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Planning Commission recommends Town Council allow First Baptist Church higher lot coverage
Summary
The Planning Commission voted to recommend Town Council approve a modification to permit up to 48.5% lot coverage at First Baptist Church (450 Orchard St. NW), forwarding the item for Council consideration on March 23; staff and the applicant said the work is already in place and staff will follow up on drainage questions.
The Vienna Planning Commission voted to recommend that Town Council approve a modification permitting up to 48.5% lot coverage for First Baptist Church at 450 Orchard Street Northwest, forwarding the recommendation to Council’s March 23 meeting.
Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Kelly O'Brien told commissioners the church property is shown as institutional in the comprehensive plan and that the request stems from site work completed over the past decade: a parking expansion shown on aerials as occurring before 2013 and sheds and a driveway added around 2019. O'Brien said an earlier site plan approval from 1994 recorded 43% lot coverage and that the additional work brings coverage above the residential limit; staff described the current action as formalizing existing conditions through the modification process and noted the zoning administrator reviewed placement of the sheds.
Monroe Veil Jr., a trustee of First Baptist Church, told the commission trustees had moved the sheds after discovering they were slightly off and that the church has no further plans to expand. “I am not by any means an engineer or property manager … the goal here is to be compliant,” Veil said, explaining the church’s intent to resolve the paperwork and site issues raised by staff.
Commissioner David Miller thanked the church for routinely opening its parking to parents at nearby Louise Archer school and described that arrangement as appreciated community cooperation.
After brief additional discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend Council approve the requested modification; the clerk called the roll and commissioners voted in the affirmative. The commission will forward its recommendation to Town Council for consideration on March 23.
Following the vote, Commissioner Stephen Kenny flagged a potential stormwater concern: he asked staff to note a long trench drain shown on the 1997 site plan that routes runoff from the parking lot toward neighboring properties and recommended that the town suggest periodic cleaning because debris can accumulate. Staff acknowledged an engineer was on the call and said the detail would be taken back for follow up.
The Council will receive the commission’s recommendation on March 23; staff said they will include any necessary clarifying edits and follow up items when they prepare the packet for Council.
