Council approves two conditional-use permits and adds 'museum' to R‑4 zoning for Weston Manor

The Hopewell City Council approved three land-use actions after public hearings: two conditional-use permits for single-family dwellings on nonconforming lots and a zoning amendment to add "museum" as an allowable R‑4 use (subject to a conditional-use permit requirement).

Planning staff presented the first CUP for Parcel 0420475 (Baptiste Development LLC, Spruce Street), noting the lot is 55 feet wide but only 3,795 square feet (R‑4 minimums are 50 feet by 5,000 sq ft), and staff recommended approval subject to standard conditions (12-inch minimum eaves, 20% tree canopy, paved driveway, foundation treatments, and substantial conformance with the presented elevations). Planning Commission had recommended approval. Council approved this CUP by roll call (vote recorded as 6–0).

The second CUP concerned Parcel 0670065 (1121 Delaware Avenue), applicant George Fetko, a R‑3 parcel described as 40 feet wide and 4,000 square feet (nonconforming in width and area). Staff again recommended approval with standard conditions (eaves, tree canopy, paved driveway and specified foundation treatment for slab construction). After public hearing (no speakers), the council approved the CUP; the record shows one abstention and the motion recorded as passing 5–0 with Councilor Stokes abstaining.

On a separate public hearing, staff proposed amending Section A of Article 6 (R‑4 residential apartment district) to add 'museum' as an allowable use. The amendment was requested to allow Weston Manor (the applicant represented by the Historical Hopewell Foundation) to add buildings and create a small historic campus on property zoned R‑4; staff and the planning commission supported adding the use but recommended a conditional-use-permit requirement to avoid unintended conversions elsewhere. Tom Wagstaff, president of the Historical Hopewell Foundation, spoke in support of the amendment and asked for fewer hurdles. Council approved the zoning amendment to add 'museum' to R‑4 with the conditional-use-permit requirement, recorded as passing 6–0.

All three items had no extensive public opposition during the hearings; staff said no external public comments had been received prior to the hearings. The council directed staff to proceed with necessary follow-up actions in accordance with the standard conditions attached to each approval.