COUNTY OF FAUQUIER

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT

MARCH 28, 2002

SPECIAL EXCEPTION CASE #SEA 02-CR-04

COUNTY OF FAUQUIER, AIRPORT COMMITTEE 

OWNER:

County of Fauquier

40 Culpeper Street

Warrenton, VA  20186

 

 

APPLICANT:

Fauquier County Airport Committee

 

 

REPRESENTATIVE:

Tony Hooper, Assistant County Administrator

 

 

PROPOSAL:

Amend the hours of operations for a previously approved special exception from May of 2001.  The special exception approval was for an annual aerobatics contest at the Fauquier County Airport.  The applicant is requesting the addition of Sunday morning hours in order to complete the contest within a one-weekend period.

 

 

LOCATION:

Fauquier –Warrenton Airport, west side of Midland Road (State Route 610).

 

 

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT:

 

Cedar Run District

 

 

PROPERTY I.D.

NUMBER AND SIZE:

 

7809-78-6301-000, (269.58 acres)

 

 

CURRENT ZONING:

I-2 (General Industrial)

 

EXISTING ZONING AND LAND USES OF ADJACENT PROPERTIES

N

I-2 (Industrial)

Industrial and Vacant

S

I-2 (Industrial) and RA (Agricultural)

Vacant and Agricultural

E

I-2 (Industrial) and RA (Agricultural)

Residential and Industrial

W

I-2 (Industrial) and RA (Agricultural)

Agricultural
       

STAFF PLANNER:                 Brian Davis 

Background

The Board of Supervisors approved the current special exception for the aerobatics competition at the airport in May of 2001.  The competition is sanctioned by the Federal Aviation Administration and conducted by the local chapter of the International Aerobatics Club.  Timing of the competition would be between May and October of each year, depending on the scheduling of similar activities at other locations within the Mid-Atlantic region.  The event would be scheduled for a weekend, from Friday until Sunday, with an attendance of approximately 100 spectators.  There would be no new structures associated with this use and existing facilities would be utilized.  No structure or area associated with this use is less than 100 feet to any lot line.

Proposal

One of the original conditions of approval states that Sunday activities cannot start prior to 12:30 p.m. so as not to interfere with local church services in the area.  At this time, the applicant is requesting that the hours be amended so that non-spectator activities could start at 8:00 a.m. and conclude no later than 8:00 p.m.  For Sunday activities, the applicant is proposing modified language that would allow non-spectator events to start at 8:00 a.m., with a break between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.  The applicant maintains that this would still be in keeping with the original intent of limiting interference on local church service, while also allowing the applicant the flexibility to complete the competition events within a one-weekend time period.

Staff and Agency Review

Staff and appropriate referral agencies have reviewed this request for conformance with the Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Ordinance and other relevant policies and regulations.  An analysis of these referrals and the actual comments from the appropriate agencies are included as attachments to this report.

Findings

With the incorporation of the proposed development conditions found at Attachment 1, it is staff’s evaluation that this application is in substantial conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and the applicable Zoning Ordinance provisions.

Should the Planning Commission choose to recommend approval of SEA 02-CR-4, staff recommends that such action be subject to the proposed development conditions found at Attachment 1, and dated March 28, 2002.

Attachments

1.       Development Conditions

2.       Staff Analysis

3.       County Engineer Review

4.       Health Department Review

5.       VDOT Review

6.   Map 1, Map 2, Map 3

ATTACHMENT 2

STAFF AND AGENCY REVIEW

Staff and appropriate referral agencies have reviewed this request for conformance with the Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Ordinance, and other relevant policies and regulations.  Staff findings, comments and recommendations, as well as referral agency comments follow:

1.       Comprehensive Plan

The subject property is designated for industrial uses in the Comprehensive Plan for the Midland Service District, and is part of Phase 1, indicating that it is currently planned for public sewer and water.  An airshow event would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan text in Chapter 5, in that it discusses the importance of unique events to the tourism sector of the economy.

2.       Zoning Ordinance

In addition to the General Standards set forth in Article 5-006 of the Zoning Ordinance, a special exception application must satisfy additional standards for Class C events.  These standards have been incorporated into the staff’s proposed development conditions in Attachment 1 of this report.

3.       Transportation

The Virginia Department of Transportation has indicated that traffic control at the intersection of State Route 610 and the airport entrance road is strongly encouraged.  This has been incorporated into a staff proposed development condition.

4.       Health Department

The Health Department has indicated no objection to the proposal, provided that toilet facilities and handwashing facilities are provided for public spectators in accordance with Health Department provisions.