water system.
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Public Wastewater S,, sue:
There is an existing eight (8) inch wastewater line crossing the southeast corner of the
property, within approximately 350 feet of the existing structure. County code does not
require the existing structure to be connected to the public wastewater system.
Health Department:
The applicant plans to utilize an existing septic tank and drain field. The Health
Department must approve the continued use of the existing system.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Drainage and Erosion:
This request will have a minimal impact on these facilities.
PUBLIC FACILITIES
Fire ~PrvicP~
The Midlothian Fire Station, Company Number 5, and Forest View Volunteer Rescue
Squad currently provide fire protection and emergency medical service. This request will
have a minimal impact on Fire and EMS.
County Department of Transportation:
This request will have a similar traffic impact as the public school facility that previously
existed on the property
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT):
A commercial entrance(s), with appropriate sight distances, including any necessary turn
lanes, tapers, and storage to meet VDOT turn lane warrants (as appropriate at time of site
plan submittal), shall be provided.
T ,ANn T 1~F,
Comprehensive Plan:
The request property lies within the boundaries of the residential area in the historic Village
Area of the Midlothian Area Community Plan. The Plan recognizes this area as an
established neighborhood with an internalized focus and suggests this area should remain
residential in character.
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Area Development Trends:
Area properties to the north and west are zoned residentially and occupied by public/semi-
public use (a church), residential uses, or are vacant. Properties to the south and east are
zoned Corporate Office (0-2) and Neighborhood Business (C-2) and are occupied by
commercial and office uses or are vacant. It is anticipated that residential uses will continue
north and west of the request property, as suggested by the Plan, and that commercial and
office uses as part of the Village Shopping District identified in the Plan, will continue.
Zonin H.~X:
On June 23, 2010 the Board of Supervisors accepted the Planning Commission's
determination that a public neighborhood park on the request property is in substantial
accord with the Comprehensive Plan (1 OPD0231). The substantial accord approval was
subject to conditions that address setbacks for active outdoor recreational areas,
landscaping, lighting and minimum development standards.
Use
The request property is the site of the Watkins Annex building (formerly Watkins
Elementary School) and contains amix ofpublic/semi-public and private uses.
The County school system operates a home school testing facility in the Watkins Annex
building as needed during the day and alternative educational programs in the evenings. In
addition, existing recreational facilities to the rear of the property are being expanded and
converted to a neighborhood park use. These public school and park uses are permitted by
right in the Residential (R-7) Zoning District.
A member-supported private school, Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield, for senior
adults is currently operated on the request property. According to the applicant's
representative the school began operation in December 2003 and continues to provide
educational opportunities for older adults. The Zoning Ordinance permits private schools in
a Residential (R-7) District subject to conditional use approval. The school use began in
2003 without conditional use approval. Approval of the proposed conditional use is required
to permit continued operation of the school. Condition 1 would limit this use to the applicant
only.
Development Standards:
The school is operated in the Watkins Annex Building. To ensure that the use has no more
impact on the surrounding residential area and that the residential character of the area is
maintained, a condition is recommended to preclude any additions to the existing building to
accommodate the use. (Condition 2)
The applicant's representative has indicated that improvements to the parking area are
planned in conjunction with development of the neighborhood park on the rear portion of
4 10SN0266-SEP22-BOS-RPT
the property. A condition of approval of the park substantial accord (Case 1 OPD0231)
requires that development of the request property, including improvements to the parking
area which is shared between parks and school uses, conform to development standards in
the Zoning Ordinance for properties within the Midlothian Village Core. The purpose of
these standards is to maintain and reinforce the character, identity and pedestrian scale of the
village by continuing and enhancing existing development patterns.
The Zoning Ordinance regulates signage for the proposed use. There is an existing sign to
identify the use which is approximately 10.5 square feet in area with a height of
approximately 8.6 feet.
CONCLUSION
The Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield has operated a private school for senior adults on the
request property since 2003 without any apparent adverse impact on area properties. As
conditioned, the school should continue to be compatible with adjacent residential development. In
addition, through the conditional use permit process and the imposition of the recommended
conditions, the residential character of the area will be maintained.
The private school will have a similar impact on the surrounding area as the public school
facility that previously existed on the property. The request property is also used for alternative
public school uses in evenings and for home school testing facilities.
Given these considerations, approval of this request is recommended.
CASE HISTORY
Planning Commission Meeting (8/17/10):
The applicant accepted the recommendation. There was no opposition present.
On motion of Mr. Waller, seconded by Mr. Gulley, the Commission recommended
approval subj ect to the conditions on page 2.
AYES: Messrs. Brown, Hassen, Bass, Gulley and Waller.
The Board of Supervisors, on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, beginning at 6:30 p.m., will take
under consideration this request.
5 10SN0266-SEP22-BOS-RPT
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