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Benedictine Society seeks to raise campus occupancy cap to 1,500; planning staff finds amendment consistent with plan
Summary
The Benedictine Society of Virginia asked Goochland County to amend a conditional use permit to raise an occupancy cap to 1,500 on its 50.045-acre campus at 12829 River Road.
The Benedictine Society of Virginia has asked Goochland County to amend conditions on its conditional use permit to increase a campus-wide occupancy cap to 1,500 people on about 50.045 acres at 12829 River Road in District 5.
Adam Barber, a planner with Goochland County Planning and Zoning, presented the request on behalf of case manager Ray Cash. Barber said the property, identified by tax map number 661020, is primarily zoned Agricultural Limited (A-2) with a frontage strip in Residential Limited (R-1). The county comprehensive plan designates most of the parcel as semi-public, with a small portion as single-family residential medium density.
Barber described the site as a former monastery and retreat facility now used for multiple purposes including a monastery, a chapel, the Benedictine Boys High School, Saint Gertrude's Girls High School and supporting athletic and parking facilities. He said the existing conditional use permit contains 16 conditions; the key requested change is to amend condition 4, which currently sets subcategory limits that together total 935 occupants (550 students, 115 teachers and full-time employees including 20 monks, and 250 church seats). The applicant requests a single, flexible total-cap approach with a 1,500-person cap.
Barber told the commission that staff, with the currently proposed conditions, finds the amendments in compliance with the comprehensive plan. He summarized other permit conditions addressing permitted uses, maximum water and sewer allowances and fire-safety and design requirements carried forward or slightly revised from prior permits. Barber said zoning cases for the property date back to 1993.
Community outreach included an April 30 meeting at the site attended by five citizens, Supervisor Lyle and Planning Commission Chairman Cosby. Barber said questions raised by attendees focused on whether existing on-site infrastructure could support an increased population, on water and sewage capacity and on potential impacts to adjoining properties.
No formal motion or vote on the amendment was recorded during the portion of the transcript provided. Barber concluded his presentation and offered to answer questions; the meeting record provided ends with that presentation.
