Board approves indoor event venue and —Gaming— use at Hanover Square North with limits on hours and occupancy

The Hanover County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a conditional use permit on April 23 to allow an indoor recreation or event venue in an end unit of Hanover Square North shopping center near Bell Creek Road and Cold Harbor Road.

Staff summary and proposed limitations Deputy Planning Director Andrew Pompey told the board the unit is roughly 2,000 square feet at the end of a shopping center that is zoned for highway commercial uses. Staff recommended conditions limiting hours, prohibiting outdoor events and controlling signage.

Applicant and operation Applicant representatives said the space will host private events including small gaming nights (card games and similar activities), birthday parties, corporate events and religious gatherings. The owner described typical events as 10 to 25 people and said catering would be used for food service.

Board action Supervisor Hudson moved approval of "CUP 20 20 five-one" as submitted; the motion passed unanimously. Conditions adopted included: - Hours: Sunday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Monday–Thursday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight. - All events must be indoors; no outdoor events allowed. - Signage limited to one wall sign and one window sign per the OS (office-service) proffered conditions. - Compliance with development regulations and building capacity rules for occupancy.

Community context Planning staff noted the shopping center is adjacent to suburban residential neighborhoods (Walnut Grove) and recommended the conditions to limit off-site impacts. No members of the public spoke against the application at the county public hearing and the Planning Commission recommended approval 7–0.

Ending With conditions intended to limit noise, parking and sign impacts, the board unanimously approved the indoor event venue in a commercial shopping center near the Mechanicsville area.