20SN0531
CASE NUMBER: 20SN0531
APPLICANT: Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
BERMUDA DISTRICT
ADDENDUM
Board of Supervisors (BOS) Hearing:
OCTOBER 23, 2019
BOSTime Remaining:
365 DAYS
Contact:
ANDREW GILLIES (804-748-1050)
Planning Department Case Manager:
39.6 Acres 3626 West Hundred Road
DARLA ORR (804-717-6533)
Thomas Dale High School
REQUEST
Conditional Use to permit a computer controlled variable message electronic sign (EMC) for a
public school on property zoned Residential (R-7).
Notes:
A.Conditions may be imposed.
B.Conditions are located in Attachment 1.
SUMMARY
An EMC incorporated into the free-standing identification sign for Thomas Dale High School is
planned. The proposed EMC would comply with the ordinance requirements, except that the sign
would be located within the Chester Area Central area and would have a 1-minute interval for
copy changes. Therefore, approval of a Conditional Use is required to permit the proposed EMC
sign.
ADDENDUM
The purpose of this Addendum is to provide the Board with the Planning Commissions
recommendation on this case.
At their October 15, 2019 public hearing, the Planning Commission recommended approval of this
case as provided in the Recommendation section on the following page and the updated Case
History on page 2. Staff continues to recommend approval as outlined on the following page.
RECOMMENDATION
PLANNING APPROVAL
COMMISSION
PLANNING APPROVAL
Except for its location in the Chester Area Central and timing of message
changes, EMC to comply with ordinance
STAFF
Sign will improve campus identification and facilitate student and community
communication
Similar EMCs have been approved for public facilities with no known adverse
impact
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
CASE HISTORY
Applicant Submittals
9/10/19 Application submitted
Planning Commission
10/15/19 Citizen Comments
No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to this request
Commission Discussion
Mr. Sloan noted the importance of a quality sign to identify the school in the
restricted Chester Area Central area and recommended imposition of Condition
2 relative to the sign resolution in Attachment 1.
Recommendation APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS IN
ATTACHMENT 1
Motion: Sloan Second: Freye
AYES: Jackson, Freye, Jones, Sloan and Stariha
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will
consider this request.
20SN0531-2019OCT23-BOS-ADD
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ATTACHMENT 1
CONDITIONS
Note: The following conditions are recommended by both the Planning Commission and staff.
1.The EMC shall comply with ordinance standards except that the interval for copy change
shall be permitted at a minimum of one (1) minute. (P)
2.The resolution of the EMC display shall be no lower than 10 mm (pixels). (P)
20SN0531-2019OCT23-BOS-ADD
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CASE NUMBER: 20SN0531
APPLICANT: Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
BERMUDA DISTRICT
STAF
AND RECOMMENDATION
Board of Supervisors (BOS) Hearing:
OCTOBER 23, 2019
BOSTime Remaining:
365 DAYS
Contact:
ANDREW GILLIES (804-748-1050)
Planning Department Case Manager:
39.6 Acres 3626 West Hundred Road
DARLA ORR (804-717-6533)
Thomas Dale High School
REQUEST
Conditional Use to permit a computer controlled variable message electronic sign (EMC) for a
public school on property zoned Residential (R-7).
Notes:
A.Conditions may be imposed.
B.A condition and exhibits are located in Attachments 1 - 3.
C.THIS CASE IS DOUBLE ADVERTISED. SHOULD THE PLANNING COMMISSION ACT ON THIS CASE AT THEIR
OCTOBER 15, 2019 PUBLIC HEARING, THE CASE WILL BE HEARD BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON
OCTOBER 23, 2019.
SUMMARY
An EMC incorporated into the free-standing identification sign for Thomas Dale High School is
planned. The proposed EMC would comply with the ordinance requirements, except that the sign
would be located within the Chester Area Central area and would have a 1-minute interval for
copy changes. Therefore, approval of a Conditional Use is required to permit the proposed EMC
sign.
