Go Ministry church site plan: DRC flags missing parking, landscape, utility and access details

The Development Review Committee reviewed a first-submittal construction site plan for a proposed Go Ministry church on roughly 6 acres at Rock Springs Road and found key materials missing and several technical issues to be resolved before approval.

Planner Jun Song said the proposed building area is about 11,000 square feet and that the current submittal omitted required site data including the number of seats, parking calculations, open-space information and landscape/irrigation plans. The applicant's civil engineer said the civil package is a work in progress and that staff comments were provided so the architecture team could proceed "at risk," but staff clarified that required landscape and irrigation details must accompany a construction site plan.

Access and utilities were central concerns. The property has no direct access to Rock Springs Road and relies on recorded access easements through two adjacent commercial properties (Family Dollar and O'Reilly Auto Parts); staff warned that the Family Dollar driveway does not extend to its property line, so the applicant may need authorization to construct on adjacent property and must confirm existing gate valves and the available connection points for water. Public works noted an easement-specific waterline location and said the applicant may need to redesign their water connection to use the southern side of O'Reilly's main as required by the easement language.

Fire staff discussed building fire-protection requirements. The applicant proposed two hydrants because the architect said the building might not be sprinkled; fire staff said sprinkler requirements are tied to structure size and that water-main sizing should be increased — plans that showed a 6-inch line will likely require at least an 8-inch minimum or a 10-inch main if the system is not looped. Staff also asked for an FDC location and a vehicle-turning analysis for fire apparatus and dumpster access.

Engineering requested a complete stormwater report and pointed out that inlet elevations appeared identical in the submittal, which could flood the parking lot if not corrected; staff also noted a wetland setback discussed at pre-application and asked for a clear pond discharge strategy. The applicant said they would submit stormwater, water/sewer demand and lift-station designs and would provide landscape and parking-plan sheets in the next submittal.

Staff told the applicant they could submit building plans concurrently "at risk" but that no permits will be issued until the outstanding stormwater, utility and landscape items are addressed. The DRC directed the applicant to resubmit with the missing materials and required technical analyses.