One case at ZBOA today at 2:30 PM, a variance on parking spaces for Greenleaf Hospital
so it can add a new wing.


A ZBOA member (Gretchen) provided the packet materials, which are all
on the LAKE website.

Here’s the

agenda, followed by
the summary by city staff.

Valdosta-Lowndes County Zoning Board of Appeals

Carmella Braswell,
Lowndes County Zoning Administrator

327 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia

(229) 671-2430

Matt Martin,
Valdosta Planning and Zoning Administrator

300 North Lee Street, Valdosta, Georgia

(229) 259-3563

AGENDA

March 1, 2016

2:30 p.m.

1. Call to Order
   

   
   
   CITY OF VALDOSTA CASE:
   

2. 
   APP-2016-01 Crunk Engineering (2209 Pineview Drive)
   
   Variance to LDR Section 222-2(A)
   as it pertains to the minimum required number of parking spaces for a hospital use

3. 
   OTHER BUSINESS:

4. 
   Approval of Minutes: January 5, 2016 & February 2, 2016

5. 
   Adjournment

Here’s the staff summary:

ZBOA Agenda Item #2

MARCH 1, 2016

Variance Request by Crunk Engineering

File #: APP-2016411

Crunk Engineering, on behalf of Greenleaf Hospital, is requesting a
variance to LDFl Section 222-2 as it pertains to the number of
spaces for a hospital. The subject property is zoned Residential
Professional (RP) and consists of 6.35 acres located at 2209
Pineview Drive. The subject property contains a 36,968
psychiatric/substance abuse hospital.

The facility is proposing to add a smaller wing addition of about
2149 square feet and a two story bed addition of about 22.671 square
feet. bringing the total hospital space up to 61.788 square feet.
The facility has a total of 73 beds currently, and 40 beds are
proposed to be added. Given that the addition is more than 50% of
the existing square footage, the LDFl requires that the entire
facility come into compliance with today’s parking regulations. With
a total of 113 beds (existing and proposed), that would require a
minimum total of 283 parking spaces at 2.5 spaces required per bed.
After renovations. there are a proposed 52 parking spaces to be
added. bringing the total parking spaces to 159.

In 2012, the facility was evaluated for compliance in regards to
zoning and parking. The facility was built in 1984 under prior
regulations, and while not complying in terms of use and parking, it
was considered legal nonconforming. The applicant, on behalf of the
Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County. applied for and
received a Conditional Use Permit for a psychiatric and substance
abuse hospital in Fl»P zoning, as well as receiving variances from
the supplemental regulations for hospitals relating to setbacks and
the requirement that a hospital be located on an arterial. as well
as parking space dimensions. The applicant also was granted an
Administrative Variance for relief from the minimum number of
parking spaces, allowing a minimum of 110 spaces rather than a
minimum of 125 for a (at the time) 50 bed facility.

Upon evaluating the request in 2012 and again now, staff realizes
that the facility does not operate as a traditional hospital.
Greenleaf allows inpatient treatment for such things as
psychological issues as well as substance abuse issues, where the
patients may need to stay in the facility overnight to several
weeks, depending on the treatment programs. The facility also offers
out-patient treatment, such as counseling sessions, where the
patients may visit for an hour or two, rather than a night or
longer. The closest parking standards to the facility are the
traditional hospital standards at 2.5 spaces required per bed; given
that Greenleaf is not a traditional hospital facility. but a hybrid
of a medical office/clinic/hospital. and that the applicant is
adding parking spaces as well as beds, the request meets the intent
of the parking requirements of the LDFl. Staff also understands that
the applicant will be required to meet other pertinent regulations
upon plan submittal — landscaping, stormwater. impervious
caps, but that the site plan provided is a proposed site plan only
at this time.

Variances are intended to relieve hardship beyond one’s control in
instances where strict application of the regulations would be
difficult, if not impossible to overcome. In this instance. the
regulations pose the hardship as the closest parking requirement to
Greenleaf is that of a traditional hospital rather than a hybrid of
a medical office/clinic/hospital. Given that. staff recommends
approval to allow 159 parking spaces rather than the 283 required.

Staff Recommendation: Find consistent with the Variance Review
Criteria and approve the request for a minimum of 159 parking
spaces.

The packet materials are all
on the LAKE website.

-jsq