RECOMMENDATION
The Planning Commission will consider this case at their October 15, 2019 public
PLANNING
COMMISSION
meeting.
PLANNING APPROVAL
Except for its location in the Chester Area Central and timing of message
changes, EMC to comply with ordinance
STAFF
Sign will improve campus identification and facilitate student and community
communication
Similar EMCs have been approved for public facilities with no known adverse
impact
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
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Comprehensive Plan The Chester Plan
Classification: PUBLIC
The designation is given to publicly owned properties (county, state and federal), including schools, parks,
cemeteries and other public facilities.
Surrounding Land Uses and Development
Single family uses
Thompson Estates,
Chester Heights,
Trueheart Heights
Old Centralia Rd.
Curtis Elementary
West Hundred Rd.
Chester Rd.
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PLANNING
Staff Contact: Darla Orr (804-717-6533) orrd@chesterfield.gov
Proposal
An electronic message center sign (EMC) is proposed to be incorporated into the existing
freestanding sign identifying Thomas Dale High School. The sign will comply with Ordinance
requirements for a free-standing sign (maximum area of 24 square feet and 8 feet in height) and
EMCs. (Below and Attachments 1 and 2)
In July 2019, the Board of Supervisors adopted new sign ordinance standards. This ordinance
codified standards of the former EMC policy and clarified regulations such as permissions for EMCs
in residential areas. Specifically, EMCs are now permitted in residential areas as a restricted use
for properties occupied by a church, place of worship, public park or school, such as is proposed
with this case for Thomas Dale High School, provided:
Signs comply with restrictions for changeable copy signs and are not incorporated into a
nonconforming sign or a sign containing a manual copy
Interval of copy change is 5 minutes
Copy changes simultaneously and does not move or give the illusion of movement (i.e.
blinking, flashing, scrolling or flashing) but may fade to transition to next copy
Copy if limited to still image or lines of text
Sign defaults to blank copy if there is a malfunction in device
Sign does not display coordinated messages which are continued on opposite sign face,
other signs on- or off-site
A photocell or other device is used that automatically adjusts brightness according to
ambient conditions (not exceeding 0.3 foot candles) at a distance in feet dependent upon
the sign area
Approval of a Conditional Use is necessary because the EMC is located within the Chester Area
Central area where EMCs are specifically restricted by the ordinance as shown below and the
interval of copy change would be 1 minute instead of 5 minutes. (Condition)
Proposed EMC at
Thomas Dale HS
Staff supports the proposed sign. While in this restricted area, the EMC will improve school
identification and facilitate student and community communication. The sign will comply with
ordinance requirements and similar EMCs have been approved at public schools with no known
adverse impact.
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COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Steve Adams (804-748-1037) adamst@chesterfield.gov
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Adam Wilkerson (804-674-2384) adam.wilkerson@vdot.virginia.gov
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Staff Contact: Anthony Batten (804-717-6167) battena@chesterfield.gov
SCHOOLS
Staff Contact: Atonja Allen (804-318-8740) atonja_allen@ccpsnet.net
PARKS AND RECREATION
Staff Contact: Janit Llewellyn (804-751-4482) llewellynja@chesterfield.gov
UTILITIES
Staff Contact: Matt Rembold (804-706-7616) remboldm@chesterfield.gov
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Staff Contact: Rebeccah Ward (804-748-1028) wardr@chesterfield.gov
This request will have a minimal impact on these facilities.
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CASE HISTORY
Applicant Submittals
9/10/19 Application submitted
Planning Commission
10/15/19
hearing.
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will
consider this request.
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ATTACHMENT 1
CONDITION
The EMC shall comply with ordinance standards except that the interval for copy change shall
be permitted at a minimum of one (1) minute. (P)
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ATTACHMENT 1
EXISTING SIGN
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ATTACHMENT 2
PROPOSED SIGN
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