Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-16-11-148 — REHOBOTH EVANGELICAL BAPTIST CHURCH

Request: Special Exception and Variances in the C-1, C-2, and R-2 zoning districts as follows: 1) Special Exception to construct a religious use facility institution with approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of floor area and seating for up to 150 members; 2) Variance to allow partial grassed parking in lieu of paved; 3) Variance to allow 47 parking spaces in lieu of 50; and, 4) Variance to allow a 6 ft. setback side street on south for the sign in lieu of 10 ft. APPROVED: Special Exception Request #1; APPROVED: Variance requests #2 & #3 and DENIED: Variance request #4

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The applicant is proposing a 9,120 sq. ft. sanctuary. It will be 1 story in height. Staff advised the BZA that 90% of this site allows for church use but there was a small parcel included that is zoned R-2. That small parcel requires a special exception approval. Staff supported this request. The applicant gave a brief presentation and advised the BZA they were trying to preserve as many trees as possible. The BZA had concerns about the parking variance. The district BZA commissioner advised the BZA there was plenty of overflow parking. The BZA approved the request. There was no opposition. DECISION: A motion was made by Eugene Roberson, seconded by Chuck Norman and unanimously carried to APPROVE the Special Exception request in that the Board finds it met the requirements governing Special Exceptions as spelled out in Orange County Code, Section 38-78, and that the granting of the Special Exception does not adversely affect general public interest; further, to APPROVE the Variance requests #2 & #3, in that the Board made the finding that the requirements of Orange County Code, Section 30-43(3) have been met; further, said approval is subject to the following conditions; and further, to DENY the Variance request #4, in that there was no unnecessary hardship shown on the land; and further, it did not meet the requirements governing variances as spelled out in Orange County Code, Section 30-43(3)(unanimous; 6-0):