Planning commission recommends approval of Virginia Natural Gas regulator, updates parking rules and indoor firing-range rules

The York County Planning Commission on June 11 voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a special-use permit allowing Virginia Natural Gas to construct a gas regulator station on an easement at 100 Sentara Circle and to forward two zoning-text amendments: changes to minimum off-street parking rules and new standards and location rules for indoor firearm firing ranges.

The three actions matter to residents because the regulator station is intended to add a second feed to Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and nearby customers, the parking amendments change minimum requirements for multiple housing and commercial uses, and the firing-range changes add administrative and safety requirements and make indoor ranges eligible in one additional zoning district by special-use permit.

Staff described the Virginia Natural Gas application as a request for a special-use permit to place a small regulator station on an easement within the approximately 83-acre Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center property. Planning staff said the easement is about 0.2 acre and sits on the southeast side of the campus along Old Moore Town Road, roughly 800 feet west of Warner Lane. Under the county’s zoning ordinance, utility facilities adjacent to residentially zoned property must provide a transitional buffer; staff proposed a Type 35 landscape buffer (35 feet wide) and additional screening conditions. Proposed conditions also require an opaque fence (no barbed wire), evergreen plantings at a minimum 6 feet in height and emergency-response signage requested by the Department of Fire and Life Safety. Staff recommended approval, calling the facility “a critical utility necessary to serve the hospital and surrounding community.”

Representatives of Virginia Natural Gas explained why the regulator station is proposed. Company representative Morgan Whalen said the hospital previously relied on a single feed and the new regulator would create an additional route to boost reliability: “When we saw there was only a single feed to serve that hospital, that’s a risk for the hospital, the overall region and the surrounding area,” Whalen said. Engineer Dennis Devascia added that the utility builds facilities to federal codes and standards and that the site would be monitored from the company’s 24/7 gas control center.

Commissioners asked about safety and proximity to nearby residential properties and a YMCA across Old Moore Town Road. Planning staff confirmed the cited ordinance language (York County Zoning Ordinance §24.1‑493) requires utilities not to create hazardous or offensive conditions beyond property lines; staff also said that section does not specify a “blast radius.” Whalen and Devascia said the proposed equipment would be part of the distribution system (lower operating pressures than transmission lines) and that Virginia Natural Gas monitors its infrastructure continuously.

On a motion by Commissioner Glenn Titus, the commission voted to forward Resolution PC25‑14 recommending that the Board of Supervisors approve the special-use permit authorizing the gas regulator station at 100 Sentara Circle. The roll call on the recommendation showed all commissioners present voting yes; the commission will send the file and staff conditions to the board for final action.

Separately, planning staff proposed a package of text amendments to the York County zoning ordinance to update minimum off‑street parking and loading requirements. Key changes described by staff include: crediting a parking space located inside a garage as one-half a required space; increasing visitor parking for single‑family attached and multifamily dwellings to 1 visitor space per 2 dwelling units; increasing multifamily minimum parking to 2 spaces per unit; creating new minimums for transitional homes; establishing a 1 space per 60 square feet assembly-area standard for certain meeting halls and microbreweries; specifying parking metrics for parks and recreation amenities; distinguishing walk‑up and drive‑through ATMs and reducing walk‑up ATM parking; revising drive‑through stacking requirements for fast‑food restaurants; and revising parking standards for self‑service and tunnel car washes and for vehicle detailing.

Staff said the changes respond to observed demand in existing developments and recommendations from county parks staff and the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The commission voted, on a motion by Commissioner King, to forward Resolution PC25‑16 recommending adoption of the parking-text amendments to the Board of Supervisors; the roll call showed unanimous support.

The commission also considered text amendments about indoor firearm firing ranges. Staff said York County currently has one operating firing range (Lafayette Gun Club, a legally nonconforming use) and a second facility with a special-use permit whose permit holder intends not to extend later this summer. Supervisors asked staff to consider whether indoor ranges should be permitted in additional districts and whether performance standards should be clarified. The proposed amendments would: allow indoor firearm firing ranges in the Resource Conservation (RC) district only by special-use permit (outdoor firing ranges would remain not permitted), clarify and separate firearm‑range standards from paintball provisions, require noise‑attenuation measures certified by an engineer, set minimum building and setback standards (including a 100-foot distance requirement from property lines where applicable), require qualified range‑safety personnel on site, and add conditions recommended after consultation with the sheriff’s office and Lafayette Gun Club.

Commissioners discussed the potential for expanding a nonconforming use and whether the special‑use process gave the county the ability to scrutinize proposed changes; supporters said the special‑use review would allow staff and the board to require mitigation or deny an expansion. On a motion by Commissioner Chamberlain the commission voted to forward Resolution PC25‑17 recommending approval of the proposed firing‑range amendments; the roll call showed all commissioners present voting yes.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of minutes of the May 14, 2025 regular meeting — motion by Commissioner King; roll-call: Chamberlain Yes; Titus Yes; Brooks Abstain; King Yes; Coy/Wasson Yes. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution PC25‑14 — Recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to approve a special‑use permit for a Virginia Natural Gas regulator station at 100 Sentara Circle (Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center easement). Motion by Commissioner Glenn Titus. Roll‑call: Brooks Yes; King Yes; Chamberlain Yes; Titus Yes; Wathmer/Wasmuch Yes. Outcome: recommend approval (forwarded to Board of Supervisors).

- Resolution PC25‑16 — Recommendation to amend York County zoning ordinance minimum off‑street parking standards (multiple use categories and specific numeric changes). Motion by Commissioner King. Roll‑call: King Yes; Chamberlain Yes; Titus Yes; Brooks Yes; Wazler/Wasmuch Yes. Outcome: recommend approval (forwarded to Board of Supervisors).

- Resolution PC25‑17 — Recommendation to amend zoning text for indoor firearm firing ranges (permit location, standards, and range‑safety requirements). Motion by Commissioner Chamberlain. Roll‑call: Chamberlain Yes; Titus Yes; Brooks Yes; King Yes; Wasmuch/Wasmer Yes. Outcome: recommend approval (forwarded to Board of Supervisors).

Next steps

All three recommendations will proceed to the York County Board of Supervisors for final action. The commission record shows no members of the public signed up to speak on the regulator‑station application or the firing‑range amendment during the public‑comment periods; staff received and incorporated earlier commission input on the parking amendments.

Acknowledgments: Planning staff and the applicant provided technical exhibits and site sketches; the commission’s packet identifies the proposed conditions of approval for PC25‑14 and the draft ordinance language for PC25‑16 and PC25‑17.