Planning staff previews June hearings: childcare in former Rite Aid, borrow‑pit fill, rezoning and other items

Caitlin Alcott, planning administrator, briefed council on planning items slated for the June 3 and June 17 public hearings, summarizing ordinance requests, Planning Commission recommendations and key points of public comment.

Alcott said the June 3 agenda contains a deferred conditional‑use permit (CUP) application for a home‑based wildlife rehabilitation operation at 5365 (the applicant would rehabilitate up to two birds in an attached garage); the Planning Commission recommended approval 10‑0 at its April hearing. For June 17 Alcott summarized 11 items including: a modification of proffers to reuse a former Rite Aid at 1808 Salem Road for a 12,000‑square‑foot childcare center (planner noted 180–200 children anticipated and a unanimous Planning Commission recommendation for approval); a city request to modify conditions to allow fill of a borrow pit at 560 Oceana Boulevard (deferred previously); a conditional rezoning and CUP adjustment adding two water parcels over Lake Rudee to a commercial marina; and a 35‑lot subdivision rezoning request at 2501 Holland Road (Planning Commission recommended approval 11‑0).

Alcott also reviewed a conditional rezoning and CUP for a bulk vehicle storage lot at 120 South Lynnhaven Road (applicant proposes storage for a nearby dealership; staff recommended denial because of Strategic Growth Area goals while the Planning Commission recommended approval 9‑1), a split sale and fast‑food restaurant proposals at 2301 Newstead Drive (planning commission deadlocked, yielding a recommendation of denial), a food‑truck conditional use on Sandbridge Road (planning commission recommended approval), and a short‑term rental CUP at 1720 Baltic Avenue (consent‑agenda approval from Planning Commission).

Council members asked about broader policy themes: one councilmember said Strategic Growth Area guidance is rooted in earlier planning scenarios tied to transit and asked staff to consider updates where needed; another asked about public notification and safety changes tied to proposed access modifications. Alcott said most items had adequate parking and noise/landscape proffers where required and noted which items had public opposition at the Planning Commission stage.

Ending: Alcott closed by summarizing the Planning Commission recommendations and said each item will return for formal council public hearings on the listed dates.