Planning commission recommends reverting zoning and terminating CUP for New Community Church parcel

The City of Wildwood Planning and Zoning Commission on March 3 unanimously recommended that the City Council revert zoning and terminate a conditional use permit for a property south of Manchester Road that had been rezoned for parking and recreational use by New Community Church.

The Department of Planning presented a draft letter of recommendation (PZ5-22) after telling commissioners that New Community Church purchased a parcel in 2022 with the intent to add parking and recreational space, but later sold the property and will relocate to Chesterfield in late spring or early summer. Staff said the required site development plan (SDP) was not submitted within the allowable 24-month period (including an extension), so the zoning instruments and the CUP are out of compliance.

Why it matters: the action returns the property to its prior zoning status and terminates the associated conditional use permit because the SDP was not filed within required timelines and the property ownership changed.

Commissioner Humphrey moved to approve the recommendation; Commissioner Jackson seconded. The commission recorded a roll-call vote with all members voting yes (Commissioners Boren, Helfry, Cone, Clayton, Jackson, Deppler, Rubis, Chair Beatty, Council member Brost and Mayor Gaetano). Mr. Newberry and Mr. Vunich presented the department’s findings and the draft recommendation to the commission.

The department’s report said the parcel is a four-plus acre site on the south side of Manchester Road. Because the site development plan was not submitted within the required time, staff recommended reverting the zoning and terminating the CUP; the commission’s unanimous vote forwarded that recommendation to the City Council.

The department indicated the draft letter of recommendation is ready for final action at the council level.