Planning commission recommends approval of vocational academy with dorms at Parkdale Road

Prince George County Planning Commission on Jan. 23 voted unanimously to forward Special Exception SE-24-11 to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for approval to allow a private vocational training academy, including limited dormitories, at 16905 Parkdale Road.

Tim Graves, planning staff, told commissioners the application covers about 6.5 acres in a B‑1 general business zoning district and would convert existing hotel/motel buildings and add one new structure to create a vocational campus. Graves said staff recommended approval subject to conditions that limit dormitory rooms and total enrollment and require compliance with county codes and state reviews. "The staff's recommendation based on this review that we've gone through is approval," he said.

The application, presented for the applicant by Steve Parson, interim executive director for Next Level Career Development Academy, proposes vocational programs including automotive, culinary, cosmetology, plumbing and carpentry, plus adult education and GED preparation. Parson said the school would partner with local employers for internships and that instructors would be certified. "We're proposing to operate a career and technical training school providing career education, vocational skills training, and employment services to prepare students for college and potentially military," Parson said.

Under the conditions discussed by staff and the commission, the campus would be limited to a maximum of 50 dual‑occupancy dormitory rooms (no more than 100 people staying overnight), a maximum total enrollment of 150 students (including those lodging on‑ or off‑site) and four 12‑week semesters per year. Graves said the Virginia Department of Transportation reviewed the site entrance and did not require improvements and that Parkdale Road has an approximate traffic count of 650 vehicles per day. He also noted that building permit/change‑of‑use reviews and fire code compliance would be required prior to occupancy; Fire & EMS commented that the site is in a rural area with limited staffing and water availability.

Parson said the school would be organized as a nonprofit and that startup funds of roughly $50,000 had been earmarked; he clarified that earlier references to $200,000 reflected amounts discussed among prospective board members but that the project currently had about $50,000 in identified startup support. He said the academy aims to pursue accreditation after three years of operation and to seek additional private and, later, governmental funding opportunities for students. Parson identified partnering organizations and supporters including a fraternity chapter and foundation partners and said the school intends to employ and enroll local residents.

Commissioners discussed the draft definition of "private school" included in the recommended conditions. Commissioners and staff agreed to revise the condition to avoid unintentionally excluding grants or foundation support; staff offered alternative language so condition 1 would read, for example, that the private school use "shall be defined as a vocational training academy campus with or without dormitories primarily supported by private organizations or private individuals" with the possibility of explicitly listing "foundations or grants" if the commission wished to make that clearer. The applicant and staff accepted the clarification.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to forward SE‑24‑11 to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for approval subject to the corrected recommended conditions. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all seven commissioners present voting yes.

Votes at a glance: the commission also took routine organizational and procedural actions before and after the public hearing. Those votes, all passed unanimously, included adoption of the meeting agenda; election of Willie Bresco as chair and Miss Anderson as vice chair for 2025; adoption of the 2025 Planning Commission meeting schedule; and adoption of multiple sets of minutes (Aug. 22, 2024 business meeting; Oct. 21, 2024 work session; Oct. 24, 2024 business meeting; Nov. 18, 2024 work session; and revised Nov. 20, 2024 business meeting minutes that added the names of the invocation and pledge leaders). The commission adjourned after completing the agenda.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a separate public hearing before making a final decision on SE‑24‑11. Planning staff noted additional permitting steps — building change‑of‑use reviews, fire code review and any required VDOT approvals — would apply if the board ultimately approves the special exception.