Yet Another Public Hearing on Rezoning Old School

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

June 29, 2012

Cape Charles Town Council voted last night to refer the proposed rezoning of the property known as Old Cape Charles School to the Planning Commission, along with the request for a conditional use permit that would allow the school to be converted into an apartment building.

The rezoning and conditional use permits are requirements of the contract with Echelon Resources, Inc., which Town Council approved June 14 for the sale of the old school in the park.

The Planning Commission will consider the rezoning and conditional use permit  July 10. A public hearing will also be scheduled for that date.

This will be the 7th time that the public has been asked to provide comment on the sale, rezoning, and conditional use of the former school building, as follows:

• February 9 – Town Council Public Hearing
• March 10 – Town Council Public Information Meeting
• April 3 – Planning Commission Public Hearing
• May 10 – Town Council Public Hearing
• June 5 – Planning Commission Public Hearing
• June 14 – Town Council Public Hearing
• July 10 – Planning Commission Public Hearing

Normal rezoning and conditional use procedure is for the Planning Commission to consider an application first and then submit a recommendation to Town Council. The resolution adopted by Town Council yesterday may be unprecedented in that it refers the issue to the Planning Commission, even though the Planning Commission has already been considering the issue.

Mayor Dora Sullivan and Town Clerk Libby Hume each referred questions about the scheduled Public Hearing to Town Planner Tom Bonadeo, who is on leave until July 5.