Title
To authorize the special use of the property known as 729 St. Christopher’s Road for the purpose of athletic fields illuminated by lighting structures in excess of 35 feet in height, upon certain terms and conditions. (1st District)
Body
WHEREAS, the owner of the property known as 729 St. Christopher’s Road, which is situated in a R-4 Single-Family Residential District, desires to use such property for the purpose of as athletic fields illuminated by lighting structures in excess of 35 feet in height, which use, among other things, is not currently allowed by section 30-408.7 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with section 17.11 of the Charter of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, it has been made to appear that, if granted subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this ordinance, the special use granted by this ordinance will not be detrimental to the safety, health, morals and general welfare of the community involved, will not tend to create congestion in streets, roads, alleys and other public ways and places in the area involved, will not create hazards from fire, panic or other dangers, will not tend to overcrowding of land and cause an undue concentration of population, will not adversely affect or interfere with public or private schools, parks, playgrounds, water supplies, sewage disposal, transportation or other public requirements, conveniences and improvements, and will not interfere with adequate light and air; and
WHEREAS, (i) the City Planning Commission has conducted a public hearing to investigate the circumstances and conditions upon which the Council is empowered to authorize such use, (ii) the City Planning Commission has reported to the Council the results of such public hearing and investigation and its recommendations with respect thereto, and (iii) the Council has conducted a public hearing on this ordinance at which the person in interest and all other persons have had an opportunity to be heard;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. Finding. Pursuant to section 30-1050.1 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, the Council hereby finds that the special use set forth in and subject to the terms and conditions of this ordinance will not (i) be detrimental to the safety, health, morals and general welfare of the community involved, (ii) tend to create congestion in streets, roads, alleys and other public ways and places in the area involved, (iii) create hazards from fire, panic or other dangers, (iv) tend to overcrowding of land and cause an undue concentration of population, (v) adversely affect or interfere with public or private schools, parks, playgrounds, water supplies, sewage disposal, transportation or other public requirements, conveniences and improvements, or (vi) interfere with adequate light and air.
§ 2. Grant of Special Use Permit.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this ordinance, the property known as 729 St. Christopher’s Road and identified as Tax Parcel No. W021-0208/011B in the 2022 records of the City Assessor, being more particularly shown on a survey entitled “Existing Conditions, St. Christopher’s School New Athletic Center, Richmond, Virginia,” prepared by Draper Aden Associates, dated September 19, 2001, and last revised March 1, 2005, a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this ordinance, hereinafter referred to as “the Property,” is hereby permitted to be used for the purpose of athletic fields illuminated by lighting structures in excess of 35 feet in height, hereinafter referred to as “the Special Use,” substantially as shown on the plans entitled “City of Richmond, Saint Christophers School Football, Richmond, VA,” prepared by Musco Lighting, and dated November 16, 2021; “Datasheet: TLC-LED-1500 Luminaire and Driver,” “Datasheet: TLC-LED-600 Luminaire and Driver,” and “Datasheet: Light-Structure System,” prepared by Musco Lighting, and undated; and “Pole / Fixture Summary,” prepared by an unknown preparer, and undated, and hereinafter referred to, collectively, as “the Plans,” copies of which are attached to and made a part of this ordinance.
(b) The adoption of this ordinance shall constitute the issuance of a special use permit for the Property. The special use permit shall inure to the benefit of the owner or owners of the fee simple title to the Property as of the date on which this ordinance is adopted and their successors in fee simple title, all of which are hereinafter referred to as “the Owner.” The conditions contained in this ordinance shall be binding on the Owner.
§ 3. Special Terms and Conditions. This special use permit is conditioned on the following special terms and conditions:
(a) The Special Use of the Property shall be as athletic fields illuminated by lighting structures in excess of 35 feet in height, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(b) The Owner shall not operate the Special Use past 8:00 p.m., except in the case of interscholastic sports competitions.
(c) The Owner shall not operate the Special Use past 8:00 p.m. for more than 15 interscholastic sports competitions per calendar year and no more than five such competitions may be football competitions.
(d) No football competition involving the Special Use shall begin later than 7:00 p.m.
(e) The Owner shall post on the calendar on the St. Christopher’s School website the varsity fall athletics schedule by June 15 and the varsity spring athletics schedule by January 15 each year.
(f) All building materials, elevations, and site improvements, including landscaping, shall be substantially as shown on the Plans.
(g) Wireless communications equipment may be co-located on the lighting structures, subject to the applicable provisions of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended.
(h) All ground-level mechanical equipment pertaining to the Special Use and not affixed to the lighting structures shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from any public right-of-way.
§ 4. Supplemental Terms and Conditions. This special use permit is conditioned on the following supplemental terms and conditions:
(a) All required final grading and drainage plans, together with all easements made necessary by such plans, must be approved by the Director of Public Utilities prior to the issuance of the building permit.
(b) Storm or surface water shall not be allowed to accumulate on the land. The Owner, at its sole cost and expense, shall provide and maintain at all times adequate facilities for the drainage of storm or surface water from the Property so as not to adversely affect or damage any other property or public streets and the use thereof.
