AGENDA DATE: 6/7/2017
TITLE:
Title
Extension of deferral request for SP201400014 - Faith Temple Church (new sanctuary addition)
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Additional extension of the deferral of a special use permit request to permit a church in the R-1 zoning district. Scottsville Magisterial District.
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Walker, Kamptner, Blair, Benish, Perez
PRESENTER (S): Christopher Perez
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Douglas C. Walker
BACKGROUND: The applicant submitted a special use permit application on October 20, 2014 to allow an expansion to the church to include a new sanctuary, pastor’s office, bathrooms, and lobby (SP2014-00014). The applicant subsequently deferred the application twice, exhausting the allowable number of administrative deferrals permitted by County Code § 18-33.4(r)(2) (See Attachment A) without Board approval. The first deferral request was granted on January 9, 2015. An extension of the deferral was granted by the Planning Director, as permitted by County Code § 18-33.4(r)(2), on January 12, 2016 for a one (1) year period, ending on January 12, 2017, to allow the applicant more time to resolve several outstanding issues. This latest request was submitted just prior to the expiration date of the last deferral, which tolled the deferral expiration until the request is reviewed by the Board. The application has not been reviewed by the Planning Commission.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Thriving Development Areas: Attract quality employment, commercial, and high density residential uses into development areas by providing services and infrastructure that encourage redevelopment and private investment while protecting the quality of neighborhoods.
DISCUSSION: Since the extension of the indefinite deferral was granted by the Planning Director in January 2016, the applicant has been diligently working to relocate an unauthorized human grave on its property. The family members of the deceased have been unresponsive to the church, which has offered to pay for the relocation of the body to the onsite cemetery. In an effort to move forward, the church has hired legal counsel and is seeking legal action to remedy the issue. The applicant is requesting an additional extension of the deferral for one (1) year, which would extend the expiration date to June 7, 2018. As noted above, the applicant has exhausted the administrative deferrals permitted in County Code § 18-33.4(r)(2), and additional extensions must be granted by the Board. Staff opinion is that the extension is justified in order to allow the applicant time to address issues identified during the review process, including the relocation of the gravesite.
If the extension is not granted by the Board, the applications will be deemed withdrawn under County Code § 18-33.4(r)(2) and the applicant will have to file new applications in order to proceed.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no budget impact related to this report.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board approve the deferral of SP201400014, Faith Temple Church (new sanctuary addition), extending the expiration date to June 7, 2018.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - County Code § 18-33.4(r)(2)
B - Applicant’s Justification for Extension dated May 1, 2017