The applicant desires to operate a church at 5413 George Street which is a permitted use in the Office zoning district. However, the property has insufficient parking for their assembly. The Land Development Code (LDC) requires all off-street parking to be provided on the same parcel of land occupied by the proposed use, unless property for parking use can be located within two hundred (200) feet. The applicant has located and proposes to purchase property that is approximately 306’ from the church parcel. Therefore, the applicant is requesting that the City Council consider and approve allowing the required parking to be located on a parcel that is more than two hundred (200) feet from the church property.
The Development Review Committee (DRC) recommended denial of the application after review and discussion of the matter with the applicant as the request did not meet the merits of a hardship as defined by the LDC.
The Land Development Review Board (LDRB) recommended unanimous approval of the request provided the parcels are not separated more than 306’ from each other and the parcels remain under common ownership if the church is in operation.