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Planning commission recommends approval of special-use permit for lodging at 401 Ridge Street
Summary
Planning staff recommended, and the commission recommended to City Council, approval of a special-use permit to allow up to 10 guest rooms for a general commercial lodging (bed-and-breakfast) at 401 Ridge Street; staff found no major adverse impacts and commissioners supported the request.
Planning staff recommended approval of a special-use permit (P-L-250027) to allow a general commercial lodging use for up to 10 guest rooms at 401 Ridge Street, and the Charlottesville Planning Commission voted to recommend the application to City Council.
Ben Coby of Neighborhood Development Services explained the proposal and the development-code considerations the commission must weigh, including whether the use would be harmonious with existing patterns, conform to the comprehensive plan, and whether any conditions could mitigate potential adverse impacts. "As outlined in the staff report, we have not really... seen any issues given that consideration set," Coby said, adding staff recommended approval "with no conditions." The applicant held a community meeting earlier in the day where two attendees supported the application.
During commission comment several members said the site has a history of commercial use and would be appropriate for the proposed lodging. One commissioner summarized the zoning allowances: the RC district permits general commercial lodging of up to 10 guest rooms with a special-use permit — larger guest counts would require further review by the Board of Architectural Review.
A motion to recommend approval included one condition: that if any site modifications are proposed the property must comply with the use standards under section 34-3.4.4 of the city's development code as part of those changes. The motion passed in roll call with all commissioners voting to recommend the SUP to City Council. Staff said the SUP will be forwarded to Council on the posted schedule.
Commissioners also raised follow-up questions for staff about sprinkler-installation costs for small lodging or missing-middle conversions and about the status of legacy site plans pending under the old ordinance; staff said they would provide additional information.
