10/24/2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Currently, county LDRs allow civic and social membership clubs in the MED, CL, and CG commercial districts only. Accordingly, existing social clubs in the unincorporated county are located in commercial districts (e.g. Polish American Club and the Moose Lodge). Thus, the current LDRs treat these types of club uses similar to restaurants and ban;, uses which are purely commercial in nature. The Board's direction is to treat such clubs similar to a type of `community service" use, such as a not-for-profit facility or theater or community center. Thus, the essential use question is whether or not social clubs should be treated as a bar/restaurant commercial type of use or as a community service type of use. Based upon the Board's direction, staff has drafted an LDR amendment that treats social clubs as a community service type use with strict conditions. Under the proposed LDR amendment, civic and social membership clubs would be allowed as special exception uses in M-1 and M-2 (the county's highest density residential) designated areas only, on sites that front on a Thoroughfare Plan road and that have sufficient area to accommodate significant setbacks. The proposed setback and buffering criteria were derived from existing criteria for community centers and schools that are located in residentially designated areas. These setbacks (50' to 100') and buffering requirements are necessary to ensure compatibility with adjacent residential uses, and will ensure that such clubs would be located on larger sites (probably 2 or more acres in size to accommodate the facility and special setbacks). If the proposed amendment is adopted, then social clubs will continue to be permitted uses in commercial districts and will be allowed as special exception uses only in M-1 and M-2 designated areas in the A-1. RM -8. and RM -10 districts, subject to special criteria. PSAC Recommendation: Voted 6-1 to deny the proposed amendment, keep the commercial district requirement for social clubs, and amend the LDRs to allow social clubs in the CH district where bars and restaurants are currently allowed. PZC Recommendation: Voted 41 to approve the proposed ordinance to allow social clubs as special exception uses in M-1 and M-2 areas. Staff Recommendation: To approve the proposed LDR amendment, based on the Board's directive. Group Homes and ALFs in the MED District The MED (Medical) district is designed to include medical uses and uses that complement medical uses and exclude uses that can and should be accommodated outside of a medical node. Consequently, the MED district allows family counseling services, but does not allow retail department stores. Some uses which have health care and residential characteristics, such as nursing homes, are specifically listed as permitted uses in the MED district. Although group homes and adult congregate living facilities are similar to nursing homes and complement medical uses, the MED district does not currently specifically allow such uses. Even so, the county has interpreted group home and ACLF (ALF) uses to be less intense types of "nursing home" uses and has allowed them in the MED district based on that interpretation (e.g. National Health Corporation and Hospice House projects). This interpretation is logical and needs to be codified. The proposed staff -initiated amendment would specify that group homes and ALFs are permitted institutional uses in the MED district. PSAC Recommendation: Voted 7-0 to recommend approval of the proposed ordinance. PZC Recommendation: Voted 5-0 to recommend approval of the proposed ordinance. ocTo�� a�� PG 6 5 I -80- 0 0