Planning commission forwards exception allowing gravel parking, sidewalk waiver for Providence Forge Hotel conversion

The New Kent County Planning Commission voted to forward an exception request to the Board of Supervisors that would allow a proposed parking area at 9101 Boulevard Road in Providence Forge to remain gravel and waive the overlay district requirement for a five‑foot sidewalk across the property frontage. Patrick Silva, principal planner with the Department of Community Development's Planning Division, presented the staff report and recommended approval.

The exception concerns requirements in the Commerce Corridor overlay district that "all parking areas be paved with concrete, asphalt, or similar material" and that a sidewalk of no less than 5 feet "be provided across the frontage of any property," as described in the county code. Silva said the applicant is requesting the exception "to allow the proposed parking area to instead be surfaced with gravel and to waive entirely the requirement to provide a sidewalk across the site's frontage."

The request is tied to the ongoing conversion of the disused Providence Forge Hotel building to office use by Overbright Properties, NKC LLC. The applicant, William Phelps, told commissioners…