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Planning Commission recommends special-use permit for ice rink in Midway area
Summary
The Greene County Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval of SUP 24-008, a special-use permit for an indoor ice park on a 2.53-acre parcel off Deerfield Drive. Commissioners discussed parking and infrastructure; applicant said the facility will host public skating, youth and adult hockey, figure skating and tournaments.
The Greene County Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval of a special-use permit for Ice Park Holdings LLC to build an indoor ice park on a 2.53-acre parcel off Deerfield Drive (TMP 66-a-6e). The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors, and the applicant must complete site-plan reviews and permitting before construction.
Planning staff told the commission the parcel is zoned planned unit development and is designated on the county future land use map as a mixed-use village center. Staff said the county’s zoning code requires a special-use permit for indoor recreation uses and that staff found no abnormal or increased impacts specific to an indoor ice rink compared with other commercial uses allowed in the zone. "We didn't uncover any abnormal or increased impacts from this use," Planning staff said during the presentation.
The concept plan presented to the commission shows a single building footprint occupying roughly one acre and an on-site parking layout that staff said meets minimum parking standards. Staff noted the site plan will later be reviewed by county staff, VDOT, the health department and utility providers, where details such as lighting, stormwater and final ingress/egress will be finalized before any building permits are issued.
Chris Artelli, representing Friends of Charlottesville Ice Park, described programming the facility would host if built: "Mommy and me classes, learn to skate, hockey for youth, adult and college, figure skating, curling, public skating, birthday parties" and weekend tournaments that could draw visiting teams and visitors. Artelli also said the facility would include social space for post-game gatherings similar to previous local ice facilities.
One resident, Fred Wagner, spoke in support. Wagner, who identified himself as a longtime hockey coach, told the commission the rink would be "a fantastic resource for the community" and noted it would reduce travel for older players who currently commute for games.
Commissioners' discussion focused on parking and connectivity with neighboring commercial lots. Commissioners noted the plan shows 89 parking spaces and raised the possibility of shared parking or formal agreements with adjacent property owners (Food Lion, Randy's Hardware and others) to reduce impervious surface and avoid overflow into grocery and hardware lots. Staff said the zoning ordinance requires meeting minimum parking standards but does not compel private parking agreements; any shared-parking arrangements would be negotiated between private property owners and must still satisfy the county's requirements at site-plan review.
On a motion to recommend approval of SUP 24-008 as submitted, the commission voted by roll call 5-0 to recommend approval. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors; the applicant must submit a detailed site plan and obtain required permits and agency approvals before construction.
What happens next: if the Board of Supervisors approves the special-use permit, the applicant will proceed with site-plan review (including VDOT and utility reviews) where final parking, stormwater, lighting and utility details will be required before building permits are issued.
