(A) Before the formal submission of an application seeking approval of a special use permit, the applicant (who must be the property owner or contract purchaser) shall hold a conference with the Zoning Administrator concerning the proposal and shall provide, at or before that conference, a concept plan that specifies the following:
(1) The general location and amount of land proposed for development;
(2) The number of dwelling units, gross floor area, and acreage for each use or land area;
(3) The general location and number of parking spaces;
(4) Bearings and distances for all property lines and existing and/or proposed division lines;
(5) Scale;
(6) North arrow; and
(7) Names of boundary roads or streets and widths of existing rights-of-way.
(B) Within 15 days after the conference, the Zoning Administrator or designee shall provide the applicant with a summary of the meeting.
(C) Within one year of the required pre-application meeting, the applicant must submit a special use permit application, accompanied by the required fee. The application must contain all of the following materials in order to be complete.
(1) A fully-complete application form obtained from the town; the application may be signed by the owner, the contract purchaser (with special power of attorney from the owner or that person’s agent. However, if the application is signed by an agent, then a copy of written authority, or power of attorney form, from the owner (or contract purchaser) must accompany the application.
(2) A generalized development plan (GDP) with the following elements on or submitted in conjunction with, prepared by an appropriately licensed professional:
(a) All existing improvements, proposed changes, and new improvements anticipated if the request is approved;
(b) A landscape plan indicating the general location and type of significant or specimen trees located within the limits of the planned development area;
(c) All plans shall be to a scale no less than one-inch equals 50 feet;
(d) All plans shall be of sufficient detail to show the location of all existing utilities affected by the request;
(e) Each submission shall include one eight-and-one-half-inch by 11-inch reduction of the plan;
(f) Any model must be accompanied by eight-inch by ten-inch clear photographs showing a top view, an isometric view, and each side view of the model;
(g) Two copies of a narrative statement shall be provided outlining operational conditions and special provisions proposed by the applicant to minimize the impact of the use on surrounding properties;
(h) A general vicinity map providing information concerning existing street and cross street locations within one-half mile or greater shall be provided. Vicinity map may be on the plan itself or as an addendum;
(i) Topography of the site (using town maps if alternative sources of topography are not available);
(j) A traffic impact analysis (TIA), if deemed necessary by the Zoning Administrator at the pre-application meeting;
(k) Wetlands on-site and the source of delineation;
(l) Resource protection areas on-site and their source of delineation;
(m) Locations of floodplains; and
(n) Location of the Old and Historic Occoquan District adjoining or encompassing the site.
(3) If the requested use would not result in the exterior alteration of a structure or parking area, a current building location plan may be submitted for site information only, in lieu of the generalized development plans.
(4) The applicant shall submit building elevation drawings of all buildings and structures to be altered, relocated, or constructed, showing any proposed exterior alterations.
(D) The Zoning Administrator shall report to the Planning Commission regarding the application before the opening of the public hearing and provide a recommendation, citing appropriate principles of zoning practice and applicable provisions of the Comprehensive Plan; however, failure of the Zoning Administrator to perform this duty shall not affect the authority of the Planning Commission or Town Council to take action or the validity of that action. The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing after due advertisement according to law, and may close or continue the public hearing from time to time. The applicant may revise the application at any time before the closing of the public hearing. After the public hearing is closed, the Planning Commission may take any of the following actions:
(1) Require additional information from the applicant and schedule a further hearing for other action after receipt of the additional information;
(2) Recommend that the Town Council approve the application as requested by the applicant;
(3) Recommend that the Town Council approve the application with changes to the scope, duration, or conditions; or
(4) Recommend that the Town Council deny the application.
(E) (1) After the Planning Commission makes a recommendation regarding the application, the Town Council shall hold a public hearing after due advertisement according to law, and may close or continue the public hearing from time to time. The applicant may revise the application at any time before the closing of the public hearing, in which case the Town Council may refer the application back to the Planning Commission for review and a new recommendation. After the public hearing is closed, the Town Council may take any of the following actions:
(a) Require additional information from the applicant and schedule a further hearing for other action after receipt of the additional information;
(b) Approve the application as requested by the applicant;
(c) Approve the application with changes to the scope, duration, or conditions; or
(d) Deny the application.
(2) Only an affirmative majority vote in favor of an action can result in a decision by the Town Council to take action on the application.
(F) If the Town Council approves the application, the Zoning Administrator shall issue the special use permit, noting any changes or conditions made by the Town Council.
(1998 Code, § 66-303) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017)