8 January 9, 2013 Public Hearing APPLICANT & PROPERTY OWNER: TRUSTEES OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF VIRGINIA BEACH

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1 8 January 9, 2013 Public Hearing APPLICANT & PROPERTY OWNER: TRUSTEES OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF VIRGINIA BEACH REQUEST: Conditional Use Permit (Columbarium) STAFF PLANNER: Karen Prochilo ADDRESS / DESCRIPTION: th Street GPIN: ELECTION DISTRICT: BEACH SITE SIZE: 83,013 square feet AICUZ: db DNL BACKGROUND / DETAILS OF PROPOSAL The applicant requests a Conditional Use Permit to construct a columbarium, associated with the existing church on the property. The columbarium will be located within a side lawn enclosed by a 44-inch high brick wall on the northeast corner of the property. The columbarium will be comprised of two columbarium walls 6-0 in height. The outer columbarium wall will contain 460 niches and the inner columbarium wall will contain 260 niches for the internment of human cremains. A landscaped brick plaza will be constructed with garden benches facing the niches. Low lighting will be provided for security purposes. The design of the columbarium walls will mimic the building materials already on the site. The columbarium walls will consist of block construction faced with brick to match the existing church and topped with a solid stone capstone. The front of each niche will be granite. LAND USE AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN EXISTING LAND USE: church with parking lot Page 1

2 SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING: North: 36 th Street Office building / O-2 Office District South: Single-family dwelling / A-12 Apartment District East: Pacific Avenue Hotel and parking / OR Ocean Front Resort District West: Sea Pines Road Apartments / A-12 Apartment District NATURAL RESOURCE AND CULTURAL FEATURES: There are no significant environmental features associated with this site. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The site is located within an area that the Comprehensive Plan designates as Urban Area / Resort Strategic Growth Area (SGA) 8. There are no specific recommendations pertaining to the area of the Resort SGA within which the church is located. In general, the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan for Urban Areas, as well as the guiding principles for the City s SGAs, are applicable to this site: efficient use of land resources; full use of urban services; compatible mixes of uses to live, work, play, learn, shop, exercise and relax; a range of transportation options; and, creation of a human pedestrianoriented scale with safe and attractive urban design. The existing church plays an important cultural role in this area, but also plays an important urban design role, as it is a oasis of green located in a area dominated by buildings and parking. Accordingly, consistent with the design guidelines of the Comprehensive Plan, as well as the Plan s recommendations regarding open space and quality of life, the design of the columbarium must be sensitive to the need to maintain the role of the subject site as an oasis of green. IMPACT ON CITY SERVICES MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN (MTP) / CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP): There is no traffic volume or safety related concerns as a result of this proposed use. HEALTH DEPARTMENT: No comments. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CENTER: All existing trees along 36 th Street and Pacific Avenue must be protected and remain. EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION The applicant s request to have a columbarium on the subject site is acceptable. The proposed use will generate little activity beyond what is normally associated with a church. The proposed location of the columbarium is inconspicuous from any public rights-of-way. The project s design and materials will blend with the existing church. The columbarium walls will resemble another brick garden wall as one passes by Page 2

3 the site. The applicant has retained the existing trees as part of the design and will enhance the area by supplementing the area around the columbarium with additional landscaping. The applicant has submitted a detailed landscape plan for the area around the columbarium. The plan depicts trees, shrubs and low growing plants and flowers Staff recommends approval of this request with the conditions below. CONDITIONS 1. The location of the columbarium shall be limited to that shown on the submitted plan, which has been exhibited to the City Council and is on file in the Planning Department. 2. The columbarium walls shall complement the exterior building materials of the existing church in color and material. The walls shall be substantially in conformance with the drawing entitled First Presbyterian Church Columbarium, Columbarium Wall Perspective, which has been exhibited to the City Council and is on file in the Planning Department. 3. Grading and drainage plans for the columbarium shall be submitted to and approved by the Development Service Center prior to development. 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 3

4 AERIAL OF SITE LOCATION Page 4

5 EXISTING SITE SURVEY Page 5

6 PROPOSED CONCEPT AND LANDSCAPE PLAN Page 6

7 PROPOSED WALL DESIGN Page 7

8 PHOTOGRAPH OF PROPOSED LOCATION Page 8

9 3 1 2 ZONING HISTORY # DATE REQUEST ACTION 1 10/26/1999 Conditional Use Permit (Religious Facility) Approved 2 09/26/1988 Conditional Use Permit (mini-golf) Approved 3 05/08/1989 Conditional Use Permit (church expansion) Approved Page 9

10 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 10

11 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Page 11