The proposed rezoning would allow the St. Albans addition (43,000+ square feet)
to the existing Medical Center (183,000+ square feet). (See attached Master Plan.)
This would continue the development of the New River Valley Medical Center as
a regional medical facility providing diverse services to the entire New River
Valley and beyond.
Parking
Since the addition would be in an area currently used for parking, some staff
parking spaces may be relocated. The number of existing parking spaces available
after the addition (749 spaces) exceed the number parking spaces required by the
Zoning Ordinance for both the existing Medical Center and the St. Albans addition
(332 spaces + 129 spaces = 461 spaces required). Therefore, no additional parking
spaces are required by the addition.
Road Access
Access to the existing Medical Center is by a main entrance off Tyler Road (SR
600) and a secondary entrance off Barn Road (SR 627). These entrances would not
change due to the addition. Needed improvements have been identified for both
Tyler Road and Barn Road in the draft Radford Area 2020 Transportation Plan recently
completed by transportation planning consultants to the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT). For Tyler Road from Interstate-81 to the Medical Center,
the Transportation Plan projects an increase in average daily traffic (ADT) from
10,000 (year 2000) to 12,000 (year 2020). Consequently, the Transportation Plan
recommends widening this road segment from 2-lanes to 4-lanes divided with turn
lanes at both Barn Road and the Medical Center main entrance. For Barn Road, the
Transportation Plan recommends widening and realigning this road segment from
the end of recent improvements (Stewart Medical Offices) to Meadow Creek Road
(SR 658). To facilitate Barn Road improvements, Carilion has proffered on their
Master Plan: "Additional right of way along Barn Road to be dedicated from
Carilion to increase total right of way to 50 ft. Location of right of way may
vary depending on final road design."
Similarly, the improvements to both Tyler Road and Barn Road were included in
VDOT’s 6-Year Secondary Road Plan for Montgomery County when adopted by the Board
of Supervisors in December, 2001.
Water & Sewer
Because the hospital property lies in the Route 177 Corridor Overlay District,
the proposed St. Albans addition must satisfy a Level of Service (LOS) test for
adequate water facilities and adequate sewer facilities. The LOS test requires
both water and sewer usage not to exceed 80% of capacity levels. The estimated
additional usage due to the St. Albans addition is 100,000 gallons per month.
The Montgomery County Public Service Authority (PSA) has advised Carilion that
it can service this additional usage. Verification has been requested from the
PSA that the LOS test can also been met.
Agricultural & Forestal District
The eastern boundary of the hospital property adjoins
Agricultural & Forestal District 5 (AFD-5). It is not anticipated that the
St. Albans addition will have an adverse impact on the AFD. This will be verified
with the AFD Advisory Committee at their meeting on January 7, 2002.
The property lies in the Route 177 Corridor Overlay District. The City of Radford
and Montgomery County recently completed an update to the Virginia 177 / Tyler
Avenue Corridor Study which resulted in amendments to the respective Comprehensive
Plans this past year. With these Plan amendments, the entire southeastern quadrant
of the Interstate-81 / Tyler Road intersection was designated as Planned Commercial,
including the entire 120+ acre hospital property. Therefore, this request complies
with the Comprehensive Plan.
The recent update to the Virginia 177 / Tyler Avenue Corridor Study which
resulted in amendments to the respective Comprehensive Plans of Radford and Montgomery
County designate the entire hospital property as Planned Commercial. Therefore,
it is appropriate to rezone the property to Planned Unit Development Commercial
with the accompanying Master Plan (development plan). In the future, when Carilion
desires to further develop their property, they will do so in the form of a Special
Use Permit to allow changes to an approved development plan.
Contingent 1) on verification from the Public Service Authority that the
Level of Service (LOS) test is met for adequate water service and adequate sewer
service, 2) on verification from the AFD Advisory Committee that there is no adverse
impact on the adjoining lands of AFD-5 and 3) on receipt of favorable comments
from the Radford Planning Commission, staff recommends approval of the rezoning
request and accompanying Master Plan (development plan) with acceptance of the
proffered condition from the master plan:.
