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Board OKs Benedictine Schools' request to raise on-site combined occupancy to 1,500
Summary
Supervisors approved an amendment to the school's conditional-use permit to raise maximum combined on-site occupancy from 935 to 1,500 and to clarify temporary-event exemptions; approval subject to existing water, septic, safety and parking conditions.
The Goochland County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to Conditional Use Permit CU-2023-00005 for the Benedictine Society of Virginia, increasing the maximum combined on-site occupancy from the currently allowed 935 people to 1,500, while clarifying that certain temporary events would be exempt from the limit.
Deputy Administrator Josh Gillespie described the existing condition as limiting campus population to 550 students, 115 teachers/employees, 20 monks and 250 church seats (a total of 935). The proposed condition states: "At no time will the maximum occupancy for the combined uses exceed 1,500 people." The language added after the planning commission hearing clarifies that "temporary activities" (examples listed by staff include school sporting events and graduation ceremonies) are incidental and subordinate to the approved uses and are not intended to be covered by the 1,500-person limit.
Gillespie noted conditions remaining in the permit that address water and septic capacity, required on-site firefighting reservoir, design and parking standards, limits on construction hours, and annual DEQ review of sewerage. The planning commission recommended approval on June 17 by a 4-0 vote; one citizen spoke in support at the commission hearing.
Jesse Grapes, who identified himself as president of the Benedictine Schools of Richmond and a representative of the applicant, told the board school enrollment has grown and that the campus has invested roughly $90 million in capital improvements over the last five years. He said the campus holds a five-year certificate to operate its wastewater treatment plant, has daily water usage well below its allotted 20,000 gallons per day, and maintains roughly 624 parking spaces on site.
The board voted unanimously to approve the amendment; recorded votes were Supervisor Lyle, yes; Supervisor Spoonhauer, yes; Supervisor Waters, yes; Chair Christie, yes. Staff said the increase in the occupancy cap would not be automatic where infrastructure (water, septic, parking) is inadequate: related conditions and reporting requirements remain in force.