(c) Facilities for the collection of refuse shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of the Director of Public Works. Such facilities shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from adjacent properties and public streets.
(d) Any encroachments existing, proposed on the Plans or contemplated in the future shall require separate authorization and shall be subject to the applicable provisions of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, and all future amendments to such laws.
(e) In all other respects, the use of the Property shall be in accordance with the applicable underlying zoning regulations.
§ 5. General Terms and Conditions. This special use permit is conditioned on the following general terms and conditions:
(a) No permit implementing this special use permit shall be approved until satisfactory evidence has been presented to the Zoning Administrator that any delinquent real estate taxes applicable to the Property have been paid.
(b) The Owner shall be bound by, shall observe and shall comply with all other laws, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to the Property, except as otherwise expressly provided in this ordinance.
(c) Words and phrases used in this ordinance shall be interpreted to have the meanings ascribed to them by section 30-1220 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, unless the context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this special use permit is being approved due, in part, to the mitigating effects of each and every condition attached hereto; consequently, if any portion of this ordinance is determined to be invalid for any reason by a final, non-appealable order of any Virginia or federal court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity shall cause the entire ordinance to be void and of no further effect from the effective date of such order.
(e) The privileges granted by this ordinance may be revoked pursuant to the provisions of sections 30-1050.7 through 30-1050.11 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, and all future amendments to such laws. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of this ordinance shall constitute a violation of section 30-1080 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, and all future amendments to such law, or any other applicable laws or regulations.
(f) When the privileges granted by this ordinance terminate and the special use permit granted hereby becomes null and void, whether as a result of the Owner relinquishing this special use permit in a writing addressed to the Director of Planning and Development Review or otherwise, use of the Property shall be governed thereafter by the zoning regulations prescribed for the district in which the Property is then situated.
§ 6. Implementation. The Commissioner of Buildings is authorized to issue a building permit substantially in accordance with the Plans for the Special Use subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this ordinance. An application for the building permit shall be made within 730 calendar days following the date on which this ordinance becomes effective. If either the application for the building permit is not made within the time period stated in the previous sentence or the building permit terminates under any provision of the Virginia Statewide Building Code, this ordinance and the special use permit granted hereby shall terminate and become null and void.
§ 7. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
O & R Request
DATE: December 13, 2021 EDITION: 1
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Levar M. Stoney, Mayor (Patron: Mayor, by Request)
(This in no way reflects a recommendation on behalf of the Mayor.)
THROUGH: J.E. Lincoln Saunders, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Sharon L. Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development and Planning
FROM: Kevin J. Vonck, Director, Department of Planning and Development Review
RE: To authorize the special use of the property known as 729 St. Christopher’s Road for the purpose of installing field lighting structures in excess of 35 feet in height, upon certain terms and conditions
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To authorize the special use of the property known as 729 St. Christopher’s Road for the purpose of installing field lighting structures in excess of 35 feet in height, upon certain terms and conditions.
REASON: The subject property is located in the R-4 Single-Family Residential zoning district and stadium lighting is a permitted use. However, Section 30-408.7 of the zoning ordinance states that no building or structure shall exceed 35 feet in height. The proposed lighting plans call for lighting structures that exceed 35 feet in height. Therefore a special use permit is necessary for this request.
RECOMMENDATION: In accordance with the requirements of the City Charter and the Zoning Ordinance, the City Planning Commission will review this request and make a recommendation to City Council. This item will be scheduled for consideration by the Commission at its February 7, 2022 meeting.
BACKGROUND: The 27 acre subject property is located in the Three Chopt neighborhood and is bounded by St. Christopher’s Road to the west; Wesley and Ferguson Roads to the south; Maple Street to the east; and Henri Street to the north.
The subject property is improved with multiple buildings and athletic fields and other uses accessory to a private school. The lighting installations are proposed for the football, soccer and baseball fields.
The Richmond 300 Master Plan recommends Institutional Uses for the Property. Primary uses include institutional, cultural, government and open space.
Properties in the surrounding area generally contain single-family homes.
FISCAL IMPACT / COST: The Department of Planning and Development Review does not anticipate any impact to the City’s budget for this or future fiscal years.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Staff time for processing the request; preparation of draft ordinance; and publishing, mailing and posting of public notices.
BUDGET AMENDMENT NECESSARY: No
REVENUE TO CITY: $1,800 application fee
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: January 10, 2022
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: February 14, 2022
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: None
CONSIDERATION BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES: City Planning Commission, February 7, 2022
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Office of Chief Administration Officer
Law Department (for review of draft ordinance)
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None
REQUIRED CHANGES TO WORK PROGRAM(S): None
ATTACHMENTS: Draft Ordinance, Application Form, Applicant’s Report, Plans, Survey
STAFF: David Watson, Senior Planner, Land Use Administration, 804-646-1036
Recommended Action
Key Issues:
Retain on Consent Agenda
Move to Regular Agenda
Refer Back to Committee
Remove from Council Agenda
Strike Withdrawn ---- Continue to: